The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-30

Mr.. MCCONNELL. And right here let
il be marked that in exact proportion
to their zeal for the various candidates
will be the chances of Republican sue
cess. Remove all but one of the aspir-
ants from the field. before the election,
and you either lose entirely or receive
only passive support from the friends
of the other three. Does any man in
this state, i'll the possession of his nat
ural faculties. believe for one moment
that if Mr. MCCONNELL should receive
the endorsement of the convention,
MeSSrS. HEPBURN, SWEET and SHOUP,
together with their friends would take
off their coats and come to Mr.. Nc
CONNELL's support? We think not.
1t requires cash and labor to run po-
litical campaign and the man without
immediate interests or prospective
nope is not going to furnish either pro-
fusely. But all this is brushed aside on
The patriotic grounds that the people
all hazard. That is all wind. The peo-
pie never thought or heard OF cOnven-
ton nomination of senators until it
vas flashed across the continent by our
congressional delegation. In the state
committee it was openly and repeated
ly asserted that legislators were pro-
verbally SO corrupt that they shonld
not be entrusted with the important
business of electing senators. Before
that argument can have any force. it
must be shown that delegates to politi-
cal conventions are exceptionally free
from besetting human vices. And,
then, if the Legislatures are so corrupt
and conventions are so pure, why not
remove all constitutional restraints
from the legislature and permit every
excess of crime without criminal re-
sponsibility? What need is there for
legislatures, what on earth do we want
with laws, if the restraints of law only
make men unnaturally vicious? The
Constitution of the United States,
which every citizen is sworn to support
and defend, says that the state legisla-
lures shall elect United States Senators.
When Idaho became state it sub
scribed obedience to the Federal Con-
stitution the Republican party is
pledged by every platform and every
tradition to uphold and protect the Or
ganic law of the United States yet,
the Republicans of Idaho are asked to
go on record as attempting to evade
the express language of the Constitu-
ton in or to promote the aspirations of
few political place seekers. And one
of the principle reasons given Is that
the uniform and perverse compatibility
of Republicans is such that the mo-
ment legal restrictions are thrown
about them they are impelled irresisti-
bly, to acts of bad faith and criminality.
Great stress is laid on the fact that on
account Of it's numerical superiority,
the convention will necessarily be more
representative body than the legisla-
ture; yet, only four years ago, the people
who are asked to support this idea, ac-
tually voted a constitutional restriction
of both branches of the legislature to
one half the number of the proposed
convention. Four years ago the dear
people were frightened with the appar
ition of an unweildy representative
body which, on account of its numbers,
must essentially contain bad elements.
Today, we are told, if you want pure,
clean representation, you can only get
it from immense aggregations. Will
the Republicans Of Idaho stand such
miserable cOntortions? Honestly and
fairly, there is no argument in favor of
this proposition. 1t is papably piece
of political jugglery. Ii any good
comes from it. it will result from pure
accident, not design. But doesn't it
gall the pride and manhood of every
honorable Republican in the state to
think that no matter what emanates
from political NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bad
or indifferent-he must humbly submit
without daring to murmur? The or
ganic law, which was born of the blood
and tears of our forefathers, is made
and bYword to be buffeted
about, evaded and insulted to suit the
caprice of the men whose supreme bus
mess it is to cherish and protect it.
The Republicans are told in terms by
their party leaders that the Constitu-
ton of the United States must be invad-
ed because Republican people are too
grossly ignorant and corrupt to elect.
from all their number, respectable rep
1t is pretty tough dose
and many Republican will gas pain
fully at the swallowing: but Mr. WOOD
says it must 60 down an that settles it.
OUTSIDE COMMENT.
The Republicans Of Idaho, it appears
from our special telegram from Boise
this morning, have determined not to
have the Senatorial question brought |
into the local canvass, but will COM
nit it direct to the Legislature. 1t |
seems to us that this course is the |
wisest possible to pursue 1t is certain |
that the Senatorship would be an ele- |
ment of distraction and source of |
in the fights in the counties.
With this claimant in tho oonvoco tho