The Caucasian., 1896-12-17
Old Stago-COach Meth ods.

Americans are rapid" people. Our
energetic push" is recognized by the
entire world even our rapid eating is
proverbial the wOrld over. Many of
our magnificent cities have risen Like
magic, in an incredibly short time. In
medicine, surgery, the sciences and
the arts, we are not ~slOw," but when
it comes to political progression my
Congress m ct December 2. 1t was
elected over year ago, and this is its
hrst meeting, In 1892 we had pO-
litical Landslide" 1t was construed
to mean that the people were tired of
high tarits and wanted low tariff.
The "land-slideH came in November,
1892. Nothing was done until the new
Congress was called in special session
nearly n year after they were elected,
and it was nearly two years after their
election that they gave to the people
what it was generally construed they
were elected to give-a change in the
taIit. | wish to call your attention
! only to the very slow and indirect
manner we have of performing our pO-
/ litical functions. The reason is that
our constitution was formed in the
stage-cOach days, before either rail-
roads or the telegraph, 1t then took a
long time for people to get about in
this great country of poor roads and
dangerous travelling. 1t took equally
long for news to travel from place to
place. But now conditions have en-
tirely changed. Steam and electricity
bring the people of the entire nation
closer together now than were the
people of a single State then. Our
development is rapid, and our needs
often urgent. Why should we cling
to the old stage-cOach methods? No
other nation is so slow in its political
action. In England political cam
paign seldom lasts more than six
weeks-generally much less. Here our
campaigns last about six months. In
England the new Parliament begins
its work soon after election. France
and Germany are about as prompt
Here, even after our long campaigns
our new Congresses seldom convene
until over year after election. Oul
Revolutionary fathers could not fore
see such wonderful developments al
railroads and telegraph, so could moi
be expected to provide for the same
All must agree that the dates tha,
have governed us since the early time
should be changed. December is 8
very bad time for the converting O
Soo' ANOuhiuo VI 1cSlSldUlNe
nature is ever accomplished before ad
journment for the holidays. Congress
should meet either long enough before
the holidays for effective work, or II
should not meet until after the holi
days-say either November l or Jan
, uary 10. There is no special reason
why the elections should be in NOvm
Der. The fist of October would be
better time. And there should be n,
short session" Of the old Congress
after the new Congress has been elect
ed. Suppose we have the election tn,
| hrst Tuesday in October, and tn,
! meeting of the new Congress the frs
: Tuesday in the following month-No
vember. That would give time enough
) for all honest political autonomy, anC
p In case of a contest, the evidence coul(
. come up and decision be reached
while the facts are fresh.
Any one of every party can see how
: desirable these changes sre. Their
= there are other changes. Every Con
( gresham ought to shave a string tt
him"-that is, his constituents shoul(
have the right to recall him if he doe.
not give satisfaction. This recallins
: could be done by a petition signed By
e a majority of the voters of his district
/, This is called the Imperative Man
. date. They have had it for years il
Switzerland. If We had it, our Con