418 THE QUESTIONS OF THE DAY. 



it. So far as the demand for direct legislation is founded on a 

 belief of the general venality of representatives, I believe that, 

 outside of the large cities, it is on a mistaken foundation. 

 Nearly all legislators are honest most of the time— being 

 swayed by venal motives only in special matters, and the 

 majority are honest all the time. But the judgments of honest 

 men will often differ, and in such cases a small minority of 

 dishonest men, having the balance of power, can work their 

 will for reward. Aside, however, from the governing bodies 

 of large cities, I doubt whether any measure ever became a 

 law which was not approved by the honest judgment of the 

 majority who voted for it. In the main, too, I believe that 

 the action of our legislative bodies reflects fairly well the 

 wishes of the majority of voters for the time being. The use 

 of direct legislation— which is exceedingly expensive — should 

 therefore be restricted to occasions in which a minority of 

 dishonest representatives, having a balance of power, or a 

 strongly partisan Legislature by party vote, may be likely to 

 enact measures which the people would not approve. As a 

 " question of the day," therefore, the subject of direct legisla- 

 tion is hardly ripe for discussion, because its responsible 

 advocates have not yet defined the occasions to which they 

 would apply it. To be in favor of the " initiative and the 

 referendum " expresses no desire which one can put his finger 

 on. It may mean something which we should nearly all 

 approve, or something to which we should nearly all object. 

 The people as a body can not concern itself with trifles. It 

 can not make war and peace, as the old Germanic tribes used 

 to, because a modern war is likely to begin and end before the 

 people could get ready to vote. I am writing during the war 

 with Spain, at a time when our navy has effected a lodgment 

 on the Philippine Islands, and when the public is discussing 

 the policy of conquering and keeping them. That, or the 

 acquisition of any foreign territory, except mere coaling sta 

 tions, would be eminently a proper question to be submitted 

 to the people. The policy of occupying them as an act of war 

 is evidently not a question which the people would wish to 

 decide for themselves. There are certain exigencies in life 



