The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-17
LURKING DANGERS
POINTED OUT IN FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION.
E~x-Judge Parker and Congressman Nc
Call Make Addresses at James,
town Exposition.

NORFOLK, Va, Sept. 17.-This is "Cor-
stitution day" at the jamestown Exposition
and the principal addresses were made oy
ex-Judge Alton B. Parker, of New York.
and Congressman Mccall, of Massachu-
sets.
Judge Parker said, among other things,
that "humaH institutions are at best but
imperfect and against the great work Of
the master minds of our earliest national
days can undoubtedly be urged the objec-
ton that a distribution of powers does not
make for the greatest efficiency Of admins
tration at a given moment or in a given
iuncture. Efficiency is, always attractive
to the active. the enterprising and the in
telligent. But at what cost is great eff
cheney of government attained? The bal
auces and checks provided by the Consti-
tuition substantially operate only against
too great efficiency in that one department
of government, the executive. Therein
alone danger to freedom turks. Will a
Supreme Court composed Of life members
exercising a supervision over and con-
STRUNG the statutes enacted by a national
legislature find It within Its power to en-
slave a people? Can n national legislature
by the mere enactment Of statutes which
remain to be construed by an independent
body and to be enforced by a different
and equally independent executive, imperii
the fundamental liberty of the people? NO,
the only danger lies in the executive func-
lions OF government. But the trainers III
tended that the Constitution should stand
as a defense against the danger. For can
an executive charged with the execution
of such statutes only as having been en-
acted by the national Legislature are within
the spirit and purpose of the power conf
mitted to the national government. seri-
ously disturb the guarantees which sur
round free institutions? 1t seems clear
that they cannot and hence that herein lies
safety.
1T is true" Judge Parker continued.
that there has been OF late a feeling of
unrest in the United States, and that this
feeling corresponds to a more general and
world wide agitation. This is by no means
remarkable waien we consider how rapidly
now education spreads and ideas and senti-
ments are exchanged. New theories have
been advanced: old theories have been re-
furnished; thousands Of minds have con-
cerned themselves with subjects in which
heretofore but comparatively the few in
terested themselves. All this can be recog-
nized as the indication of healthy prog
ress. and as promising well for the future
of the human race. But 1t Is in such a
thine as this above all times that thought
full minds should march softly and justly.
There should be no hurrying into new
positions: no grasping at proffered pana-
ceas. All should be weighed, tested and
appraised. No action should be hastily
taken that will rise to plague us in the
future with it's at present un~recognized
power for evil in unexpected directions.
| The hasty remedy Is often worse than the
disease: and marx well, that unless the
note OF warning be raised, in such times
as these human minds will drift in the di-
rection OF a desire TO offset by the en-
largement Of the powers Of an executive
any apparent inefflciency in governmental
workings. or. on the other hand, to substi-
tute anarchy where, restraints have been
too great"
Mr.. Mccall spoke of the federal charac-
ter of the government and the relation be-
tween the national and the local authort-
ties.
IT know it Is sometimes said that the
| constitution is becoming a~ntiquated and
outgrown," said Mr.. Mccall. ut Is doubt
less true. that since the Spanish war au-
thoritative efforts, have been made to free
the government from its limitations, In or
der that we might undertake a new and
ambitious policy-a policy which now that
we have embarked upon it / think all
| thoughtful and patriotic citizens wish we
were we'll rid of. We have here and there,
scattered over the globe, little pro-cdnsuls,
governing despotically in the American
name. Ambitious statesmen chafe under
it's restraints. and enterprising people. de-
sirous of embodying In the policies of the
nation every ism that may be floating
upon the air, would have a style of consti-
tuition which would change with every au-
tumn and spring"
Speaking of the Capitalization Of power
in the federal government, Mr.. McCal de-
clared that this aspect of our constitutional
question is vitality important at a time
when it seems not unlikely that the ma
tional government, may attempt to devour
the State;