The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-05
INDIVIDUAL AND STATE RIGHTS.

Ids Drought into active Delng.
INDIVIDUAL AND STATE RIGHTS.
The Herald has already expressed its
views as to the right of the Federal
government to exercise its authority
in United States matters on every part
of the public domain, and that this
! does not necessarily encroach in the
least degree upon legitimate states
rights. These opinions were given at
the time of the labor riots in Chlca go
and when the strike IN the railroads
was in progress in the west.
The true Democratic doctrine as to
the powers of government is that the
national authority is supreme in all
national affairs, while the authority Of
each state is supreme il its own af-
fairs. The doctrine of states rights
does not involve the denial or in
fringement of Federal rights
Local self-government is an essen
tial principle in our political system.
On its maintenance depends the stab
ility of our democratic form of gov
eminent. Without it one might have
a certain kind of republic, but we
could not have a true democracy
Municipal governm ant in cities need
not interfere with The government of
counties and neither need conflict
with the authority of the state. In the
same way, perfect state autonomy is
fully compatible with the national
sovereignty, which is supreme in all
things national.
The laws of the United States must
be respected and enforced when neces-
sary in every part of the United
States. Interstate commerce is regu-
lated by Federal law. SO are the United
States mails. The decision Of the Su-
preme Court recently delivered IS of
great Importance, in that i empha-
sizes the principle of national author
ity and supports its enfore ament, both
the Republican and Democratic JUS
tees all concurring in the opinion de-
Iivered.
1t is in strong support of law and or
der. 1t is notice to the insurrec-
tionary and violent clements of the
country that both the civil ana the
military power of this great nation
will be employed in preserving this
country as a government Of law. No
liberty which disregards law will be
permitted. 1t is not true liberty. 1t
is license. 1t is individualism in OPP
position to society. Public order must
be maintained in the preservation of
the public peace.
There is nothing in the decision
which declares against the right of
men to organize for the protection of
the rights of labor. There is nothing
in it which denies the right to strike,
whether individually or in organiza-
tions. There is nothing in it against
the right of people to peaeeably as
semble and protest against or take
action to petition for redress of griev-
ances. No right or liberty which
properly belongs to a citizen of this
republic is infringed by that decision.
But organizations against capital,
against railroad or other corporations,
against cheap labor or those who
cheaper it by undertaking their fell
lows, must not violate the law or in
terfere with the lives, liberties or pro-
perty of other people. If they do
they will become the sufferers in the
sequel.
The decision is as much in the in
terest of the respective states and of
the working people of the country as
it is in the interest of the entire ma
ton and the preservation of the Fed
eral authority The respective powers
of state and national governments,
and the rights and liberties and the
limits thereof of individuals in rela-
ton to the government, are import
ant for all classes of the people to
understand.
The power to enact laws is in the
hands of the whole people When
they are enacted by the peoples re-
they should be religiously
observed. The right to contest their
validity is reserved by the people, but
it must be done through the courts.
II the decision is adverse to popular
desire, the people can amend or re-
peal the laws, in the way provided by
the laws and the constitution of our
country. But while those laws are
in force they must be respected. and
there can be no peace and prosperity
on any other principle and practice.