The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-15

accumulation. The only proper object OF
revenue laws N to raise money for the ex-
penses Of government, though revenue oil ght
always to be obtained from such sources that
taxation will assist rather than check or dis
courage industry and enterprise. 1t is In
part by the example Of governments'that in
dividuals have used the revenue getting
pow ers Of corporations to penalize rivals.
The Government sets the example both OF
osterage and Of destruction. Governments
should supply an equilibrium. not q disturb
ing force.
William A. Barber, who is now practising
law here, though formerly from South Caro-
lima, responded to the toast, 7 b OdS south
He started right of with a direct slam at
| the Secretary Of State, saying:
IL seems fashionable nowadays toldiscuss
constitutional questions around thee dinner
table. Laughter Only two nights ago. on q
an occasion like this. the distinguished Secre-
tsry OF state, speaking In this banquet hall.
gave his hearers enough constitutional law
to give some people Indigestion. his'views
are always interesting. but especially when
he speaks as the tribune Of a Cabinet of'which
he Is so important a part.
IL is pleasing to be reminded that since
our Constitution was adopted our country
has grown from a narrow strip along the
Atlantic until IL stretches from ocean to ocean
and embraces some 5000. 900 population.
IL is pleasing to be told that since the Con-
stitution was adopted the genius OF modern
invention has so destroyed time and distance
that every section of this great country is In
immediate contact and has intimate trade
and social relations with every other section.
But with his conclusion that this increase
in area and population and this close business
Intercourse demand either a modification
or a naAT construction OF the Constitution
We cannotagree We believe, with our fathers,
] that onr vaopIa ara alNug tn rbaDgo- that
the size OF the country and the eXigencies
of trade are less important than the preserva-
ton of individual liberty. We believe that
the rights OF each citizen to-day are the same
as the rights of each citizen OF the smaller
| country in 1887. We believe these rights are.
and will continue to be. best preserved by an
inexorable enforcement OF the old Constitu-
ton.
II il be true. as there Is a growing impress
sion, that the Executive reaches out to con-
troll the courts and. perhaps. get the new
construction of the Constitution that Is
wanted, we invoke the warning or Chief
Justice Marshall that the very safety OF the
republic requires the Legislative, executive
and judicial powers to remain forever sep
arste and distinct. Although we are told
that we are moving forward in a develop
ment OF business and social life which tends
more and more to the obliteratiOn Of State
lines and the decrease of state power, as
compared with the national power. we viii
still teach our children that the nation is
divided into sovereign States. In our schools
we may see a few syllables reformed out OF
our spelling. but we will not see state lines
reformed out OF our geography.
And, too, some OF us believe that the liking
of qualified ions for admission to the public
schools isSamong the W FRS reserved TO the
States, AM shat the old Constitution will not
admit the Army and Navy OF the United
49,. 1879. Authorizations Of mn aahOOl
boards. and again. not only because We be-
lleve such matters are reserved to the States.
but because we are a peaceable people. pre-
ferrinR the reaper to the rifle and the spelling
book 70 the shotgun. we respectfully oppose
the strenuous suggestion that the power OF
Congress be used to add shooting galleries 10
our public schools.
have no patience with the pessimist who
sees nothing but evil in his own times. | have
no patience with the alarmist who is blind to
everything except a danger signal. But any
prudent and thoughtful man. not only in pub
lie al airs but in private life. need only look
around him to see that all things are not good
and that the road ahead Is not clear.
With Investigations and indictments and
trials exposing greed in high places and grab
and Graft abroad in the land. we turn with
grateful memory to the earlier times when
men said with Henry Laurens Of South Caro-
lima. Il am a poor man-GOd knows | ain a
poor man-but your King Is not rich enough
10 buy me-" When we see the worth OF a
man estimated by the money he has in bank,
In his house. his clothes. his automobiles,
the more do we treasure the old 80 uthern
sentiment that measures the individua al not
by what he has. but by how he gets IL. The
mile post OF progress IL not a dollar mark.
The label OF success Is not a stock certificate.
PLAYWRIGHT Gus Thomas whaoked at
President Roosevelt a little on his own ac-
count. Mr.. Thomas likes neither spelling
- =. ehn nfralt1a Ninn AnCt RIM
Language is the channel Of thought"
affirmed Mr.. Thomas, and the man who
puts snags in it is as open to kindly admoni-
ton as the gentleman who carelessly neg
lects to become the father Of more h two
children
Take this sentence. The interstate
act was past in 1887 How did
the President think we were going to know
whether the thing became a law or was
obsolete in that year, Az one appealing
for an unprotected industry l protest
against spelling which would leave it I'M
certain whether the heroine had had a
career or had merely taken a promenade"
Mr.. Thomas went on TO say that we have
a President 30 popular that his acts do not
need TO be legal in order TO become the
.But for my part" he continued. my
conception OF our Government IL Of one in
which there are three coordinate branches,
and not one in which two branches may
be coerced by an aspiring Executive
When the Democratic party asked for an
income tax, Mr.. Thomas observed, it was
called an attack upon the Judiciary. But
now he thought the President had become
a good Democrat.
The playwright said in conclusion hat he
hoped to see the President, when properly
qualified" have the powers that he asks,
but at present he was content to compare
him with the old colored woman who was
complained Of by her husband as the most
extravagantest in the world. She begged
him for money before breakfast and be-
tween meals.
And what does she do with all thism money
Sam" the victim had been asked.
~Ah dunno" Sam had replied. sAh
amt give huh none yit."