Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-13
rsSrNrr,II.N DEMOCRATIC.

=
oo,,,er.ion. by which the opponents
Of the proposed May conference seem 10
set great store, Is that the election oil
senators by the popular vote would ne 10
question the wisdom cf the fathers or the
republic ami discredit a cardinal prin-
cinle underlying our system. In form
more or less vague this contention has
been advanced in several quarters Ooh-
sidcrod in the abstract. the contention
has force. Considered. however, IN con-
nection with the history Of the framing
Of the Constitution. st loses its force en-
tirelv There were few questions before
the convention of 1851 about which there
was more diversity Of opinion III me
body than tina. of the method Of electins
senators. or members of the second
branch" as the proposed Senate was thch
formed. When the convention met there
were not only wide differences on TINS
iss,re. hut also upon The question OF the
basis Of representation in the Senate.
As q consequence ihe conclusion of the
whole matter was 4 compromise.
II however. the doctrines held by MI
jefferson are the fundamental doctrines
Of true Democracy. and if Democracy
represents true republican Institutions
the election of senators by the people
would. In reality. be a falling back upon
what Mr.. jefferson recognized as the
foundation stone and the guarantee OF
nerpetuity OF our form OF government
,rhe maxim from which the sage of Mon
,icello evolved all his theories OF gov
er,mcnt was. Trust the people This
mavim we find him celebrating and en-
pbasizing all through his public and pri-
vate correspondence. Here Is an example:
..,iv u.ost earnest wish is TO see the
renunucaif ulemoCratc) element OF popu-
lar control pushed 10 the maximum OF nus
practicable exercise. l SHAH then believe
that our goyernment may be pure ana
perpetual.
And another;
"It should be remembered. as an axiom
of eterna! truth in politics, that Whatever
mower In any eoyernment IS independent
Is absolute also; in theory only az nIst
while the spirit OF the people IS up but II
practice as fast as that relaNes. lndepcn
dence can be trusted nowhere but witt
independent of ali but moral law.
And still another.
81 know OF 10 safe depository Of The
ultimate powers OF society but the people
themselves"
The movement TO elect senators by thu
people l. simply a movement IN the oil
recuon Of trusting the people more fully
Judged by the tencts Of Mr.. Jefferson, ]
Is essentially a Democratic movement
It's object is to push popular control TO the
maximum OF its practicable exercise, thus
insuring the Senates becoming a fac
tor In maintaining the purity and con
tributing 10 the perpetuity OF our govern
ment. II represents revolution agalhs
a plan OF choosing senators which ma
resulted in the Senate's abusing the In
dependence il now enjoys. and which
furthermore, has conduced In some of th
States TO the legislatures maniiesting !
senatorial elections not only absolute dis
dain OF the will Of the people, but at
solute contempt for honesty and moIalit,
And In its relations TO this latter ev
of the present method. the movemen
promises the elimination OF agencies an
influences that are having a most cor
terminating and demoralizng effect upo
tho body social
So we say. that il Jeftersonian DEMO-
racy Is not dead. there IS, I'm view OF wh'
the existing method Of olectinS senator
has led 10, every reason why the pui
poses OF tho May conference should II
ceive the enthusiastic support of the Vii
ginia Democracy. The cali for the cor
terence is "A call upon tho people 20 sa
whether they have less confidence
themselves than Mr. jefferson had
them. IL Is u call 10 them 20 assemb
and assert that independence which tin
has abundantly proved 'cen be trustC
nowhere but with the people in mass.
aud In which. as is becoming more paii
fully apparent every day. lies the on
hope of bringing the Senate into harmon
with pure Democracy. both as respee
Democratic spirit and Democratic pra'
tice.
We repeat that the movement Is esse
TALLY a Democratic movement. And IN
being the case, the May conference ca
not. as some have insisted, be faction