Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24

fury ago. applied to Congress for the ad-
mission Of their state into the Union.
THUS our fathers, resisting all appeals
made to them to establish an independ-
ent state in the west, placed themselves
by the side of their brethren OF the original
states, and caused to be inscribed upon
Kentucky's coat of arms the suggestive
and memorable words, United. we stand:
Divided. we fall" There comes to my
mind. Mr.. President, a personal letter OF
the great Chief Justice. in which he made
such striking use of that motto that II
is peculiarly appropriate upon this occa-
sion to quote his words. He said: l am
disposed to ascribe my devotion TO the
Union, and to a government competent 10
its preservation, at least as mucn 10
had grown up at a time when
the maxim, United, We stand: Divided
we fall was the maxim OF every ortno-
dox American, and 1 had imbibed THESE
stituted a part of my being. / carried
them with me into the army, "here 1
found myself associated with brave men
from different states who were riskng
life and everything valuable IN cont com,
precious and where l was con-
firmed in the habit of considering America
as my country and Congress as my gov
eminent The habit of considering amer
lea as his country was the keynote OF tne
life and work of the Incompatible 1urist
whose nrofound and lucid judgments. on
behalf of the court of which ne was tne
head. but the broad highway upon wnlcn
the nation has advanced to its present
position of power and strength and unity
Pessimism Not Justified.
.There are some, Mr.. President, who
think they see dark clouds upon the hori-
ION of our future, and express grave ap-
prehensions as to the stability of TIE gov
eminent ordained by the people q the
United States and established by the Con-
stitution. In a population or ninety NH
lions we must expect to find many VINO
indulge In gloomy forebodings as to tne
future of the country. and who seem 10
cultivate the habit of predicting disaster.
Such persons are quite unhappy Wneh tne
facts do not Justify them in believing that
everything is going wrong. But there Is
no occasion for alarm. The American
people knowing that eternal vigilance 10
the price of liberty, will take care that no
| harm shall come to the country. Az an
eminent they have shown themselves
equal to every emergency, however SUD
den or startling. which involved the saie.y
| of our free institutions. They may seem
| at times, to tolerate false. visionary ana
mischieyous views but in the end they
surely recognize the dangers OF the SIT
uation, whatever they may De, ana oo
what prudence and patriotism require at
their hands. Their final, deliberate luas-
ment upon public questions is quite GER
| tain to be the best for all concerned
"What. let me ask, are some OF the
grounds upon which the pesslmist OF .iese
DAYS bases his fears for the safety OF our
| institutions? He persuades himself 10 pc
| lieye that the trend in public anairs 10,
day is toward the Capitalization OF an
governmental power in the nation ana the
| destruction of the rights OF the states:
| II this were really the case. the GUY o.
/
| a tendency by every means in his power
ga National government for natlonal al
fairs and state government LOT slate
| fairs. is the foundation rock upon Whlcn
our institutions rest Any serious Depart
IRE from that principle would bring as
| aster upon the American people ana upon
| the American system of free government
| "But the fact is not as the pessimist al
Ieees IN to be. The American people are
more determined than at any time IN theiI
| history to maintain both national ana
| state rights, as those rights exist uioer
| the union ordained by the constitution
say the people OF the Oniaea Sea.s i W.,
| the separate action of the people IN their
| respectiye states. they moved togetner, IN
| their collective capacity. as one people IN
| creating a nation for certain speclned oo
/ iects of general concern Tney WIZ not
patiently consider any suggestion or de-
| vice that looks to union upon any
other basis. They will maintain, at what
| ever cost and in all tnelr integrity poti
| national and state rights.
No Capitalization Dangers.
"The best friends OF state rights. permit
me to say. are not those who habitually
denounce as illegal everything done by
the general government, but those who
recognize the government Of the union as
possessing all the powers granted to 1t
In the Constitution, either expressly or
by necessary Implication: for. without a
| general government possessing such pow
| ers in relation to matters of national con-
| Germ the states would be in perpetual
| conflict and lose their prestige before the
| world. With equal truth II may be said
| that the best friends of the union are
those who hold that the states possess all
governmental powers not granted to the
| General government and that are not in
Consistent with the Constitution Of the
United States or with q republican form
Of government.
THE people OF the United States cher
ish. and will compel adherence to. the
fundamental doctrine that the states are
| vital parts of the American system Of
government, and they will equally insist
upon the recognition of the just powers OF
the states-to be exerted always in sub
ordination to the supreme law of the
land-as essential to the preservation of
our liberties. The Supreme Court of the
United States has again and again de-