The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-09-04


nswn. 10 fslt compelled - w am 3
DE oerats but I am mot 4 .revolutlonist.s =
ltAIpianse.) Senator Vest. realsxing that
they were lnaugurating rcvotu- Ion, NJ
minded the convention that revolutions did
not begin With the rich and prosperous.
enlargement Of public nfYalrs was to be 20
radical that he proposed sulphur 1umlsation
o. the ship before the new crew took pos.
session Of Il. N.aughters)s Now. my friends,
all these things indicate the temper In
wslch that platform was adopted and the
spirit that prompted the nominations that
were made. There was no calm dellbera-
| zion. There was frenzy. There was no
thoughtful searching Of the man who, from
cxpet:ei &c, was most able to direct public
enairs There was IN impulsive response
to an impassioned speech that selected the
nominee. Not amid such surroundings an
that, not under such influences as these
are calm, discreet things done TINT will
commend themselves to tho Judgment Of
the American people, (Applause.)
They denounce In their platform interior
| ence BY federal authorities In the local
Affairs as violation Of the constitution
OF the United States aud crime against
free institutions. Mr.. Tillman In his speech
approved this declaration. 1t was intended
to be In words a direct condemnation Of
Mr.. cleveland for using the power Of the
executive to brush out Of the way every
obstacle to the free passage of the mail
Trans ana Interstate commerce; and, my
| friends, whenever our people approve the
choice Of president who believes he must
ask Gov. Altgeld or any other governor of
an other state permission to enforce tho
laws of the United States We have sur
/ rrnde red the victory tl,s. boys Won III 1891.
(grcat applause) only we were told, and
a grave question was raised. whether the
United States could pass Its troops through
Kentucky to meet rebel army In Ten
| nessee. -
My sfrlends. this constitutional question.
this division between the general and local
authorities, Is plain and easy one. A
disturbance which Is purely local In state
Is state affair. The president cannot
send troops or lend any aid unless the Leg
islature calls upon him for help. or the gov.
ernor, II the legislature is not in session.
But when law Of the United States is
invaded and broken 1t is the sworn duty Of
the president to execute 1t, and this con-
vcntion arraigns the president for doing
what his oath compelled him to do. ZAP
plause.) Comrades of the great war for the
Union, sons Of those who went out to bat
| tic that the flag might not lose Its luster,
will we consent after these years (cries Of
mo. no) that the doctrine that was shot to
| death In the war shall be revived and made
| victorious in u civil campaign? Cries of
"No.'D But this assault does not end there.
The supreme court of the United States and
| the federal lower courts IRE arraigncd be.
cause they used the familiar writ Of In
| Junction to suppress violence and to re.
! strain men from breaking the law. and that
| the platform plainly means. 1t was under
| stood In the convention and In the COM
mittee on resolutions that the policy was
| that when the supreme court, exercising Its
constitutional power and duty. gave an in
depreciation to law of the United states
that was not pleasing to congress, they
| would increase the number Of judges and
Pack the Court
| to get decision to please them.
I My friends. our fathers who framed this
government divided Its great powers be-
| tween three great departments-the legis-
lative, the executive and the judicial. 1t
| sought to make these Independent, the one
of the other SO that neither might over
shadow or destroy the other. The supreme
| court, the most dlgnihed judicial body In
! the world. was appointed to Interpret the
laws and constitution, and when that
court pronounces decree rs to the powers
! Of congress or as to any other co1stitu-
tional question. there is but one right
method, II we disagree. and that 1t Is the
| metiled pointed out by the constitution
| to amend it to conform to our views. That
Is the position to-day. Mr.. Hill said in
his speech on his assault upon the court:
''That provision. II IL means anything,
,, Tcconstruct tse supreme court o. the coan-
try. Il Ilaniis'-aiM now note Ills Words
land it was openly avowcd that 1t means
| the adding of additional members to 1t or
I the turning out of Office and reconstructinS
the whole court. will not follow any such
revolutionary. step as. that
You are to answer them. my fellow Tti-
zens. in all the gravity of a great crisis,
| whether you will sustain party that pro-
poses to destroy the balance which our
fathers instituted In our form of govern
ment, and wherever a tumultuous congress
| dtsagrces with the supreme court and
| subsarvient president is In the White House
| that the Judgment of the courts shall be
| reconsidcrcd and reversed by increasing
! the number of judges and packing the court
wi:i iEen who will decide as congress
| wants them to. l cannot exaggerate tbs
! gravity and the Importance and the dam
ger Of this assault upon our constitutional
! form Of government.
One Of the kindest and most discriminate
| Ing Orators who ever wrote with the for
| eign pen about American affairs, Mr..
Bryce, in his "American Co nmonwealth,"
pointed out this danger that the cnnstitu-
ton did not fix the number Of the supreme
court judges and it was possible for a reck-
| less congress and q reckless executive to
subordinate and practically destroy the
supreme court by the process have just
described. and the Englishnan, after speak
ing of this says: what prevents such as
saults on the fundamental law? Nothing
but the fear OF the people, whose broad
good sense and attachment to the princi-
| pies of the constitution may be generally
| relied or to condemn such u pervcrsion Of
| Its powers (Applause,.
Our English friend did not misjudge. I
think, the good selse of the American
| people wnc:i an issue like this Ii 10 be
presented. Whatever the question is,
whether Mr., Bryan's view of the constitu.
tiopal question shall prevail or that Of the
! august tribunal appointed by the const!tu-
I ton to settle 1t, the courts are the defense
| of the weak. The rich and powerful have
other resources, but the poor have not The
! higl-ininded. independent judiciary that vii!
hold t. the line in question between wealth
! and labor. between the rich and the poor.
/ Is the defense and security CT tile defense.
less. (Applausci.
The Tarim.