Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-11-04
AMERICAN ELECTIONS.


organic law provides that chief ex-
ecutive shall be chosen every four
years. But the election of chief ex-
ecutive is not the only function that
the electors are called upon to perform.
The constitution provides also that the
representatives i'm the lower house of
congress shall be chosen every two
years. At each alternate election of
representatives occurs that ofpresident.
In some of the states legislative MEM
bers are chosen, upon whom devolves
the duty of selecting a member
of the federal senate. So at
our national elections we cast our
votes directly and indirectly for Off
Gals of both executive and legislative
departments of our government.
The fathers who established the con-
stitutlon and shaped our political aut-
onomy instituted form of govern
ment which up to that time was COM
paratively untried experiment. Men
in the ages which had passed had con-
ceived of democratic systems, but they
existed only in the dreams of philoso-
pliers and idealists. The beauties of
Plato's republics were only theories,
never having been placed upon the
seas of stern experience. Government
by the people was found to exist only
in the hopes of students of humanity,
who saw in the human race possibili-
ties of self government. 1t was the
theory of men who lived in ages when
mankind was not awake to realiza-
ton of human power and instinct. 1t
was nothing but an ism ofmen who were
centuries ahead of their times. People
had not learned that within our being
reposed power which could control as
well as submit to control. Self as
sumed rulers exercised the authority of
governing their fellows
But as the sunlight of civilization
poured upon the world its rays of light,
men learned that they had rights. 1t
dawned upon the mind that the ''di-
vine right of kings" was not an insti-
tuition which had been established by
the mandate of heaven. The race pro-
PEELED its chariot nearer to the sublime
star of truth. The robes of despots and
the crowns of kings Were removed by
the hand ofliberty. Justice plucked the
tyrant from his seat of power. The
climax of human liberty was reached
when the Declaration of Independence
was adopted. Upon the ruins of kingly
oppression was constructed the proud
republic of America. This is our repub.
lie. Its emblem is the stars and stripes
| Here is the domain of the freeman, who
is the ruler of his nation. He walks tt
the polls with the emblem of authority
in his hand-the ballot of the citizen
He records among the grand total O
freemen's will the assertion of his pow
er. All that is expected of him, al
that he owes to his country, his home
and his God is to exercise his best
thought.
A campaign has been fought ir
which a mighty issue has been at stake
AS we pen this item we know not how
it will be settled. Wehave endeavore(
in our humble way to give expression
as to how it ought to be settled. Blu
the forum of discussion has been closet
and we wait for the result. The voic'
of the American people is law, and w
must abide by the result. If it will
prove that mistake has been made
the intelligence of American citizen
can be relied upon to set the wroni
aside at the first opportunity. Bette
that mistake be made by the peopl
themselves than by king or poten
tate, for the people will correct the Ell
ror, while the ruler upon the thron
might not.
i Whatever the result of this contes
may be, there is one fact that we shoul,
always bear in mind, that governments
policies may change, bat the natiol
will always be maintained. The oil
flag will wave i'm the balmy breeze G
peace as proudly as it waved on tn
field of battle. The republic shal
stand as long as the memory of it
heroes shall live. The American pee
pie will govern themselves, and the
| will govern rightly.