The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-12

the whole BODY or electors instead OF Dy
a small number thereof.
1.-THE method Of election Of senators OF
the United States ought to conform 70
the policy Of the several states. The eX-
cellence and wisdom Of that practice as
model is enforced by the experience now
of three generations. In the oldest existing
republic, approaching a nearly pure de-
mOcracy. the initiative and the referendum
are sometimes both used in the exercise
Of the law-maklng power. Switzerland,
however. Is territorially 4 small country,
with a comparatively small population, all
parts of which are contiguous and none
very remote from the seat of its federal
government. Small as that republic may
be in some respects, it is larger, exceed
ingly largsr-it looms into magnificent pro-
portions-when we consider the great eN
ample which it has for centuries set be-
fore the world in the wisdom, val0r, patri-
otism, and fidelity Of its hberty-loving pes
pie.
Therein legislative bodies similar 20 cur
own are chosen by the people. Their ac-
ton IS not at al final Many of the stat
utes are, after legislative sanction, sub
United to the people, or 10 the local govern
ing bodies of the several cantOns, for
adoption. and the bill, so TO speak. after its
passage, remains yet a BIZ, and becomes
not a .aw until it receives the popular ap-
proval. This is the referendum. But
there has been at times a.so a certain
class Of laws, not ordinary, quite rare,
which can only originate with the people,
with the electors as such. by petition or
application accompanying the draft Of the
.aw proposed The legislature. although
chosen by the people, has no origlna. juris-
diction In such subjects. Action therein
must begin with the constituencies. This
is the initiative. The trainers Of our fed
eral constitution did not ignore these pO.iti-
cal instrumentallties; they recognized both.
Instance of the Referendum.
when the congress submits to the .eg-
is,atures Of the several states. as is pro-
posed in this case, the approval or rejec-
ton Of a pending amendment, this is an
instance of the referendum-a referendum
OF magnificent proportions and Of the most
imposing character, one in which the whole
number of electors in all the states may.
through their own local legislatures, make
The law Of the republic without the ap-
prOval Of the president, subject to no re-
view or revision save their own future
action. And when, as ia expressly pro-
vided. convention Of the states is called.
which without the action or Intervention Of
congress may propose amendments to the
constitution. this Is the initiative. We in
woke the referendum in asking the sub
mission OF the amendment providing for
the election Of United States senators by
the peop.e because there is no other man
AeI III WHICH the present IlOue OF choosing
them can be changed. 1t is not either
urged or contended that these eXtraor-
binary methods Of legislation should be-
come usual or frequent. IL is 10 do away
with the necessity Of resorting 20 them, Of
appealing to them. that the submission A.
ready provided for in the joint resolution
Of the honorable house should be favored
in this body.
without mention in detail OF the other
large provinces of legislation to which the
initiative of convention of the states
might relate. Il Is quite certain that such
a measure might provide absolutely for
an Increase I'm the number OF members
here; IT might shorten the senatorial term
L might make members ineligible for re-
election, or abolish this branch Of con-
grcss altogether. II Is true such a pro-
posed amendment might fail Of approval
but even the agitation and discussion Of
such changes must work an injury 10 this
body, which neither the history of its
achievements nor the tradition Of its
former greatness could cOuntervail. These
great, responsive. or. If l may use the
term. correspondent functions Of the people.
the initiative and referendum Of our con-
stitutional article, are for the most part
dormant: they are not dead They. are
parts of the fundamental law Of the land.
They may be called into action and energy
Whenever those who conjure up the spirits
Of that vastly deep will choose to abide
the consequences. Prudence has very
great dominion over the use Of any power
as to The occasion Of its exercise. Yet we
see prudence and the conformity to pres
ent needs and circumstances wholly set
at naught treated as IL they were Of all
things the most unnecessary and II
rational.
Popular Verdict Is Sought.
This proposal for constitutional reform
is seriously answered by saying that the
founders of our government, although
they provided for all amendments. did not
include this. And it is also in effect seri-
ously urged that the people have by some
frlghtfui lapse lost or forfeited their
capacity for self-government upon this
subject, and that they ought not TO be
permitted even to pass upon the question
whether they desire this change. Al in
sti.utions Of lone-establlshed prestige and
authority are prone 20 die Of dignity
They are unwilling az any time that the
most necessary amendments should be
made In their order or composition
They resist reform at every stage I'M
til something very nearly akin TO revOlu-
tioa oveTt3kes them. In this proposed
amendment turks the old question How
shall power pass from the few who hold
il 10 the many heretofore deprived Of it2
Shall the right 10 choose United States
senator's still be retained by the few voters
WAC happen ID be elected 70 the general
assembly Of the state, or shall it b. given
10 the whole body Of electors? Shall this
power be now conceded u the people. Or
shall We larry until il be in some manner
seized and taken by them?
"Prerogljive. proud Of its precedents.
says stay. Privilege. entrenched in the
forms and letter Of the law, says, hold a
while. For my part. | favor the policy Of
giving-of granting this rglt now, with
out grudging. without delay. This fran
chise should be granted To the people OF
the several states not as an act Of favor.
but of justice. This would be such an
approval and confirmation Of the principles
Of free government as has never before
been published % the world. 1t would be
a judgment, after generations Of trial, in
favor Of pOpullr liberty. never to be gain
said or dnnullad. II would be a witness to
all men of the internal, social, subjective
growth Of free institutions among us; an
irreversible sanction Of the past with all
It's glory and beneficence; an omen Of the
future rife with ever-increasing progress,
excellence, and power"
At the close of Mr.. Turpie's speech Mr..
Morgan gave notice that on Monday next
he would call up The Nicaragua canal bill
with view TO explaining it and making
went into executive session. and at 1855 p.
m. adjourned until Monday.
Murdered by white-Cnps.
SPRINGFIELD. Ky, Dec. T. - Two
masked men forced an entrance into the
house Of Thomas Edgngton between y
and / O'Clock this morning and, In the