New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-23
REAL PURPOSE.

REAL PURPOSE.
Far less altrustic gentlemen. was the hornely
purpose OF the plain. unrhetorical founders OF
me republic themselves. ITO form more per
rect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defence
promote the general welfare and secure the
blessings OF liberty TO ourselves and our pos
duV' We 90 ordain and establish this consti-
tuition Who says took the only or the
wlsest course TO fulfil this high purpose to dis
Chdise with ndeiCy this sacred duty when we
hung down the bars to men who knew nothing
lily. VII
ITO secure the blessings of liberty for our
selves and our posterity." Have we scrupu-
lousy remembered that purpose since we took
from our Fathers this most complicated and
Genca az! balanced government ever set up by
the wit OF man? 1t was designed specif1calIv for
me wants ana II taxed In its conduct the abili-
ties OF race second at least to none in the
world, race trained to free institutions to the
widest individual initiative and to ordered lib
erty under law ever since Runnymede. We in
Vited almost without discrimination every immi.
grant Just escaped from generations of govern
ment by others. and in turn every negro lust
escaped from generations of slavery TO the same
power with ourselves in guiding that commit
Gated and delicately balanced machine We
neglected the safeguards of the Republic hello
essential by the Fathers, and threw AWAY one
AFTER another almost every requirement thew
had maintained in the thirteen colonies or else
Where, Tor either intelligence character or
thrift among those permitted to have equal
voice with us In framing our laws in Ievying
our taxes ana IN determining our expenditures
and our general policy.
To secure the blessings of liberty for our
selves and our posterity." Did we do that
when under such guidance we gradually for
got the old order of march. followed as faith
fully by our Fathers as the IsraeIites followed
the pllar or cloud nv day and the pillar of fire
py hlght-the Puritan order of march in which
every advance was fortified first by the meeting
mouse ana then by schoolhouse while next
and only next the garrison fresh from church
and Westinghouse. went into town meeting?
PAST BEYOND RECALL.
Well. gentlemen. shall never grind with
the water that has Dassed the mill 11his GO
people will never take away the welcome we
nave given 10 the pauper and the ilIiterate
to the communist and the Anarchist from
abroad whom we have already made at home
among us; will never withdraw the suffrage
from the man who has It. but can
not read his ballot from the man that votes
without ever paying taxes or from the man
that has been convicted of crime but has been
pardoned out just before his term expired in
orueF lhat ne may again render his help in
securing the blessings Of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity. What is done is beyond re-
call; and with all its faults the achievement
is colossal and of worldwide beneficence
But If, i'm the onward rush of this magnificent
development. no great harm has get resulted
II, indeed, good has come because of or in spite
or our having SO largely lost sight for the time
OF the purpose declared in the CONSTITUTIONS
1t wise 10 continue indefinitely on the changed
course?
Grant that thus far. as you cast YOUR drag
net over all lands and classes and races and
make haste to divide with them on equal terms
the rule i'll your Fathers house, you have still
been able to leaven the lump-not wholly, but
measurably and beyond expectation Never
theless, you sure that as the lump grows
larger the leaven from your relatively diminish
ing numbers will still hold out? Can the nation
deal so much better than Wall Street with huge
masses Of undigested securities? Or is the time
approaching when. instead OF continuing with
the amazing success of the past to assiruiIate
these incongruous and heterogeneous additions
TO our body polite. may find that they are
beginning to assimilate US?