Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-25
POWER CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

"rrevcntion IS better than cure" is
an argument which even the usurplng
and tyrannical Injunction has the i'm
pudence 10 use Put not your trust in
Princes" or other potentates. is also
wise advice from the highest authority.
y people free and intelligent, should
foresee tyranny and wrong In every
usurpation. in every grasp Of power.
and in every violation OF the common
right OF self govcrnme in all affairs.
public and private. according TO the
fundamental charters. institutions and
principles Of our freedom. as esta bishcd
and understood by the men who fought
and bled for them and who bequeathed
them to us. We should never forget
that this government was not framed
for partizan purposes. nor for personal
ambition, nor for the lust OF wealth,
the pride of life. nor national conquest:
but for other and better things. as de-
clared so simply. yet grandly, in the
preamble of our Federal Magma
Charta:
OWE, THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES. IN ORDER TO
FORM \ MORE PERFECT UNION.
ESTABLISH JUSTICE. INSURE DO
MESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE,
FOR THE COMMON DEFENCE,
PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELL
FARE, AND SECURE THE BLESS
lNGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES
AND OUR POSrERITY. DO OKDAlN
AND ESTABLISH THIS cONSTIrU-
TON FOR THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA"
And in clothing Congress with power
to raise revenue, (, is again said that
this is to provide for the common tF=
fence and general welfare Of the United
states" as Well as to pay the debts OF
the Union. That preamble should be
memorized and perpetually repeated by
all OF us. who should also guard and
uphold 1t with that eternal vigilance
which s the price of liberty. and which
all things conspire TO admonish us
was never more necessary than now.
We. the people. reservlng all ultimate
powers 10 ourselves and reservins
many rights ana privileges. parted with
power only to the government COM
posed of our representatives, whose
sworn duty IL; 10 exercise that power,
in conformity 10 our will, restrained
and directed only by the constitution.
We contemplated no other power: we
authorized no other power, with or
without law; nor was it ever for mo-
ci,n ha
allowed 10 put itself in defiance. or
above, the government and the people.
An imperium in imperio, OF any sort.
is indeed, forbidden by all our deeds
and words as a people from the first
blow struck by our fathers at Lexins.
ton.
AS in Virginia. so in the United
states as nation. no exemption from
the constituted authority shall exist.
nor anything superior TO that authori-
ty. The 10Th clause of the Virginia IS.H
of Rights (now the LIST Article OF the
state constitution says:
THAT the people have n right TO
uniform government; and. therefore.
that no government separate from, or
independents o. the government OF
Virginia ought TO he erected OF es;ab-
lshed within The limits thereof"
But wha: aye these combinations.
forming 50 rapidly among Us. in de-
spite or sta;e and Federal government.
and in res;:a.nt Of tie people in al.
their vacations. ordinary trades. bus
iress. ard fee exchange? What ar
these monsters Of monopoly, that would
exclude government and people from
al power and control of money and
currcncY: OF all the nuriuits of lie.