Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-10
1t may last long, but not If either can
assume the authority of the other"
Powers of the Executive.

it may last long, but not so if either can
assume the authority of the other
Powers of the Executive.
1t must be confessed that in the course
of our history executives have employed
powers not belonging to them; statutes
have been passed that were expressly for
hidden by the Constitution, and statutes
have been set aside unconstitutional
when it was difficult to point out the pro-
visions said to he offended against in their
enactment: all this has been done with
good purpose no doubt, but in disregard,
nevertheless, of the fact that ours is a
government of laws. not of men, deriving
its lust powers from the consent of the
governed" If we would have govern
ment 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 of usurDation of that authority
which resides in the whole people. whether
the usurpation be by officials representing
one of the three great departments of gov
eminent, or by a body of men acting with
out commission from the people.
1mpatience 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 attention where in diff
ferent parts of our beloved country SUD-
posed criminals have been seized and pun
ished by mob. Notwithstanding the fact
that the constitution of each state guaran-
tees TO every person WltDln us IullS0lct.On
that his life, his liberty or his property
shall not be taken from him without due
Pr cess of law.
In a struggle between employers and en-
pioyes dynamite is said to have been used
by the latter, resulting in the loss of life
and the destruction of property. The per-
petrators 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 had meted out to
them the most rigorous punishment known
to the law. This crime, added perhaps to
others, led to the formation of a commit
tee of citizens that, with the support of the
military authority. deports from the state
without trial, persons suspected of belong
ing to the organization of which the per-
petrators of the dynamite outrages were
supposed to be members.
Force Versus Law.
In both cases the reign of law gave way
to the reign of force. These Illustrations
present some evidence of the failure of the
government to protect the citizen and his
property, which not only justifies the action
of your convention in this regard but made
it its duty to call attention 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 inclination
may determine; and the fulfllment of the
assurance TO rebuke and punish all denialS
of these rights, whether brought about oy
lndiv, duals or government agencies, should
be enforced by every official and SUPPORTED
by every citizen The essence of good gov
eminent lies in strict observance of CON
stitutiOnal limitations. enforcement of law
and order and rugged opposition to all en-
croachment upon the sovereignty of the
people.
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
our own and many other forms of govern
ment. 1t has been well Sa id, in substance
that there are but two powers in govern
ment, one the power of the sword, sustain
ed by the hand that yields it, and the
other the power of the law, sustained by
an enlightened public sentiment The diff
ference in these powers is the difference
between republic such as ours based on
law and a written constitution supported
by intelligence, virtue and patriotism, and
monarchy sustained by force exerted by
an individual, uncontrolled by laws other
than those made or sanctioned by him.
one represents constitutionalism, the other
Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in its on
Grafton, excessive in many of it's rates and
so framed in particular instances as to ex-
act inordinate profits from the people So
we'll understood has this view become that
many prominent members Of the repubE
can party and at least two of its state
conventions, have dared to voice the gem
eral 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 1t is so phrased that it is
expected to be satisfactory to those in IA
vor or an increase of duty, to those who
favor a reduction thereof and to those on
posed to any change whatever
Republicans on the Tariff.
Judged by the record of performance.
rather than that of promise, on the part Of
that party in the past, it would seem as If
the outcome, in the event of its success
would be to crafty the latter class. With
absolute control of both the legislative and
executive departments of the government
since March 4, 1897, there has been neither
reduction nor an attempt at reduction in
tarin duties 1t is not unreasonable to as
sumo, In the light of that record that a fu-
ture Congress of that party will NOT under
take revision of the tariff downward i,
the event that it shall receive an indorse-
ment or Its past course on that subject NV
the people.
1t is fact and should be frankly con-
coded that though our party be successful
in the coming contest we cannot hone to
secure majority in the Senate during
the next four years, and hence we shall he
unable to secure any modification in the
tariff save that to which the republican ma
Jority in the Senate may consent While
therefore, We are unable to give assure noes
of relief to the people from such excessive
duties as burden them, it is due to them
that we state our position to be in
Iavor OF reasonable reduction of the
tariff; that we believe it is demanded
by the best interests of both manufa ctnrer
and consumer, and that a wise and henaf;
cent revision of the tariff can be accou-
plished as soon as both branches of Gov
gress and an executive in favor of it are