The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

Does Demos Rulee
Has the management of their affairs
never been truly in the hands OF the
American people? Or. having once
been there, has 1t been lost? IL popu-
lar control to be instituted or restored?
In american Government and Majority
Ruh. "a study In political develop
ment' princeton University Press),
EDWARD ELLioTT, PHI. d.. maintains
that the form of our Government as
fixed in that once admired instrument
the Constitution of the United States
of America has prevented the attain
ment Of majority rule. true demOc-
racy. The rainers of that interesting
document. once thought immortal,
sought. he says. TO prevent the direct
rule OF the numerical majority on the
theory that AL government In by ma.
ture evil" and that the people might.
moi less easily than an individual mon
arch. become a tyrant.
The system Of Checks and balances
that once was praised as a supreme
achievement in the art Of constituting
Government. and the theory of limited
and delegated powers which the simple
no "a - dI N
of our liberties-these were but a
blind. covering a mischievous concern
,ration of power. Then. in this nervous
theory. the popularity of the republic
can form Of government was dispelled
10y the spreading consciousness hat
forces hostile 10 popular control had
obtained possession of the Govern
ment." Efforts IL restore to the peo-
pie their power have failed: the PEG.
pie do not govern There is some dis
agreement between students OF our
politics AZ to whether admitted de-
fccts in Tho navigation Of the ship of
state are attributable to inherent de-
fects in the frame of Government or
to some departure Of the nation from |
tho ideals and practical zeal in public |
affairs of the fathers.
We have ceased. the author says. 10 |
fear the action Of government as dan |
gerous To liberty and are eager to
have 1t undertake "A wide field of ac-
t!v!ty in behalf Of the social well
being For these new" tasks Gov
lis neither equipped with the
necessary authority nor fashioned for
efficiency" To secure efficiency and |
80 'Af w NV vi vi lIIs pSOs |
pie nun form Of government, we are
told. must he 'simpiified.' |
In working ont this theme Prof. |
Elliott begins with consideration of the
we'll known differences between North
and South in conditions economic. in
dustr.al and social: the struggle for
the adoption Of the Constitution" with
It's development Of strongly opposed
parties that famous compromise
which We used TO he taught. in the bad
old days. was a triumph OF human
purpose and accommodation of con-
fiicting principles, each with a pedi-
ment Of conviction both honest and
intelligent: the battle between the
principles Of confederation and GEN.
trali2ation.
But-the fathers had not foreseen
The New Democracy of the West"
1t is difficult for us to realize how
strong was the feeling that with
Jackson's election the people had again
come into their own:
II the people had been tricked and de.
frauded by his defeat, they had been s,or,-
ously vindicated by his election: u they
had been deprived of their rights then.
N''f ''' N''''" s'N' h'"s NN VAS /
their direct representative and as such he
proceeded to speak aud act. In him the
will OF the people was Incorporated. To
such an extent was this carried out that |
the Executive assumed proportions In ths
scheme Of government never before at
tanned. . II WAS feared that such
a conception OF the position OF the Pres,-
dent would upset the balance so carefully
Planned. Tho democracy had at
length felt tho forsr ~ thu "a ~ o,,, /
bers' and ;he rule OF the majority became
the cardinal tenet OF faith.
As We follow Prof. Elliott through
his we'll and simply written sketch of
American political h~istory--the civil
war. the development Of party ma
'hlnery ana the more recent expert
mentat!on in devices OF popular gov
eminent to his conclusion that every.
th!nG possible must be done to make
easier the expression OF the popular
VIII, a simplitcation OF government 20
meet The needs Of "A life increasingly
complex, we are confirmed in our nd
mirat!on of the structure the fathers
punt, To us it seems their political
architecture was wonderfully ADAPTED
TO all possible developments: with pro-
vision for adding new rooms as the
family grows. Why go outside tho
Constitution for reform The yencr-
able and still respectable document
provides FOR It's own adaptation to
conditions.
Is there among human records one
more honorable, more pleasing TO CON-
template. than that Of the Constitution
or the United States OF America?
Frof. Elliott names Skilfullv tive do