Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21

revolution. AS says the great nlStO-
rian of the constitution, The states
within their own limits are the guar
dams OF industry, of property, OF per-
sonal rights, and of liberty. But for
state rights, the Union would perish
from the paralysis of its limbs"
That saddest. greatest failure in
democracy, the fall of the Roman Re-.
public through the usurption of the
Caesars,-was it not FASTENED by alb
soute Capitalization, by the total lack
of provincial development and section
al pride? Let America erase the lines
between state and state, let her de-
grade the dignity and independence of
her clustered commemorative, let her
yield to the discontinued and unthink-
ing clamor for paternalism and added
powers for the general government let
her cease to nourish that patriotism
that first clngs to home institutions
and to the hills and wales of ones ma
tive state. and she but adds another to
the mournful failures of popular gov
eminent.
Thus, by maintaining the unimpaired
sovereignty of the states, by holding
the perfect poise between two opposite
tendencies, either of which might work
our ruin, has the Senate of the United
States wrought for the harmonious de-
velopment of our domain and proved
itself the strong supporter of that lib
erty which is our dearest possession
How much, indeed, to the thoughtful
mind is symbolized by this fact alone
that in the American Senate, the great
council-hall of sovereign common
wealths, every state, however small,
however newly come to her preroga>
tive, sits the peer in dignity and priv
ilege of every other state. Does 1t not
repeat, on "A broader scale. that large
liberty which is at once the glory and
the strength of our Republic?
But the Senate in its Glonored place
among our free institutions means
even more than this. Its trainers had
for their first thought to preserve the
liberties of independent states, yet
their secondary purpose has, in the
natural evolution of the years, come to
be more strongly emphasized. Far
better than it knew did wisdom build.
for it wrought into this structure those
eternal verities which alone can prove
for the conserving of liberty.
1t has become the special province
of the Senate to bring to legislation the
cabmer Judgment and the sober sec
ond thought" found by all civilized
nations to be necessary to effective
government. The Senate" said Judge
Thatcher. in the constitutional conven-
tion of Maine, lis a body of wisdom
and reason, not of passion and feel
ing" THE Senate says the Federal
list, was designed to be made up of
those men who have become the most
distinguished for their abilities and
virtues and in whom the people per-
ceiye just grounds for confidence, those
who best understand our national in
terests. and whose reputation for in
tegrity inspires and merits confidence"
Much of the prestige of the Senate
in both state and nation doubtless
comes from the fact that it formerly
fulfilled executive functions. The
| United States Senate was chiefly re-
garsied 10y the trainers of the constitu-
tfon as an executive body; and Hamil-
| ton even went so far as to speak of
| THE national executive authority as
| divided between two branches. the
| President and the Senate. About the
state Senate, too, still clings somewha
| of the dignity which ii wore when, un-
| der the colonial governments, it was
the Governors Council off advisers ana
was occupied largely with executive
duties.
Its chief commence, today, how
ever. lies in the high mental and moral
qualities which it rs supposed TO en-
| body 1t stands for calm elaboration,
for the independent judgment the
trained reason, the curbed will. the
generous aim, the. aofty ideal. Ii
means knowledge, experience, and the
comprehensive grasp of large affairs
! II is not directly representative of the
Iee9les 1t stands, if you Will, for an
aristbcnacy--for the aristocracy of
mind, for the oligarchy of reason. for
| the sovereignty of soul, for the royalty
of character.
| Representing thus the highest in
/ teltectual and moral qualities the
Senate in this way also has contributed
4 ia the staDilify.pf our institutions, has
Eproved the strongest safeguard agains,
their ebesetting dangers. For, that
democracye has its peculiar perils, M
thinking arind Ncan deny. To found a
republic upon the theory of rights and
upon the doctrine that happiness rs the
end of life mas been even pronounced
impossible The sovereignty of the
Ego" says one. beads sooner or later
to the sovereignty of the strongest
eso.'' ''vThe rights of different in
dividuaIs, when neither sanctified by
sacrifice fulfilled, nor harmonzed and
| directed by common faith i'm a
providential moral law. will sooner OF
Halter come into collision and each re,
4 assertion ofssuch rights will wear tbs
aspect Of war and hatred
! These are the moral dangers thai
(wait upon free inst itutions, and the in.
tellecauaA dangers are. not less. The
very individ1alism that lies at the roo
lof the American idea. may run into tbs
Widest vagaries, and the popular voice
may fall far short Of being the voice
of God. The little learning" and tbs
half-knowledge that are so dangerou:
possessions, and the unbounded egotisn
that so often accompanies them, viii
Especially thrive in the soil of liberty
| Misconceptions of the true nature OF
our institutions will arise, and com
Emunistic agitators will have theil
Ignorant following. These evils belong
necessarily to certain stage ofssocia
4 6avalnrl,napt ~