The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-13
LET rs STICK TO OUR CONSTITUTION

nose at those who insist on referring
anv public measure proposed to the Con-
s,,tutlon of our Government that II may
he determined whether the proposition Is
consistent with that instrument or re-
nurnant 10 II. The person who demands
this Is generally thrust aside as an odd
fogv' or one who does not keep abreast
OF the progress Of the day. The Times
is content to be classed amongst these
II has pondered much and long upon
our Constitution, fashioned by the wisest
body OF men that ever came together.
and Il believes that Constitution contains
the true lines upon which the Government
OF a happy and prosperous people must
rest. Just as we adhere 70 the lines OF
Government laid down in that instrument
we will be prosperous and contented;
iust as we part from them at the bid
ding OF the smart fellows who think
"they know Il all" we bring on ourselves
difficulties and discomfort.
The c. institution authorizes Congress 10
enact laws TO accomplish certain ENDS
II names and specifies the ends TO be
accomplished, and they are very few'
II is TO make war and provide for the
common defence. suppress insurrecuoh,
regulate commerce between the States
and between the States and foreign States
70 coin money and regulate the value
thereof, 10 establish a standard Tor
weights and measures, to lay and collect
the taxes necessary for supporting the
general Government. to establish post
offices and post-roads. 10 pass UNIFORM
acts Of bankruptcy with Few other
ends of the same sort, general in their
nature. and Of a character In which all
the people Of the whole country obyi-
ousIv have an equal and common in
terest.
After specifying me few subjects OF
which Congress Is 10 have control. II
then provides that all powers not ex-
pressly delegated TO Congress by the Con-
stitution itself are reserved to the States
or the people thereof.
Here then is a plain chart. The Con-
gress Of the United States was to have
power 10 make the laws that control
those general matters in which all the
people Of the Union have common in
terest, but control OF all others except
those specifically named YVES reserved 10
the people Of each locality. This was the
idea Of the Government that was estab-
lished for this country, and this Idea,
the very perfection of human wisdom,
The Times insists that the people shall
force their rulers to adhere TO. The Times
insists on this for two reasons: First. II
is our Constitution. and the people elect
their rulers to perpetuate and not to
violate that Constitution; and, second,
II is the wisest and best Constitution that
can be devised.
When the Constitution was ordained
and established, the new word Social
ism" had not been much heard Of, but
our fathers were perfectly ccgnizant OF
the principle which the word embodies
and of its menace to human 1iberty-aye
to civilization itself. They knew that the
only safeguard for both was in diffusing
government as widely as possible amongst
the people, so that control of those things
that affected the neighbarhood should be
by the people of the neighborhood. for so
soon as all power is concentrated at one
centre they knew that the Jay Gouids
and Huntingtons and smaller fry would
be there TO explain" their interests TO
those In power. establishing Boss Tweed
government over all and have public con-
tracts let out on the thea're-boX, supper,
money loaning and hat idea only. This
is the inevitable consequence Of social
list Government. as is now seen In Austria
LA, and this Is what our ancestors were
guarding against when hey said that
our Congress should have no power what
ever to pass any laws except those few
that they expressly named.
We look with all the apprehension
that can come into the human mind upon
any departure whatever from the scheme
Of that Constitution. We refuse abso-
lutely, however tempting the bait may be,
to concede to Congress the right 10 step
one inch over the line that has been
drawn, for this is the case which justi-
fes the French proyerb, zee nest que lie
premier pas qui coute"-it is the case Of
the egg, when resistance is all on the out
side.
Now you may search the Constitution
from end to end and you Will not find
one word or line which authorizes Con-
gress TO enact any laws that can bear
upon the paper currency that the people
themselves may choose to provide for
and use, except the single provision that
Congress shall have power Ito coin money
and regulate the value thereof" ard
every mans common sense tells him that
was not intended to have any reference to
paper currency. 1t is true the Supreme
Court long ago decided that Congress
was given power 10 charter banks, so
that it cannot be denied the Government
may, in certain sense. provide for
national currency. though all 1t does in
such case is to authorize a body Of indi-
viduals in one Of the States to do bust
ness as a bank. the Government Itself
prescribing the measures, for making the
currency safe. But even here the bank
ing is done by the people themselves, and
not by the Government
But that does not authorize 1t to inter