Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-15

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 dan
ger OF usurpation of that authority
which resides in the whole people,
whether the usurpation be by officials
representing one Of the three great de-
partments of government, or by body
of men acting without a commission
from the people.
Impatience Of the restraints of law,
as well as of its delays, is becoming
more and more manifest from day to
day. Within the past few years many
instances have been brought to our at
tention, where in differnt parts of our
beloved country supposed criminals
have been seized and punished by a
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 a 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 offence against
/ the laws OF God and man, and all
others engaged in the conspiracy with
them. should, after due trial and con-
viction, have had melted out to them
the most rigorous punishment known
to the law. This crime, added perhaps
to others, led to the formation Of a
committee of citizens that, with the
support of the military authority, de-
ports from the state. without trial, per-
sons suspected of belonging to the or
ganization OF which the perpetrators Of
the dynamite outrages were supposed
1 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 gov
eminent to protect the citizen and his
property, which not only justified the
action OF your convention in this re-
gard, but made il its duty to call at
tention TO the fact that constitutional
guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen is denied the right to labor, to
acquire and to enjoy property, or to
reside where his interests or inclin-
alton may determine; and the fulfill
ment of the assurance to rebuke and
punish all denials OF these rights,
whether brought about by individuals
or government agencies, should be en-
forced by every official and supported
by every citizen. The essence of good
government lies in strict observance
OF constitutional limitations, enforce
ment OF law and order and rugged OPP
position to all encroachment upon the
sovereignty of the people. The fore
going suggestions but emphasize the
distinction which exists between our
own and many other forms of govern
ment. It 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
wields 1t, and the other the power or
the law. sustained by an enlightened
public sentiment The difference in
these powers is the difference between
a republic-such as ours, based on
law and a written constitution, sup
ported by intelligence, virtue and pa
triotism-and q monarchy-sustained
by force exerted by an individual, I'M
controlled by laws other than those
made or sanctioned by him; one rep
resents constitutionalism, the other i'm
perialism.
"The present tariff law is unjust In
its operation, excessive in many of its
rates and so framed in particular in
stances as To exact inordinate profits
from the people. So well understood
has this view become that many promi-
nent members of the republican party,
and at least two of its state conven-
tions, have dared to voice the general
sentiment on that subject. That party
seems, however. TO be collectively able
To harmonic only upon a plank that
admits that revision may from time to
time he necessary. but it is so phrased
that il is expected to be satisfactory to
those In fovar of an increase Of duty
to- those who favor a reduction thereof,
and to those opposed to any change
whatever. Judged by the record OF
performance. rather than that of prom
Use. on the part of that party in the
past, il would seem as if the outcome,
i'm the event of il success would be TO
crafty the latter class. With absolute
control OF both the legislative and ex-
ecutiye departments OF the govern
ment since arch 4, 1897. there has been
neither reduction nor an attempt at re-
duction i'm tariff duties. 1t is not I'M
reasonable to assume, in the light of
that record. that a future congress of
that party will not undertake revi-
sion OF the tariff downward in the
event that It shall receive an endorse
ment of its past course on that subject
by the people. Ii is { fact and should
be frankly conceded that though our
party be successful in the coming con-