The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-01

constitution the highest expression OF
sovereign power, and, therefore, think
convention should be submitted to the
lpeople for ratification or rejection.
And I will favor no plan which will
take from the people h right TO pass
upon the adoption Dr. rejection Of a
constitution The very genius
OF free government, in my opinion, re-
lquires such a submission"
There are people now who regard the
constitution a patch of shreds-a mere
Ieasy-going document of gutta pe-cha
make, to be stretched or set aside at
will So they say the declaration of
independence means nothing, is sound
ing brass or a tinkIing cymbal." They.
would probably think that the Ten
Commandments were obsolete and the
Sermon on the Moun was empty
words signifying nothing. The world
is filled with such fellows. They will
talk of the most sacred muniments Of
freedom as ''glittering generalities"
and will trample ruthlessly upon all
of the most sacred associations, the
most precious memories, and the most
Iendeared ancestral faiths.
Mr.. Jefferson, if living today, would
be on the side of the people a. h. was
AN hundred years ago. He was the
wise master-builder of this country, as
well as its wisest, safest leader. The
indianapolis Sentinel said Of him
lately:
He was an earnest advocate of in
dividualism. The cornerstone of his
craftsmanship was equal rights to al!
land special privileges to lone. He had
mo use for p~aternaliSm. His stated view
was that government should interfere
with the freedom Of the individual just
as little as possible. Mr.. JEFF
lferson's idea was hat the government
should keep out of business as far as
Ipossible-that it should confine itself
to the business of governing, and do
Jas little of that as possible. He did not
believe that the government g to
own and operate either a church or a
bank, and we see no reason for saying
THAT he would have it own and operate
Iother business institutions. But he be-
Ilieved in government control of banks,
by regulation and restriction and so he
would now support government control
lof necessary monopolies by regulation
and restriction, with suppression Of all
but natural and unavoidable monopo-
lies. he dld not entertain n deluSlOn
that m~onopolies could be made harm
less by encouraging, legalizing Or op-
Grating them"
We are willing to trust the people
in the election of United States sena-
tors as in the election of president.
There ought to be a direct vote for all.
The electoral system is an a~bsurdity-
a fifth-wheel. Little states like Rhode
Island and Delaware, about the size of
an old-time Roanoke plantation, have
1.-TWO senators, as many as a great state
like New York with 5000, 600 inhabi-
tants. But a direct vote of the people
will not change that. But it will get
rid to a great degree of the power of
doodle, as shown in the Montana, SEN
lator, Clark's case. 1t is known tina
other men have got into the senate
during the last thirty years 'by the
Doodle route" The people are ready
Icapable of self-government and of
taking are of their truest interests or
they are not. In the latter condition
they need a king or an emperor. What
freeman believes that?