The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-20
SOME IDEAS on ELECTING SENATOR'S

The Stanton Post and the Norfolk
Landmark have the following remarks
upon the proposition to elect United
States senators by the people:
=. We have always questioned the wisdom
OF making the election of senators pop
lllar. for as far as this is necessary, the
elections are already practically SO. We
need some bar TO hasty and sweeping
changes OF popular sentiment, and the
election of senators by the people af-
fords such a bar. If the election of sen
ators be made popular some worthless
demagogus may be able 10 ride into Of
hce IN the upper House for q period Of
six years. to the discredit of the people
he Is supposed to represent.-StaInton
Va.b Pest.
This VS. what the makers of the Con
stitution had in Jew when they removed
senators from immediate reliance upon
and responsibility to popular sentiment.
The principle IL a conservative one. The
suggestion Of change is radical and
unSOlnd. The conservative people Of the
country do not want any such change and
should not encourage lt.-Nocfoik Land
mark
We don't know what warrant our Nor
folk contemporary has for saying that
the conservative people of the country
do not want the change. The Times
fstters itself that il has a right to be
NidoSfb iiipHSNl the CONSERVATIVE IeODIt
Of the country and we believe that peo-
pie OF the Populist and other such per
suasions think we carry our conserva-
t!sm to the extent OF opposing all pro-
gress.
This Is very incorrect estimate of
The Times. but The Times is nevertheless
profoundly conservative, and yet The
Times ardently longs TO see the change
made. The Times also finds most of it's
cOnservativ friends of the same way
q thinking as itself. We don't know,
therefore, where The Landmark finds its
conservative people who are opposed to
the change.
For the Stanton Post TO oppose the
change for the reason il gives. after what
all Virginia saw take place IN Richmond
last winter. surprises us. 10 say the least
OF IL. Is ii possible for any system TO
result in the more complete defeat OF
the popular will than our last senatorial
election?
Ii the purposes Of elections is TO ac-
complish something that the overwhelm-
Ing majority Of the people are opposed to
having accomplished. then procedure
like what We saw last winter is all
right. hut IL elections are intended TO
give expression 10 aud effectuate the
will OF the ma jority OF the people. then
all lovers Of their country must pray
that they may never witness another
disgracefui performance like that the peo
pie OF Virginia saw enacted before their
eyes last winter
The only argument we have ever heard
made in favor OF electing senators by
the Legislature which, in our opinion
amounts 10 an argument. is that present
ed by The Post. that elections by the
Legislature operates as brake upon the
hasty and ill-advised action of The peo-
pie. IL this argument went no further
than to demand that there shall always
be sufficient time before an election for
a movement of popular passions TO sub
side and give reason an opportunity 10
reassert Itself. we should heartily ell
dorse IT, But the argument demands that
the right of election shall be transferred
from those who are to be really repre-
sented TO another body which is sun
posed 10 know better what the constitu
ency wants than the constituency ITSELF
knows. Now we raise our protest against
the philosophy Of the argument at this
point. We are opposed 10 the principle OF
paternaiism, protection. and guardian
ship in all Its forms. II the people, when
passion is absent and reason holds sway.
are not capable of determining for them
selves what is best for their own in
teresis. then representative government
Is a failure. and we had better "go the
whole hog and choose dictator from
those supposed 20 be best qualified 10
govern us.
But we viii never assent 10 this idea.
We have the most absolute confidence In
the principle OF popular government. aided
by an upright, intelligent and fearless
press When the people are made TO un-
derstand case their judgment on It Is
always sound We court the opinion OF
tho people upon all public questions. II
onIy they have been instructed In the
facts OF the case before they vote.
Nc more perfect illustration OF the