The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-10

safeguard against That they wished
a protection against changing our
government into a monarchy. In case
persons OF such tendencies should get
into control. We believe that this
was the sole cause which this clause
was intended TO guard against: and
II so. We can not see any reason in
the present case for limiting the gen.
eral meaning and understanding Of a
republican government. via. "a
government by the people. in contra.
distinction to government OVER the
people as all European governments
at the time OF the adoption Of the
Constitution we're Tho vital point is.
whore the source OF power? II in the
whole people then the government
is republican, which includes demo
cratic. Republican seems TO be the
more general term. including the 9th.
er but the difference, II any is one
OF form, not OF substance. In fact,
every government has TO act more
or less through representatives: and
the legal maxim applies, what one
does through another he does him
self" Thomas Paine. an author IA
nous for his connection with both
the American revolution and with
the French revolution and also with
his advocacy Of infidel opinions. and
who was chosen by Napoleon to In.
troduce a popular form OF govern
ment into Britain. after Napoleon
should have invaded and conquered
tho island, speaking OF what consti.
tutes republican government. says;
What is called a republic is not any
particular form OF government II is
wholly characteristic OF the purport,
matter or object for which govern.
ment ought to bo instituted and on
which II Is TO be employed" .
"It is not necessarily connected with
any particular form" In scott's
Woodstock. no says: Theoretical
politics had long inclined him TO
espouse the opinion OF Harrington
and others who adopted the visionary
idea of. establishing a pure demo.
cratioal republic In so extensive a
country as Britain" Emerson. In his
essay on Politics. calls our govern.
ment a democracy Ho quotes Fish.
er Ames: "a republic is raft.
which would never sink, but then
your feet are always in watorl" VIII
tho learned Judge deny that there In
such a book as DoTocqueyille on
Democracy in America" because we
do not have a government which is
democratical In any respect and be-
cause such a government which Ia
wholly contrary 10 tho principles and
express provision OF our Constitu.
uon7
We can not believe that the fran
ers OF this memorable document, OF
which every American holds the
greatest reverence. had in mind OF
believed that the people we're danger
Gus 10 themselves or 10 any thing
else that tended toward good
government; or that they should be
restricted In the exercise OF ennotlng
good and wholesome laws for the
government OF their particular
states or that they should be shorn
OF the right 10 control their repre-.
sentatives when they misrepresented
them. or 10 reject laws passed by
their representatives contrary 10
their best interests. Our forefathers
surely did not desire 10 tie tho hands
OF the people and make them slaves
10 large corporate interests who
thwart legislation by powerful lob
bles with vast sums OF money 10 cor
rupt the peoples representatives.
Our forofathers did not have any
reason for Wrestling this power from
the people and making the represen-
tatives their perpetual guardians.
And. therefore. we most earnestly
contend that the Initiative and ref
erondum amendment" is not In con
hlct either In letter or In spirit with
the Constitution either because the
people are given the power 70 reject
laws enacted by their representa-
tiyes. or TO directly enact laws them
selves
They are lust. let the people rule.
the voice OF the people IL the voice
OF God" Let not the people be for
ever enslayed because the individual
failties and weaknesses Of our rep
resentatiVes permit them 10 be cor
rupted and made hlrelingA Of trusts
and aggregated monopOlies, Let not
the avarice. greed and wealth OBJ
tained BY monopoly and corruption
which caused proud Rome 10 decay.
crumble and fail. take hold OF our
fair Country. Let not the rights Of
man be surrendered and liberty ban
iBhed from among Us, but let the