St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-02
BEGIN THE REFORM AT HOME.

There is no doubt Of what is the opin-
ion OF the voters of Minnesota regard.
ing the necessity of reforming the sen
opinion restricted to any one political
organization. While the Democrats have
been the most outspoken in their de-
nunciatiOn of the senate and their de-
mand for its reform. their opinions have
found responsive echoes in the minds OF
men of both of the other political par.
ties. MIR. Reed says in his article i'll the
current North American that zone of
our institutions" the senate, 'has GER
tainIy received a great shock" 1t would
be more accurately stated, had he said
that the conception of the United States
senate in the minds of the people had
received a great shock from that body
itself.
This is due to its incapacity to legis-
late. its absurd venerati0n for a custom
that has long outgrown its usefulness,
and has become simply drag upon the
public business. Through its inability
10 restrict debate, not INDUCED in for
calculating great public questions and
arriving at correct conclusions, but for
the single. bold and expressed purpose
OF delaying the execution of purpose
decreed by the people lin two national
elections, the senate has lost much
OF public confidence and respect.
The command OF the majority of
voters OF the United States to
eliminate protection from our fiscal
policy was defeated in the senate by the
action OF the entire body OF Republ-
cans. aided by few Democrats who
were only nominally such. but who at
heart were as protectionlst as any OF the
Republican senators.
We, here in Minnesota. while we may
have our opinions of Senators German,
Brice, Smith and the rest of that coterie
of traitors, are impoIent TO reach them.
We must leave them TO be dealt with by
their own constituencies, and, Judging
from the expression OF opinion in Ohio
and Maryland, the Democrats of those
states Will be found capable of dealing
with their own traitors. But we can
begin the work Of reforming the senate
i'll this state. aud it is duty laid upon
cate of reduced taxation and of com .
mercial freedom, in whatever party he
acts, to bend his energies toward aiding
that reform by sending to the senate
from Minnesota some man in sym pa thy
with the reform movement.
There is no question, if the anti
protection element in this state will
unite in every Legislative district in the
selection of representative or senator
who will pledge himself to vote against
the return to the United States senate
of Mr.. Washburn Or OF any other pr0tec-
zionist. that Minnesota can begin the
process of reform by sending to the
senate one who will cooperate with
Mills and the rest of the earnest, honest
and sincere refOrmerS, in overthrowing
and entirely eradicating this policy.
Whatever other differences may exist
between them in regard to national pol
iuies; while the Populists may think
that the silver question is the one of
first Importance, still Populists and
Democrats are agreed upon tine policy
that should be pursued in relation to
the tariff. While party necessities have
compelled the former to put forward tn.
money question as the leading feature
of their policy in order to estab-
fish a party organization distinct from
the others, the speeches, and what is
more important, the votes of their rep
resentatives IN congress, indicate that
| they are at one with the Democrats in
this great policy. They should recog-
| nize that no other question Cali he con.
sidered until this is out Of the way and
definitely settled. 1t has the right of
| way upon the main Inca every other
public question must stand waiting
upon the sidetrack until it has passed.
| The Populists of this state should see
this, and. if they would facilitate meas
ures peculiarly their own, they should
unite with the Democrats in securing
the speedy and complete settlement OF
this leading question.