Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-03-27
ANrLMARrIN ADDRESS.

a number of Virginia democrats
have issued an address to their fellow
democrats OF the State appealing to the
party to unite with them in an effort
to secure the adoption of constitu-
tional amendment comforting upon
the voters OF the several States the
privilege of electing Senators by direct
/ vote of the people.
Following Is the full text Of this ad.
dress:
/ To the Democratic Voters of Virginia A.:
| 1.-The demand for change in the
method OF eleciing United States Sena-
/ tors is so widespread and so imperative
! that the issue thereby raised cannot
longer be wisely or safely avoided by
/ the democrats of Virginia. The senti-
ment in favor of the election of Sena-
| tors by direct vote OF the people is not
| OF recent origin; but lis growth in its
present decade is unequaled in our
entire history That it has been
quickened immensely by the shocking
disclosures of the legislative scandals
which have disgraced many of the
States of the Uupion Is painfully appsr-
ent, and their effect upon the public
| conscience cannot have escaped the
most Indifferent observer OF passing
events. Indeed, the situation has be
come wellnieh intolerable in many OF
the States. The people of Virginia
cannot remain usansi0le TO conditions
50 fraught with peril to our institu-
tons.
"Too often Senators OF the United
| States do net represent the body OF the
people of the several States, but very
/. frequently represent special corporate
interests or special classes. Notifying
| as this fact must be to every lover OF
! our government, it is no recent discov-
cry, although the evil consequences aud
bitter degradation involved IN it have
OF late been presented with frequent
and impressive emphasis.
THE vice in the existing method OF
electing Senators was detected by
many of toe wisest OF the founders OF
the republic, at the very beginning OF
their great task, among them the Vir-
GINA patriots, whose opinions at This
date are accepted as the most valuable
political legacies that have come down
TO u5 from ali the past. These men
had an Inherited and instructive love Of
liberty and adherence OF tyranny in
any form, which armed them
with the power of genius to
carry out their high resolve to have
for themselves and TO bequeath
to their descendants an enduring free
government, resting upon the free will
of free people. The argument for the
present system was made in that day
frankly and without disguise. Ore O.
the most prominent advocates OF the
legislative method of electing Senators
Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts, insisted
that the commercial and moneyed
interests would be more secure in the
hands of the State Legislature than o.
the people at large
James Madison, on the other hand
declared that the great fabric to be
raised would be more stable and endur-
ing if it should rest upon the solid
foundation Of the people themselves
than if it should stand merely upon
the pillars OF the Legislatures them
selves The declaration OF Thcma;
Jeferson-'I am not among those who
fear the people'-need not have beer
preserved 20 assure Us where the judg
ment aud sympathies Of the founder Of
democracy were placed on this ques
ton; nor can it be doubted that Patrics
Henry, the matchless defender OF pop
ular rights, approved the judgment o.
Washington, Madison, Randolph, Ma
son and Blair, who cast the influence
and vote of Virginia against the cleo
ton CT Senators by the Legislatures
and over whose better judgment that
provision was incorporated in the fed
eral constitution. The sentiment O
tue great Virginians OF that day, with
out regard to party, approved the cleo
ton OF Senators by the people, and /,
nav be affirmed without hesitation
mat confidence in and reliance upor
the people to govern themselves Is IL.
herent in the plan upon which Goo
built Virginia manhood.
ut is not to be denied that the Sen
, |
men of high ability and character, but
it must be conceded that the average
intellectual and moral stature OF lta
members is growing less and less
while the intellectual cultivation OF the
masses OF the people etlains daily
higher and higher stages. Who does
not know that in many of the States
the influence OF great corporations is
more potent in the election OF Senators
than the sentiment Of the mass o.
voters? And how often have the Leg,
islstures chosen those who were scarce
" known to the people and defeated
those whose election the people had
decreed? The senatorial elections and
contests of the past and passing year in
Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Della
ware. West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ne
braska, Utah, Nevada, California
Maryland and Montana present close
series of hideous scandals such as
shock the moral sense of the country
while at the same time furnishing new
and indisputable testimony against the
wisdom of q plan capable of such desc
Grafton and abuse.
"But this question has now passed
beyond the argumentative stage. Upon
| it the minds Of the people are firmly
made up. The House OF Represents
tiyes of the United States hes repeated
| " and by an almost unanimous vote
passed resolutions to amend the con-
stitution so as to give the people the
right to chose their Senators, but the
! Senate has as often stiiled those resolu.
| tions in committee, not daring to dis
ouss than in omen session. well know