New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-20
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.
AN ADDRESS BY GENERAL
WILSON.
HE POINTS OUT soME OF THE WEAK PLACES
IN THE SYSTEM DEVELOPED UNDER THE

| HE POINTS OUT SOME OF THE WEAK PLACES
IN THE SYSTEM DEVELOPED UNDER THE
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.
Albany Jan. ia large audience was present In
| the Assembly Chamber tonight to witness the
opening session OF the annual meeting Of the New
York State Bar Association. which will be concluded
tomorrow, when the election Of officers will take
place. President Edward G. Whitaker, Of New
York City. called the meeting to order, and intro
duced Postmaster General William l.. Wilson. This
is the twentieth anniversary Of the association and
Mr. Wilson delivered the anniversary GRAFTON, TAX
Ing for his subject Some Points in the Making Of
Our Constitutional System. He reviewed at length
the methods of administering the Government and
the weak points in the actual working Of the
stitutional system. Among other things he said:
1T will not do for us to censure too rashly those
whom we have chosen to act for in the two
branches Of Congress. 1t is reasonably certain that
In both Senate and House, and especially in the
latter, which springs directly from the people.
those representatives are just what popular suf
frage under existing conditions and existing party
machinery produces for II there is blame
weakness anywhere. 1t is with those who elect
rather than with those who elected. with the
people who delegate rather than with those
who are delegated Ours is, as 1t must always be,
O. government by majorities rather than a govern
ment of the wisest. ablest AMI best, who by the
conditions Of human nature a minority every
where.
The great and growing evil Of the use of money
IN nonuIar elections to which no patriotic man
can shut his eyes, with its inevitable degradation
of elector and elected. is a question OF momentous
import 1t is not a necessary part Of the working
Of our constitutional system, and the example OF
other countries shows that 1t is within the power
Of remedial legislation.
eft Ia result OF that system that whatever OF merit
or ability or of usefulness 10 the country represent
alive may develop his continuance In public service
depends practically upon single district and. by
the requirements Of the Constitution. OF single
state This is the sword Of Damocles hanging con
or corrupt minority. however small. constitutes the
balance Of power in his district. or corrupt party
and his country lose the benefit of his wisdom and
counsel in public life Nay; more. let any Represent
majority In his particular constituency plant himself
In the pathway Of any great special interest or COM
public. and his Punishment from public life Is
tain the recurrence Of Election Day
by any or E
organization in either House. save as the Speaker
which IS sometimes sufhclent. q, an occasional
Executive veto may arouse public opinion agans:
Federal taxation. that other and still more effective
check. the resistance Of the taxpayer to a known
Treasury has just called attention to the onlnous
that the dra I'm IN Srdnsry
OF which have been years OF stagnant business and
hstns prosperity has been without precedent In our
ominous fact that there has been no resulting ex
r 81 SS,
large measure the resisess pressure OF powerful
private interests and classes and Is result OF that
s euss:ur' rather INA" any '"0srl0u' public ne's'
Walter Logan Of Albany s91Swsa Y Wilson
Justice Russells remarks on International arbitra-
ton at Saratoga last before the National Bar
Il the conclusion of this address tn. MANNERS ~ !