The Delta independent., 1904-03-25
POLITICAL ASPECT OF
MERGER DECISION.

law. IL was their business to de-
termine first, whether the congress
OF the United States had the pow
er under the constitution to male
such an en;c.ment as the anti.
trust law, and second, to declare
whether upon the showing of evil
dence made in the lower court, the
law had been violated.
AS is known to all newspaper
readers, the decision was aftirma-
tive in both points, and so far as
the business aspects of the case are
concerned its effects are already
past and indeed had been discount
ed long before the judge began to
announce the result of the long de-
| liberation.
But it is none the less import
ant to keep in mind not only that
it is the duty of the court to inter
pret the laws without regard to the
personal preferences of the judges.
but also that it is the duty Of the
executive department to pursue a
similar course.
Ii is for the Legislators elected
by the people and acting as their
direct representatives, in congress,
in the state Legislatures. in city
councils. and in other legislative
bodies. to declare what the law
Shall be in their several spheres of
legislation. 1t is for the courts to
decide merely whether the legisla-
tive bodies have kept clearly with
in their proper limits Of power,
and it is for the executive depart
ments of the government, such as
the prcsidht and his s'bordinates,
the govex ,or and those nnder his
I~'s .l.riss the mayor and his $3.50
ciates in oNice, to execute the laws
as they find them, without fear,
prejudice or favor. ~
A ce,tlin amount of credit be-
longs to every public official who
fills his position faithfully and
we'll, and there can be no better
qualification for renewed public
trust and confidence than the dem
onstration of official ability on the
part of those in power. Bnt it is
cei tainly not phenomenal or even
an extraordinary thing that an en-
ecutive officer of the United States.
or of any smaller governmental di-
vision, should do his duty faithful
ly and well.
Extreme laudatiop does not be-
long to the president on account OF
the faithful performance of his
duty or the faithful execution of
the laws as they have been put up
on the statute books hy congress.
But on the other hand, any crit
icism of any executive officer based
upon his performance Of official
duty is not only utterly unreason-
able and unjust, but it is violently
contrary to the spirit of cur laws.
The president cannot be held to
blame for enforcing the law against
any lawbreaker, no matter who he
may be, and if there is anything
wrong in the antitrust law,or any
other law. that is matter to be re-
formed by the force of public sem
timent acting through the legisla.
ture.
But while it is proper to eulog-
ize an executive officer for fulfill
ing his plain duty under the law.
it is none the less timely to EN-
| phasize the importance Of the ex-
ample that is being set by our
president, an example that might
well he followed by others in lesser
authority throughout the land.
Intelligent and right minded
Americans throughout the land
cannot fnil to commend the policy
OF such an official.
The political strength Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, which is almost
Unprecedented in American poll
tics, rests upon the basis of integ-
'rity of character and official prob
ity that is without flaw, and this
political fact in itself constitutes
the strongest argument that can be
presented for the soundness and
wholcsoIneness of American politi-
cal life, and the moral and intel.
I..x.s...l .....:t., r. tl,., A A,,.......o,. 800