Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-15

quickly advocated because il was the
immediate remedy al hand, and the i'm
mediate and just protest against the
systems which heretofore, right in
themselves, had become perverted into
wrong and oppression. The demands
were protests against the violations on
the part of representatives. of their
duty 10 their trust. and as methods 10
take from these false agents the op-
portunity Of further continuing these
infamies upon free government. Had
the systems provided BY the fathers
been obeyed in the spirit as was in
tended, there would have been no need
for these innovations. Plainly is the
truth that there is nothing wrong in
the machinery created by the fathers;
the wrong has been in the mechanics
intrusted with the conduct of the ma
chinery. There is nothing wrong in
the construction of the workship but in
the vorkmea intrusted with the duties.
The evil is not in the system of gov
ernment, but in the nature and con-
duct of those who were intrusted TO
execute the system. These innova-
tons demanded by the people are de-
manded in order to protect themselves
against the conduct of men who de-
base their Office and betray trusts,
which, had the Office been honor
ably discharged and the trust faithful
. " executed, there would have been no
complaint on the part Of the citizen
ship, nor any outcry against the insti-
buttons created by the fathers for the
government OF the republic.
The election of senators by the di-
rect vote Of the people was not de-
manded as a better system than that
which had been devised under the the
ory Of checks and balances of our gov
eminent, but because in these elections
the most unspeakable betrayals had
been perpetrated upon the republic. Cor
ruption and public crime had stolen
through the houses of the legislatures
IN different states, and the sacredness
OF the oath Of office was a mockery. a
bywOrd. and a sheer on the part of
those who benefited through the long
states of the union in the selection Of
senators. The forces and influences
which had inaugurated these systems
OF disgrace to accomplish private ends
were, at the inception of the practices,
responsible, but later in common with
them were those who participated for
whatever objects they might have had
in view, in the betrayal of the peoples
wish, the defeat of the popular will or
expressive of the nations wisdom or
honor: but one which had reduced the
United States senate to where it could
only De designated proud mans club
for special privilege 10 the privileged
few, and these privileged few were
mostly public offenders against the
honor of the nation and the liberty OF
the citizen.
The election Of senators by the
p vote Of the people, now secured after
! SO years of conflict 10 Oh, ain sucn, was
but form Of protest on the part VI
the American against an outrage con
stantly perpetrated upon him and his
country He took the only method
which ne believed was the Immediate
remedy and in adopting this he does
not profess that il is the most perfect
system. il is a mere expression of his
belief that il will remedy the appar
ent imperfect and often pul.uted one
p which he was compelled to endure
At least he has the consolation thai
" the people will have vote yea
= and nay upon the question present
+ ed. and will not be represented in the
: senate by those. in many instances
! who would never have been ch0sef
TO any position, less il be one of oh
' security or deserved oblige.
The recall Of judges and likewis,
:. a form Of protest agains- that clas
: of judges who by their conduct. al
: offenders Of justice, have def ed thu
high place of the judiciary, and il
= serving personal and private interest
while in their Office as judges; hav
=, caused the nation TO dispute the CLAIM
" that their justice was either free o
equal, and 10 force the people to as
erful. and so expensive 10 the humbl
; as 20 he denied TO the lowly.
, To save the nation from the reI
etition OF scandals and the furthe
;, developments OF judicial debasemen
= on the part Of certain judges OF Amer
;. ics. the demand for their recall wa
. instituted as a weapon that could al
: fright them into doing justice TO IN
;, people, and in preserving honor I
:. their office. 1t is not assumed tina
a the recall can change the character O
! the men. nor that ii is the perfe7
- system to remedy The wrongs of tn
!. aw. but II was the one at hand. an
& if violently used il was forced by tn
other wrongs which called for drasti
: and immediate remedy. In such me
ments the mind Of man is as violen
in his remedy, as were the perpetrs
tors OF the offenses violent and mere
less in their crimes against the pub
lie. The bastard defiance of those i
power awake the uncontrolled indil
Il