The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-16


In respert to the character and abil-
ity, the unselfish devotion and I'M
matched patriotism of that remark
able group of men. do not expect
time to record the appearance of an
other Hamilton any sooner than it
will record the appearance of another
Shakespeare. / do not expect the
future to see another Madison any
sooner than it will see the return
of a Robert Burns. Mr.. President,
If could see this government operate
just as the fathers made it ! would
never challenge their wisdom nor
stray for one moment from the poth
they pointed out to their children.
do not want any different principles
of government than the principles
which they endorse and approve, but
do want those. l want to see the
old government brought back to
where they left tin the absolute
control of the people operating alone
in their behalf. Whatever changes
in detail are necessary TODD this we
ought to do.
New Conditions to Meet
The first seventy years of the re-
public are gone. They were years in
which there we're no influences suffi-
GENTLY strong to prevent the powers
of governmental from operating in the
manner in which the fathers expected
thin to operate. They were years
lin which there were no influences
sufficiently strong to turn the agen-
cies of government into the agencies
of particular interests or to wholly
private and selfish purposes. But
that is not true now The last forty
years have worked great change.
We have other influences to deal with.
We have influences of which they
never dreamed. Influences stronger
in wealth and power than the govern
ment itself at that time. These
things do not require changes in the
principles of the fathers, but they do
require readjustment and redistri-
ton of powers. They require the
[adaptions of government to modern
conditions. The require that we ac-
cept the wisdom of the fathers as a
guide for brave, strong men con-
|fronted with a new condition of af-
fairs and not as fetch before which
slavish devotees bow in nerveless,
Ilethargic alteration.
Mr.. Madison said in the constitu-
|tional convention. If an election by
the people or through any other chan
mel than the state legislature promis-
ed as incorrupt and impartial a pre-
ference there could surely be- no nee
essity for an appointment by. those
legislatures.
Had he been able to see what we
see and know what we know with
that idea revolving in his mind, what
do you think the father of the consti-
tuition would have done? Had ne
looked upon vacant chairs mere be.
cause of deadlocks in the legislature
had he seen as we saw last winter
nearly one-half of a state legislature
|tieeing like fugitives across state
lime and then negotiating with Their
colleagues like contending foes, had
these men passed through the filth
and corruption through which this
senate has been delving its way this
last year, had they been thwarted
and frustrated and defied in the eff.
fort to secure facts concerning the
integrity of an election, had thew be.
llieved that state legislatures would
be turned by this duty from law-mak.
ing bodies dealing conscientiously
with affairs of state into politica
combinations, torn and distracted by
purely convention duties, ventializec
and corruted by powerful interests
who care nothing for the state but
Everything for the membership Of
this body, if they had seen what we
see, does any man doubt, in view Of
these declarations, that the father;
would have taken this duty from the
legislature and given it directly te
the people? The things which the
fathers did are not right merely be-
cause they did them, but they toe
must stand the test of reason and the
est of time and experience. ! repeat
sir, that l join with those who give
praise and honor to the fathers. But
/ do not believ in that kind of hero
worship which makes the worshipers
the nerveless, spineless, slavish de-
voices of dead past. ] believe IL
tn ero-worship which vitalizes ant