New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-06
A MODERN MYTH.
THE REV. DIR. SCUDDEP so CH.pACrrp.
I2Es THE SOVEREIGNTY or
THE PEOPLE
1T EEGi;IS AND ENDS AT THE POLLS. AND POLL
TlclANS BREED AND REAR oLlGApcurrs
WHICE ARE INIMICAL TO AMERICAN IN
sTITUTIoNs AS SET FORTH IN THE
Observation-Disclosures LEG
lsLArION THE ONLY

REM lY

Inc sovereignty OF the people characterized
as modern myth by the Rev. John l.. scudder In
prelude delivered a: the Jersey City Tabernac.e
last night. "Fewer Fourth OF July oraiions and
more hard thinking would do this Nadon good"
was the opening paragraph Of his discourse Con-
t.nu.ng, he said:
beiore election We hear demagogues discussing
eioquen'y UPON me sovereignty OF Inc peop.e: a4.or
ere.g2s and following ther own sweet viii Occs.
siohdhy REFORMS desired by majority Of the people
ohce they are in power This fact forces the con
ton day When the polls close the Sovereignty en!s
49, we invest our representatives. With unlimited
power ana take no hand in the Government unit
me next election day, when select another batcn
ol uese temporary cars. IL other WORDS. we
THESE o.isarchies are created by The people, un-
aT f,euhasey they are not controlled by the peopie
Inis IS bad policy and the one weak spot in our
representative system. The situation is similar to
lnat OF man In carriage. who throws away the
rSins, gives the horse cut with the whip and then
SITS ana swears at The animal for running away
instead OF retaining the power ourselves 10 whom
IL right!uIly belongs We. the people. give all the
power to our servants and tel them to act as they
p;ease We place the Government in the hands Of
men VINO, under party pressure or temptation may
are; Such berayaS have ocourred in the pa ani
VII continue to harper. as long as the present
Candidates for office are like eggs You cannot tell
be An egg labelled bird Of Psras gre sV tnr IN
ou; to be a common. black crow. Before election
jority of voters know little or nothing about the
candidates they lind upon the tickets thrus; into
their hands They might well vote for the man in
the moon 80 far as ntness for office is concerneu
Mna io0 W6 and III use OF the ssc'So
present system and place suitable restraints upon
,, This can be done enectualy by what is known
direct legislation. Instead OF giving unbridled
License to to- our politicians and foreyer stormns
bt in their mouths by means OF the referendum.
That will prevent them from running away with
us and making havoc. Under the modified system
IT matters little what men are elected, for If their
laws do not suit the people the people VIII quickly
measures are everything and men are nothing and
If the men elected d. no, provide the measures. the
initiative. OF course, this does not mean that the
people VIII resolve themselves INTO vast e3isiatve
upon Common Councils. Ascend es and Senates
tails Of legislation they Will leave 10 their repre-
themselves unless they think they have been ma
treated duped by their lawmakers Direct legs
a0n sp power and 5nAi hs ha
certain they will seldom have occasion TO use H.
weapon against abuse. +; would not be necessary
for the people to gather together and discuss ard
inform the people respecting the measure 10 be
voted upon. and ballots at The polls would he as
sembly and q fairer expression OF public sentiment
than voting viva voce IN the presence Of Others
as well as the ear, and questions submitted 10 the
sderstion than in crowded Assembly. and under
heated debate. Some say the people canno, be
trusted. but brand this as treason to democIa ic
institutions and insult to our Con. Tuition. whcn
declares that We the peope OF the United Siaits
do ordain and establish Our Declaration o. In
drpendence states that Governments derive the :
Just powers from the consent OF the governed
7 believe with Washington. Jefferson and Lincoln
that the people the source OF authority. and |
will put the testimony OF these patriotic statesmen
acsinst The fimsy vaporings OF sordd po.it.c. ans
on any measure and on any day OF the week |
would rather trust the people than trust the poll
;icaos who hate the initiative and refert ndirn pc
cause they diminish their power ard make bribery
of no effect This claim OF the Incompetence OF
ticans Against them place these grand word OF
Governor Gr!ggs, II have alb olute falih in me
judgment Of the people when deliberately formed.
No heresy of political teaching can eyer peTmanen'
Thoroughly understood and fairly weighed and CON
sidered We are too inGrancd with the saving
common sense Of Anglo-Saxon ancestors TO he ever
led astray." To which noble sentiment we all say
Amen