New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-01
THE CENTURY AND THE CONSTITUTION

hundred years ago there was much doubt
whether the inchoate Republic would live to
see its tenth year. The splendid success which
has been achieved by the Nation is often
ascribed entirely to its Constitution and to the
wisdom of the trainers thereof. Yet perhaps
there has never been another nation which has
had 80 hard task to break through barriers
to its progress that were reared by it's own
organic law, or to get rid Of letters forged by
its Constitution makers. On the other hand, it
is equally true that the framework OF govern
raant devised by the wisdom Of our Revolu-
tionary ancestors has saYed the Nations life be-
cause il was 10 elastic, and confined that life
80 little, and was best and wisest where as
measure of definite restriction and government
IL was least complete.
There were few things which the Consti-
tuition definitely prescribed. Ono Of these,
however unwccome the fact may be to the
FREQ men Of 1889, Va that human slavery was
recognized and politically intIenched in the very
framework of the Government. That caused
the Mexican War; fnghtfu waste of time
in the Nations economic development; the war
Of the Rebellion, with all its sacrifices and
bloodshed, and the defiance of the Constitution
and laws which still fingers. Another OF these
embarrassing restrictions was the provision
originally intended to limit the power OF tho
Government as to the kind of money it might
issue. At last. by successive decisions OF the
Supreme Court il has come to be the interprc-
tation that after the Civil War had ended notes
could still be issued and uniform paper cur
rcncy could be maintained. But il the war
had not occurred il the construction which in
all probability governed the minds OF most OF
the Constitution makers. who had suffered
terribly from the mischiefs OF n confederation
and its currency, had been maintained, and tho
issue of paper had been forbidden except by
banks created by the States, what curse it
would have been to have forty-two different
kinds of paper money. mostly bad and differ
ing in value in different markets. 1t Is not too
much to say that under such conditions the
Nation of to-day would hardly have been pos
sible.
The blessed elasticitics Of the Constitution
are mainly due to loose phrases, which would
doubtless have been more carefully guarded
by accurate expression had there been thought
on those points. The war power and the power
Of suppressing rebellion, there is great rca-
son to suppose. would have been less vaguely
expressed, and might have been found fatally
Gripping, had there not been some careless
nes among tho patriots Of carly days. To them
it did not seem possible that Federal ESecu-
tive would ever need to resort TO war in order
to save the Nations existence, and the states
rights notions Of early days would have stub
bornly resisted, we may presume. any cndeavor
to give explicit powers TO the Government az
broad as those which were aftcrward rightly
employed because vaguely and loosely given.
Substantially tho same might be said OF in
ternal improvements, educational and medical
regulations, and the control Of interstate COM
MERGE Practically, all powers of these classes
were denied to the Government by many Of the
trainers Of tho Constitution, and it is likely
would have been expressly eliminated from
It's grants had questions about them been
definitely raised.
1t does not dctract from the fame OF Revoln-
tonary patriots and statesmen to say that their
work WAS imperfect and unfinished But IL.
mary respects they builded visor than they
knew. Where they were least accurate and
careful, in many cases, they served their coun-
try best. Their greatest care was spent upon
provisions some Of which have proved impedi-
ments to the Nations growth.