Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-15

government-and this cooperation
will surely be granted IL In no other
way than by substituting the authority
to do so under the power OF congress
over Interstate commerce or by some
other equally forced construction.
The regulation OF swollen fortunes,
| the limitation of overgrown corporate
power, the abatement of abuses grow
ing out of undue concentration of
| wealth, the adequate taxation of alb
sentee landlords and employers-all
these problems will call for the CO.
operation of the federal power. and If
II cannot be obtained by direct grant.
ii will be Inferred or construed or in
terpreted from or with the constitu-
| ton as 1t Is.
There are other great questions
| which have not vet become critical
which will call for and receive fed
eral assistance in their solution. Edu-
cation is certainly a national interest
/ II there is one. IL is plain that IL can
never be adequately cared for without
the cooperation of the federal power.
and it is equally plain that this CO.
operation will be given In fact. the
national government has already rem
/ dered great help in the building mp
| of our educational institutions, and it
/ is only at the beginning of this work
In short, and this sums up the
whole case---we are today nation
with an ever increasing consciousness
~ ourunity, with an ever clearer rec
ognition of our solidarity with an
ever increasing determination to do
what is necessary for the welfare of
I the nation, no matter what becomes
OF the constitution in the process.
We forget sometimes by what
world OF change we are separated
| from the times and conditions of the
men who drew the instrument. In
agriculture we have introduced the
machine instead of the tools; in in
dustry we have replaced wind and
water by steam and electricity, i'm poll
tics we have abolished human slavery
and accepted, In principle at least,
manhood suffrage on the basis of the
elective franchise. Theirs was a league
of small states of sparse population,
of little wealth; of small commerce;
without banks: with few schools; with
an aristocratic organization of society
based on human slavery. ours Is
nation of world wide extent and i'm
portance: leader of modern states in
agriculture, in commerce, in industry
democratic in form and becoming ever
more democratic In spirit.
Is II any wonder that co rSt.tution
suited TO their conditions is by n,
means adapted to ours? Or should we
be surprised that we have been COM
PEELED to change this instrumen. parity
by iurce as In and after the .civi war,
partly by construction and interps2ta-
ton and one max almost say by viola
ton and disregard into something new
and strange which the trainers OF the
same could by no possibility reees-
nize
The question now is what Of the fu-
ture? About the only thing which is
certain Is that we shall remain one
nation and do whatever the In erests
OF tie nation demand. BIT shal' We
d. t. IN continuous viola IN a1d ie-
fame, of the provisions of an exis'ing
even though In some respects obso-
lete. constitution protesting ih the
meantime our devotion to this ins;ru-
nient, or shall we adopt In this case
also the well defined American prae
tice of reconstructing the instumen. So
ah TO bring II into harmony with our
present and future conditions
The cry Of some people who see
with cleaF eyes the necessity of some
change In our policy is. Back 10 the
fathers Give US the constitution as It
was. Let us return to the good old
wavs"
This is. Of course idle pratng the
past is gone never to return. ana win |
II the old constitution, the oil prob |
lens and their solutions.
ours are the twentieth century |
problems and our faces must be to-
ward the twentieth century with all its
threatening but glorious outlook.
We have our choice between one of
several policies:
First Retaining the presen. consti-
tuition and trying to observe its provi-
sions. This Is destined 20 be a fail- |
ure and the attempt may do us great
harm by pu',lrg off the - Of ulti-
'.a,e solution
Sacond--Retaining the present con
sti uilon In form but pro eeedlng with
necessary legislation. trusting to the
courts to find justification for such ac-
ton by a pr rDgressively lib al inter-
rreiation and construction q She con-
stitution.
THE policy Will more ur less ham
cr legislation, compelling Il 10 take
an Indirect and In some cases sur
reptitious form. will undoubtedly de-
lay action far beyond the proper time,
will concentrate public attention upon
the constitutionality Of measures in
stead Of upon their expediency AMI
their adequa,ene to the purpose.
and will gradually undermine the re-
spect OF all. citizens for the constitu
lion and its interpreters the whole re-
,ulting In a centralized form OF gov
ernment which, owing to ITS accidental
character. Will be attempting many
-hipgs which could be better done by
he state and will lack some of the
authority which would properly belong
% the federal government.
And finally;
Third--We may adopt the simple
md straightforward American policy,
iiz: call a national constitutional { N
'ention, 'adopt new instrumen. and
Iubmit II to the people for theiI a3-
~ al or rejection.
This would enable us to get an in
which would be In harmony
With our present conditions and future ,
prospects and would tend to produce ,
hat stable equilibrium which is as de- !
irable 10 politics a. to physics if we
wish to secure a suitable vantage T,
round for effective work.
ADDRESSES |