The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-08-10
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our history executives have employed
powers not belonging to them. Statutes
have been passed that were expressly for
hidden by the constitution, and statutes
have been set aside as unconstitutional
when IL was difficult to point out the pro-
visions said to be offended against in
their enactment All this has been done
with a good purpose, no doubt, but in
disregard nevertheless of the fact that
ours Is n government Of laws. not of men,
deriving Its Just powers from the consent
Of the governed" If we would have our
government continue during the ages to
come for the benefit of those who shall
succeed us we must ever be on our guard
against the danger Of usurpatiOn Of that
authority which resides I'm the whole peo-
Pile whether the usurpation be by OFF,
Gals representing one of the three great
departments of government or by a body
of men acting without a commission from
the people.
Impotence Of the restraints Of law as
well as of it's delays Is becoming more
and more manifest from day to day.
Within the past few years many instances
have been brought 10 our attention where
in different parts Of our beloved country
supposed criminals have been seized and
punished by mob, Notwithstanding the
fact that the constitution Of each state
guarantees to every person within its
jurisdiction that his life, his liberty or
his property shall not be taken from him
without due process of law
In struggle between employers and
employees dynamite is said TO have been
used by the latter, resulting In the loss Of
life and the destruction Of property The
perpetrators of this offense against the
laws Of God and man and all others en-
gagged In the conspiracy with them should
after due trial and conviction, have had
meted out to them the most rigorous pun
ishment known to the law This crime
added perhaps to others led TO the forma-
ton of a committee OF citizens that, with
the support of the military authority, de-
ports from the state without trial persons
suspected of belonging to the organiza-
ton Of which the perpetrators OF the dy-
Mantle outrages were supposed to be
members. In both cases the reign Of law
gave way TO the reign Of force These
Illustrations present some evidence of
the failure OF government TO protect the
citizen and his property which not only
justified the action Of your convention I'm
this regard, but made it its duty to call
attention to the fact that constitutional
guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen Is denied the right to labor, to nc
quire and TO enjoy property or Ia reside
where his interests or inclination may de-
termne, and the fulhllmeut Of the assur-
ance to rebuke and punish all denials OF
these rights, whether brought about by
individuals or government agencies,
should be enforced by every official and
supported by every citizen. The essence
of good government lies in strict OBJ
servance OF constitutional limitations. en-
forcement OF law and order and rugged
opposition TO all encroaChmcEt upon the
sovereignty Of the people
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
our own and many other forms OF gov
eminent. II has been well said in sub
stance that there are but two powers In
government--one the power OF the sword.
sustained by the hand that Yields IL, and
the other the power OF the law sustained
by an enlightened public sentiment. The
difference in these powers Is the differ
ence between a republic such as ours
based on law and a written constitution.
supported by intelligence, virtue and pa
triotism, and a monarchy. sustained by
force exerted by an individual, uncon-
trolled by laws other than those made or
sanctioned by him. one represents con-
stltutionalism the other Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in It's
operation, excessive in many Of It's rates
and so framed in particular instances as
to exact inordnate profits from the peo-
ple So well understood has this view be
come that many prominent members or
the Republican party and at least two OF
its state conventions have dared to voice
the general sentiment on that subject
That party seems however, to be coll
( lectiveiy able TO harmonic only upon
plank that admits that revision may from
I time to time be necessary. but it is so
phrased that Il is expected 10 be salts
factory to those in favor Of an increase
/ OF duty, to those who favor reduction
thereof and to those opposed to any
change whatever.
/ Judged by the record Of performance
( rather than that of promise ON the part
of that party In the past ii would seem as
/ II the outcome In the event Of It's success
/ would be TO crafty the latter class. With
I absolute control of both the legislative
and executive departments " the govern
ment since March T. 1897 there has been
/ neither reduction nor an attempt al re-
/ duction in taTiff duties. IL is not unreal
/ sonable TO assume in the light Of that rec
ord that a future congress Of that party
/ will not undertake q revision Of the tariff
I downward i'm the event that II shall re-
ceive an Endorsement Of its past course on
| that subject by the people 1t Is tact
and should be frankly conceded that
I should our party be successful in the COM
/ ing contest we cannot hope to secure a
! majority in the senate during the next
four years and hence we shall be unable
to secure any modification in the tariff
I save that TO which the Republican ma
[ i6rity in the senate may consent Nhle
[ therefore we are unable to give assur-
/ ances Of relief to the people from such
excessive duties as burden them it is due
TO them that we should state our position
to be in favor Of a reasonable reduction OF
the tariff. that we believe that it is de-
! manded by the best interests OF both man.
ufacturer and consumer, and that a wise
and beneficent revision Of the tariff can
be accomplished as soon as both branches
of congress and an executive in favor
of II are elected without creating that
sense of uncertainty and instability tha'
has on other occasions manifested itself
This can be achieved by providing that
such reasonable period shall intervene
between the date of the enactment OF the
statute making revision and the date OF
its enforcement as shall be deemed sum
4 cient for the industry or business affect
ed by such revision TO adjust itself to thC
changes and new conditions imposed Sc
confident am / in the belief that the de-
mand of the people for a reform of the
tariff is just that l indulge the hope tha'
house of rqnrpSCntA.