The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-02-01
ELECT MEN you CAN. ~ .
TRUST SAYS ROOT.

Minneapolis Journal: 'If the peo-
pie Of any state are not satisfied to
trust their legislatures to discharge
the constitutional duty of electing sem
ators, let them cure their own faults
and elect legislature that they can
trust g.. .... .,.
These words of the true American
ring were spoken by Elihu Root to the
senate and assembly of New York state
in Albany yesterday. They ring truly
American, because they counsel self
help and because they place the fault
where 1t lies, with the people them
selves. ..
There Is a sentinentalism in all
things-in morals, In religion, in poll
tics. Its Characteristic is to shirk re-
sponsibility for acts, to cast 1t on the
other fellow, to ascribe the fault to the
workings Of a system. 1t is as insid-
ious as it is fabby; it enables one to
free oneself of ell the wrong and to
rail loudly against the alleged perpe-
traitor of the crime. .ga,. .,.....s.-
This outcry to the effect that state
legislatures are not to be trusted to
choose senators to represent the states
at Washington is a fiagrant example of
sentimentaIism in politics, If legisla+
lures prove venal OF second rate in the
performance of their duty, what is the
obvious, the American, the only effec-
tual remedy? Naturally, il is to elect
a Legislature that is neither venal nor
Second~rate.
The system is not responsible. The
people are. No such instantaneous res
torative patent medicine as the initia-
tive and referendum, nor such a pre-
scription as popular election Of sena-
tors, will, in the event of the peoples
failure, suffice to galvanize the corpse
of representative republican govern
ment.
Fortunately the people are not po-
lftically degenerate. They are quite
capable OF rising to the occasion. They
are altogether capable OF electing hon
est and able legislatures. Whenever the
question is put up to- the people,
they show themselves equal to the
question, whatever II may be- When
ever the people become convinced of
the necessity of doing some particular
thing, they undertake TO do that thing
themselves.
American institutions are such that
things Of moment are continually being
put up to the people, The response
bilities are thrust upon the people, who
thus, by the necessity become their
own guardians at law, their own saw
iors, their own skilled political army
- 49, q
American people remain man size, al
though every now and then the senti-
mentalists among them blame the de-
linqueneies upon the system, and pro-
pose to construct some perpetual mo-
tion political cradle I'm which the
American people can relapse into po-
litical babyhood and sleep, while the
infallible system works. ~
MIR. Root in his speech touched upon
this point also. He deprecated any
tendency ito belittle, to discredit, OF
to weaken the authority Of the legisla-
lures of the states" He asserted
that "you cannot take power away
from public bodies without having the
character OF those bodies deteriorate,' :
idignifies legislatures. The responsibili-
ity OF choosing United States senators
dagnifies Legislature. The responsible
| ity Of the people for choosing proper
Legislatures lg good for the people. Nc
Iessening OF either responsibility, but
will result In q certain degree OF de-
Inoralization.
Preserve "the national power to ite
full limit,r and still preserve the state
power, AZ Mr.. Root pleads. az is the In.
ltention OF the constitution. Repre-
sentation OF the states as states In the
congress at Washington ir1parts au-
thority to the state. And to ennphasizs
the state. the citizenship In the state
the living organism of the state. tht
energy In action Of the state, is a Nis.
Itinct need OF our times.
The people OF many states are real.
izing that need. Realizing II, they ar.
rising to the requirement, But lie th,
pressure of the need Ii reduced, tn,
people will relapse into laissez fairc
II The states have and are entitled to
distinct life, as thsy are distinct liv
ing organisms. TO deprive them D
state representation at washington. d
by 30 much to afrophy that iifo
Il
II No. Goraelia. ail makers OF craR,
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