The Louisiana populist., 1897-12-31

terest. The latter is asserted at pres
ent in every law issuing from a legis-
lative assembly. l do not deny that
study is a great aid to the legislator,
but 1t is an aid only when detached
from private interest. But the COM
bination is so rare that only dupes
will seek knowledge united to disin-
terestedness.
The propertied classes are but a
party in the state, and party, even
more than private individual, fol-
lows the impulses of selfshness. OPP
portunity makes 1t inevitably an ex-
ploiter of the people. Hence, mind
sufficiently acute could have foreseen
with no difficulty the fruits of repre-
sentative government. Take France,
for example. What great work Of leg
lslation has been accomplished since
1915? The budget has doubled. The
army has been increased in a time Of
peace. Laws in favor of special In
terests have multiplied. Nothing good
or great has been done, and, as If to
demonstrate the utter vanity OF all
nope founded upon the representative
system, fate has been pleased to in
stltute an infinite number of varieties
or 1t in France, all betraying the same
utter incapacity, the same sinister pur-
pose. Is it surprising, after all this,
that the most ardent advocates Of rep
resentative government are themselves
in despair of it in their heart Of hearts,
and, not daring to make the candid
avowal: I'VE do not know what is to
be done," they say: Nothing can he
DONE" 1t is generally supposed that
combination Of qualities and great
learning is essential to the work Of
good law maker, and that this COM
bination cannot be found among the
masses. Let us correct at once the
greater of the two errors in this as
sertion. The personal interest of the
law makers determines the character
OF the laws. 1t Is not education or
ability. Education draws them up
and by means of its expertness makes
them as utterly bad as the people will
tolerate. Is not this the case with
every product Of the legislative mill,
the mandatory of indictments for The
exploitation of the people? Direct leg
islation would put an end to this de-
grading industry. 1t would not over
throw private interest, but make use
Of 1t in reasonable manner. Direct
legislation, giving ear to the pleas Of
all, without exception, and obtaining
a decisive majority Of all the interests,
would give prominence to the inter-
ests of the public.
But even admitting that education
and special knowledge are essential in
the work Of legislation, let US inquire
if the representative system ITSELF
the only system that can be seriously
opposed to direct legislation-selects
men Of capacity and education TO
make the laws. Certainly not. Every
one knows that in all the representative
assemblies genuine capacity is over
whelmed by the immense predomi-
nance Of medioerities, pledged to pri-
vate. interests.
And must the people as whole be
considered the sum total of the citi-
zens minus the men of education and
ability? 1t is direct legislation, on
the contrary, that can boast of ,ts
ability to utilize the capacity and the
knowledge of all. Direct legislation in
the sections accords to native superb
ority the influence it is entitled to,
whereas the representative system
stiles continually hosts OF intelligent
minds without giving them a single
opportunity in a life time to do any
thing for the good Of humanity. The
masses are endowed with an inimita-
BILE capacity of going straight to the
heart of great legislative question
and deciding it in accordance with
the principles of eternal justice and
natural equity, with which their inter-
ests must necessarily accord, whereas
this capacity and good faith can man
ifest themselves but seldom among a
body of pretended legislators who, in
addition to their class interests, are
blinded by pride and prejudice. Who
has not observed the spontaneous in
telligence with which the masses will
settle questions that have for ages
been rending the hair splitting brains
of the privileged classes without be-
ing determined one way or the other?
In a recent discussion OF direct legis-
lation one opponent, widely known
literary man, wanted to know how the
people could be asked to settle the
grave. question Of the separation of
church and state, question which the
most learned disputants can. give no
solution of. There was subdued
murmur among the audience at this
question and a workman asked leave
to speak. "The people," he said, will
decide that those who want to pray
may s2y their prayers. Religion is a
privste affair.""
In political matters this same su-
periOrity of the masses IN the rn1ino