Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-06-08
MUST HAVE NEW SYSTEM
ONLY WAY TO SECURE PEOPLE
THEIR RIGHTS.
Fathers Of. This Country Builded on
Correct PrlnoiDleS--It 10 tho Duty OF
This Generation to Correct tho Mis-
takes Which They Made

discuss this question. IL Is more thai
100 years since the entire citizenship o
our country, then much less than now
possessed an enlightened conviction o
the desirability and pressing necessit,
OF rule by all tho people. When on
constitution was adopted our forefath-
ers confidently believed that demo
cratic government, rule by the people
was entirely possible under the repre-
sentative form Of government. At thai
time tho world had seen no examples
of rule by tho popular vote, where
each citizen spoke directly In public
affairs, except In, the Agora Of Sparta
and Athens and In tho forum OF an
Client Rome, There the voice OF citi-
zen speaking directly by majority
vote, was the supreme law and citi-
zenship carrying with II the right to
vote, was justly valued very highly
But when our government was es-
tabllshed upon citizenship, widely
scattered over a newly and sparsely
settled territory, the Grecian Agora
and Rome Forum seemed impractical
md out Of the question. The hearts
md breasts OF the patriots Of the revo-
luton, who had cut the chains that
bound US to the mother country were
filled with high purposes 10 build n
government resting upon and operated
by the governed, Filled with patriot
ism themselves, loving their country
newly born out OF the mighty throes
Of bloody revolution, they believed
that through the representative sys-
tenn all their patriotic purposes would
be accomplished,
Some there were who feared the cor
rupting influence of wealth and the
aggressiveness Of selfish ambitions;
but the keenest visioned and the most
president failed TO forsec the present
totally wrecked condition OF self-gov-
eminent in our country.
They builded upon CORRECT princi-
pies: That all men were created equal
before the law; and that governments
derive their just powers froln the con-
sent of the governed, The 'divine
right Of kings was distinctly repudia-
ted. In place thereof they held that
the "divine right" to rule resided In
the people II anywhere among men,
And here, upon this proposition,
chang all the law and the prophets"
There is but one place to look for the
"divine right or any right among
men, to rule and that is to the people,
Too much emphasis cannot be placed
upon this proposition.
But do l need to argue it2 Is there n
fairly intelligent voter Of any party in
the United States who will deny it?
Strange us it may seem, unfortunately
there are many who deny it. Not how
ever, so much by word or mouth as by
their conduct, Yet the old self-sufli-
Gent satanic idea that the few are
wiser, purer and more honest and
therefore more TO be trusted in gov.
ornamental affairs than the many is
still possessed by some voters. As u
general thing men who possess this
ntolerable idea look upon their weak
or neighbors as their prey, If only they
can get their grip of greed upon them.
Such men are still dominated by the
beustly instincts of the porcine and
feline They deny that their weaker
neighbor has rights which they are
bound to respect u i..rH.r.
Their idea Of government is such an
one as will help them most by giving
to the strong special privileges as they
may the more easily plumber their
weaker neighbour. And right here we
discover the reason why government
ought to rest upon the consent Of the
governed. Give us in this country a
government by less than a majority, as
by an aristocracy or plutocraey as at
present, and that government will
surely help the few and the strong at
the expense of the many and the
weak There need be no doubt OF this
proposition. u w..ug.u' ..
And it is herein that our patriot
fathers did not build as wisely as they
supposed they were building AS adj
miniSSered by them our government
was so representative that each citizen
had voice in it through his loyal,
faithful and patriotic representative.
If the same high sense Of honor and
patriotism as actuated them, had COLI
tinued to this day to actuate the SER
wants (so.cNlled) Of the people, our
country would not have drifted upon
the rocks Of which governments by the
people has been hopelessly wrecked.
But it was impossible to maintain
government by the people under the
representative system. M
The form Of government that the
disnatohps snv ia nronosed bv tho com