The powers of our republican form of government originated with the
governed. It is the theory of our fundamental law that the people
choose their representatives, yet no fact is so true as that this
object is deliberately thwarted of accomplishment. Nor is it less
true that the primary cause of this condition may be traced to a
sordid commercialism which pervades the body politic and stops not
even at the threshold of government. But whatever may be known of
alliances between predatory interests and party leaders, whatever may
be known of corruption of public officials, it is beyond denial that
a despotic influence invades alike political conventions and the
halls of legislatures. Policies sacrificing the public welfare are
dedicated by a bold and powerful coterie of men whose motives are
governed, not by a sense of right, but by the false ethics of
expediency and self-interest. Shall this system forever prevail, or
shall the intelligence and conscience of the people be aroused to its
iniquity, and the money-changers be driven from the temple of our
government? There can be but one answer. Remembering with
Lincoln--and with Hughes--that ours is a government of the people,
and for the people, let us return to the pure ideal of the
Constitution and secure a government by the people.