Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/762

 746 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the relatively simple issues of trade-union administration, still more does it apply to the infinitely complicated questions of national politics. Trade-union history gives therefore little support to the referendum or delegate meeting, and points rather to the representative assembly as the last word of democracy. (Vol. I, p. 61.)

But the danger lies in the sway it gives to passion and preju- dice, especially in periods of public stress. We need not go beyond the history of our own country ; it is full of instances of popular caprice under exciting conditions. It will be remembered that in 1863 the new constitution which the constitutional con- vention of that year submitted to the voters of Illinois was rejected because a few members of the convention were reputed to be sympathizers with the states then in rebellion against the national government. That the rejection was not founded upon objections to the constitution itself was shown by the adoption a few years later of the constitution by another convention con- taining all the essential provisions of that of 1863. Well remem- bered are also the wild enmity that existed during those years and later throughout the agricultural states against the railroads, and the strange kinds of legislation that were attempted against them, in some instances with success. In a recent editorial in one of the Chicago dailies it was declared that during the excitement arising from the Civil War the operation of the initiative at that time would have hanged every copperhead north of Mason and Dixon's line. Its operation in the South at the time would have worked the same results upon all those who believed in the Union, or expressed any doubts upon the sacred character of the institu- tion of human slavery. Local agitation, where the majority of the community are flagrantly in the wrong, is of frequent occurrence.

It will be said that, while communities or limited districts may become unbalanced, the whole people of a state will always be found clear-headed and in a majority for the right. Professor Parsons, in the opening paragraph of his book, Direct Legislation, points to the fact that the national Democratic platform adopted in Kansas City, and the national Populist platform the same year, both favored direct legislation, i. e., the initiative. This was stated as an argument in favor of the scheme. Professor Parsons