The Quest: Rev. Dr. HILDRETH, who is an exceptionally able_orthodox clergyman, contributes to this issue of THE ARENA an essay on evolution and that which is behind the unfoldment. In this paper the author takes a position somewhat similar to that maintained by Dr. ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE, HENRY DRUMMOND and many other prominent evolutionary thinkers, all of whom held that evolution merely dealt with the method of advancing life from the primary cell to the complex nervous and mental organism of civilized man. In the nature of the case evolution does not attempt to describe the origin of life. Pernicious Laudation of the Rich: Our readers will enjoy Hon. JOHN D. WORKS' paper in this issue dealing with the morally disintegrating influence that follows the persistent focussing of the mind of the public on the abnormally rich, tending as it does to create an idea of superiority apart from moral and mental excellence that in a republic should ever be recognized as the master spring of genuine worth. The author is a leading jurist of the Pacific coast. The Political Outlook for the Coming Presidential Election: In this issue the Hon. GEORGE FRED. WILLIAMS, the strongest, ablest and most fundamental of the Democratic leaders of New England, contributes a brief paper on the present political outlook. Mr. WILLIAMS is one of the finest scholars in the ranks of progressive democracy. His analysis of present political conditions well merits the attention of our people. This paper is comple mented by our editorial dealing with “Presidential Possibilities." How Clara Barton Became Interested in Christian Science: Mrs. EUGENIA PAUL JEFFERSON CON tributes a most interesting paper to this issue, dealing with the causes that led Miss BARTON, the great leader of the Red Cross movement, to investigate Christian Science. A Socialist's Definition of Socialism: We think it is safe to say that the clearest exposition of the master aim of the Socialists that has appeared in the compass of a brief magazine article will be found in this issue of THE ARENA. It was prepared for this magazine by the Hon. CARL D. THOMPSON, the Social-Democratic member of the Wisconsin Legislature. This paper will do much to clear up the honest misunderstandings which exist in the public mind, due to the persistent misrepresentations of Socialists and Socialism which have appeared in that part of the daily press controlled by the plutocracy. VOL. 39 "We do not take possession of our ideas, but are possessed by them; They master us and force us into the arena, Where, like gladiators, we must fight for them.-HEINE. The Arena THE RESTORATION OF POPULAR RULE: PARTISAN ISSUES. BY HON. ROBERT L. OWEN, At the suggestion of THE ARENA I submit a few comments on the question of the People's Ruleall that is practicable in the short limit of a magazine article. THE PEOPLE'S RULE IN OKLAHOMA. UND NDER the Constitution of Oklahoma the people are sovereign and may veto an Act of Legislature and have the direct power to propose and compel legislation, and to propose amendments to the Constitution and put such amendments in force. Five per cent. of the voters can compel the submission of an act of the legislature and the will of the majority of those who vote on the measure is the law of the land. Eight per cent. can propose a statute, and if approved by a majority of the votes cast at the election it will become a law. Fifteen per cent. of the voters can propose an amendment to the Constitution which will become the law by a majority vote of the electors voting. No constitutional convention can be called unless approved by the voters of the state, and the proposals of a con stitutional convention cannot become law until approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. In short, the people of Oklahoma have reserved to themselves a veto power through the "referendum," and the power of directlegislation through the "initiative." This is merely an improvement in the system that existed in this country before the rise in 1823-32 of the state and national conventions, under the manipulation of political parties. THE PEOPLE'S RULE IN AMERICA, 1776-1798. The people ruled in America prior to 1823-32, when the artful political contrivance of party conventions was established. The people previously to that time instructed their representatives. For example, in the Boston Town Meeting of 1764, their representatives in the legislature were instructed as follows: "The townsmen have delegated to you the power of acting in their public Concerns in general as your own pru dence shall direct you, always reservng to themselves the Constitutional Right of expressing their mind and giving you such Instructions upon particular matters as they at any time shall judge proper." What clearer declaration of principle could be made? Take the following minutes of the town clerk of Weston, Massachusetts, at the meeting on the twelfth day of January, 1778, at one o'clock P. M., called for the purpose, "To instruct your representatives to act and to do as you shall judge mostly for the advantage of this and ye United States, etc." In which they voted as follows: “(1) Voted to accept of the consideration of perpetual union as adopted by the congress and that the representatives be instructed to act accordingly." These town meetings could be called at any time. It was a common practice throughout New England. The above illustrations show that the people of Massachusetts possessed a complete and thorough direct-vote system for public questions, and instructed their elected representatives at will. The legislature, too, instructed the members of the Continental Congress, and could recall them. Such was the system in New England. In other states the voters elected pledged candidates and instructed at mass meetings and through the legislatures. In some states the mass meetings were termed Conferences. The complete sovereignty of the voters is shown in the following resolutions of North Carolina, November 1, 1776, at Mecklenberg, called for "The express purpose of drawing up instructions for the present representatives in Congress. "To Waighstill Avery, Hezekiah Alexander, John Phifer, Robert Erwin, and Zecheus Wilson, Esquires: "Gentlemen: You are chosen by the inhabitants of this country to serve them in Congress or General Assembly for one year, and they have agreed to the following Instructions, which you are to observe with the strictest regard, viz: You are instructed: “(1). That you shall consent to and approve the Declaration of the Continental Congress declaring the thirteen United States Colonies free and independent States.” Eighteen additional paragraphs of instructions follow (Vol. 10, Colonial Records of North Carolina.) These examples can be multiplied indefinitely. In Pennsylvania, a constitutional convention assembled July 15, 1776, and declared in the Bill of Rights, as follows: “(16). That the people have a right to assemble together to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, etc." The people's rule is not favorable to the selfish interests of the politician nor of the commercialist. In the call for a National Constitutional Convention, in 1786, the fifty-five delegates to the National Convention were elected by the legislature. These delegates appear to have been opposed to the people's rule, and they met and secretly worked for a system by which the few should rule. There were no public schools in those days. The common voter was unlearned, and the party of Hamilton distrusted the people. The doors of this Constitutional Convention were closed to the people and the members |