The Florence tribune., 1897-05-29
A PopuIIstIo c Measure.
IFrom the Prescott Courier.l

The last Legislature may have done some unwise things, but it's recogni- tion of the fact that all political power e-nanates from the people and that the people should be the court of last resort in matters affecting their in- terests, was wise, very wise. This rec ognition can be found ia section 3 of 'An Act providing for certain city elections, :" which is as follows;
 Sec. 3. No ordinance passed by any such incorporated city shall become effective until it has been published in some newspaper of general circula- ton for the period of twenty daTs. v during such publication, though, there be filed with the City Recorder a written protest against the enaetnasnt of such ordinance. signed by thirty scr cent. of the legal voters of such city, of which signers at least one-haif shall be taxpayers of the said city. the Common Council shall, within twenty days Of the day of filing such protest, order 3 special election to be held by the voters of said city, at which the sole issue
 
 shall be the ratification or rejection of the proposed ordinance. The ballot at such special election shall State the official title of the proposed ordinance, and the vote shall be "Yes," for the ratification of the said ordinance, or "No" for it's rejection. If a majority of the votes are in the affirmative in dicated by "Yes,' the ordinance shall go into effect as passed by the Common Council; if majority of the votes be in the negative, as indicated by 'No," l" the ordinance shall be rejected and an nulled.
 Thus it will be seen that, under the provisions of this ordinance, if there is question that officials elected to rep resent the people have misrepre- sented the people, the right is given for an appeal back to the people, who can vindicate the action of such off cials or condemn them, as the case may be. This is God-given right and may it never be curtailed in the slightest degree. It is needed piece of legislation in these days of govern ment for, by and of corporations and should be territorial and national in its scope instead of purely municipal. No conscientious official fears tine yer diet of the people; only the corpora tion servant trembles when the voice of an aroused misrepresented people is heard. When men with organized capital are granted privileges before the law which are denied men of less financial power and less leverage of patronage, then the sacred principle of American liberty and equality of every citizen before tbe law is involved and the republic is in danger. The very germ of this class legisla tion should be stamped to death as soon as it appears and before it spreads like a plague and paralyzes the right arm of freedom. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" and there is no true liberty where the poor bear the prop erty and license taxation, and the rich corporation contributes not one red cent to governmental support. The time for action has arrived. Don't talk to us about cost when such prin- ciple is involved. It is the principle oi liberty, the defence of which has sent thousands of souls prematurely into eternity and banlrupted nations, who rejoiced even then, when liberty survived. Let us have no lordly few, specially privileged before the law who attempt to throttle fearles. press which dares to represent the views of the people and declaim fol the rights of the people.