The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-08-19

s'ii VI man y liaiiSi IStoiS lShbS, tilllollS
which, as said in the Declaration of
independence, are "life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness" Liberty,
rs understood in this country, means
not only the right of freedom from
actual servitude, Imprisonment or
restraint, but the right of one to use
his faculties in all lawful ways, to
live and work where he will and to
pursue any lawful trade or business.
These essential rights OF life, liberty
and property arc not only guaran-
teed to the citizen by the constitu-
ton of each of the several states, but
the states arc by the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States forbidden to deprive
any person of any one of them with
out due process of law.
He calls especial attention to the
limitations placed upon the depart
ments of government by the people
and the disregard by officials desir-
ing to accomplish that which seems
goodt % them, whether the power ex-
lists in them or not. "rhus far shalt
thou go and no farther, say the peo-
pie through the constitution. Atten-
ton is called to the three depart
ments of government, and stress is
laid upon the words Of Thomas Ief-
ferson long after he had retired to
private life. In letter to friend he
says: "If the three powers OF our
government maintain their mutual
independence of each other, it may
last long, but not so if either can as
sumo the authority of the other" 1t
must be confessed that in our history
executives have employed powers
not belonging to them; statutes have
been passed that were forbidden by
the constitution and statutes have
been set aside as unconstitutional
when it was difficult to point out the
provisions said to be offended against
i'll their enactment; all this has been
done with a good purpose no doubt,
but in disregard, nevertheless, of the
fact that ours is a government of
laws, not of men, deriving its "just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned." If we would have our gov
eminent 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 ofusur-
patton of that authority which re-
sides in the whole people, whether
the usurpation be by officials repre-
senting one of the three great depart
ments of government, or by a body
of men acting without a commission
from the people. The tediousness Of
the laws delays has sometimes
brought about lawless acts, num-
Der OF which are specifically referred
to. As the substance from a number
Of reasonings, there are after all only
two powers ofgovernment-thepo pow
er of the sword, governed by the
hand that wields it, and the other
the power of the law, sustained by
an enlightened public sentiment. The
difference between these powers is the
difference between a republic-such as
ours, based on law and a written
constitution, supported by intelli-
gence, virtue and patriotism-and a
monarchy-sustained by force exert
ed by an individual, uncontrolled by
laws other than those made or sane
toned by him; one represents consti-
tutionalism, the other imperialism.
Judge Parker terms the present
tariff law as unjust in its operation,
excessive in many of its rates, and so
framed in particular instances as to
exact inordinate profits from the
people. While these facts have been
recognized by number of prominent
Republicans, it is proper to expect
that no change will be made, as this
party has done nothing, although in
power i'll all three branches of gov
eminent since March f, 1897. Com
binations popularity known as the
trusts, which aim to secure a monop-
oily of trade in the necessaries of life,
as well as those things employed on
4 farm, i'll the factory and i'll many
other fields of industry, have been ell
couraged and stimulated by excess
i've tariff duties. They operate to ex-
clude competition in furnishing a
market for so, 100000 people Their
growth cannot be laid anywhere ex-
cept at the door of tariff.
Freedom for the Filipinos is urged |
and he takes the strong position that
the idea of their present government
is repugnant to every descendant
from revolutionary stock.
He urges that we are not n mill
tary people and deprecates the idea
that it was necessary for us to par
ticipate in the worlds brawls, TAX
ing the more consistent ground that
our government was formed for the
purpose of selfprotection only, and
solely for the people of the United
States. He claims that we can do
more efficient work by uplifting the
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