New-York tribune., 1916-07-29
THE CONSTITUTION.


AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND MAJORITY
RULE Ry Edward Elliott, Ph. ID. Svo. ~. vi
IFS Princeton University Pros.
TIRE FEDERAL ExECUTIyE. By John PniiE
Htn Svo. ID. VII 269 The HcuEhton hfnir
COMPANY.
IL is the chief merit of DR.. Elliotts
book that il challenges boldly one of
the most persistent superstitions of
American politics. That superstition
concerns the efficiency and wisdom OF
the system Of government bequeathed
70 US by the trainers Of the Federal
Constitution. Mr.. Gladstone once
called the American Constitution the
greatest single product ever struck
off in an emergency by the brain OF
man. That is still the prevailing view
among Americans. But il is a view
from which there are now many
earnest dissenters. Or. Elliott is one
OF the most outspoken of these. lie
maintains that our form of govern
ment has been in itself a powerful
obstacle TO the attainment of true
democracy in this country, 70 the de-
velopment Of national efficiency and TO
the vindication of majority rule.
The trainers Of the Federal Consti-
tuition set up an elaborate system of
checks and balances, intended TO de
centralize governmental power and TO
protect individuals and minorities
against oppression at the hands OF
temporary maiorities. The theory of
the Fathers, borrowed from Rousseau,
was that all government is in its
nature evil and that the people may
easily become as tyrannical as any
king. The Federal model was adopted,
with aggravations, by the States and
by the minor political subdivisions
of the States. AS consequence all our
governmental machinery became ad-
justed 20 the principle Of dispersed
power, coupled with restraints on the
effective rule Of the majority.
Almost from the beginning, the dem
ocratic instincts of the American peo-
ple have rebelled against the restrlc-
tions put on popular rule. Though we
have not directly challenged the form
of government bequeathed to us, we
have tried 20 overcome its evil effects
by indirection. Our political history is
therefore full Of experiments ts-most Of
them highly unsuccessful-to make
government more responsive to the
popular will, though retaining the old
fashioned and essentially defective
governmental machinery.
In the Federal field our elaborate
system Of checks and balances is in
a large measure still appropriate and
fairly workable. The States stand as
entities between the central govern
ment and the people. There must be
a considerable dispersion of power, and
control of the government by the peo-
pie must always be more or less in
direct. The extreme effort required to
amend the Constitution necessarily
discourages changes. Yet in two impor-
tant respects democratic pressure has
enlarged the scope Of popular control.
Through the device Of party nominal
ing conventions the choice Of a Pres
ident has been taken away from the
Electoral College and vested in the
people. and very recently the State
legislatures have been stripped of
power 70 elect United States Senator's
The Federal structure has been par
italy democratized. but owing to its
dual representing the SOW
ereignty Of the States as well as the
sovereignty of the people-it viii be
to the last the stronghold of the an
cient theory Of distributed power and