Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-30
FORAKER SPEAKS
AT STEUBENVILLE
Warns Nation Against the Man on
Horseback and Disregard of the
Sacred Constitution.

control the selection OF his successor.
But we need not be pess!mistic on this ac-
count, Tor over against the possibilities OF
such danger we may be assured that such
an attempt. II recognized 10y the people
would he promptly and sturdily rcbuked.
1t would succeed only If uurecognized
Inc intelligent thinking men OF this great
republic viii not allow a repetition here OF
the Mexican precedent. Any man whom
they shal have placed In power may well
trust them TO name his successor. and IL
he should not they would find way 10 i'm
press on him that they are sovereign and
. that he should be content TO trust them
as they have trusted him.
we are celebrating at jamestown the
tnree hundredth anniversary OF the first
English settlement in this country. These
three hundred years have witnessed an un-
interrupted forward march for all mankind.
Government has every here become moro
enlightened and the rights of the governed
have everywhere been enlarged and better
secured. To this general uplifting nothing
has contributed more than our achieve
ments and our example.
Our colonial period was an apt prepara-
ton for what has followed Each colony
was separate and distinct from the others
Each rested on its own charter and
striving to work out its own destiny. Thus
they became not only separate and distinct
sovereignties. but they became also thor
oughly versed In constitution making and
state building. They came from common
mother. had a common history and q com.
mon aspiration.
The Sacred Constitution.
1t was not until the necessity for a ma
tional government had become peremptory
and the wisdom of giving II not only tho
form but also the power of a great nation
that the articles OF confederation were su-
perseded by the constitution.
The authors of that instrument were the
greatest men of our history. and the work
they gave us was the best of it's kind the
world has yet known. 1t has been vindi-
Gated by more than one hundred years OF
successful experience. In neither peace nor
war has any emergency arisen TO which II
has not proven adequate. This experience
admonishes us to not only preserve 1t in
form but also In spirit.
Let that remain with the states which 1t
reserved to the states Let the federal gov
eminent exercise all the powers. both ex-
pressed and implied, which it delegated.
and above all else let the great powers OF
government remain distributed as II pro-
vides and let no one of these independent
departments interfere with either OF the
others.
The great primary purpose OF our consti-
tuition is not only to give the people In their
collective capacity control OF their own az
fairs. but to secure to every citizen no mat
ter how humble he may be. the full pro-
lection OF law In the enjoyment of all the
rights and privileges of his citizenship. This
Is the very spirit and essence of our institu-
tions-equality of right, equality of protec-
ton and equality of opportunity. These are
fundamental rights, Of which no man Is to
be deprived except by due process OF law.
and the law Is merciful.
1t Is equally fundamental that the law
is just. 1t condemns man without
hearing. This is not new. 1t is as old as
the Christian religion. 1t was the law OF
the Jews. 1t was the law Of the Romans.
The barons made this vital principle OF
the common law when they wrested Magma
Charta from King John. Since Runny-
mede 1t has been elementary that no man
shall be condemned except by tie judy
ment OF his peers This great basic prin--
ciple of human liberty is embodied in all
the organic laws of all English-speaking
peoples. 1t was imbedded in all colonial
charters, the Declaration of Independence.
the federal Constitution and all the con-
situations of our states. Any denial OF this
right is violation not only OF our funda-
mental law. but of our civilization and
religion as well. 1t is no more to be toler-
ated than treason itself, and the more
humble and helpless the victim the worse
the offense becomes.
One Fundamental Right.
This right to be heard before being con-
demned is the very essence Of that for
which we fought. for 1t more than any
other one idea is the foundation stone on
which we rest Without It there is no such
thing individual liberty or political
equality possible. Without 1t our institu-
tions would not be worth saving. 1t would
be better to tear down and build anew.
AS the generations come and go great
deeds will be done by those who are coming
after us. and other men will share with
us in claims upon the gratitude OF our
countrymen. But with the vitalizing prin-
ciples for which We fought preserved and
perpetuated all the ages Will be our debtors
and no chapter of human history will tell
Of more inspiriting achievements for Amer
lea and humanity than that which chroni-
cles the deeds Of the men We this day
honor.