The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13

licanism, and l confess know no other
measure, 1t must be agreed that our gov
ernments have much less of republican
ism than ought to be expected, in other
words, that the people have less reg
ular control over their agents than their
rights and their interest require.
And believing as 1 do that the mass OF
the citizens is the safest depository OF
their own rights, and especially that the
evils flowing from the duperies of the
people, are less injurious than those
from the egotism of their agents, am
friend to that composition of govern
ment which has In it the most Of this
ingredient"
In letter to M. Liable Armand (page
81, Vol. III) he wrote: 1--WE think in
America that it is necessary to intro
duce the people into every department
of government as far as they are cap
able of exercising it and that this is
the only way to insure long-continued
and honest administration of it's pow
ers."
In his first inaugural address (page
3, Vol. VIII), he said "Sometimes il
the government of himself Can he then
be trusted with the government Of 9th
ers? Or have we found angels in the
form Of kings to govern him? Let his
tory answer the question"
In letter to Samuel Kercheval (page
9. VOL Wiz he wrote: Governments
are republican only in proportion as
they embody the will Of people and
execute it."
And in another place he said: "The
will of the majority is the natural law of
every society and the only sure guard
ian of the rights Of man. Perhaps even
this may sometimes err, but its errors
are honest, solitary and short-hved. Let
us forever bow down to the general
reason OF society,""
Only three other quotations from
early Democrats will be given to show
party founded on the principles at the
base OF direct legislation, but these are
names luminous in the annals of that
party and were great men. Many more
might be given.
Andrew Jackson in his inaugural all
dress, said: Experience proves that
In proportion as agents to execute the
will of the people are multiplied there
is danger Of their wishes being frustra-
ted. Some may be unfaithful; all are
liable to err. So far, therefore, as the
people can with convenience speak, it
is safer for them to express their own
will"
John G. Calhoun said, in his Grafton
on the rights Of states: by nature
every individual has the right to gov
ern himself; and governments must de-
rive their right from the assent ex-
pressed or implied of the governed and
be subject to such limitations as they
impose"
Alex. H. Stephens, United States SEN
ator from Georgia and later vice presi-
dent Of the Confederacy, magnificent
orator and magnificent man, said, as re-
ported in Greeley's American Conflict,
Vol. l., page 344., in speech before
tho Georgia legislature opposing seces-
sion: Should Georgia determine to
go out of the Union, l speak for one,
though other views may not agree with
mine, whatever the result may be, shall
bow to the will of the people. Their
cause is my cause, their destiny is my
destiny, and l trust this will be the ul-
innate course of all.
THE greatest curse that can befall a
free people is civil war. BUT LET US
CALL A CONVENTION OF THE PEO-
PIE, LET ALL THESE MATTERS BE
SUBMITTED TO IT, AND WHEN THE
WILL OF A MAJORITY OF THE PEO-
PIE HAS THUS BEEN EXPRESSED,
THE WHOLE STATE WILL PRESENT
ONE UNANIMOUS VOICE IN FAVOR
OF WHATEVER MAY BE DEMAND
ED"
How in such a great crisis he turned
to the sure foundation of the voice OF
the people, and would that, instead Of
seeking the smaller voice Of a state, he
had hearkened to the larger, saner,
surer voice of the nation.
AS st. Loe Strachey, editor of the
London Spectator, said recently in that
paper: THE MOST DEMOCRATIC
MEASURE CONCEIVABLE is THE
REFERENDUM. No one vino upholds
that institution can be accused for a
moment of not trusting the people or of
failing to acquiesce in the principle that
the people themselves constitute the
ultimate sovereign power in the nation.
That is the true touchstone. THE MAN
WHO REFUSES TO AGREE ON THE
REFERENDUM CANNOT BE TRUE TO
THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLE OF
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT" =
Now, if anyone says that the prin-
ciples on which the Democratic party