The Irish standard., 1906-12-15

ance lobbyist, appeared before a New
York committee, he sought to justify
his manipulation of legislatures
through the use Of money, upon the
theory that there is "a higher law that
requires the Hrotection of business
interests That was putting to very
bad use a phrase that has some noble
associations. In the house of COM
mons, in 1880, Lord Brougham said he
did not recognize any rights of prop
erty in a slave, adding: I'm vain
you tell me Of laws that sanction such
a claim! There is a. law above all
enactments Of human codes--the same
throughout the world, the same in all
times-such as it was before the dar-
ing genius Of Columbus pierced the
night Of ages, and opened to one world
the sources Of power, wealth and
knowledge; to another all unutterable
woes; such as it is at this day. 1t is
the law written in the heart of man by
the finger az his Maker: and by that
law. Interchangeable and eternal, whila
men despiae fraud. and loathe rapinc.
and abl1or blood, they will reject the
wild and guilty phantasy that man car
hold property in man? In vain you ap-
peal to treaties, to covenants between
nations; the covenants of the AL
mighty, whether Of the old covenant
or the new. denounce such unholy pre-
tensions
In a free soiF meeting in Boston, in
May, 1s49, Wendell Phillips referring
to "the higher law" said: we con-
fess that we intend to trarnple under
foot the constitution Of this country;
Daniel Webster says: You are a law
abiding people, that the glory OF New
England is that it is a law abiding
community Shame on it, if this be
true; if ever the religion of New Eng
land sinks as low as it's statute book.
But l say we are not a law-abiding
community. God be thanked for it,"
In a speech delivered in the Unit
ed States senate in March, 1850, Will
liam II. Seward said: 1--WE reverence
the constitution. although we perceive
this defect, just as we acknowledge
the splendor and the power of the sun,
although its surface is furnished with
here and there an opaque spot. Tho
constitution regulates our steward
ship; the constitution devotes the do
main to union. to Justice. to defense.
to welfare, and to liberty. But there
is a higher law than the constitution,
which regulates our authority over the
domain and devotes it to the same no
BILE purposes :.
This lobbyist, Hamilton, was not the
first one to put to bad use phrase
that had served good purposes. In
February, 1899, John B. Henderson,
formerly a senator from Missouri, de-
livered an eloquent speech, protesting
against imperialism, the keynote OF
which speech was: "why not let we'll
enough alone?' In that speech Gem
eral Henderson said: 1--WE are now en-
tering upon an untred experiment in
our system of government. Why not
let we'll enough alone? Imperialism
contains moro armed soldiers than the
Tabled wooden horse of Troy. Tnrperi-
alism reverses the entire thory of
self government. Tt discar1s the wis
dom of our fathers, repudiateS. without
shame, tho Monroe doctrine, and joins
hands with the execrated holy alliance.
1t rejects the civil equality OF men aud
accepts. without protest, tho orpres-
sionS and despotism of the sixteenth
century. This war in the Philippines
brings IFS back into the shadows OF the
Dark Ages. 1t Is q. war for which no
justification can be urged. AS no rea-
sons could be assigned for it's exist
erce. congress was ashamed to make
I'D any record OF its declaration. It
has scarcely better excuse than tho
wars of subjugation waged by imperial
Rome, whose object was to pundcr,
and enslave the weak, and whose re-
suit was, in the language of it's own
historian. to make a desert OF other
lands and call it peace
And that's where Mark Hanna founu
his 1900 campaign slogan.
nvyE.p THE NORTuWEST