The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-07
A PERNICIoUs PROPOSITION.


west end Of Pennsylvania avenue.
PERNICIOUS PROPOSITION.
1t would be hard to find anything
better calculated to prolong CONNER
cial depression and insure the perma-
nence Of disastrous political agitation
than the bill introduced by Senator
Pettigrew for poular referendum on
certain propositions intended to be sub
mitted to the voters at the election Of
1888. AT this time the senator desires
to have the voters of the country, when
they elect their congressman, pass upon
the question whether law should be
enacted for the immediate unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to
1; and whether United States senators,
president and vice president should be
elected by popular vote. The prin-
ciple of the referendum itself has not
been incorporated with any political
faith in this country, and it's practical
operation in government like ours is
open to most serious doubt and ques
ton
There is no doubt or question, how
ever, as to the practical effect Of
what is here suggested. The country
has had an experience for several years
with popular discussion of the advis-
ibility of the free coinage of silver,
and it is not desperately in love with
the results Probably no ills that have
been pictured as a consequence either
of the gold standard or the silver
standard by the most rabid advocates
Of the opposite side have ever equal
led the reality of those that follow the
perpetual agitation for a change. We
believe that this country could get
! along with the worst monetary system
ever devised or imagined by man if
only it were understood to be perma-
nent, and business interests were per-
mitted and encouraged to adjust them
| selves to it. 1t is this unending un-
certainty, this apprehension on the part
of business interests of they know not
What, this understanding that all busi-
ness arrangements, contracts, purchas-
ess sales and commercial negotiations
between man and man must. be made
subject to action by congresses. ever
ready to reverse one another that has
taken the life out Of trade and given
US poverty where wealth should
abound
The issue Of the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver at the ratio of Is to
was voted on by the people a year
ago. Most, even Of those who do not
admit that it was definitely and finally
settled then, are wiser than Mr.. Petit
grew, and relegate the question TO the
dominion Of future political contro-
versy. No matter what the result of
another election might be. if it were
believed that such a fight would be
made over again in 1898. as it would
need to be if the referendum idea wore
adopted, business men would feel like
emlgrating in body. That Mr..
Pettigrew's proposal is dictated by the
demagogic character of the man is
construction. He is not thinking about
the good of the country, but a great
deal about the good of Pettigrew So
he did not even take the trouble. in
arranging his second proposition. to
separate two things that rest upon TO-
tally dissimilar principles; and could
not be Joined in an intelligent vote.
because most, perhaps, who support
one would oppose the other.
The amendment to the constitution
requiring the election of United States
senators by popular vote would be a
good thing. The change wrought by it
would be change in methods and
machinery only. Instead of an indirect
election by a legislature, we would
have a direct election by the voters.
All experience goes to show that this
would be a gain. The theory upon
which the constitution proceeded in
this particular, like that of the cleo
toral college, has disappeared in our
political development; while it has SEEM
ed to be demonstrated that state legis-
latures are too easily controlled by for
midable and forbidden interests to per-
NIT them to name one of the co-ordi-
nate branches of the law-making power
of the nation. On the other hand, the
election Of president and vice presi-
dent by popular vote would threaten
us with evils that we can scarcely ap-
preciate, because we have never expert