River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-11

st. Louis In June, 1896, simply re-
corded the result determined months
| before.
"Since the a. pearance of the ma
chine in politics this is the most
notable instance of its defeat. 1t
brings with it a lesson for this hour.
Probably not twice in a generation
would the experience of the people be
of such characte. De so general and
extend over such a period of time, as
to make the members OF one party so
unitedly of one mind, SO fused to-
gether in one mass. Never before was
the power of machine influence so
strongly shown in concerted move
ment over such a wide field of action.
From the control of great cities and
great states, of legislatures and of
seats in the United States senate-un-
less speedily arrested, 1T is manifest
that ultimately the machine will ac-
quire supreme control of government.
Right-rninded, thoughtful, patriotic
men observe the rapid and almost ire
sistible advance of this era of misrule
with serious apprehension and mis-
giving.
Evolution of Popular Representation.
whence came this menace to the
Republic established by Washington
and his followers? What is it's evolu-
tion in our political life?
There was no place in the begin
ming for the machine. The simple
plan provided at the outset was to as
semble the people of a district and to
select one of their number to represent
them. This at least brought together
the more prominent citizens and in
sured the choice of those for public life
who would represent their constituent
cies, in conformity with the views of
the founders of representative govern
ment-that is, a representative gov
eminent through representative men.
These representative men were ex-
pected to maintain their independence
of thought and action, rather than re-
| fleet the opinions of those whom they
represented. Our forefathers were a
little distrustful of a too immediate
participation in political control by the
people unaccustomed to self-goyern-
ment. The judgment of the few was
regarded as safer and wiser than the
INFESTED judgment of the many. The
growth of the government they
planned very soon overran their most
abundant caution, and always in the
direction of more pronounced democ-
racy.
THE hasty Intervention of congress
| in the nomination of the president, and
with The prompt emasculation of the
Electoral college-in the election of
the president as well, all in violation
of the letter and spirit of the constitu-
ton, were causes early moving to a
larger depository of power with the
| people.
Along with popular development,
came competition and contest for the
distinctions of public service. With
opportunities of wider choice the peo-
pie began To demand q more exact re-
Election of their own views by their
Representatives. The representative
now came in fact 10 be regarded as the
servant of the people. This did not
preclude leadership. While in one
direction there was a tendency toward
the loss of individuality in an identi-
fication of the representative with his
constituency, in another there was :
larger field for the higher talents o
Icreative craftsmanship i'm marking on
public policy and moulding publ
opinion to it's adoption. But whethe
originating with the people or the reg
resentative, the time came finalh
when they demanded that he represent
their ideas-either by rejecting their
opinions. or by furnishing them with .
better set of opinions.
This was progress along the
lines of pure democracy. IL marked
an advance of the people. the assertion
of the individual as a political factor
THE development of the individual
lin government called for instrumental
tiles which would enable him to make
the government feel the tull weight OF
his personality.
The Caucus and the Convention.
ut is here that we note the appear
lance of the caucus and convention
The complicated system of caucuses
to select delee ties to attend conven-
tons, to select other delegates to at
tend nominating conventions to choose
candidates to be voted for at the gen.
eral elections. was never thought of by
the trainers of the constitution, and nc
provision whatever was made with ref
erence to it. Except in two states the
caucus and convention plan was un-
heard of for nearly q generation fol
lowing the adODtiCn of the constitution