New-York tribune., 1907-03-02
LIBERTY In RESTRAINT
WILSON ON POLITICS.
PyimcetOn's President Defines POScers
and Duties of ErecutiUe.

President Woodrow Wilson Of Princeton dev-
cred the first OF his series Of lectures Party
Government in she United States before a large
audience at Columbia University yesterday. Dr.
Wilson had fer his particular theme Constitutional
Government in the United States" He pointed ont
that the purpose of constitutional government was
90 preserve individual liberty, and that 20 do this
q was necessary limit strictly executive power
and make it amenable to the law which protected
the individual.
Under our system" he said. ''the moment an
Officer transgresses he ceases TO be an oficer. A
man is part OF the government only so far as he
holds 10 the understanding on which government
rests"
Speaking Of the meaning OF constitutional govern
nent, he continued:
I do not believe that political liberty can be
gummed uP in any items regarding individual priv
neEes. Generation differs from generation in re-
Hpect TO this and IN It's adjustment OF institutions
that which offers the hest possible adjustment OF
government 90 the individual II is a mistaken
goIs 1I0 9 tree bn q moves With the ieast possible
triction In the same way what we want in po-
Ntical liberty Is perfect adjustment of the parts
nent, constitutional government may be defined as
a perfect adjustment between the governors and
the governed.
DR. Wilson then pointed out that constitutional
government had begun with Magma Charter in l2l5,
when the MOBILES met John at Runnymede and as
serted their rights, simply saying that If John was
20 continue TO govern il must be in accordance
with the principles which they laid down. The
thing. DR. Wilson said. happened about the
same time in Hungary. when the MOBILES met and
demanded from their sovereign the Golden Bull
Dr. Wilson then pointed out that il there was
an agreement then there must be some sway Of
carrying IL out. Laws he said. live only so far
as men ernbody them in practice and follow them
out according 20 their consciences. 1t is folly TO
took upon written documents sufficient to protect
our liberty. We must keep up eternal vigilance
20 see thas the provisions Of the documents are
carried out Hs continued:
Constitutional government can be maintained only
e such way as 10 bring rim Ienee PaRns Of d the opon
Of the nation. Two things are necessary 70 main
tasn iiberty-one is that government shall be gov
erned By public opinion and the other that the m
olyidua shan be hsgt free Go Iot me % anceived
except IN terms Of freedom Of the individual
tine ~ eS5e Historicay. the Chief business OF
repTesentative body was to talk while & the The TS
chief business OF Parliament was to crltlciSe Inc
fody has as its chief business the formation Of
laws The chief objection to this system is that
the representative body does not have the carrying
out OF the laws.
Dr. Wilson then pointed out that the task OF
carrying out laws difficult, and that II he
same body that passed the laws carried thein oul
the legislative acts would be different from wnal
rhev are 'If You don't believe this" he continued
sTook at the programme Of most OF our REFORM
movements. You can't conduct government Oy d
debating organization. any more than you can COZ"
duct war by a debating society.
DR. Wilson then pointed out that the chief object
OF constitutional government was 10 make thing
that was wrong also inconvenient- lie sald tnaI @
more important the individual than legslatl'e
body or an executive the maintenance OF d
tribunal 10 protect him. This tribunal was inc
cnurf which should he carefully protected
"a Characteristic of English and American gov
eFnnent is" he said, that the inoiVdual looks
after himself The courts said the speaker, were
what enabled the individual 10 do this Dr. Wilson
showed how in the continent of Europe an omcer
OF the government remained an officer under pro
lection regardless Of his acts, while in the United
States the moment he transgressed the law ne
ceased to be an officer, and was at all times sub
ject 10 a suit the part Of the individual He
said further:
Another Characteristic OF constitutional govern
Enent Is that there IN il less complete
formulation of individual loyalty. That IS what
magma charta attempts TO DO; that Is Wnat tne
state constitutions attempt that Is what the nrst
eight amendments the federal Constitution at
tempt. All OF these show wherein the rights os the
individual lie.
He then showed that while in Belgium the con-
st;ution said that there shall be freedom Of press
and speech. the United States Constitution said
that freedom Of press and speech should not be
abridged, thus acknowledging that freedom Of
speech and press antedated government. and that
government had right to give them He said
that the present attempt of government to de-
fine where these rights should stop and 70 see. not
that they should be enJoned. but that i abridging
them all men shou4u be treated alike.