The Red Cloud chief., 1899-01-13

81 HepresentA tlves: having Deen cno-
sen to the highest office in the state
b. the votes Of the people, In compll-
ance with the provisions Of the consti-
tuition, before assuming my active du-
ties, / desire to address you briefly.
You have had presented to you very
ably by his excellency, Governor Hol-
comb, the condition OF our public In
,titutions, and accommodations result
Ing rom his perfect acquaintance with
affairs acquired by his term Of office
rs chief executive. Coming as l do
from the walks OF private life, the OBJ
ser,ations and recommendations
which now make to you must OF ne
ccssity be solely OF those matters OF
general public interest with which cv-
cry we'll informed citizen In the state
liz supposed to be familiar.
We recognize that the primary pow
er "a It's In the hands OF the people,
and that their will should at all times
be considered supreme. Men are SO
constituted that differences OF opin-
lon always have existed. So in a gov
eminent OF the people some rule must
he established determining the man
ter OF adjustment OF differences and
the only means for such determination
must rest with the majority. But while
the majority must at all times rule, the
right of the minority to a free discus
sion end n candid presentation OF its
opinlcns should never in a free govern
ment be abridged. The three func-
tions Of our state government, as es-
tablished by our fundamental law. the
constitution, are defined to be the leg
l~slative, executive and judicial, and
neither of these "shall exercise any
power properly belonging to either of
tho Others" They are each alike re-
sponsitle to the people for the manner
In which they discharge their duties,
and il 10 impossible to make ary d;f-
terence Of political opinion which
might exist between those who are the
elected representatives OF the people
In any n Of these departments of
government a reasonable Gus for
any failure of duty to the citizens of
the state. P~artisanship may be bitter
before election, but the will Of the peo-
pie having been expressed, citizenship
should rise above partisanship and the
welfare Of our people, the material adj
rancement OF our industries, the good
name and fair fame of Nebraska
should outweigh all partisan adyant-
ages.
II IN my most sincere desire that we
shall cooperate for the best interests
OF the state. To you Is entrusted the
law making power OF the state, and
the apportioning of the revenues
among the various state institutions.
In the enactment Of wise and bene-
fcent laws and the just and economic
apportionment Of public funds, |
pledge you in advance my sincere and
hearty assistance. The welfare of the
state shall at oil times be my first con-
sideratdon. and l shall never hesitate
to use the power conferred upon me
by the constitution to withhold my
approval Of any measure which you
may enact that l consider inimical to
the public good. Nor shall l withhold
my approval Of any measure you may
pass In the public interest. II any diff.
icrences In judgment should arise l am
ready to accord to you the same hon
esty Of purpose and desire for the peo'
pies welfare that l claim for myself
The intereference with. or the usurpa.
ton IN any way Of the power OF ont
branch OF the state government by
another, which the constitution de
fines as coordinate, Is dangerous tc
the liberties Of the people. Hence
deem the veto given by the constitu
tion to the governor a power tina
should only be used as a last resort I,
prevent unjust or hurtful legislation
You are the recognized law making
power direct from the people, and L
them you must render an account o
your actions a their representatives
Having done your work CAREFUL,
and conscientious;y. that worI
should stand until the pcopl
sxpress a desire for change. To
often, however, the work OF tn
legislative department is made in
effe,tive by our Judiciary, Even tn
sentiment Is gaining In the minds O
the people that no act of the leglsla
ture Is q law until 1t has the approve
OF the courts. This, II true, makes tn
legislature useless. Not only so, bu
Il destroys one Of the co-ordinat
branches Of state government. Tn
qualification of so many laws by on
courts, / am led to believe, Is not OF
casioned by the intention of the coui
TO usurp the authority of the legisli
ture, but more on account OF the ina,
equacy of our constitution. This ws
adopted at a time when state W;
new, it's undeveloped, and i
settlements meagre and sparcely di
tributed. With our splendid devclo
ment, our state has outgrown maj
OF Ito constitutional provisions, al
the endeavor OF the legislature TO me
by law existing conditions, is haI
pered by inadequate constitution
powers. To meet this growing d
mand, nearly every biennial sessi'
submits to the people amendments
the constitution. But In the press
other matters, and in the exciteme
OF political campaigns, they are lo
sight of and fail to receive the popul
Nthcatlon. In my opinion should y
make provisions for the callihg''0 VI
constitutional 1FolsehSo a.such 4
ton would meef-ti the hearty -SfAPfo'
Of ths people. .>