Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-12-02
@ssrx County Arrala.
ISLAND PoND. DECEMBER 2.
The Old and the New.

D-~N llC>Nl NSh ~ a NNaiNN tANhN'
e1ce II its fundamental laws.
Wleu a government like ours Is
first established the sentiment
aud inclination Of the people are
in tn. right direction. The peo-
pie are then patriotic, devoted
and self-Sacrificing. Their consti-
tuition consists then of living
principles in their hearts. No sec
tional schemes nor personal or
class designs had then been de-
veloped. No abuses had fastened
themselves upon the nation. So
that the practical purposes to be
accomplished by the adoption OF
a constitution were to preserve
and keep within proper limita-
tions the original purposes and
objects Of the government and to
restrain men from departing from
the original designs of the organ
ization. A disregard of constltu-
tional provisions is an anarchy
worse than it would have been II
the constitution had never been
written or if it was abolished or
DESTROYED. For its purposes were
not to create right sentiments
and rules of action in the minds
Of the people but to preserve
them. 1t is the common senti-
ment of mankind that while con-
stitutional limitations exist a
proper regard for the public good
or safety forbids men tranSgreSs-
ing its limitations, and nothing
takes a government Oft from its
foundation or undermlneS 1t
quicker than to disregard them
bv going off into new conditions,
uncertain and untried, or expert
ments, or speculative theories
and practices.
When an uniform course OF &C
ton has been pursued for a CEN
tu"y, whether guided in whole or
in part by the constitution, and
that system has been remarkably
successful it should not be chang
Ell without serious consideration ;
and if it is so done it should not
be done under the pretence that
it is a continuation of the old
system, because the people and
the world will soon see its incon-
sistency. Besides, by the most
common observation instances
are seen of individuals who Illus
trate the fact that men are full
as likely to sigh for change when
they are prosperous as when
working under adverse condi-
tions. An inordinate desire to ex-
pand individual designs into spec
ulative proportions and adven-
lures, dangerous as it is, is more
so when exercised bv govern
ments or men in a collective ca,
pacitv. The whole organization
and custom of its founders ex.
hibits designs on the part of the
government to preserve repub
lican simplicity, even i'll public
proceedings. BY this it is not
meant that the country should
not be progressive, nor that be
cause president Jefferson went tC
his inauguration on horseback
that a president should not now
be conducted to his high office III
manner BETTING the higher cul
tivation of manners and customs
since then. But it should not be
carried so far as to get into a re
gion in which men display weak
and wanton vanity and squandel
the peoples money for persona
ostentation and display.
When one contrasts such mer
as the late senator Upham anC
Phelps, (the latter naturally ar
aristocratic man, both men 0
fine literary tastes and large at
tainments in craftsmanship, a.
they were when living talking
and consulting with complet,
freedom and frankness with tn
common people, and having NJ
designs that were not common
when such men are compares
with some of later times wh'
stoop stiffly and patronizinglv ii
if holding the skies on their shou1
ders, and only on special occa
sions to greet thepeople in amos
formal and uncomprising man
ner, the contrast is more than tn
times demand.
Nothing begets distrust an
jealousy in the masses quicke
than the apprehension that de
signs are accomplished abou
which the people are informe
only when their approval is nee
essary. Nothing is more likely t
make the people jealous than tn
suspicion that they are not i
times and conditions
when preachers tell us all they think
And party leaders all they mean"
In the same ratio that a govern
ment becomes personal tt
masses become less in substans
and the benefit they receive frol
it.
1t was the purpose of both o,
federal and state constitutions t
protect each subject on as near
perfect equality as is attainab
by men, toprotect and encoura&
each in the Just accumulation ar