The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-20
APARKER,s HOBBY

paper a reference to a letter of Judge
Parker sent recently to a meeting of
citizens, speaking Of the substance of
the communication as 'Parkers hob
by" The letter was devoted entirely
to the Importance of constitutional
government and to the dignity and
validity of our great fundamental
law. We are glad to admit that this is
Judge Parker's hobby. Ought it not
to be. and will it not be, the hobby of
the people as well?
There can be no issue in American
public life to take precedence of this.
Ordinarily the community goes along
about its business, meeting the issues
that come before it day by day and do
ing the days work as it arises, pre-
-cisely as the average man goes, about
his duties without thinking of his
health. Nevertheless, the sound con-;
dition of his body is the first requisite
to effective work. Let him impair
that, let his physique prove unequal
to the strain, and the hurtful conse-
quences VIII be felt forthwith in de-
cliniRg mental vigor and an uncertain
and ineffective grasp upon all his bust
Sess affairs. The sound mind in the
sound body is the basis of all success
and all accomplishment.
The parallel holds What the sound
mind and body are to the individual
the unimpaired and unquestioned fun
damental law of the nation is to its
political and commercial life. It is
fashionable in Republican circles these
days, because it is necessary, to sheer
at the constitution. The course of
President Roosevelt has made it neces-
sary to !, set our institutions in the
background, and Republicans are COM
PEELED by the logic of events to preach
instead an opportunism that is : not
merely to direct the days events, but
to rise triumphant over principles as
well. The constitution, as well
known politician once remarked, is
only "a trif1e between friends
President Roosevelt is regarded by
the Republican party as superior to
the constitution, and privileged to obey
or transcend it as seems to him good.
That is 'Roosevelt's hobby" Personal
government absolute authority, self
constituted dietator-differing from a
despot only in having to submit him
self at stated periods to a referendum
vote of the people-that is his idea and
the Republican idea Of the supreme
Office of the United States. Is it the
peoples idea?
The issue is pertinent and transcends
all others. A republic well establish
ed and grounded in the affections of its
people is not overthrown by one rude
shock or in danger from immediate
revolution. 1t falls. if it does fall, by
the slow process of decay. Its most
vulnerable point is exactly this: that
the people are sedueed away from their
fixed allegiance to principle by the at
traction of some man whom they be-
lieve to be honest and well meaning,
but who finds the tran1mels Of consti-
tutional government irksome. They
are persuaded to permit him to over
pass them in order that he may ac-
complish something which he and they
together believe in as an end. But the
rule once broken is never again close
ly observed. Safeguards are swept
away. A bad man may follow with
evil intent an example comparatively
harmless.
Unless the constitution is sacredly
preserved, unless its authority remains
absolute and intact, the future of the
nation is not safe. Reverence for the
constitution and the demand that it be
observed to its minutest detail is 4
splendid hobby. 1t is the essence Of
patriotism. Outside of it all is uncer--
tainty and danger. Setting aside al
together the merits of the two candi-
dates for the presidency, on this issue
alone the verdict Of the people should
lie with the party that stands for con-
stitutional rule.