Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
49, = :. an .sss-ss
FORMALLY OPENED.
Continued from page 5.l
THfE SENATE.
BY Mrs. Mary Lowe Carver.

The occasion which calls us here to-
night is of more than passing interest
1t is, indeed, privilege highly to be
priced and long to be remembered-to
! be invited across this-shall We not
say?-enchanted threshold-lto behold
here the changes which taste and Skill
have wrought within few short
months-to fill the eye with light and
color, With grace and symmetry and
fitness of design--to lift the charmed
vision from velveted floor to tinted
wall--to lnger over emblazoned tablet
and sculptured ceiling--to. follow the
tracery of vine and flower along the
lofty frieZe-and to sit for little hour
at the feet of artistic beauty and know
it's inspiration and its power.
But. says one of the greatest teach
ers and disciples of. Art, Art of itself
is nothing. With all its technicalities
and particular ends, it is but noble
and expressive language, invaluable as
the vehicle of thought, but by itself
nothing" For this historic room, no
adjoining can be too fair. The hallow
ed memories, the noble traditions of
more than three score years, that are
bequeathed usswfth these walls, deserve
have lavished here. But all this grace
and beauty and luxury are nothing.
save as they speak of higher than ma
terial things, save as they express our
sense of the lofty service and the high
ideals to which this room is consecrat-
ed. Shall not our Senate Chamber.
then, be for us tonight the open door
to another inner room, a structure
|,
no material splendors, and yet stand
Nng in enduring strength and beauty
among the institutions of a free, en-
lightened, and happy people?
That the Senate is of very ancient
origin is proved from a study Of the
governmental systems of different ma
tons. The division of legislative pow
ers between two chambers is a GUS
tom which runs far back into the past.
Even governments which have given
but little opportunity for the express
sion of the popular will, have availed
themselves of the advantages of the
double legislative chamber.
Such was the case With the Roman
Republic. Her Senate, or Council of
Elders had the initiative in propos-
ing laws and also the right to confirm
or reject those passed by the Comitia.
The distinctive feature, however. of
the Roman Senate was that its MEM
bers held office for life. Thus was Civ
en- the widest latitude to maturity of
mind and to experience of public af-
fairs, and thus chiefly did this body
acquire that commanding influence
Z that won for it from the ambassador
PyrrhuS, the proud epithet, Rome S
Assembly of Kings
Among the Grecian states, Sparta
showed a like estimate of age and
( character by decreeing that her sena-
tors should be at least sixty years OF
age and of spotless reputation, and by
giving them jurisdiction lin matters
of life and death, of honor and of dis
naonor, 7and of all important things"
Blythe Anglo-Saxon races, the con-
Z NGrfence Of two houses in legislation
: has come to be accepted as an unques-
toned axiom of stable government
We find in English history the frs
legal sanction for this custom in a
statute passed in the reign of Edward!
H. nearly six hundred years ago
4 though even here thepnactice is spoken
of as already in existence. England
however, with her hereditary upper
house, has awaited herself mot so much
of the advantages of wisdom and ex-
perience in the making of laws, as of
tilat which arises. solely from the con-
eurrence of differently constituted
bodies. Her Lords and Commons have
merely represented separate estates of
the realm.
In America, the colonial legislatures
a1h tai aaI h.
of Representatives and the Governor 5
4 Council which at that time exercised
e the functions of a senate. These leg
islative bodies We're no doubt modelled
after the English Parliament Blu;
since in this country there, We're no diff
/ ferent orders of society to require de-
fence against each other, there seems
to have been but one reason for trans
planting the custom of the double leg
islature TO the New World. that is, the
N practical advantages known to arise
from it. So great were these seen tt
be that by the time of the adoption OF
the Federal constitution, there Were
but three single-chambered legsla.
lures in America, those of Georgia
Pennsylvania. and the Congress OF
Confederation, and this in the case OF
the Congress, at least, was felt to be q
distinct cause of inefficiency.
q In comforting upon the Senate of the
4 United States its high prerogatives
the trainers of the constitution had il
yiew one leading object-to give the
principle of state sovereignty due re-
cosnition. The compromise by which
the conflicting claims of the larger ant
1.-THE smaller states were adjusted neet
not be dwelt upon. No single pro
vision of the constitution was fraugh
IN weightier issues. 1t was a criti
moment for American liberty; ani
not spirit of amity
mutual concession prevailed, M
can measure the fatal result, o.
how different might have beer
6onditions of our life today
III was. from the far-sighted wis
M that historic adjustment. ther,
eulted in our political system
balancing of local and nationa
q harmonious interplay o
1ciples, of Federal nationalit,
&pe hand and Of state sover
Il the other, which may be wei
to the centripetal and cen
orces in Mechanics. This ha
our Republic of Republics
a11 to, fr,,, ~,