The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-11-07
HAVE WE A RESPONSIBLE GOVERN
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Two we~l-established deusions are
brought into consplcuousnees today. The
hrgt Is that the government OF vhe United
! srates is a popular government. The Sec
ond Is that ale government CT the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is
a monarcn.al instead OF popular govern
ment.
VIVA Is meant by a re5pcnJlbCe govern
merJt? To whom is tae executive OF the
United States responsible? Presumably
to Jne people of Une United States. Fer
What is lAhe executive Of the United States
responsible? BY DATA Of those CONSTITUTE
ing it for enforcement OF the constitution
HIJd IalSs of the Unitei Slates, and Of the
will of the people clearly expressed In an
anteJsigent and authentic manner.
IlNe president OF tne United States may
not without the concurrence and author
Ization of congsso5. engage in any UNDER
taking for the enforcement of treaty OBJ
legations when the consequences OF his
Gous would involve the country in war.
Nevertheless, the congress 'the president
is soon Ito meet Is one uninstructed BY
dne people on The dhief question wh.DGh the
executive must now undertake to solve
namely, whether or not a foreign sover-
eighty may with physical force break
treaty obligations with another American
country, and, supporting fraud by arms.
acquire a huge portion OF American SOL
for purposes hostile to the interests and
honor OF the UNIFIED States.
On THE other hand, the executive OF the
government OF Great Britain, subject to
an unwritten constitution, but more d.
rectly In touch with the popular will, car
rles out a ~well-known desire of the cleo
borate of England at least, and, support
ing fraud by force, has already, In rhame-
fess defiance of diplomatic usages and OF
treaty obligationes, stealuhily transported
troops into a territory title to which is
known to be in dispute, and the dispute
subject, under numerous precedents and
by express agreement, to arbitration.
There ARE advantages in an unwritten
over a written constitution. Doubtless
the states Corning the American Union
are safest under a written constitution.
Many chapters, however, in The national
history emphasize the need of a speedy
attempt so to recast the federal compact
as to make the executive really and prac-
tlcally responsible to the people, that Is
to say, Ito give Ito THE president and his
advisers a congress elected within a rea-
sonable period preceding IT'S actual life.
The congress which President Cleveland
is to meet next December rs for all USE
full intents and purposes a dead body.
Its functions should have ceased with the
election of Its successor.
Under the federal Constitution as 1t now
reads and works 1t can scarcely be said
that there Is a responsible or popular
government In THE United States. In this
juncture, as has been the case In the
past, the executive must take the nation
al mandate from the popular will as con-
veyet Through the press and public meet
ings. If, however, the congress still ex.
clusively potent under THE constitution
should refuse to ~efDectuate the popular
Will as thus formulated THE executive win
be helpless. Lord Salisbury, on the con-
traay, III The should not do what
be believes the electorate desire done, can
appeal from the Legislature to the electors,
The British government, wherefore, more
truly in the working OF its highest ma
chinery Is a popular m a responsible
government than the government OF the
United States.
Happily There Is reason to believe that
congress next December, although not
elected TO deal with the ma
tional question of the hour, will prove a
faiuhful organ OF the national jud, ment,
and will cordial and substantially sustain
President Cleveland In maintaining the
dignity and enforcing the just and rea.on-
able rights of the United States in what.
ever part OF the hemisphere these rights |
sla be Found in peril. Notwithstanding
constitutional imperfectlons, the people of
The United States ought to be able to
erecsuate their own viii through the
organ they ave CRESTED for IT'S execution.
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