The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-06


THE CHANGES.
The Government Of the United States
as we use IT, besides, is not the govern
ment Of the United states as they USED IT,
Why is IL that this Ieaderless character
OF our government did not disclose hseI
to an earlier generation "a 1t has dis
closed itself 70 us2 The government mas
the same formal structure now that II al
ways has had why has It's weakness been
so long concealed? Why can II not serve
the new time as well as IL served the oldE
Because the new time is not like the DID,
for US or any other nation, the changes
which we have witnessed have trans
formed us. The tasks set the government
now differ both in magnitude and in KIND
from those set It in days gone by
rejoice to believe that there are no
longer any permanent sectional lines In
this country. But there is an unpreced-
ented diverslhcation OF interests, aud for
the time. no doubt, differences OF interest
mark also differences Of region and OF
development And these differences OF
condition and OF economic growth as be-
tween region and region, though temper
airy. are more sharply marked than they
ever were before Moreover. there Is a
confused variety; region differs from re-
cion I'm an almost incalculable number or
significant details. And there is added 10
this everywhere swift process Of change
a shifting OF elements, a perpleXing vlcis-
sltude in affairs. Here and there COM
munties have a fixed life and are still
and quiet as OF old; but these lie apart
from the great forces that are making
the nation, and the law is change.
And where conditions are comparatively
simple and Uniform constructive leader
ship is little needed. Men readily see
things alike and easily come 10 common
| opinion upon the larger sort OF questions
| or at any rate. 10 two general opinions,
widespread and definite enough TO form
parties on. For we'll nigh generation
after the war moreover, the problems
which the government Of the Union had
| 10 settle were very definite problems IN
deed. which no man could mistake and
upon which opinion could readily be con-
centrated
Since then. how has the scene changed
II is not now fundamental matters OF
! structure and franchise upon which we
! have 10 centre our choice, but these gem
oral questions OF policy upon which every
nation has 10 exercise its discreti0n' for
elen policy. our duty 10 our neighbors,
] customs tariffs. coinage. currency. immi-
! grafton tho law OF corporations and or
trusts the regulation Of railway traffic
| ana of the great Industries which supply
the nccessarics OF life and the sturs or
| manufactures Who is 10 reconcile our IN
| terosts and extract what is national and
liberal out Of what is sectional ana sell
fish? II is infinitely difficult TO erect a
! general onlightmcut Of the public nina IN
| regard to their real merits ana slsnl-
ncance for the nation as n whole Ihey
| cannot he settled Justly by mere com
pounding Of differences. mere uneuideu
! Interplay of rival individual forces, WIN
/ out leadership and the courage OF dehnite
| party action.
| l. for my part. when I vote AT critical
| election should like 10 be able 10 vote lot
| a definite line OF policy with regard To the
| great questions of the day, not for plat
| forms which. heaven knows, mean niue
enough. but for men known and tired IN
/ the public service; with records open 10
| bee scrutiniZed with reference 10 these
very matters: and pledged to do this or
! that particular thing. TO take this or that
! definite course OF action. AS II Is, l vote
for nobody / can depend upon to do any
! thing no. not II / were 20 vote Tor myselt.
What would / have? l feel the embar-
! rassmont OF the question If l answer H.
! mako the unpleasant impression or pos
| ing az a statesman. and tempt those VINO
wish TO keep every man In his place 10
remind me that / am only college pro-
| lessor
| stick to his legitimate business or de-
scribing things as they are, leaving II TO
| men OF affairs To determine what they
| ought to be.
THE ROMAN SENATE.
! NV studies have taught me this one
| thing with a dennitcness which cannot
| be mistaken: successful governments nave
never been conducted safely In the midst
of complex and critical affairs except
! when guided by those who were response
| ble for carrying out and bringing TO an
| issue tho measures they proposed; and
| tho separation OF the risht TO plan from
! the duty TO execute has always leu 10
| laundering and inehiclency. The Roman
| Senate the only efficient administrative
.mbly that / know OF I'm the history
II the world. was a permanent body made
| up for the most part of men VINO mao
! served their terms as executive oihcla.i
| through "a long succession OF Offices. III
| undertook actually 10 direct the ahalf7
| OF tho State as our Houses DO Dut us
| members had had varied executive eA-
| perlencc, and. what was or sun more
| significance, its mistakes came back upon
| itself. The shame Of failure fell upon H.
| and not upon those who were merely us
| AGENTS Moreover. IL was Thoroughly
! national power: IL stood for no consu-
| mencles; in its days Of success 1t repre-
| scented. not a divided. but thoroughly
| HOMOGENEOUS state. II you would have
| the present error OF our system IN word
| IL is this that Congress Is the motVe
power In the government and yet mas IN
! 10 nowhere any representative OF the ma
| ton as A whole. our Executive, on The
| other hand. is national at any rate may
be made so, and yet has no longer any
| place OF guidance in our system. II rep
| resents no constituency but the whole
people; and yet though it alone IS ma
| tonal. % has no orignative voice IN 10
| nestle national policy.
We have carried the application of the
notion that the powers Of government
must be separated TO a dangerous and
! unhoard OF length by thus holding our ma
| toual representative. the Executive, al
| arms length from Congress, whose very
| commission Il seems TO be TO represent,
| not the people but the communities into
which the people are divided. We should
| have Presidents and Cabinets or a differ
| Ont calibre were we to make it their
bounden duty to act as committee Tor
the whole nation TO choose and formulate
| matters for the consideration OF Congress
| in the name OF party and an Admins
| tratfon and then, IL Congress consented
| TO the measures, what they are already.
q committee TO execute them. make them
work and approve themselves practicaDie
and wise And that is exactly what we
ought to do We should have not httle
light thrown daily. and often when It was
least expected, upon the conduct Of the
! departments. II the heads of the depart
| l.I..I a to a.