Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-03-31
The Only Remedy.

The Legislature of Kentucky, which
has just adjourned, retires with the
unanimous condemnation of the press
of that State. Although the BODY was
Democratic, the Courier Journal. the
leading Democratic newspaper of that
State denounces it in the severest
terms 1t says, among other things:
For fragrant scorn OF even the form
OF fair play, and even the shadow of de-
cency; for absolute and open desertion
of public duties and abject and malevo-
lent prostitution to partisan plunder;
far arrogant usurpation, in the name of
the sacred functions of representative
Government and their distortion 10 oil
garchic despotism for all these things
the record of this Legislature is not only
unparalleled, but unapproached.
What is the remedy for all this? 1t is
evidently with the voters. If legisla-
lures are corrupt, venal, unpatriotic
and despotic, is it not because men
without character or personal fitness
are elected to that office?
The remedy for this is surely in tn e
hands of the people. What is needed
above all things is more intelligent dis
elimination in the selection of mem
bers. When general apathy and indif-
ference exists on the part of the peo-
pie as to the character and ability of
their representatives, how can they ex-
pect anything else? AS long as so
many constituencies exhibit a reckless
disregard of their own interest and the
welfare of the State at large by depend
ing upon other constituencies to furnish
the character and ability needed in the
legislature, and think it matters little
whom they send, they can expect no
better results
1t is serious thing to put sovereign
power into the hands of men who have
no higher motives of action than plum
der and spoils and political expediency,
and who have no intelligent concep-
tions of the proper functions of law or
the sacredness of human liberty
In sele citing a member of the legisla-
ture each constituency should act as
though it We're expressing its notion Of
the idea of what a Legislature ought to
be. 1t will not do to say in a languid
and indifferent way, "Oh, we'll what's
the difference? If we do send poor
stick to the legislature, other countries
will seud good men, aud it will be all
right. 1t wod't work. If all constit-
uencies entertain that idea the result
must be that an assem- bly, is selected
which is poor in every quality of man
hood morality and patriotism that is
required to make up an honorable and
trustworthy body of representati; es.
We cannot get figs for thistles. A man
who is foolish and wicked reckless,
vain and uniformed is ont likely to be
improved by electing him to the legisla-
ture A body comprised of incompe-
tent, rattle-braired individuals, nomat-
ter how genial and pleasant they may
be, or how eager they are to serve in
that capacity, must necessarily be an
ass in the aggregate
In order to get legislature that is
creditible, and of which the people may
be justly proud, we must exercise a
careful, intelligent and patriotic ais
elimination, expressing our idea of
what such body should be by our
individual ballots. Good fellowship,
fovoritism. sympathy, buncombe, fac
tionism and prejudices of all kinds
should be carefully eliminated. PUNK
sutawney Spirit