The Washington herald., 1907-02-13

New York, Feb. l2-The Lincoln dinner
Of the Republican Ciub-its twenty-frsl-
AT the W1ldOrf-Astoria tonight, was en-
livened By some sharp and not indirect
criticism Of President Roosevelt by Rep
resentative Mccall. Of Massachusetts. ana
Gen. James H. Wilson. For some reason
the customary toast TO the President was
omitted.
Last nights was perhaps the largest
dinner the Republican Club ever gave.
Not only the grand ballroom, but several
annexes, were crowded. not only with
local and upstate Republicans. but with
women who were permitted this year 10
eat at S. plate. There were number
Of rather prominent abscntecs. Neither
Senator Platt nor Senator Depew could
be found. and B. B. Odell, jr. Herbert
Parsons. and Chairman Woodruff. who is
abroad. were not on hand
With the president OF the Republican
/ Club, Charles II. Young. sat James NJ
Beck, Representative samuel W. Nc
( Call Of Massachusetts; Gen. Oliver a.
/ Howard. Gen. GTenYille VI Dodge. Gen
I Horace Porter. Gen. James r. Wilson
Admiral COghan. Franklin Murphy. Col!
Charles j. Treat. the Rev. Dr. Howard
Duliield, Job r. Hedges, and Edward r.
Bartlett Among the guests, beside
many Republicans of State or wide
fame, We're quite Il few welI-knowl
Democrats. Justice Y. n Davis, JustIe,
Ford and others.
Speaker CannOn's Toast.
II was expected tha; Speaker Cannon
would be on hand as the guest of honor
TO respond 10 the toast Abraham Lin
coin but Uncle Joe is just getting over
an attack OF grippe, he sent word. IN
stead, a letter from the Speaker was
read, Offering fervent toast 10 Lincoln.
as follows:
IF were TO propose a sentiment To-
night il would be the toast Abraham LIN
Ieoln'-time's best demonstration that free
people can produce statesmanship for any
emergency: Americas teacher that the
power Of sword may be used without de-
stroying the liberties OF a republic: that
great reform may b. made without v.Olat-
I ing elemental principles, and that the
freedom and security OF the humblest
citizen Is the surest foundation Of
mighty nationality.
/ When the applause had died away.
/ President Young introduced Gen. Howard
as an intimate friend Of President Lin
coin, and Gen. Howard told stories about
/ Lincoln.
/ James NJ Beck responded to the toast,
I The Republican Party. He was fol-
/ lowed by Representative Mccall. who
spoke on The Capitalization of Gov
ernment"
/ Question of Necessary Control"
Mr., Mccall said. in part:
/ Not long ago Mr Root declared that
/ il was useless for the advocates OF state
rights to inveigh against the extension
/ Of national authority in the fields of
necessary control where the States them
! selves failed in the performance of their
duty. and that IN such cases 'construc-
/ tons Of the Constitution would be
found TO vest the power in the national
government I fancy it would be just as
sound for States. providing they were
strong enough to do so, TO exercise the
national functions in cases where they
were not performed 10 the satisfaction
of gentlemen who at the time were run
ming the States governments.
But how are constructions 10 be
/ found? Who is 10 decide I'm the first
| instance what are fields Of necessary
control? Obviously the gentlemen who
wish TO exercise the control. Some policy
which should take possession of a Presi-
dent would undoubtedly seem 10 him
necessary. The South American Presi-
dents who have done things. who have
sometimes dispensed with elections have
Doubtless believed their acts necessary
to the good OF the state. When Wa
there ever a usurper since time began
who could not justify his acts by the
same plea This theory, il Is needless %
say. would erect usurpation into a con-
stitutional system. and would invite
evils compared with which those result
ing from the failure of a State here and
there 10 perform its duty would be in
significant
Government by Compromise.
1t is slow process to develop a
homogeneous public opinion i'm so populous
and scattered people Diversity of in
terests will develop diversity of opinions
in different g.oUps of States. These di-
verse and conflicting interests viii often
bring into play forces that neutralize each
other and prevent all national action Or
in cases where a uniform sentiment is
aroused the impetus of so great a body
OF opinion is overwhelming. reason loses
its force and the most extreme course IS
liable TO De taken. Ihe lallure or the Ell
fort to retire in times of peace the forced
loan of the government put out in war.
and the many compromises regarding sill
yer illustrate the balancing of forces;
while reconstruction. which resulted from
an unmistakable, widespread and uncon-
trollable public opinion illustrates Unrea-
sOnable and extreme action. RecOnstruC-
tiOn was pressed through by patriots and
statesmen at Washington, acting in ignOI-
ance of local conditions. and it produced
a condition Of things which made fl neces-
saTy for the people OF the States affected
to resort to violence and fraud in order 10
save civilization.
I might multiply such instances. Do
they prove the .ocapacity of the national
government? BY no means. but they do
disprove the assumption of the perfection
Of new system 80 atTily made under
which the great national government
would put the States out of business in
much the same way as the great combina-
tions have destroyed small ones. and they
do tend to prove the wisdom Of the
trainers of the Constitution.
Restore Constitutional Balance.
'-Nr. Roots speech was made upon an
occasion in which the two great States of
New York and Pennsylvania We're asso-
ciated. BY the Constitution. these two
States are given only an equal vote in the