The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-12
BUREAU OF THE SENTINEL,
WASHINGTON. i. c.. Dec.

WASHINGTON. i. G. Dec. 6.
For many years Senator Turpie has been
recognized by his colleagues as a man Of
fluent speech and possessing great argu-
mentative ability but his speech today in
the senate in support Of his resolution pro-
viding fer the election Of United States SEN
ators by a di.ect vote Of the people eclipsed
any of his former efforts. He received the
almost undivided attention Of every MEM
Der Of that body and was warmly congratu-
lated at the conclusion Of his speech. Mr..
Turpie said:
Mr.. President-Those Of US who favor
the submission Of the proposed amendment
for the election of United States sena-
tors by the psople-are not without a fixed
purpose and policy. The purpose is that
Of providing for the choice Of members Of
this body by the vote Of the whole number
Of electors in the several states. The poll
icy IS TO place one branch, the legislative
department, Of the government directly
under their control.
ANY one VINO mas intelligently observed
the course Of events. and Of public opinion
since the close Of the great civil war. must
have noticed that of the three departments
Of this government two have made a very
perceptible growth. indeed a very extended
advance and enlargement in popular esti-
nation and in actual prestige and position.
"The executive department owes this
enlargement very much to the immense
space which it occupied and TO the powers
which it exercised during the period Of
actual h1stilities. During the war the ex-
ecutive was in control Of the army-in-
deed, was the army. It was for a long
period he principal object Of attraction and
attention. Since that time the rapid in
crease Of population, the admission Of new
states the development 0f interstate in
terests and commerce, leading TO an enor-
nous Increase Of official patronage and TO
almost constant executive action. have pro-
l0ngsd the prestige Of this department, and
III appears in undiminished If not in con-
stantly increasing Vigor 10 this day. Sim
liar causes. differenced only in the mode
Of their op ration. have availed. during the
same period, u augment the powers Of
the federal judiciary. ID extend their eXer-
else. and to connect this exercise very
closely and very frequently with the ordi-
nary life and labor Of our people. All this
has not only tended to produce, but has
practically created. A very great aggTan-
dizement OF the judiciary department OF
the government
The Legislative Branch.
'It is very true that in the scheme Of our
form Of government the three separate
branches-legisla,ive judicial and execu-
tive-are equal and Of coordinate rank and
dignity, but this has not prevented the pres
ent disparity now existing. Il is not con-
tended that the legislative has lost anything
of lis real authority. Yet il can not be
denied that the O.her two departments have
gained an apparent primacy. which IN pOpu-
lar acceptance has all the effect and is at
tended with all the consequences Of a
marked difference between these three
coequal departments. How shall this dis
parity be removed 1 viii not ask bow
shall equality be restOred-Lhat would be 10
admit the loss thereof: but may ask how
shall our position as lawgivers be re-en-
forced So that ii shall really correspond with
the coordinate rank and power plainly In
tended by the IeNt and tenor Of the organic
law. An efficient method Of our restoration
can only be found in some mode Of recon-
structon of this branch Of the body polite.
That method Is realized in an appeal 10 the
body of the people directly as our makers.
Ii IS not at all to be- taken for granted that
because our fathers gave the construction Of
one house of congress to the people that
they would not now after the experience Of
a century. and in the present relative con-
diti1n of the three provinces Of distributive
power give to them the formation Of the
other house also.
.Our more immediate connection and
closer contact with the people would give
not only To ourselves but 10 the whole leg
islative department II the government new
llle. new lltaHAllS dlAA Il LlciCloAplG uAlAliDNn
increment of influence, usefulness and p0w-
er. The people are the source Of all power.
WHY should not we as lawgivers spring di-
rectly from that source? Why should our
origin be secondary, remote, casual and
necessarily inferiOr2 How often have we
declared this TO be government Of the
people. made by and for them. Shall this
be forever said and not d0ne-yea, never
done? And why does the deed loiter so long
and lag 50 far behind the word?
ssKNbnu q Sno-i0n of coal or other strata
is dug from its ancient deposit in the earth