The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-01

mocraCy. The duty of government, |
then, is TO have educational dualffica-
tons, to provide ample educational IA I,
cilities, and to make primary cduca-
ton compulsory.
| Let rs now consider some of the /
deviations from the original scheme
of government that have resulted. not !
| from actual changes in the form of !
! the fundamental laws, but from the |
Interpretation and the execution of
certain provisions of our constitutions |
| The trainers of the Federal COnstitu-
ton intended that presidential electors
! exercise their choice I'm voting for
the President and President. It'll
was followed for a long time. Former
~ the Governor, judges and the At |
torney- General of North Carolina |
j we're elected by the General Assem- |
bly,. Justices of the peace used to be |
lappointed for life by the Governor of
| North Carolina. There are many
| who advocate the election of judges of
the United States for a term of years |
| bv popular vote Such men as JEFF |
| ferson and George Wythe considered |
the nfe-tenure Of judges necessary to |
the stability Of national government. |
The tremendous increase of power
| exercised by the Federal Government
at the expense of the power of the
| State Governments far exceeds the
ideals of Alexander Hamilton. mi
our early history United States Sena-
tors were directly responsible to their
| constituents and were given instruc
tions by their general assemblies with
the choice to obey or resign. Up till
1865 the governorship of a small
State carried with it greater dignity
/ and influence than seat i'm the United
States Senate, which is evidenced by
the great number of United States
Senators who resigned to become gov
/ errors of their States. OF late years
governors have left their offices to step
into tho Senate.
| Let us now pass to the consideration
of the exercise of the Federal Govern
ment of powers not expressly granted
to it by the Federal Constitution nor
contemplated by the trainers of that
instrument. The exercise was odiOuS
to our ancestors and many of our
statesmen looked upon it with fear
and trembling. But now. internal
taxes are imposed, not only for reve-
nue., but for the purpose of aiding
| some industries and destroying others. |
The tax upon oleomargarine is a flag
rant instance of the use of this power
to destroy industries.
We may well ask whether this cx-
] tension of the powers of the National
| Government is not wide departure
from the design of the trainers of
/ tho CONSTITUTIONS mas not ApIIS TO
| assumed the exercise of powers that
our forefathers thought could be ex-
| ercised more wisely and more safely
by the State govern ments? Looking. |
| for moment. into the future we can
see that if the present agitation in
| favor of government ownership and
operation of railways and other public
utilities, shall result i'm the approval OF
| such a policy by the people the walls
1 nf inHauanHanf Sfafphnn6 will niHlu
be lowered. Can the nation profit by
a further circumscribing of the pow
| ers of the State governments? The
| doctrine of State sovereignty as it was
| understood fifty years ago, never had
a secure place in the creed of the
founders of our National Union, and
fortunately it has now passed forever
out of our calculations. But it is as
| unfortunate as il was unnecessary
| that, in the passing of this doctrine,
| the States should have renowned any
| of their ancient prerogatives. or lost
| one whit of the influence and dignity
which they formerly possessed az
equal, independent dcmocracies in a
| Federal Union whose health. vigor and
permanency must depend upon the
| conservation of the health and Vigor
of these separate democracies. It'll
was Fisher Ames, the New England
| Federalst, who said, The State gov
| ernmcnts represent the wishes, the
feelings and local interests of the peo-
| pie. They are the safeguards and
ornament of the Constitution, they will !
protract the period of our liberties,
they will afford shelter against the
abuse of power. and will be the natural
| avenger of our violated rights" And |
| it was Davie the North Carolina Ma
| tionahst. who said, IF there were
any seeds in this Constitution which |
| might one day produce a consolidation |
of the States it would sir, with me, |
be an insuperable objection; / am so
| perfectly convinced that so extensive |
| q country as this, can never be man |
| aged by one consolidated government. |
| The Federal Convention were as we'll |
convinced as the members of this |
| House. that the State governments |
were absolutely necessary to the ex-
| istenCe of the Federal Government |
! They considered them as the great |
massive pillars on which this political |
fabric was to be extended and sup |
| ported and were fully persuaded |
| that when they were removed Or |
should moulder down by time, the |
general government must tumble into /
ruins
In conclusion, Mr.. BouteIl paid a /
glowing tribute TO the University, con-
graduated the President upon his eff /
cient work. expressed the pleasure his
visit to North Carolina had given him
and ended with this paragraph:
MY last words shall be to the
young men of the University Be true |
to the noble traditions of your Alma
Mater, cherish always the friends and
companions of your youth. Hold fast
through life to the love of home, of
kindred and of neighbors. Ennoble
your simplest tasks by faithful SER
vice. BE loyal to your town. to your
State, to your country. Emulate the
lives of your fathers, and let the
words of Hewes, of North Carolina.
be your glide, MY country is entitled
to my services and | shall not shrink
from her cause, even though it should
cost me my life"
Program of Exercises.
The full commencement program
with the names of the graduates and
the subjects of their theses, follow:
/.
Prayer.