The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-08-13

ir%reyocably established, a matter con-
corning which ! felt 1t incumbent upon
me to make known my attitude, so that
hereafter no mar could justly say that
his support had been secured through
indirection or mistake. the convention re-
iterated its determination that / should
be the standard bearer of the party in
the present contest. This mark of trust
and confidence 1 shall ever esteem as the
highest honor that could be conferred
upon mean honor that, whatever may
be the fate Of the campaign. the future
can in no degree lessen or impair.
The admirable platform upon which the
party appeals to the country for its con-
fdence and support clearly states the
principles which were so well condensed
in the first inaugural address of President
Jefferson, and points out with force and
direction the course to be pursued
through their proper application In or
der TO insure needed reforms in both the
legislative and administrative depart
ments Of the government. While unhesi-
tating in It's promise to correct abuses
and to right wrongs wherever they APP
pear or however caused; to investigate
the several administrative departments
Of the government, the conduct of whose
OIAtldlH mas NlNdANu HNdliNdi0t INV W
punish those who have been guilty of a
breach Of their trust; to oppose the grant
Ing Of special privileges by which the
few may profit at the expense of the
many; to practice economy in the ex-
penditure OF the moneys Of the people,
and to that end to return once more to
the methods of the founders Of the re-
public, by observing in disbursing the
public funds the care and caution a pru-
dent individual observes with respect TO
his own; still the spirit of the platform
assures conservative instead of rash ac-
ton; the protection of the innocent as
well as the punishment Of the guilty
the encouragement of industry, economy
and thrift; the protection Of property and
a guarantee of the enforcement for the
benefit of all of mans i%nalienable rights
among which, as said in the declaration
of independence, are life, liberty an6
the pursuit of happiness" Liberty, az
understood in this country, means moi
only the right of freedom from actua
servitude, imprisonment OF restraint, bui
the right Of one to use his faculties IL
all lawful ways. to live and work wher,
he will and to pursue any lawful trade OF
business. These essential rights Of life
liberty and property are not only guaran
teed to the citizen by the constitution O
each Of the several states, but the statel
are by he Fourteenth amendment to tn,
constitution of the United States forbid
den to deprive any person of any one o
them without due process Of law.
Occasionally, by reason of unnecessar,
or impatient agitation for reforms, or be
cause the limitations placed upon tn.
departments Of government by the con
stitution are %disregarded by officials de
string to accomplish that which to Their
seems good, whether the power exists 4
them or not, it becomes desirable to cal
attention to the fact that the people i
whom all power resides, have seen III
through the medium of the constitutio,
to limit che governmental powers con
ferred and to say to departments create
: by it: "Thus far shalt thou go and n
farther" To secure the ends sought tn
people have by the constitution separate
b and distributed among the three depart
ments Of government-eXecutive, legisla
tive and judicial-certain powers, n
, is the duty Of those administering eac
department so to act as to preserve
; rather han to destroy, the potency {
the coordinate branches of the govern
ment and thus secure the exercise Of a
> the powers conferred by the people.
D 1t must be confessed that in the courS
Of our history executives have employe
powers not belonging to them; statute
: have been passed chat were eXpressl
forbidden by the constitution and sta
utes have been set aside as unconstit'
tional when 1t was difficult to point OF
the provisions said to be offended again
In their enactment; all this has been dor
with a good purpose, no doubt, but
. disregard, nevertheless, of the fact Thu
ours is a government Of laws, not Of me
deriving its Just powers from the CO..
sent Of the governed
II we would nave our government co.
tinue during the ages 10 come for Il
benefit Of those who shall succeed U
we must ever be on our guard again
the danger Of %usurpation Of that autho
ity which resides in the whole peopI
whether the %usurpatlon be by ofieia
representing one of the great department
Of government or by a body Of men az
: ing without commission from the pc
/, pie. Impatience Of the restraints OF Ia