The Tucson citizen., 1902-11-10
of the day, talking through their


hats"
1t is not likely that any citizen
whose knowledge of the Constitution
is more than merely cursory will, on
reflection. accept this view, no matter
what his politics may be. The adop-
ton of a Constitutional amendment
which would give exclusive control to
Congress over domestic corporations,
whether or not they are, engaged in
interstate commerce, in whole or in
part, would result in changing this
political system of ours from a federal
republic to something entirely differ
ent. The States, as political entities,
would not at once cease to exist, but
the way would thereby be opened for
the revolution which would ignore our
entire political history, and which
would soon bring to an end all thought
of State citizenship and establish
centralized government, such as the
founders of this government struggled
to avoid, and the possibility of which
they regarded as one of the chief dam
gers in the path of free governemnt on
this continent.
No reader of American political or
constitutional history can believe that
the present Constitution would ever
have been framed if such a possibility
could have been foreseen. The feder-
alton Of colonies effected prior to the
establishment of the Constitution
shows too clearly the jealousy with
which the several colonies regarded
their sovereign rights as free States,
to leave any dought whatever on this
score. Now, if Congress is to have the
sole power to govern and control the
trusts, or consultations of capital en-
gagged in commercial and industrial
enterprises, why should it not also be
given charge of the administration of
the State courts, Or of any other of the
concerns of the commonwealth which
under our federal system is now con-
Quoted through the several States?
What, under such circumstances, is to
become Of the rights of the several
States and of the people thereof which
the Constitution expressly reserves to
the States and the people respectively?
| 1t is claimed that the power to regu-
late Interstate commerce, granted in
! the Constitution, offers some warrant
| for such a dangerous experiment as
the President assumes the responsible
ity for. AS we'll appeal for warrant
! to the power granted in the Constitu-
tion to Congress to enact a uniform
bankrupt law. This is even worse
nonsense than the claim that the dan
gers of the trusts justify the Constitu-
tional experiment. Congress now has
the right to regulate the trusts, and to
dissolve those of them which are main
tanned in contravention of the peo-
pies rights under the Constitution.
The federal courts have Jurisdiction to
punish and prevent their operations
But We have not witnessed anything
having been seriously done or even un-
dertaken in this regard, and we are
not likely to, at least as long as it is
generally recognized, as it is by friend
and foe alike, that the trusts and COM
bfnes maintain controlling relations
with the leaders of the Republican
party.
The scheme of the President involves
revolution. If he is really serious
we will know when he sends his mes
sage to Congress next month. If the
revolution is to come, let it come; but
it will not be brought about, as the
French plebiscite was brought about,
through an apparent popular sanction
based on popular ignorance. The
American people, if they determine
on changing the fundamental character
of their political institutions, will do
SO with their eyes open, as long as the
Democratic party exists to properly
advise them.