The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-11
LINCOLN SPIRIT
R ECALL.ED IN
SELB ARTICLE RI. | { i !:
Frontier Legislatures Uncurbed
by Bond Limit Not New
to National History
QUOTES. EMANc1PAToR

QUOTES EMANCIPATOR
John, selb Of Drake, N. D., here or
business, made the following comments
relative to the political movement. now
under way:
1.-THE histories of the states chronicle
that in Lincoln's time the people re
volted against their legislatures. Wha,
is today so earnestly advocated in eau,
Gus in North Dakota, had its counter.
part in the questionable legislation OF
the states, in Lincoln's day. The peo
pie of the then western states dis.
-, covered that the richest state could be
bankrupted ana its people impover,
ished by putting the legislature on the
job, with the powers to vote money as
it saw fit. In those days, state con
stitutions had been drawn rather
loosely, and unlimited powers were
delegated to the legislative bodies. The
perils confronting us today in North
Dakota were, on 4 much smaller scale,
experienced by the pioneers Of Ohio
and the frontier states of the Lincoln
period.
with modern Louis XIV at the
has q 'prOgfam'-and who blandly as
sumes that L am the state unlimited
powers are necessary. The people have
been made the subjects Of subservi-
'ent legislature. In this great conspir-
acy' the taxpayer and citizen Of our
state finds himself with no power re-
served to himself. but that every de-
partment Of public service is presided
OVERLY a particular brand Of brain,
and which assumes to itself the privi-
lege of lQnfing it over Il governed
class
1.-The people of Lncoin's time had
discovered and learned by hard ex-
perience the pcrils confronting us at
this time. Their legislatures were
granting special privileges to, ipdvid-
nals and favored classes. They ma
nipulated county, township and city
politics; created corporations and OK
empted the property of the favored
class from taxation. Local boundaries
We're being changed for political pur-
poses. TX ..,. H..
New constitutions We're adopted.
Old constitutions were amended. The
people rose against the profligacy Of
the legislative power. For the first
time state constitution fixed the debt
limit Of the state. The legislature could
not pledge the public credit beyond this
sum. The great debates OF those days
in legislative halls were on the subject
Of state debts. u ae$s,sas u. ss.So@a ",
CLEARLY there were Nnrne things
which no legislature ahould be- nsuf-'
fered to do; notably to over-reachs the
credit of the state in support of so
called internal improvements
""Also. TO charter wildcat banks and
permit issues ofsffat money; to enact
innumerables and contradictory private
acts; and to gerrymander the state at
the will of the partysin power
SHORN OF POWER
These and other -effenses the legisa
latures of Lincoln's time had frequent.
ly committed. They had to be shorn
Of much of their power. Prohibitory
clauses were inserted in new cOnstitu-
tions, and in amendments to old ones
Every constitutional convention strug-
gled with the state debt problem. The
constitutions Of the states adopted dur
ing the Lincoln period reflect the con"
servatism moving at the time. Pro
visions unmistakabld in their meaning
we're incorporated in state constitu-
tons to protect the people and states
from bankruptcy.
e. LIKE DAYS OF LINCOLN
How like the present in North Da-
kota were the days of Lincoln. Mill
ions of dollars are being voted away !;
fundamental laws are being repealed
and changed; the rights Of property
invaded; the school, funds used in ex
plotting doubtful ventures. All this is
being done without public hearing at
which the voice Of protest and argu-
ment might be heard. The caucus
does it all. The Get Rich Quick Wall
ingfords' are there hut the taxpayer
and citizen is not admitted The high
way of legislative autocracy contains
the no thoroughfare' sign and the
public is warned to keep off. Our state
capital has been made ii 'Marxinian
heaven and emigration to Russia is
unnecessary for him who would enjoy
true socialism. The administrations
motto seems to be-: Count that day
lost whose low descending sun finds no
new scheme for getting our hands on
the mOn.'
GREAT TRANSFORMATION " 4
1.-THE Independence of the represen-
tatives Of the people has been totally
destroyed. We are witnessing great
transformation. Our former republic
can form of government wherein the
people ruled by representation, is now
a purely despotic form. The caucus
does, the thinking for all of the people
and no advice or counsel is needed.
Only those who have the proper ere
dentials, Of Loyalty to the dictator. are
admitted to the Secret chambers of the
caucus
THE solving Of the great problems
by q state builds character. At no
time in its history has North Dakota
been confronted with issues SO over
towering and destructive as are EN-
bodied in the program The leaders
glibly announce that the Judas Isca-
riots vii have to leave the state No
truer words were ever spoken. Stand
ing before mirror the spokesman may
have seen revealed before him the real
Judas. The time will come when the
farmers Of North Dakota, like the
farmers Of ,Lincoln's time, will COM
plain Of tax burdens They will be
like the fellow who set fire to his
noiOhInr,S harm and t1lan cnmna mod