St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-01-14
CONGRESS-.
Correspondence of the CALIFORNIAN

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ton to ask than to answer to the
uuestioner's satisfaction. II human
nature was considered the question
would not be asked at all. Inc
wonder rather, is, considering the
vast diversity Of human OPINION
how agreement for the public good
is made in so many directions, and
for evil in so few. Serious work and
so much of it is done every day at the
Capitol. Whether it is good or bad
no doubt depends upon our point OF
view. and we will not discuss it here.
But upon the whole, for a round
hundred years, the good work has
been in excess Of the bad. There can
be no reasonable doubt about that.
Campaign speeches and Fourth OF
July orations all admit that. Mis-.
takes no doubt have been made;
some have been rectitied, and some
tabled forever. But the essential
thing is that human endeavor has
been as little hindered as by any
BODY of men on earth; and the on
ward march of human liberty, OF
human progress, has been promoted
as by no other body of men, or by
any government whatsoever. 1t is
worlds wonder, our internal I'M
provements. That every one con-
cedes.
They are an interesting study,
the peoples representatives IN both
houses. Human nature, its strength
and weakness, and its percentage OF
wisdom, are as well represented here
as in any parliament. In the nature
of things, party strife urges on many
matters that otherwise would get no
hearing. In a place where the weap-
ons are WORDS attack and defense are
the order of the day, and that is bet
ter than the other alternative, bayo-
nets. Nothing could ever be done
except by party. A thousand splits
and diversions would forever prevent
results. Someone must yield some
where; some compr omises must be
had, and the thing brought to vote
in some shape, or chaos would reign.
1t is the glory of republic that the
work of the majority is submitted
to with the least bitterness possible.
1t is a deal better with its faults,
than a one man power. An autoc.
racy is pretty certain to lose it's tenn
per and judgment. Parties, and
majorities and minorities, are the
safest things yet devised for keeping
the peace; though it is to be admit.
ted they are not always successful.
Whether we like it or not the peo-
pies work must 60 on, and, in the
long run, on the lines of least resist
ance. 1t is the purpose of the wisest
legislation to find this all out; and
where is the foreign legislation in
which great problems have been
solved, better upon the whole, than
with us? The practical sense Of the
people is the final arbiter every
where. Parliaments every where get
in the peoples way, for the time
being, and get themselves relegated
to private life.
None, or few measures that are
recognized by Congress, and come
before it for discussion but are mer-
cilessly scrutin'zed. They get cross.
fires from every direction. The peo-
pie themselves, through their news
papers and in other ways. have a
hearing, and a final appeal at the
ballot box. The whole mechanism
of law making is matter for con
graduation, open to criticism o.
course, rather than rdicule and vitu
pcration as suggested at the begin
ming of this article.
1t is fact, for which all American.
ought to be thankful that so llttl,
downright mischievous Legislation
gets very far on any road. The ex
tremists are always on hand to urg'
their pet schemes; and the wonder u
that so many times they are heade(
off. Men of this class have some
thing to say very often. They ar
would-be great men. who are lis
tened to, il at all very patiently, ant
then at voting time are very quietl
but firmly turned down. Scores an,
hundreds of schemes are thus dis
posed Of in committee, or in ope
session, OF which the country neve
hears. Some exceptions no doub
there are, but the rule remains.
Sometimes much is said about ur
seemly exhibitions on the floor {
the House, when mems tempers &c
the best OF them and words run higl
and gestures are extraordinarily en-
phatic. 1t can be said without Tea
OF successful contradiction that IL
department of our Representative,
stands out very far on the side of tt
proprieties. Courtesy and genial,
are the rule. Much has been gain,
in the speakership of Mr.. Rec
Smoking is prohibited in the corr
doris and in the House, and the ru