Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-01-26

~
sshousSr tastebtlss9 30 higher than
politics; should principle rise superi6r
TO partth nship? These are two Quse.
tions thAt Ar being fought out u
the congress Of the United States and
by the people Of the United State.
Shall the power Of the speaker abso-
lutely dominate the house; shall hia
rule be forced upon the ooun'
try? 4
We have held and still hold Very
decided opinions on the statehood
question. Yet we believe that the
questions Of principle. the questions
THAI 60 hack for answer TO the very
foundations Of our government, 10
v0lved In the statehood fight. In the
house. are Of Infinitely greater I'M
'portance than the issue Of the state
hood night.
There can be no room for doubt In
the mind Of any one who will dis
passionately consider the question
that the liberties Of the masses are
endangered by the methods that are
being pursued by partisan and poll
tical leaders In congress. There car
be no room for doubt that this coun,
try has, In the last few years, drift,
ed farther from government Of the
people, for the people and by the pee
pie towards an oligarchv In which
practically all the power Is held by
one or two men.
Form Of government amounts to lit
tie. Under any form II the people can,
not be trusted Ito exercise theiI
rights, the many will be at the mer
cy Of the few. And be the govern
ment, In form, the most despotic In
the world, II the people are alive to
their interests, honest, capable and
intelligent, they, and not the nomi
nal ruler, will sway the real power.
These are truisms 30 trite as to be
almost automatic. But when we come
to apply them to actual conditions In
the United Slater. they become OF the
most vital importance. Carry the AK
IONS to the stage Of "Quod erat de-
monstrandum,..a and thsy lead-us ire
sistaDly 70 the conclusion tnat. II we
have allowed one man. a few men, OF
a minority OF any kind to attain such
power as to force their will upon the
whole people, that we have tailed to
treasure that palladium Of liberty be-
Queathed to us by our fathers. And
II we have failed, 1t q only be for
one or two reasons, either that we
have been neglected., Or that we are
incapable Of understanding and apply
ing the principles Of free government,
IL for the latter reason, It. IL well.
Governmental power, like water. soon
finds It's true level. II the people are
incapable. then 1t Is well tnat q few
strong, clear-headed men shall take
the power away from the people.
but we are not ready to believe that
the people are unworthy IL their
trust. They may grow careless and
neglectful Of their rights At times,
they may sleep on duty. hut there
are Indications all through the land.
that the people are awakening to the
danger that besets them AS 4 result
Of the usurpation OF q power. that
should be inherent In them. by a few.
That Is what the einsurgent fight In
the house stood Tor. It Isl the first
time In many years that q strong
Dand set at naught the will Of their
party, the behcst Of them leaders,
dared everything In order to make
. stand against n a rule and
caucus requirements for the sake Of
principle.
It Is to be regretted. that some Of
the insurgents fell by the fayslde. It
especially regretted THAI 4 man like
Tswney could not Withstand the losa,
b- prestige and power that would.
have ehsued II he mad remained trua.
rs Ms principles. One gfeels liaa say:,
|pg IN connection with seetpgysh ~
his.
oh. God, for q maassw NSAeart,
head. hand.
One Of the simple great ones gone
Forever and ever b.. Artstoesst. dem
0crat, y, 4
What care I? Who can rule and dara
not. lle."
And there we're others beside Mr..
rawney who were unable to Withstand
The pressure brought to bear uncn
hem. The Globe Democrat, a papes
distinguished for its enmity to'
New Mexico and its hide-bound parti.
,anship. openly rejoices that many OF
he Insurgents were brought into line
because they dare no face their peo
lie asking for reelection II thew had
a they believed and not a.
heir party dictated.
We believe, in view OF the awaken.
NJ that Il taking place. that the PEG
lie would much prefer TO have their
representatives. place principle above