The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-08-18
GOVERNMENT
BY The PEOPLE
Direct LeEislatiOn the Only Saliva
ton From Drifting Into
Centralized DespOtism.
A DEPLORABLE SITUATION.
Treachery of Representatives Leads
the People to Say That All Men
Have Their Price.
Party Spirit the Bane of Politics.
Change the Base and You May
Change the Structure. ,....-
(From the Chicago Expressly

(From the Chicago Expressly
It is almost safe to say that, barring
revolutionary upheavals, there is
scarcely an instance where representa-
tive governments, as at present consti-
tuted, have legislated in the interest Of
the masses, or where class law has not
been the order Government by rep
resentatiOn, or where chosen represen-
tatives of the people have made the
laws, without consulting the constitu-
ency, have drifted into condition
where wealth is concentrated in the
hands of the few. AS selfish and de-
signing men have controlled kings and
monarchs, they have also controlled the
representatives of the people in repub-
lies.
Most civilized nations today are gov
erned by legislative assemblies that
mould and shape their institutions, and,
while republics are more nearly rep
resentative of the people, the mon
arches of Europe are by no means alb
solute. Germany has her Reischtag,
England her Parliament, Spain her
Cortes, ETC., and the people of those
monarchies imagine that because they
vote for their representatives, they en-
joy the blessings of liberty.
Our system is patterned after that Of
England and while we have thought
that the American congress reflects tho
will of the people, it is serious ques-
tiOn, in the minds of many, whether
we enjoy much advantage over the
limited monarchies of Europe, in mat
tiers of practical craftsmanship and in
legislative results.
A representative in congress is sup
posed to carry out the will of his con-
stituents and to make such laws as
they desire, but has this been the result
of our system, so far? If not and if this
can not be accomplished under the pres
ent system of representation and man
ner of legislation, change of system
naturally suggests itself to our. minds.
Our politics are now conducted by
means of party and parties are sup
posed to stand for ideas, but it remains
to be seen whether the idea controls
the party or the party the idea.
There have been as yet few parties
during our national existence and, while
we have not gone through enough his
tory to establish positive rules, it Is
evident that names are about all we
have voted for. .-..,--.t-..
The abolition of slavery for which
the Republican party stood is about The
only instance where great reform was
accomplished by a party and where the
party carried out the will of it's con-
stituency.
accomplished.
The platform of the Republican party
in 1860 opposed the extension of slav-
cry, but it did not demand it's abolition.
Slavery was abolished as war neces-
sity, but not until the Hazard circular
appeared which was suggestion that
slavery of the white man, by means OF
a money system that guaranteed cap
ital control of labor" was a system
superior to- chattel slavery and more
to the interests of the monied classes.
Congress had gotten into the control
of the money kings, the greenback was
crippled and the national banking sys-
tenn under way before slavery was abol-
ished.
not abolish slavery but only substituted
one form for another.
Again, while the Republican party
instituted the greenback money system,
the necessity of the war forced 1t, and,
just as soon as circumstances admitted,
it repudiated it and passed into the
control of the money power. So that,
after all, the party has carried out re-
form measures for the people, only so
far and as long as circumstances forced
it to do so.
The Democratic party opposed the
course of the Republican party, in rela-
ton to financial legislation in 1868 and
1872, but when it seemed that it was
about to gain the ascendency in 1875,
it was brought under the control of TIE
money power, where it remained TWEEN
ty years and until the development of
a new party on the same issue forced
it back to the adoption Of platform
in conformity to popular demands.
And it is a notorious fact that, IN
the days of the slave power, the DEM
oclati party was subservient to the
STAKEHOLDER.
= AsaccessiOn of the Democratic Marty