New-York tribune., 1904-09-13
THE CONSTITUTION cLUB IN ACTION.

THE CONSTITUTION CLUR IN ACTION.
The Parker Constitution Club has at last
begun its work We have been waiting for
the results of its promised impartial investi-
CATION of President Roosevelt for some time,
and have been nerved 10 endure the explo-
sion of the bomb. IT has come at last. The
"lawleSs' Roosevelt has been arraigned by Mr.
John +. Dos Passos, of the Constitution Club
in speech at Kinsale Va. From an abstract
of the speech furnished by him to THE Spring
field Republican" we learn that Mr.. Rooseyelt's
offences are as follows:
Five unconstitutional and unjust acts of Re
publican party examined.
First-The Reconstruction acts
Second-The impeachment of Andrew John
son.
Third-The legal tender decisions Of the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
Fourrh-The theft of the Presidency from
Fifth-The theft of Panama from the Repub-
lie of Colombia.
We feel moved to inquire of Mr.. Dos Passos
in the words of the late Isaac Ii. Bromley
Are these facts generally known?' We did
not know that the Reconstruction acts were
an issue in this campaign, but, IT the Constitu-
ton Club says that Roosevelt must be defeat
ed because of them, we suppose that settles it.
1t is interesting TO know that the Constitutional
Amendments underlying those acts are them
selves unconstitutional That, we suppose is
the reason why members of the Constitution
Club who are so concerned lest the funda-
mental law be violated by the Republicans
openly advocate the notification of the Four
feenth Amendment by the Democrats. We are
not aware that anybody responsible for the i'm
peachment of Andrew Johnson is now living
Theodore Roosevelt was about nine, years Old
at the time But, II the impeachment was un-
constitutional. by all means let not the guilty
Of
preme Court some thirty-fve years ago has
to DO with the choice between Roosevelt and
Parker and how anything can be unconstitu-
tionaI which the highest court in the land pro-
nounces constitutional are things which puzzle
MS but no doubt the Constitution Club under
stands them. AS for the election of 1876, that
has been thrashed ont pretty we'll already. and.
if there is any vindication coming TO the Demo
Gratis on account of it, they have had several
opportunities to secure II.
In these>matters the Constitution Club seems
to be going "a long ways back for SOUP as
the boy said when he read "oxtail' on the bill
of fare. And the soup must be very cold after
standing anywhere from twenty-four to forty
years The only hot thing on the Constitution
Club menu is 1.-The theft of Panama" Those
who want 10 discuss the wisdom Of the course
taken I'm Panama can doubtless be accommo-
dated On that subject there is fair field for
argument. which the President does not fail
10 meet in his letter But for q lawyer serious
" TO contend that there was anything ''uncon-
stitutionaT in the proceeding is simply an
exhibition of Stiffness. That, indeed, Is what
we expect from the Constitution Club. Some
Democrats simply pronounce "uncohsutution-
nj" every act of which they 10 not approve. no
matter if it is committed under EXPRESS su-
thority of the Constitution by the officer hav-
ing the sole discretion in tho matter. We are
glad the Constitution Club has opened fire. We
hope it Will give US some more. Were not the
annexation sf Texas and the charter OF the old
United States Bank under George Washington
unconstitutional and shouldn't Roosevelt be
defeated on account of them?