Show i AN AMERICAN OX AMERICANS I Mr Mathew M Trumbulls article in the August Nincnccnth Centura on II American Aristocracy will doubtless I and much dis provoke much discussion I sent throughout the country Mr Trum I bulls style is charming somewhat of I a commingling of the style of the I best English and French writers That j there is an aristoctracy of wealth in America no one doubts that I aristocracy has been deliberately established es-tablished in the Constitution may not I only be doubted but successfully disputed I dis-puted That social consideration cpmes j from official position is i true and perhaps i the more permanent the official position the more permanent the social consideration considera-tion Wealth is the true basis of aristocracy aristoc-racy in America and those who deem themselves and are so deemed by others as the most ancient aristocracy in America Amer-ica are tho wealthy families of Dutch descent in New York The aristocracy aris-tocracy of Virginia bases its pride upon family rather than wealth that is great wealth the wealth sufficient to maintain high respectibility must always accompany born aristocrats if they wish to maintain their position in the aristocratic aristo-cratic and social world But even in England the Tanks of the aristocracy are I recruited from the wealthier upper middle mid-dle class a breath can make them as a breath has made The great majority of mankind would prefer social consideration I consider-ation to political consideration it is the desire for social recognition rather than for political recognition which causes popular commotions and revolutions In sneaking of the Senate Mr Trum says The American Senate is the most important political aristocracy that has existed in modern times If the American I Ameri-can Senate is an important political aristocracy aris-tocracy it is not because American Senators hold their office for a term of six years hut because they represent sovereign States that is States sovereign within the sphere of their legitimate action that action is limited only by the powers that have been granted to the I General Government by the people If I the members of the House of Representatives Represent-atives were elected for the same period still their position would not command the same consideration as does that of the Senatois and for the reasons above given I Further commenting upon the Senate Mr Trumbull says If the Senate cannot can-not be abolished it can be reformed It I can be made elective by the people j its term of office can be educed to two I years and it can be made to represent the States in proportion to their population popu-lation Certainly it can by a Constitutional Consti-tutional amendment but to so amend the Constitution would he to abolish the federal fed-eral form of our Government Mr Trum bull either forgets or ignores the federal form of the Government But while forgetting for-getting or ignoring this fact he makes this startling announcement The Senate irf firmly intrenched in the citadel I of the Constitution it cannot be swamped like the House of Lords by the creation I of new Senators nor can the Constitution be amended except threefourths of the Sqtiate agree thereto The statement is in every way misleading and our English Eng-lish cousins will have a more confused idea of tho American Constitution than they now possess But Mr Trumbull is so elated with his idea of the aristocratic character of the I American Senate that he cannot refrain I from introducing documentary evidence I of the fact Mr Gouveneur Morris a delegate from New York said He wished I to make the Senate a permanent body tHe t-He said It must have great personal property j it must have thearistocratic spirit j and therefore its term of office should be for life There were other ideas concerning the Senate and why it should be of amore I a-more permanent character than the House John Adams one of the leaders of the Federalists concerning Senate said No republic can be of any duration I dura-tion without a Senate and a Senate j deeply and strongly rooted strong enough Ito I-to bear up against all popular storms and i passions The only fault in the Constitution Consti-tution MI our Senate is that their term i of office is not durable enough Here then was the true reason for the long tenure of office of Senator as given by a leading Federalist the party that corresponded corre-sponded with the Tory element of which Mr Trumbull speaks Mr Trumbull also says The House of Representatives is the only branch of the American Government conceded to the democracy by the Constitution Such to a certain extent is the case and the remark recalls a similar comment by Jefferson In the General Government the House of Representatives is mainly republican the Senate scarcely so at all as not elected by the people directly and so being secured even against those who do elect them the Executive more republican re-publican than the Senate for its shorter term its election by the people in practice prac-tice for they vote for A only on an assurance that he will vote for Band B-and because in practice alo a principle of rotation seems to be in course of establishment the judiciary independent of the nation their coercion by impeachment impeach-ment being found nugatory Between the comments of MrTnun bull and those of Jefferson on certain points there fs much resemblance 3fr Trumbull says The men who framed tho American Constitution were lawyers 1 They knew nothing practically of any law except tho English law they i had no practical knowledge of tho workings < work-ings of any constitution except the Enc I lish Constitution and they were afraid to I trust themselves too far away from the I 0 ancient landmarks with which they were II I familiar Jefferson in speaking of the I republicanism of this Government said I If then the control of the people over I theorgans of their government be tnemeas I fafe of their republicanista I confess I I know no other measure it must be agreed I I that our governments havetesa republIcanism I republican-ism about them than ought to have been expected in other words that the people have less regular control over their agents than their rights and interests require And I this ascribe not to any want of republican dispositions in those who formed these constitutions con-stitutions but to a submission of true principle prin-ciple to European authorities to speculators on government whose fears of the people I have been inspired by the populace of their j own great cities and were unjustly entertained enter-tained against the independent the happy and therefore orderly citizens of the United States Much I apprehend that the golden moment is past for reforming these heresies I Mr Trumbulls article suggests many such comparisons and many ideas It i would repay all who can spare the time Ito Ito I-to read his article for much profit will be derived from it j |