Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
CONSTITUTION TrNKsRrve.

The constitution of the United States
has now been in force los years. Out
of the fifteen amendments engrafted
upon the original framework of gov
eminent. the first ten were in reality
part of the tacit condition by which
the assent Of the thirteen states was
secured. They were proposed by the
first congress convened under the con
stitutiou and ratified before the close
of 11at. Tho eleventh and twelfth
amendments to the federal constitution
were enacted to meet defects that had
made themselves manifest in the arti-
cles on the judiciary and the electoral
college. For more than sixty years
thereafter the constitution remained In
tact. Many changes and innovations
were proposed from time TO time, but
none received serious consideration.
The three last amendments grew out
of the war and simply settled forever
the question OF slavery and guaranteed
equal rights to all American citizens.
The ratification of the fifteenth amend
mcnt was proclaimed on March 30,
l0IV. Bol liblt ltsi " Iho'N
century, therefore, the republic has
passed safely through every trying
ordeal without adding to or substracting
from its organic law. In that period
any number of reforms in the constitu-
ton have been suggested and earnestly
pressed for the action of congress, but
the sixteenth amendment has not yet
m~atcrialized.
The very latest attempt at constitu-
ton tinkering has just been introduced
into the United States senate Mt the
instance of the A. =. A. The proposed
amendment aims to prohibit the use of
property or credit of the United States
or of any state for the support of any
church or denonlinational institution.
1t is also proposed that the national
republican convention shall insert into
it's platform a plank endorsing this
amendment and pledging the support
of the party to its ratification. While
the principle embodied in the proposed
amendment is sound and has the ap-
proval of the great mass of the Amerl-
can people. there is nothing In existing
conditions that calls for its incorpora-
ton into the constitution, and much less
into . party's national platform.
The separation of church and state
was decreed in the broadcast terms in
the bill of rights which forms part of
the constitution. in which it is expressly
provided that congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment OF re-
ligion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The same prohibition is en-
bodied in most of the state constlru.
tons. The enabling act under which
Nebraska was admitted into the union
lays down among the fundamental con-
ditions that perfect liberation of re-
ligious sentiment shall be secured, and
no inhabitant of said state shall ever
be molested in person or property on
account of his or her mode of religious
Worship" Both constitutions of Ne
braska have expressly declared that "no
person shall be compelled to attend.
erect or support any place of worship or
maintain any form of worship against
his consent Strictly interpreted this
DTOIlDlIIOIle AlelltS ~ ttAlbS poNSiF
of the state and should prevent the ap.
preparation of any public funds in this
state to sectarian purposes. A majority
of the state constitutions enacted since
the war contain similar or more
stringent provisions on this subject.
The constitution of Nebraska and al
most all the later day constitutions pro
hibit absolutely the expenditure of any
| money raised by taxation or secured by
gift or bequest for the support OF any
sectarian. educational institution. Oui
state constitution limits the power OF
the legislature to exempt from taxation
| property used for religious, educational
or charitable purposes to that portion
| actually devoted to such uses. Even
such limited exemption IS optional with
| tho legislature and the trend of public
sentiment favors the repeal of all laws
eXempting any class of property from
taxation. In any event the abuse of
the taxing powers for sectarian pur'
poses wherever it still exists is not OF
| such a threatening character as to call
for federal constitution tinkering.
Amendments to put God in the con
stitution, to provide for national mar
rage and divorce laws, to accord THE
| suffrage to women, to authorize the levy
of an income tax. to prohibit the manu-
/! facture and sale of liquor and scores OF
other propositions more or less rational
or meritorious, have been repeatedly
urged upon congress, but have never
found n sufficient support. The national
republican convention will do well to
| fight shy of all the isms and hew as
closely to the line of cardinal principles
| without %detracting from its reputation
rs the party of progress.
| PROTECTING AMERICAN SHIP OWNERS
The Massachusetts republican plat.
form favOrs protection for American
ship owners. For this purpose 1t de.