Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-27

ttilipOAC , AAHaAh'sf thA bh'S N'hN0t
ton then being that we were at leas
honest and sincere in the course pur
sued. II my time would permit,
number Of similar widespread polit
zeal movements in our history coult
be pointed cut, which are now mem
cries only.
Turning aside from these particular
subjects which. AT the present time
engross public attention almost to tht
exclusion OF other constitutional ques-
tions. it may be said hat our consti-
tuition. like that of the United states
and those of the different states oil
the Union. should adhere to the gem
eral plan of making three great divi-
sions of government-the legislative,
the executive, and the judicial-and
we should strive To keep h line OF
de~marcatiOn between these depart
ments as clear and distinct rs Is prac-
ticable. If they could be brought
into existence by entirely different
methods and each kept entirely indie
pendent OF the others, that might be
an ideal condition. but practically
this does not seem possible, as all
| must come, directly or indirectly from
the people as the original source of
power. Something can be done in that
direction, however. as / win endeaNor
to show.
1t was said by de Tocqueville, in
his great work on Democracy in
America" that If "a legislative power
could be so constituted as TO repre-
sent the majority without necessarily
being the slave of its passions; an
executive, SO as to retain a certain
degree of uncontrolled authority; and
a judiciary. so rs to remain independ-
. = - L. HAxH-
would be formed which
would still be democratic, without
mourning any risk of t%yrannical
abuse" In 4 general way. this Ian
guase represents what we should
strive to reach in our proposed consti-
tuition; but II all the Officers Of the
three great departments of the gov
are selected in the same way,
by popular election, ii is almost GER
tain that we will fan far short Of APP
preaching our ideal. Let us then dis
~passionately consider whether the
idea of submitting everything TO the
popular will, which has always been
advocated by doctrinaries of the dem
ocratic school of thought, has not de-
generated into something akin to I'M
reasoning fetch worship. which tends
to weaken and d~isintegrate govern |
ment and to diminish its efficiency.
At the present time. practically all
political parties unite in their respect |
and regard for the federal constitu-
ton. Notwithstanding the fact that
from time to time evils and abuses
have crept into the practical admin
of national affairs, yet on
he whole we all look back with pride
over our national history and agree
that our national government has
been strong and well-administered;
md yet the constitution confided TO
he direct vote q the neople nothing
than the selection Of members
the lower house of congress. In
he course of time, il is true that,
practically. the election of the presi-
lent has come t. be by the vote of
people (voting by states. however, so
hat a minority of all the votes may
.lect Il PRESIDENT although hat was
lot the original intention OF the con-
titutional provisions on that subject.
The senators are assigned equally TO
,ach of the states without regard to
Of wealth, thereby secur-
ng greater ~steadiness and equilibrium
n meters OF legislation, and Il fair
e~presentation Of all sections OF the
ountry without regard to mere num- II
ers. The members OF the judiciary II
re selected bv the president. acting |
\ conjunction With the senate. The |
nly national officers as To whose |
the peopIe have any vote are |
he president and vice-president. The III
resident. subject TO q possible veto
Y the senate. selects his cabinet and
ne other principal executive Officers. /.
18th the result. usually. oil having Z
armonious and concerted action in 4
10 of public business. !
In most of our states there has :
cen a departure from these sane and :
faithful method as to executive and z
ldlcial officers. and they are se- 8
.cted BY popular vote. 1t has thus !
Of infremnentlv happened that the 2
nief of q state. who is Z
ED hy popular opinion responsible ~
IF the state administration. has g
,und himself hammered and embar- l%
used BY the simultaneous election ;
ith himself of other executive off 2
.rs. m subordinate TO him, l&
nj of different views. purposes and X
over whom he practically ex- 8
'ciscs but little control. so that the =
Of public business is inter- =
lpted by unseemIv disputes between :.
10 governor and such officers, and =
ZEN among themselves. Ii would be +
most healthful and beneficial step =
the right direction If New Mexico II
ould provide. like the national con- !.
for the election OF the chief 1.
officers. such as the COVER +
n and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, and z
y