The Dolores star., 1908-09-04


Great in many ventures. alike Of
war and peace, the trainers Of the
United States constitution were In NO
respect greater than in this: That
they were both among the seers and
molders Of the worlds vastest self-gov-
erning movement. Considered ~ an
isolated fact, the Federal constitution
h compromise Of singular radicalism
and weighty conservatism. Examined
as q product Of the days preceding
the famous Revolution.
when France In wrath her giant
limbs upreared.
And with an oath that smote earth.
sky and sea
Stamped her strong foot and swore
she would be Free"
It 10 q marvelously progressive docu-
ment. Indeed, II would, perhaps, shock
some present-day Americans. who are
ton an an ultra conservative, to real
lie that measured by his time, Hamil-
ton advocating merely the popular
gress, was a more essentially Demo-
cratic figure than is that citizen who
today shrinks from the trial Of direct
detrimental way, of the initiative and
referendum. Yet is this not in fact a
very moderate statement? In Amer
lea, in 1856, while the more immedi-
ate precedents of liberty loving sort,
outside of the experience of the colo
nies themselves, were those of Eng
tand they were tied up with numerous
complexities of autocratic fiction and
aggression. The most inspiring prece-
dents for popular self-government then
available were, in truth. to be found
In historic Greece. Those precedents
lay buried in an antiquity OF two thou
sand years; they had ruled but linn
tied area, either of space or time;
They were allied with and in q sense
founded on the deplorable practice of
human slavery; they perished In their
pride, and bore with them to the tomb
all save the glory of mind, spirit and
tradition.
Today, in contrast. we boast q con-
breadth Of republican life;
nation spread In liberty and power
from one to the other of the worlds
greatest seas; almost half a hundred
states united in sovereign
and behind us the accom-
plished fact Of one hundred and twen-
ty years of constitutional self-govern-
ment.
Direct Primary Experiments.
Twenty of those years have fol-
lowed q notable revolt against the
purchase and theft of general cleo
ti0ns. That revolt began with the in
PRODUCTION in Massachusetts, in 1888.
and has included since the practical
,v.t. ID ~ h. of fvuIf favs
secret ballot; and through almost ten
Of those twenty years Ito call only
part Of the rolD we have been per-
mitted to measure the results Of the
trial. either under state laws or par
ty rules, OF direct primary nomina-
tions in such commonwealths as Min
nesota. Oregon. Illinois. Wisconsin,.
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South
Carolina. Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
Iowa. Missouri and Washington.
of the same general trend OF life and
thought-more than thirty state Legis-
latures with solemn formality have
behalf of the election of United States
and within the bounds of the consti-
tuition, the people OF Iowa, Oregon and
Kansas have recently undertaken, and
the people Of Wisconsin soon will en-
deavor to impress in advance their
choice for United States senators on
the respective state Legislatures on
which the formal selection is legally
imposed. The popular self-assertion
hrpo nA hof
historic sequence of events through
which the people of the United States
have swept aside, except in name, the
Constitutions Electoral College, and
have taken to themselves, in all save
form. the right of direct popular elec-
ton Of the President of the republic.
And the end is not yet. 1t is apparent
that the river Of equalizing human
life and opportunity. rising from the
Middle Ages with the discovery of
America. draws ever nearer the uni
versai ocean of self-governing democ-
racy.
Satisfactory Results.
But what have been the results Of
the direct primary nomination expert
mentf Remembering always that any
popular law is only an opportunity.
and that Its mere letter will kill, un-
less the spirit Of the people keep it
alive. remembering also the resist
ence Of the corruption and intrigue
attempted to be shorn by the direct
primary system-we- should not be
surprised at bitter criticism. and even
at the occasional failure OF laws GRIP.
pied by adroit political hostility. Ad-
verse criticism there has. in fact, been
|, Ia l. kR.,v 81
failure has yet received the record OF
general consent. The conservative
New York Nation has testified to the
satisfaction with which direct pri
mary elections have been hailed in
Minnesota. the earliest state in this
field OF experiment Oregon writer's
express NO doubt Of the value and dis
eliminating operation OF their system
Washingtoa's recent trial, watched
with anxiety. has been sanctioned with
enthusinSm Governor now Senator