The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-12
Declared Initiative, Refer
endum and Recall Are the
Weapons. Of Mobocracy
The WORST Of THE THREE
PROPOSED REFORMS IS RECALL
It Makes the Official Watchful of Pub.
lie Opinion Which 1t Will Be to His
Interest to Placate-Other Remedies
Safe.

Council Bluffs. Iowa. Oct. 12.-1n-
itiative, referendum and recall were
termed the weapons Of mobocracy by
Archbishop ireland in an address at
the banquet Of the Army of the Ten
nessee here last night.
After relating the history of the
making Of the Democratic government
by the newly born states after the re-
volutionary war. Archbishop ireland
said:
And the clamor is heard that the
organization Of American democracy
such as the republic has known for a
century and quarter must be altered,
torn asunder. under the pretence that
with it the people do not govern with
sufficient directness. Let us hope that
this clamor is but passing evolution
OF feeling, soon to sink back into
the tranquil seriousness of thought
usually underlying the movements of
the masses of the people to be there
buried in the silence of oblivion.
Democracy, yes; mobocracy, nev-
or. And towards mobocracy we are
now bidden to wend our way. The
shibboleths Of the clamor. you know
the initiative, referendum. the re-
call put into general practice, as the
evangelists "f the new social gospel
would fain have them, are nothing
more nor less than the madness of
democracy. The highest and purest
moral virtues run into extrames be-
come evil. so with democracy.
MAY we not. it is asked. trust the
people? Yes we trust the people as
the trainers of our union trusted them.
We trust the people as the people u.s.
ually trust themselves when interests
other than political are at stake-re-
mitting those interests to men. expert
in such matters, who take time to
situate the questions under debate as
the multitude cannot do. in the gen.
eral framework of circumstances and
consequences. outside of which a So
luton Is necessarily incomplete and
unsatisfactory.
'In the long run American public
opinion will be sure to right itself;
the misfortune Is, as we. know too
we'll, the people may suffer from a
temporary excitement. sufficient to
exclude calm far-seeing thought and
prudent decision. From the conse-
quences Of such temporary excitement
we should strive to save the republic.
with the initiative and referen-
dunn, legislative bodies become mere
bureaus Of registration and exchange
for disparate popular views and opin-
ions. All conclusive authority Is lost
to them. A small fraction Of the pop
ulation sets the machinery of legisla-
ton in motion, retards or annuls it's
DEGREES. And this for all subjects, the
most abstruse and complicated. The
ultimate verdict, it is true. rests with
the whole people; but many we must
admit are the problems regarding
which the whole people have no ade-
Quate knowledge to which in the
throes Of political campaign, the
people are unable to give the requisite
reflection.
But the worst is the recall. Stabil-
ity and independence in office for a
fixed period of time are essential. LA
BILE to recall, the ofIicial is continuous.
ly watchful Of public opinion which
It is his interest to placate and hold
in check. And then we must remem-
Der the peril tc the public peace of
the commonwealth. Fifteen or even
ten per cent Of the voters at perced-
ing election-gathered probably from
the defeated party, may force the re-
call and bring on the turmoil of new
campaign.
"But what if the official has proven
himself unworthy of his trust? Our
laws and constitution provide rem
edy: Let him be impeached and judg-
ed by well-established and impartial
courts.
"The peril from the recall are
shown when 1t is extended to the
judiciary. If ever independence from
popular clamor is imperiously de-
manded, it is when men are hidden
to speak In the name of supreme JUS
tice, regardless of consequences to
persons or parties, when absolute
calmness of mind and deepest study
are the prerequisites to decision.
Whatever the social or political revol-
utions with which the country may be
threatened for the sake Of America,
let us pray the God of nations. that
there be no sacreligious hand laid
upon the courts. impairing their inde-
pendence or lowering their majesty"