The farmer and mechanic., 1915-05-25

ample. And in Europe not only
france and Switzerland are republics
like ours, but in every country in Eu. |
rope whatever its form OF government. |
the people now have a share in elect
ing Its law making body.
But let it not be supposed that this
right of the people to govern them |
selves came to it's fulifruition as the
immediate result Of the achievement
of our independence
Ordinary Man Gets Left.
Broad and unlimited as was the as
serton of the equality Of all men in
| the Decia1a alton OF independence at
Philadelphia in 1916. when the State
and fe0eral Governments came to
| frame their constitutions the share Of
| the ordinary man IN government was
made very small indeed. at first
! IN our constitution made at Hall
| fax in 1716 we gave to the average
| man no share in the choice of the
! government under which he lived be-
| yond the election OF members of the
lower house of the Legislature The
| proposition to entrust the government
| frah xiv - the people was too new and
the property holders were afraid
They therefore guarded legislation by
permitting no man to vote for State
Senators, unless he owned at least
fifty acres Of land. Unless a man had
y.
erty holders did not think it was sat
to trust him. The Senate was thus
| composed that it might be a check
upon the lower house of the Legisla
ture elected by popular suffrage And
no man in this State whatever his in
teliigence or his character was per
mitted to vote for members Of the
E State Senate till eighty years had
/, passed. in 1856.
= AS to the county officers the Legis
y lature, one branch of which was elect
ed by voters having fifty acres of lane
& or more. chose the magistrates, an(
O these magistrates elected the sheriff.
9 and all other county officers for sixt,
- | years. The governor and the Judge
@ were also elected by the Legislator
s and as greater protection agains
O the masses. the Judges, who assum
Il the right to set aside any act of tn
IS Legislature. held for life. This stat
It of things continued till 1868, ninety
d two years after our State Government
,r was forced and until the same tim
it the other State officers as Secretar
to of State, Treasurer and the like. wer
Is also elected by the Legislature.
In the Federal Government the Con
Stitution formed at Philadelphia
1897, was shaped in exactly The sam
fear of the masses. and therefore
I'd the interest Of the property owner
ne The government was divided int
ne three great departments. i. e.. the les
islative, the executive and the judicia
n The election of only one-SiXth Of tn
us government was entrusted to the PEI
IL pie. That is they were allowed to vo
at only for members Of the lower hou:
In of Congress.
an The choice of the other half of tt
n Legislative department. the Senate, w;
the State Legislature. And it was n
ne until last year. after the lapse Of /.
ne years, more than century and
or quarter, were the people permitted
n vote for U. S. Senators.
Die The election Of the President w
W intended to be made at third hal
ne through electors to be chosen by t
on State Legislatures. one-half of ea
dh Legislature be it remembered, bel
NJ Chosen by landowners alone. 3
er after the lapse Of about fifty yea
under the leadership Of Andrew Jac
ese son, the people found means to chan
q. this, without a constitutional amen
le9 ment. by forcing the election Of the
.iio electors to be made at the ballot bt
The electors then became mere figu
"a y heads so that practically the peoI
~ ~ have ever since elected the Pre-
of dent.
VI People Lose Again.
The Federal Constitution remoy
,o the choice of judges still further fri
Hy the people by choosing them at -four
VOC hand, as they were to be appoint
der " tne -
,er- Haio oiu ooii ~ w - y -
or them from any possible influence
was favor of public rights they were {
tho pointed for life. The Convention
90 Philadelphia. which made the Con:
vo- tuition, tried in secret session to 8
the judges power to set aside acts
ON congress. Dut tHe ooiiVe,i'io" IL ~ 20
ears tnat Win tHal ~ oSi9ioit e11 !.
evo- ton Woulu not pe a.il,So anu :
Inas measure was defeated. However al
nan the Constitution had gotten IN S
GA working order the Supreme Court
\ a the United States assumed this po'
bile and though lt mas oeeh pioesS
oX-' against by IhOfnaS jcfIcLSoti, Anu