The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-17


Editor The Washington Herald;
Why should William Jennings Bryan.
or. let me add. any other statesman
brought up in the good old Democratic
faith, be elected President OF the United
States2 The answer does not require
80 or 20 words, although the demon
stration Of the theorem may; Because
the present strenuous and self-righteous
administration constantly and habitually
shows q Wanton and Contemptu0us dis
regard for the lex terrae-the law Of the
laHd-that rule OF law which antedates
the Constitution. is older than the re-
public. was recognized as being the birth
right Of Englishmen by Magma Charta,
and upon which the civil liberties OF all
the English-speaking people depend. The
present administration is constantly do
ing things with that rule of law
which no ministry in "effete" Britain
would dare even to propose and hope TO
survive for but a single day.
We have to-day an illustration Of this
ia the concrete, right before our eyes.
and II seems 20 afford amusement 10
the unthinking. just as the usurpations
people Of Rome. until they woke up 70
find the empire an accomplished fact
Town Marshal Collins, of Glen Echo. is
the butt Of all the ridicule IN the present
instance; and yet the attempt OF the
administration TO intimidate that humble
official in the discharge Of his duty in
volved q fragrant violation Of the very
first principle OF that rule Of law" which
lies Of Ha f,trs,Tnffar, Of lfT O..
and English government.
Diplomatic agents accredited 10 a gov
eminent are privileged from arrest. and
are not amenable TO the jurisdiction Of
the courts Of the countries to which they
are rent, 1t is true, but their diplomatic
immuniJies do not imply right or even
privilege 70 violate the police regulations
Of the States IN which they officially re-
side. The eminent lawyer now at the
head of the Department of State knows
this perfectly well; and our readers viii
easily remember how President C.eve-
land sent the Minister of a mighty power
packing home, merely for the reason that
be would not mind his own business.
Collins is sworn TO maintain the speed
ordinance Of Glen Echo, and he had as
much right to hold up" not to arrest.
ll4t 4Adlioi AAlibd0NtiAtts W ktlt MIG "a
Italy for that matter, for its violation.
as he had to do the same by the humblest
darby speeding too fast on a spawned
and wind CALLED wheel Moreover. il was
his bounden duty so to do. Yet, for this
very plain discharge Of his sworn duty.
this marshal was threatened with a Grim
inal prosecution under a statute which
had as much bearing upon his case as
hol =
asinOrum. The game was to intimidate
him into permitting diplomatic agents 20
violate the law. Mr. Cleveland would. IN
q similar case. the facts being duly estab-
lished as they have been in this. have
made no bones about reminding the
fast diplomats that their business was to
respect and obey the law. The United
States attorney. knowing the animus of
the administration TO be against Collins,
has been compelled to report that Collins
was strictly within his rights Is the
illustrious Secretary OF State satisfied
with this official report? No. Unless
your own reporters. Mr.. Editor. who are
deputed to report the proceedings Of
the imperial court. lawn tennis and all,
are duly qualified and active members of
the "Ananias Club the administration
has been roofing through the statute
books in search for some provision of
law whereby Il may close the Conduit
road arbitrarily to public use; all through
a sheer and petty spite. and because the
Secretary Of State is very, very mad"
with Collins. who would not scare worth
q cent
What precept OF the rule OF law do
these administration antics in the Collins
matter violate? Just this THE rule Of
law" excludes the exercise Of arbitrary
power; Englishmen are ruled by the law,
and by the law alone; a man may be
punished for a breach Of the law, and
he can be punished for nothing else.
Not only so, but equally, If not more,
important is the principle that this