The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-10-20

when clearly ascertained, affords the
only safe standard of human conduct
and civil authority"
For-as-much as the policy of direct
legislation has become a fixed idea in the
public mind, and in the last decade
steadily grown until it has outstripped
every other proposition OF social reform,
it is not a question to be carelessly cast
aside by the candidate or the electors.
Nor IS It a policy to be precipitated upon
our institutions and system of legislation
without a clear understanding Of its
possibilities, and the form and extent of
its adoption
1t matters not how attractive the the
ory of a reform measure may appear, the
disorder to which the remedy is adj
dressed is very likely not a theory, but a
condition which requires a remedy that
will not only cure but be free of the ten
dency likely to produce a new and more
dangerous disease.
The most definite and certain origin
of the referendum is attributed to the
Swiss Iandsgemeinden, but earlier ex-
amples are traced to the ancient Ecclesia
of Athens, a general assembly instituted
by Solon in the Sixth Century, BIC,
when citizens had the right of voting
and determining questions of general
policy, war and peace.
Not unlike the ancient ecclesia was the
Comita Tribula of Rome, popular meet
ing by tribes and a law-making assem-
bly, of the Roman Republic. There
might be mentioned also the gatherings
of the churls in the German mark, where
every freeman might signify his accept
ance of a proposition made by the Earls,
by the clash of his shield, or withhold
such assent by remaining silent, which
was a final decision as to any such propo-
sition.
And in the most notable instance of
human history, sacred or profance, we
have an instance, extreme one, of the
practical workings of the referendum, in
the surrender of Christ to the mob, at
the insistence of the mob, in order on
the part of Pilot to avoid further riot
likely to involve him i'll disfavor and
complications with Caesar.
In recent history numerous examples,
both favorable and unfavorable to the
policy might be cited, but with such in
stances all advocates and opponents of
the policy ought to be reasonably ia
miliar.
From times immemorial in some of the
cantons of Switzerland, notably Uri,
Appenzell, Glarus and the two Inter
walds, the people have met together as
assemblies in the open, or landsgemein-
den, and enacted laws by popular vote.
But as some of the cantons grew in pop
ulation and the confederation took in
towns and cities, this became impracti-
cable.
There are different views as to the
policy i'll Switzerland which the follow
ing resolution presented in their Social
Congress, published in the Fabian
News" (England), April, 1896, very
forcibly illustrates:
Resolution. .-'' Resolved that this con-
gress warns associations of the working
classes throughout the world to scrutin-
ize with great care all proposals for the
of DIRECT LEGISLATION and
ADMINISTRATIVE POWER, including the
of public officers, FROM
BODIES TO THE MASS
OF ELECTORS.
The people can only judge political
measures by their effect when they have
come into operation they can not plan
measures themselves, or foresee what
their effect will be, or give PRECISE IN