Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-07-06


style themselves 'progressives, Du,
it is of the kind of progress about
which Cardinal Manning says: Some
people tell us progress means liberal
ism. 1t is difficult again to know
what that is-and when you do get
their definition of it, it seems to be
the emancipation of the human will
from every kind of law In
is called party of progress, but,
has a trail behind it like certain rep
tiles, and that trail is revolution.
Many of our public men have been
agment of popular tumult and dis.
quietude respecting the remodeling of
our institutions. Since they have no
stomach for real usefulness III legis-
lation, they criticise the existing or
der of things, breed discomfort and
becloud the waters and in this way
make the public believe they are pro.
gressives and by their vehemence are
prepared to do great things. In popu-
lar cOmmotion the worst men are gen
orally at the front. They carry with
them popular clamor until they are
great leveller,' appears.
"The federal constitution is to me
like an oak that has weathered the
storms and struggled through the
bardships of natures rigors and Is
beautiful because of it's sturdy
strength and battle SCARED trunk.
This hue and cry about popular rights
has the effect of distracting the at
tention of the populace, while at the
same time the stones of the temple
of liberty are being carried away.
rs there a growing disrespect for
constitutional restraints?
Changing Republic Form
THE question is a pertinent one,
how and in what manner are We de-
parting from the republican form of
government? This is answered 10y
the present movement, encouraged by
doctrinaries and theorists, to submit
to the direct popular vote all ques-
tions of legislation and of constitu.
tional amendment. If successful in
securing the embodiment of these
ron-representative features in the
constitution, there will doubtless fol-
low the desire to submit to popular
decision all great administrative, as
well as judicial questions, all of
which will supplant the orderly
processes Of legislative consideration,
administrative form and judicial in
depreciation of policies and laws af-
fecting the interests of the nation in
it's various functions of government.
say 'non-representative,' for the
Initiative and referendum cannot be
supported either upon principle or in
practice as cOnsOnant with our rep
resentative system. These innOva-
tions mean that legislation and ad
ministration of the intricate affairs
of government are to be applied on
the principle of every man his own
doctor, every man his own lawyer
and every man his own statesman. In
fact everyone must become a profess
siOnal politician If he expects to pro-
tect himself against the Vaccinations
Of the demagOgue, the fanatic and
the mischief breeder. 1t is the meat
upon which the demagogue fattens
and the parasite which withers and
destroys all pretense of an orderly.
wise and permanent administration
of public affairs. If these doctrines
are to become universal, we will not
only approach, but rapidly reach, the
condition of a pure democracy and
socialism. AS a paramount guard
against this condition, or tendency,
the constitution guaranteed to each
state a republican form of govern
ment,' thereby investing the central
government with authority to defend
the system against innovations de-
structive of it's fundamental princi-
pies. The states may substitute other
1,,,t
change republican forms of cOnstitu-
tiOn for anti-republican constitutions.
And this raises serious question
as to whether or not the progressives
have, by their doctrines of initiative,
referendum, recall and other populistic
panaceas, caused some of the states
to violate the compact.
Effect Is Oemoralizing.
"The pernicious practice OF legis-
lating in our constitutions, as in
those more recently formed or amend
ed, has a demOraliZing influence in
weakening constitutional govern
ment The cowardice and weakness
of legislators has. of course, and
properly so, brought them into disre-
pute. The proper remedy, however,
is not in abolishing Legislators or in
legislation. In private affairs If
your agent in great undertaking
proves faithless, is it a matter OF
prudence to dispense with all agen-
cies and attempt to perform yourself
offices which you are not qualified
to perform intelligently? If you have
employed an architect whose plans
are imperfect, will you not rather re-
ject him and his plans and employ an
other? So with your public agents.
If you exercise the same prudence in
your public duties as you do in your
private affairs your representatives
will represent you.
'Do progressive remedies lend sta
bility to the government?
Short Terms Of Office.
Madison, in the Federalist, says:
The genius of republican liberty
seems to demand on one side, not
only that all power shall be derived