The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-27

| AT frequent Intervals IOr sHue years
| past there have appeared articles in
| criticism of the existing form of gov
| eminent in this country, pointing out
| what appeared to the writers to be a
| patent defect in the system, in that II
| did not admit of immediate change in
the personnel OF congress and the ad-
ministration, to correspond with the
change of public sentiment upon ma
tional issues. With a show OF reason
1t has been pointed out that the sys-
tenn is inelastic, and not as responsive
to the popular viii as a democratic re-
public should be. In contrast with this.
the English constitutional system has
received much commentator. II a
ministry In Great Britain, or in the
British colonies, fails to command a
the lower house OF the colonial legis-
lature. It must Immediately resign Of
fee to the opposition: or 1t must call
a general election. that the voters may
determine whether OF not they desire
to have the proposed policies followed.
In this country a congress, once elect
ed, serves its full term, with absolute
control of all legislation, even X the
popular sentiment has suffered a radi-
cal change: and a party which has been
defeated at the polls still retains pos
session Of all OF the legislative machin-
cry for a full congressional session az
ter II has been repudiated by the peo-
pie, during which II is empowered TO
pass precisely the legislation which
the people by their votes have declared
that they do not desire. 1t is claimed
as a defect in the system that the ad-
ministratlon, including all Of the cab
met. retains ONCE In the teeth of an
adverse legislative majority and con-
ducts the affairs of the country, in
many instances, for two years after an
election in which the people have
changed front and voted into Office, so
far as they could. a legislature hostile
to the executive.
The scheme of making the govern
ment Immediately responsive to the
popular will has been suggested from
many different sources. Indeed. 1t is
a portion Of the programme OF the adj
vanced Populists that the people should
have the right to recall their legisla-
tive or executive officers at any time
when their course falls to command
popular approval This il a modifica-
ton. but strictly in accordance with
the principles of British parliament
government as opposed to the Ameri-
can system Of fixed terms Of office.
While the idea Is attractive. an &C.
casional instance appears which has
tendency to shatter the belief that
the British system has any real points
of superiority over that in vogue In
this country. Political events in Brit
ish Columbia during the past few
months show its defects more thor.
oughly than could possibly be done by
any abstract argument upon the sub
ject. Within the past few months Brit
ish Columbia has seen the downfall of
the Turner ministry, to be succeeded
by that Of Semiin; this In turn to be
succeeded by that of Cotton. this by
that OF Martin. and this by the newly
organized ministry OF Dunsmulr. II ia
not expected that the Dunsmuir min
istry will last beyond the first few days
of the session OF parliament, when the
responsible government of British CO.
lumbia will see another Kaleidoscope
change. or perehance another series Of
changes as numerous as those Of the
past few months.
Such a condition OF things in a state
of the Union would result in enor-
nous amount Of confusion and annoy
ance; in national affairs II would be
absolutely intolerable. A presidential
election whore the result il a matter
Of serious doubt is estimated TO affect
business almost as Injuriously as mon
etary panic, our people are hardly as
conservative as the English, and poiIt-
icai parties here are apparently more
evenly balanced. As a rule. the only
exception to which was the last con-
sressionai election, no party in this
country since denomination savS has
commanded majority IN the lower
house Of congress for two successive
terms. II the personnel Of the govern
ment completely changed with every
biennial election. or by the loss OF a
few votes in narrowly divided house
OF representatives. the country would
be IN political ferment the greater
9art q the time.
on the whole Il must be admitted
that the existing system IL far hettar