The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-06-16
II WILL TELL JUDGE DOUG
LASS FRANKLY I AM NOT IN
FAVOR OF NEGRO CITIZEN
SHIP"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
THE BILL FOR THE DIRECT
ELECTION OF SENATORS
BY THE PEPOLE

The Senate of the United States, on
Monday last passed an amendment to
the Constitution, providing for the
election of the Senators by the direct
vote of the people.
This amendment was forced on the
Senate by the universal demand of pub
lie sentiment. For this public senti-
ment the Senate itself was entirely re-
sponsble. Ever since the war the Sen
ate has been degenerating, not only as
branch of the law making department
of the government, but also in the per
sonnet and the character of the men
elected to the Senate.
The old method of electing Senators
by the Legislatures served its purpose
with satisfaction to all up until the late
war Not only was it very satisfactory
to all, but it was the greatest legislative
body in the world. and was so conceded
by all nations, but after the war, the
degeneracy set in and has continued and
has grown worse until now. The glory
of the United States Senate has departed
and ii has become the citadel of corrup-
ton and graft This is the direct result
of the system under which the govern
ment has been administered since the
close of the war.
The government has been since then
a government of the big interests, by
the big interests and for the big inter-
ests, and the result has been that the big
interests have accumulated such vast
and unheard of fortunes that they have
become all powerful and do what they
please, and as they please Such is
their power that they assume to run the
government as machine by which to
make money out of the people.
They have made the Senate the citadel
of their power. With a part of the
money that they have made by exploit
ing the people, they simply went into
the States and bought the election OF
men to go to the Senate until they had
enough of their men elected TO control
the Senate. But they did not stop there,
they even went further and bought the
Presidency also and have by this
corrupt means had control of the gov
eminent for years and its administration
has heen a colossal system of graft.
This is not the worst feature of the
corruption because a still worse feature
is to be found in the fact that it has
had atendency to corrupt, and has cor
rupted the body of the people.
The people see that these men by
graft have made vast fortunes and with
this money they have bought everything
and are honored and applauded. and
many of them were sent to the Senate
where many are now and many have
been, although many were dead ducks
after the election last fall, the body Of
the people having been set this corrupt
example, want to profit by the same
corrupt methods and get the corrupt
results.
Happily the ewes of the people were,
at the last election, opened BY powerful
lesson, when conditions brought about
by this system of graft were such that
they could not buy the necessaries of
life, and they struck wide spread and
fatal blow at the Republican citadel OF
graft and corruption. and many were
killed and more wounded
But there is more to be hoped for in
the future for the people seem deter
mined to finish the good work begun
last fall, and the amendment to elect the
/ Senators by the people is the first step
in that direction. The ultimate success
i of the people is beyond doubt. if there
is virtue enough left in the body eff the
people, of fifty years of the most corrupt
|. system Of graft that the world has ever
seen or that any people have ever been
i oppressed.
The Bristow Amendment to the bill,
) however, ought not to have been adopt
I ed, and II would not have been but for
: one Democrat who voted for it. 1t will
probably be defeated when it goes back
{ to the House of Representatives. II
] puts dangerous power in the hands
t of the government in the election of the
2 Senators, which by the Constitution is
Z left TO the States, except as to the time
4, OF holding the election. 1t is no use to
say that the government will never exert
Aths power. for the Republican party
lss shown what the government will
dowhen it is in the hands of corrupt,
parfsan. and selfish party.