Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-30

80
barism do not naturally compromise
or adjust. Each tribe requires us
own way, and constant mlsunder-
standings and wars are the result AS
men progress these differences are
composed, usually by the rights OF
some overshadowing despotism, which
beats down the jealousies of all by It's
own tyranny; or else by some league,
managed through a central BODY IN
which each body has representation.
Our; common sense as well as our eA-
perience teaches us that great step
toward civilization is taken when peo-
Piles with such diverse interests are
brought under the system which shall
compromise and adjust their relations.
In the United States differences
are adjusted and composed by the peo-
pie themselves through their repre-
sentatives and this method seems, so
far as the human Imagination can con-
ceiye, the final and best, since it does
not destroy local independence and eifi-
cheney, as does a despotism, while it
submits the varied local demands and
interests tc adjustment at one place,
under conditions which favor a settle
e
We recognized the reasonableness of this
arrangement in the abstract, but often
we forget it when our individual in
terests and feelings are concerned in
some cause which fails of success in
the deliberations of legislative body.
The word log rolling is frequently in
our mouths to the discredit of our leg
islatures and the legislators them
selves. Now any arrangements by
which diverse elements are united to
put through q Legislative body several
different selfish propositions. no one
of which would he able to stand the
test Of honest opinion on its own
merits, is undoubtedly an Immoral
transaction. Such transactions some
times occur in Legislative bodies which
like all things human are liable to sin
and error No mistake is made whcn
such Il performance is denounced as
log rolling, that is, al arrangement
whereby one party helps another for
measures Of private greed as distin-
guished from public welfare. But
when an early congress found itself
unable to decide where the national
capitol should be located and equally
unable to agree how the public debt
of the Revolutionary War should be
adjusted. because of differences be-
tween the northern and southern mem
hers, Alexander Hamilton solved the
difficulty by persuading the southern
members to permit the debt to be as
sumed by the national government on
consideration that the northern MEM
bers would permit the capitol to be
/ k<,I H. NIL >f <Io Dnfn
We all agree that it would have been
better to have settled each question
by itself The much criticised rules of
the national house of representatives
are so framed to secure that end as
far as possible, but when difficulties
unsurmountable in the judgement of
GO wise an observer as Hamilton pre-
vent the most desirable manner of
solution. it is manifestly the part OF
the wise men to do for the public good
that thing which alone it is possible to
DO. In other words we are to judge
compromises as we all wish to be
Judged ourselves by our intrinsic mer
its and dement's. and not out of pre-
conceived notions as to race, color or
previous condition. Unfortunately leg
islatures like individuals are often
judged very injudiciously.
The confusion of thought which
produces this indiscriminate criticism
is much fostered by the fact that an
adjustment of the disease interests is
apt never to he entirely satisfactory to
either party An honest and proper
compromise ought not to leave any of
the parties at odds perfectly satisfied.
Tins means a large body of critics on
all sides who will denounce the body
which makes the compromise. In a
limited area like a small city, where
the citizenship generally may know
from observation, the conditions sur
rounding the adjustment, the wisdom,
and dcairability of the compromise
can be understood and be approved or
disaporoved according as it may be
we'll or bunglinsly made. In a small
sized state, where the citizenship gen.
orally understands conditions, the same