Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-11

UlIuGuG VI lGSti dlill, DuC tiO iiSoiA1 "
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 are not only
guaranteed to the citizen by the con-
stitution of each of the several states,
but the states are by the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution OF the
United States forbidden to deprive any
person of any one of them without due
process of law
Occasionally, by reason of unneces-
sary or impatient agitation for re-
forms. or because the limitations
placed upon the departments of gov
eminent by the constitution are dis
regarded by officials desiring to &C.
complish that which to them seems
good. whether the power exists in them
or not, it becomes desirable to call at
tention to the fact that the people, in
whom all power resides, have seen fit,
through the medium of the constitu-
ton to limit the governmental powers
conferred and to say to departments
created by it: Thus far shalt thou go
and no farther To secure the ends
sought the people have by the consti-
tuition separated and distributed among
the three departments of government
the executive, legislative and Judicial
certain powers, and it is the duty OF
those administering each department
So to act as to preserve, rather than
to destroy, the potency OF the co-ord1-
nate branches of the government, and
thus secure the exercise OF all the
powers conferred by the people.
Mob Rule.
"Impatience of the restraints Of law
as we'll as of it's 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 different 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 proper
ty shall not be taken from him with
out due process of law.
"In a struggle between employers
and employees, dynamite is said to
have been used by the latter, result
ing in the loss of life and the destruc,
ton of property. The perpetrators OF
this offense against the laws OF God
and man, and all others engaged in the
conspiracy with them, should, after
due trial and conviction, have melted
out to them the most rigorous punish
ment known to the law. This crime
added perhaps to others, led to the
formation of committee of citizens
that, with the support of the militar,
authority, deports from the state, with
out trial, persons suspected OF belong
ing to the organization of which the
perpetrators Of the dynamite outrage:
were supposed to be members. II
both cases the reign of law gave wa!
to the reign of force. These illustra
lions present some evidence Of thu
| failure of the government to protec
the citizen and his property, which no
only justified the action of your cor
vention in this regard, but made it it
duty to call attention to the fact tina
constitutional guarantees are viola
ed whenever any citizen is denied tn
right to labor, to acquire and to er
|
interests or inclination may deter
| mine; and the fulfillment of the ASSN
/ ance to rebuke and punish all denial
of these rights, whether brought ebou
by individuals or government agencie
should be enforced by every officia
and supported by every citizen. TIL
essence of good government lies i
strict observance of constitutional lin
| itations, enforcement of law and OF
| der and rugged opposition to all er
croachment upon the sovereignty c
the people.
Might and Right.
"The foregoing suggestions but en-
| phasize the distinction which exist
between our own and many othe
forms of government. 1t has bee
we'll said in substance, that there al
but two powers in government, or
the power of the sword, sustained /
the hand that Yields it, and the othe
the power of the law, sustained by 9
enlightened public sentiment. III
difference in these powers is the d
ference between a republic-such
ours, based on law on written co
stitution, supported by inte,ligenc
virtue and patriotism-and mo
archy-sustained by force exerted
an individual, uncontrolled by Law
other than those made or sanctiont
by him; one represents constitutions
ism, the other imperialism.
f The Tariff.
! 1.-THE present tariff law is unjust