The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-30
Hon. v. q. Archer criticises the
Late Address Of the
Colonel.
He Has Grossly Perverted and
Misquoted President
Taft.
Thomas Jefferson Had Some Ideas
AlllcabIe to the
Recall.

To the Editor OF the Intelligencer
Colonel Roosevelt. in his Portland
speech. perverting Tafts sentiments
in Toledo on March Sth. tells us that
Taft's theory OF popular government
warrants us in substituting for Lin
koln's great statement, This is a
government OF the people. for the
people and by the people," the state
ment: This is a government of ting
people. for the people. by a repre-
sentative part (or class) OF the
people"
Mr.. Taft's theory of popular gov
| eminent as outlined at Toledo does
not warrant any such substitution.
Mr.. Taft's theory OF government. as
actually stated by him in his Toledo
speech. and in all other speeches and
public documents on that subject, is
that the majority OF the electorate
must rule" After demonstrating the
| fact that in our popular elections only
onefourth OF the people" actually
exercise the right of suffrage. Mr..
| Taft said:
We find. therefore. that government
/ by the people Is. under our present sys-
! tenn. government by majority OF one
| fourth OF those whose rights and happi-
ness are 10 be affected by the Course and
| conduct OF the government. This is the
| nearest TO government by the whole peo-
! pie we ever had. In other words, the
/ electorate is a representative governing
body for the whole people for which the
government was established. and the
controlling majority OF the electorate Is
| "A body still less numerous. IL is thus
apparent that ours Is government OF
all tho people by representative part
Of the people"
1t is the language in the above par
agraph which Roosevelt so grossly
perverts in his Portland speech.
! whereby he attempts to make Mr..
Taft say that this Is a government by
a representative class of people.
Colonel Roosevelt is attempting TO
create an issue in his advocacy OF
popular government. to which there
is absolutely no opposition. Neither
President Taft nor any advocate OF
his denomination are denying the alb
solute right OF the majority or the
people 10 rule, either in national or
state affairs.
What constitutes a majority OF the
people? Mr.. Taft. at Toledo. was de
fning this majority. Colonel Roose-
welt does not insist that aliens shan
vote. nor does he advocate woman =
suffrage. or the right of minors to
vote. When Mr.. Taft said in his
Toledo speech that. 1t is thus ap-
parent that ours Is n government OF
all the people by a representative OF
part OF the people" he was simply
stating a fact Only n part OF the
people vote under existing laws. And
II was the voters which Mr. TAFT re.
ferred 10 as the representative part
Of the people
In the great debate between Abra.
ham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug
las In 1858. Judge Douglas assumed
the position that Mr.. Lincoln was op
posed TO popular governmental that
campaign denOminated Popular SOY.
ereignty.' Lincoln. In his speech de
lvered in July. 1858. at Chicago. H.,
said.
Again, when We get 60 the question
"I thc fsht 20 the people 20 form a
7iste con7iitution as they please.
n That De- anything new. / con
Tess don't know g. Has there ever
been time when anybody said that any
olner tnhn the people o. a territory "a.
now Do % that Judge Douglas should
nste InuEht several years 81 his life
inaining years - Die life for7 Car
Judge Douglas find any body on earth
That s1ld that anybody else should form
YeeJ wei. / should uke Sou 10 nam.
him. / should Ike 10 know VINO h. va-.
iNafur voice. John Calhoun D. SO. cir
I never heard even John calhoun Gavin.
such q thing lie insisted on the sam.
principle as Judge Douglas. but his rnodi
~ applying a. 200 fact was wrong ~ 8,
enough Tor my purpose 90 ask this crow
whenever "a Fepuhiirau said auvfhIni
against ~ They never raid anYthIni
AGAINST 90. but they have conatantll
| spoken Tor 10. AMI whoever Will under
take 20 examine Tho platform and th
p'f l@F ~ f'FppnFlnle men ~ the par
| please. viii Dc unable Co find one worl
from anybody in the Eerublican rank
] opposed % that Popular sovereiFnt
| which judge Douglas thinks that Doc ha
Invented. ! suppose that Judge Dough-
| VIII claim. 90 "a llftla while. That be- /
the Inventor ~ the idea that the ue0rI
should govern themselves. that u0hod
ever thought of such Thing until d
[ Ter that IN that old Declaration ~ fnds
rendence % iH said mat. We hold thca
truths 90 BE- sfif evident that an mo
ere created equal. and that they are on
I fuWrf ~ their creator with certain fn
auenaLle righta. that among these hr
I That % secure These rights government
are instituted amongst mon derivln
their just powers from the Consent 81
/ tho governed There la the ORIGIN q
Popular Sovereirntv Who. then. cha
como w. Of thi4 Day AMI claim that b
invented lt7'
AZ this constituted a complete n
ply 90 the assertions by Judge Dougla
that Lincoln and his party we're III
nyiug tho right 10 the people 20 -
rrrise popular government. ~ Do
complete reply 10 the assertions b