The herald., 1895-01-21
FRAMING ISSUES.

Whsn 8 presidential conte Is ends the
people have the IDEA that their part
has been performed. aud that they nave
nothing more to do until few months
before the next presidential election. Ii
is not 80 with the political managers,
for with them as soon as one campaign
ends another begins.
To soms extent they watch the trend
OF public sentiment, but "a the people
give little thought to public affairs, and
utter less than they think, the managers
get an imperfect IDEA of the views oil the
people, and it lie too true that the peo'
pie themselves have not very well de-
fined opinions, from the fsct that their
thoughts and energies are too exciu'
sively devoted to their private sha'rs.
The framing Of issues is therefore left to
the managers, and they do tho work BY
guessing at what will receive popular
approval. Managers have frequent in
tsrohsnss OF views, and clearly under
stand what each thinks with reference
to the most popular position to be taken
before the country.
Conventions which select delegates to
choose a presidential candidate often
instruct for particular man, but 1t ia
rare that al expression is made az to
the principles that shall bs en- bodied in
the national platform, tho preparation
OF which is left to the delegates with full
power to represent the people without
very much ledge at best of what the
people want Platforms, therefore, be-
come matters OF compromise entered
into by delegates and contain Soma good
things and some bad things. The peo-
pie are thus placed between the devil
and the deep sea-" 10 being compelled
to accept what they disspprovs in order
to get what acoords with their judg-
ment. Compromises between political
leaders are not infrequently made to &C.
cure victory at the polls more than to
promote the public good.
We are not uumindful of the fact that
government itself lie a compromise when
it is to prevail over . large country with
conflicting sectional interests, and that
it lie often right that there should be
compromise on measures that relate to
material interests. and which affect the
whole OF country. 1t is not 80 much
this that is a subject OF complaint as
that when framing Issues is left to po-
litical managers they frequently over
look the public interest in their anxiety
to achieve victory at the polls for their
party.
Politicians are not incline to be pro-
gressive. They will 90 as far and as fast
as the people demand, but no fsrth or
nor faster. In framing platforms they
are apt to fall bslow what the people
want, partly from caution aud partly
because they are not quite sure OF wha,
popular sentiment lie. II political par
ties are not as advanced as the body OF
their adherents desire it ia because the
people refrain from making their wishe,
known. Others will do il for them 81
long az the m ,sses do not frame plat
forms for them ,elves. They shoult
know not only who their delegates ar
for, but what they are for. The people
should begin the work OF the next cam
paign az soon as one is ended. not 10
the sake of party triumph merely, Blu
to 90 understand the conditions ant
wants Of the country that measures ma
be devised that will be applicable to tho.
conditions and will supply those wants
As it is, politicians mark the battl
line and the people are rallied upon
and make contest on a casus belli mar
ufactured for them. 1t ID a duty Of tn
masses to give instructions to those VIII
represent them in conventions as to til
iasues that shall be presented. It ca
hardly be under such circumstance
that ours is government by the people
1t ID rather government by the fey
and will continue to bs such until tn
people give more attention to their ow
affairs.