The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20

rise superior to the disadvantaEes Of their stu
alton. and will command the tribute due to
their merits. not only from the classes to which
they particularly belong, but from society in
general; these. however. are pronounced by
the ederdhst "eSceptionst o IN rule" Accord
ing to the same authority. the representative
body. with too few exceptions to have any in
1uence on the spirit OF the Government. will hs
composed OF landholders, merchants and men
OF tho learned professions" The checks and
balances OF the Constitution were regarded
not rs restraints upon the Government itself
so much as restraints upon the clusscs which
would have possession of the Government, to
keep them from abusing their trusts for indi-
vidual advantage. II was intended to counterfeit
class selfshness by creating antagonistic in
terests. Thus John Adams wrote: 1T Is the
true policy OF the common people to place the
whole executive power In one man. and to
make him n distinct orderi In the State. whence
arises an inevitable jealously between him and
the rest Of the gentlemen; this forces him to
become the father and protector OF the com
mon people. and to endeavor always to humble
every proud, aspiring Senator or other officer
in the State who IL In danger OF acquiring nm
Influence too great for the law or the spirit 81
the Constitution" To the same effect he
argued on another occasion: III the rcopla
NV o"''NiNhN'i Nh'ie CIV W Ns WV 'h''
gers that surround them. they will always be
represented; first, by o distinct parsonage to
manage the whole executive power: second
ly. by a distinct Senate. to be guardians OF
property against Jewellers for the pur-
poses OF plumber. to be a repository Of the
national traditions, of public maxims. GUS
toms and manners, and to be controllers. in
turn, both OF Kings and Minister'S on ono side.
and the representatives OF the people on the
lItA- w-l. -lIl l.-tI 1.- " M
TO do wrong; and. thirdly. 10y a distinct House
OF Representatives. to be the guardian Of
the public purse. and to protect the poo
pie, in their turn. against both Kings and
nobles." Mr.. Ford points out that a polity con-
stituted on these principles was. obviously. not
n republic in the sense in which we use the
word as implying popular rule. A title more
descriptive OF its nature was applied to
1t by John Adams in some correspond
ence with Roger Sherman at the time
of the adoption Of the Constitution. He
called 1t "a monarchical republic" In his
writings on government he classified Eng
land under the same title, and, In now apply
ing it to the United States. he meant simply
that they, too. constituted a monarchy in so far
as the custody OF the executive power was an
individual trust, but that they also formed IA
republic inasmuch as the Constitution pro-
vided for the representation of the people.
Madison also explained that by republic he
meant "a government in which the scheme of
representation took place. definition which
manifestly includes England as we'll as Ameri-
ca. He contended that the new Government
should by no means be classed with the demo-
cratic republics Of antiquity in which the
people ruled. "Dcmocracies have ever been
spectacles of turbulence and controversy. have
ever been found incompatible with personal
security or the rights OF property. aud
have. in general, been as short in their
lives as they have been violent in
their DEATH Means must be provided, ac-
cording to the Federohst. ito refine AID en-
large the public views by passing them through
the medium of a-chosen body OF citizens
whose wisdom may best discern the true inter
ests of their country" Elsewhere we learn.
on the same authority. that THE true distinc-
ton between the ancient republics and the
American Government lies in the total exclu-
sion OF the people. in their collective capacity.
from any share in the latter" We read in a
footnote that Adams. in one of his letters. re-
marks that in England a Republican was re-
Rarded as unamiably as a witch or blasphemer.
According to Jefferson's Anas. something of
the same prejudice against the word fingered
In Washington's mind. Jefferson relates that,
on May %. 1913. Washington called his atten-
tion to the word Republic" in the draft of a
State paper. with the remark that 1t was n
word which he had never before seen in any
OF our public communications"
Significant of the intentions of the trainers is
the fact that there is nothing in the Constitu-
ton requiring Congress to hold public sittings.
although each house shall keen n journal OF
its proceedings and from time to time publish
the same. except such parts as may in their
Judgment require secrecy" This was one Of
the features on which Patrick Henry based his
to the adoption of the Constitution.
In one Of his speeches before the Virginia Con-
he said: What security have we in
money matters2 Inquiry is precluded by this
Constitution. which forbids members Of either
house to DO questioned In any other place
for any speech or debate. How, then. to
discover their conduct We are told that
a regular statement and account OF the
receipts and expenditures of public money
shall be published from time 10 time.
Here Is the utmost latitude left. II those who
are in Congress please to put that construction
upon it. the words OF the Constitution will be
by publishing those accounts once in
hundred years" No doubt. a certain degree
Of accountability was established by the Con-
yet. obviously. the desire OF its
authors was. not to enable the people to control
the Government. but to enable the Government
10 control the people. This desire is revealed
by Madison when he says in the FederaIist:
In framing n government which Is to be adj
by men over men. the great diff
'ulty lies In this: You must first enable the
to control the governed. and. in
The next place. oblige it to control itself"
That the trainers Of the Constitution made
10 Intentional nrDNiSinp fnr tha n,ptrnI rf tI,n