The Advocate and news., 1898-02-16

government by party posses SelI gov
ernment is, indeed, but an ideal, towards
which all modern governments are tend
ing. AS yet, IL is not a reality IN any coun-
try. The little republic of Switzerland IS,
however, nearer the goal OF democratc
perfection than any other nation. The
main reason why we do not have full and
comprehensive system or selt government
In this country is because large BODY OF
our people are not yet believers IN SELF gov
ernment, or IL they do believe IN IL, thelr
interests are opposed to its realization. The
commercial classes, and the professional
men, and the politicians--who are too often
commercial men In the most commercial
sense Of that term-do not, as a rule, be-
lieVe in the ability Of the American people
to govern themselves.
The truth is, that, during the century
that is just closing, the best thought, and
the best effort of men in this country have
not been applied to politics and statecraft:
They have been applied to commerce and
invention. In competition with commerce
and invention the fields Of statesmanship
during this century have been but poorly
worked The laborers have too often been
but the scum Of the commercial classes.
so thoroughly have our people become
imbued with the progressive spirit or COM
merce and invention that they have learned
to welcome almost every innovation and
new achievement in those fields as
blessing. There no conservatism exists
The most radical and stupendous changes
take place without creating either fear or
opened our eyes to the blessings or change
and progress in commerce and invention,
but, when we come to look into matters OF
government and Jurisprudence we adjust
the glasses of conservatism to our eyes,
and we scrutinize each proposed change
with fear and trembling lest 1t be an In
fernal machine, invented by some disor-
dered brain for the purpose or destroying
some sacred prerogative of capital.
The public mind is, however, awakening
to matters Of governmental change; 1t Is
beginning to realize that government no
less than commerce, no less than science,
no less than invention, no less than relig-
ion, and no less than society Itself, Is gov
erned by, and develops according to the
great universal law of evolution.
The pessimist deplores the decay OF 10y
atty to democratic institutions and ideals
in this country; but he is in error. The
fact is that democratic thought in this
country at this time is far beyond that OF
the revolutionary period. That this may
view the thought of those days and COM
pare 1t with that Of these times. At the
close of the revolutionary war democratic
ideas had not progressed very far. That
war was fought for one democratic prin-
cipe only-the right of self taxation.
general scheme of democratic government
had not then become popular; but demo-
cratic ideas had progressed so far that IT
soon became apparent that the new Amer
lean government would be some form OF
republic. No sooner was the new gov
ernment set up, and especially no sooner
did the weaknesses Of the Articles Of Con-
federation begin to manifest themselves,
than the politicians and statesmen or that
day began Offering plans for new govern
ment The dividing line then was the same
as now. Those who believed that the peo-
ple should be permitted to govern them
selves formed one class-the democrats;
those who believed that the people should
be governed, formed the other-artisto-
Gratis The leaders Of the first class were
Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry;
those of the other were Alexander Hamil-
ton and John Adams At last, after pro-
lOnged and earnest contest upon the plat
FORM in the press, in conventions, and in
State and national Legislatures these con-
tending forces met in the convention which
framed our present federal constitution.
Hamilton was no demagogue. IL devotion
to political institutions and principles
which one honestly believes to be the best
for the people is patriotism, then Hamilton
was no less patriot than JEFFERSON The
contest was not a contest between men, 1t
was a contest of ideas,
Hamilton had no faith in popular gov
ernment. He gave all his energy to build
ing up a sentiment that would end in the
establishment Of a government, democratic
in name, but based upon an aristocracy Of
wealth instead of upon a democracy Of
men-a government which would have in
II as little Of democratic principles as pos
sible He boldly asserted that the British
government was the best model in exist
enCe"
Democratic principles had progressed too
far for the ideas Of Hamilton to be adopted
by the convention. However, the constitu-
tlon that was adopted gives to the people
a very small part in the Federal govern
ment 1t does not give them the power to
elect the President, It delegates that to the
electoral college, 1t does not give to them
tho right to elect United States Senators,
it delegates that to the State Legislatures;
IL does not give them power to name Fed
eral Judges, 1t delegates that power to the
President of the United States. 1t gives
them no power to recall Representative, q
Senator, President or a Judge. 1t gives
them no power to propose laws, or to veto
laws passed by the national legislature. 1t
gives to the people directly only one small
power, that of electing members of the
lower house Of Congress. That convention
made 1t impossible to amend the constitu-
ton except by revolution. And this was
styled self government by the people,"
Hamilton's dlstrust of the people has
hnnL, th. .a,ll-