Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-10-30

By George x. Young, Longmont, Colo.
In theory a representative govern
ment is republic; in fact a representa-
tive government is not a republic, or at
least it does not long remain one, after
its founders have passed away.
Every representative republic of the
past has perished from off the earth.
The little Alpine republic of Switzer-
land was upon the same road that led
so many of it's predecessors to ruin; but
nearing the rocks it changed it's course,
adopted direct legislation, and is to-day
the healthiest, as well as the Oldest, re-
public in existence.
Perhaps our own country is the most
striking example of the complete fail
ure Of the representative system. The
people never get the laws they desire,
but they get plenty which they dislike.
If measure good for the people be in
troduced in legislative body, the final
product is as badly disfigured as man
who has run an Indian gauntlet.
Even our constitution fails US. Made
more than a century ago, its trainers
saw not the embryonic but tremendous
forces lying in ambush, to finally crush
the liberties of the people; but they
needed not the warning voice of the elo-
quent Patrick Henry, who plead in vain
for bill of rights for the people. They
turned deaf ear to the admonitions OF
that embodiment of craftsmanship
Thomas Jefferson-who, from beyond
the sea, deplored the absence Of bill
of rights. OF this defective document
James Monroe said 81 see in it no
real checks upon the government"
See Bancroft's History Of Constitu-
tion," page 428.
The people have, for many years,
been clamoring for the poor little priv
ilege of themselves electing their
United States senators. But even this
Is denied them. The enthroned corpor-
ations prefer senators of their own
choosing.
The history Of legislation in this
country for the century now closing
should convince every one that it is a
waste of time and energy to work for
reform under the present system of law
making. All efforts for free coinage"
prohibition, single tax, restriction of
immigration, government control, etc.,
will fail in the future as they have done
| in the past. There Is always some
! power other than Divinity that shapes
all the ends of legislation.
The initiative and referendum consti-
tute direct legislation by the people.
| 1t is democracy in its purity. 1t is re-
publicanism in it's simplicity.
| 1t is, in itself, not SO much of reform
as it is a means of Obtaining reforms
1t will throw wide open the gates which
have so long barred the people from
their God-given rights. 1t will relegate
| to the rear all the political crooks, the
heelers, gangsters, shysters, parasites,
| etc., which have so long been a curse
and a disgrace to our country. Hypo-
| critics and fawners, too, will have to
take back seats.
OF all the demands of reformers, the
referendum is most feared by plutoc-
racy, as witnessed by its omnibus 81
lence regarding it. 1t does not oppose,
| it dare not agitate. 1t orders it's tools:
Fight government ownership, ridicule
sub-treasury, but ignore the referen-
dunn" 1t sees that its craft is in dan
ger;" for, with direct legislation, the
| briber and the lobbyist could not ply
their vocation, and the reckless parti-
san, the oily politician and the heart
less demagogue would be as helpless for
harm as would be lot of wild beasts
after their claws and fangs had been ex-
tracted. With the imperative man
date and the veto power in the hands OF
the people, there would be no need of
drilling Sunday-school boys in the arts
Of war, for the people would respect
and obey laws enacted by themselves.
Instead of being nominal freemen, but
real slaves of the politicians, as now,
the people would all be, in reality. free
men.
Little or no argument is ever adj
vanced against it. Occasionally some
one says: 1T may do in small coun.
try like Switzerland, but would never
do In large cou1t-y like ours"