Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-03-14

In which he discussed methods OF re-
form in our judiciary system.
He said:
In the last year or two we have
heard much of radical methods OF
changing the judiciary system. II we
would properly consider teese pro
posals and stand on solid and saie
ground we must re-examine the funda-
mental principles of stable popular
government The history OF the world
seems to show that our form OF gov
eminent 10 more enduring and salts
factory than any other.
Every cIass Should Have Voice.
We believe in popular government
Government is q human instrumental
ity to secure the greatest good to the
greatest number and the greatest hap
piness to the individual. Experience,
and especially the growth OF popular
government In our own history mas
shown, that In the long run every
class of the people, and by that
mean those similarly situated, are bet
ter able to secure attention to their
welfare than any other class, however
altruistic the latter class may be. VI
course this assumes that the members
of the class have reasonable inteln'
gence and capacity for knowing their
own rights and interest. Hence II
follows that the best government IN
che sense Of the government most GER
tain to provide for and protect the
rights and governmental needs OF
every class, is that one in which every
class has a voice. In recognition OF
this, the tendency from earliest times
In our history has been the enlarge
ment Of the electorate to include IN
the ultimate source Of governmental
power as many as possible OF those
governed. But even today the cleo
torate L. not more in number than one.
fourth of the total number OF those
who are citizens OF the nation ana are
the people for whom the government
Ia maintained and whose rights and
I e.happiness the government is tptended
to secure. More than this, government
by unanimous vote of the electorate
is impossible and therefore the ma
tority of the electorate must rule.
Women VIII Change System.
We find, therefore, that government
by the people is, under our present
system, government by majority OF
One-fourth of those whose rights and
happiness are to be affected by the
course and conduct of the government,
This is the nearest to government
by the whole people we have ever had.
Woman's suffrage will change this.
and it is doubtless coming as soon as
the electorate can be certain that
most women desire 1t and will assume
its burden and responsibility. but
even then the electorate will only be
part of the whole people In other
words, the electorate is representa-
tive governing body for the whole peo-
ple for which the government was es-
tablished and the controlling majority
of the electorate is body still less
numerous. 1t is thus apparent that
ours is a government Of all the peo-
ple by representative part OF the
people.
Now, the object Of government Is
not only to secure the greatest good
to the greatest number, but also to do
this as near as may be e'by securing
the rights OF each individual in his lib
erty. property and pursuit Of happi-
ness Hence, 1t was long ago recog'
nized that the direct action OF a tenn
porary majority Of the existing cleo
torate must be limited by fundamental
law; that is by a constitution intended
to protect the individual and the MI
nority of the electorate and the non
voting majority Of the people against
the unjust or arbitrary action Of the
majority of the electorate. This made
It necessary to introduce into the
Constitution certain declarations az to
the rights of the individual which It
was the purpose Of the whole people
To maintain through the government
against the aggression Of any tenn.
porary majority Of the electorate and
to provide In the same instrument Ger
tain procedure by which the inei-
vidual might assert and vindicats
those rights. Then 70 protect Rgaingt
the momehtAIy lnpHlsa q . tsmHS.
rary majority Of the eleCtonte %
channs the fundamental riaw and de
privO the individual or the AotinS ms'
3Ority or s;he nonYoting majority 81
inaiionahle rights. the Consttution
provided number Of ChecHS md bAl-
ances whereby every amendment 20
the Constitution must bo a0opted un-
Asr forms and with DELAYS tnaG az
intandea 70 'neCnre mWEh sdelIDarafdo2
an the .paTt .of The electorala IN adQpt-
ing such amendments,
FuneaIona % Branehoo.
Checks ana abaIances flnclude ne d.
vision Of the government into three
tudaDandent bFanches-the legislative.