Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-17
The Constitution a Platform.

In his speech at the Parker jefferson din
ner in New York Saturday night Senator
| Rayncr submitted a rough draft of a demo-
cratic national platform:
Il would make ii brief and pertinent. I
would eliminate the customary and mo-
rotonous indictments against the opposi-
tnn for crimes that they have never com
mitted. and | would omit all reference to
! the virtues that we propose to practice in
tie event of our success | would give
the country sonnet hing a little new in the
way of democratic decalogue. | would
of course, incorporate Il plank for a low
tariff and for commercial reciprocity with
the trading nations of the world I would
then add plant. declaring that there is
no such thing as an unwrtten Constitution
of the United States; that If it REQUIRES
change it must be amended. not by Secre-
tarN Root. but by the sufrages of the peo-
pie. and that II is a reasonable act to in
, Sert into II, whether by judicial conStryc-
ton or otherwise, any power or grant that
is not confined within the well-deiined au-
thority and limitations of the instrument
In obedience to the Constitution | would
then unequlvocally declare for the Suprem-
acy of the state. and not yield the smallest
portion of their sovereign rights over mat
ters of local and domestic concern that lie
clearly within their province and their jul
risdicton."
What would Mr.. Rayner have the plat
form say about changing the Constitution
ny Hldtt attachments, or by arbitrary
methods at the polls? What should be said
about the notification by a section of the
country of two amendments TO the Consti-
tuition which are unpopular there? If it is
reasonable to read into the instrument
things which it does not contain what
about reading out of it things so plain that
lac who runs may decipher by moonlight?
If it is not in Secretary Roots power to
add the Constitution who Of
sovereign people, speaking in the way pre-
scribed by the Constitution, can lawfully
subtract from the Instrument?
Should southern man. taken from one
of the states which have nulltied the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution, he nominated for President
on a platform declaring specifically for the
Constitution-not for portion of it. but for
the whole majestic deliverance-these ques-
tons would become very pertinent in the
campaign. 1t would not do to say that the
people have acquieSced in the action, al
! though 1t would be said. AS a matter of
! fact they have done nothing of the kind
The matter Is simply sleeping, and when
ever 1t becomes an issue-as sooner or later
il must-the country will ring with it. A
party benefiting by the notification of the
COnstitution-deriying its chief strength
from that sOurce-which should appear as
the anointed champion of the Constitution
would provoke such mingled amusement
and distrust as to make its cause ridiculous
Tim Campbell asked. What is the Consti-
tuition between friends? We are approach
ing the day when the question will be-
What is the Constitution between enemies?
What will remain of it after one section
has nullifed part, another section an
other part, and a third insists on an in
depreciation which the two nullfiers insist
is revolutionary?
It is great old instrument and should
be preserved and enforced in its entirety.
1t would make admirable platform, but
the party adopting it would, as the liti-
CANT is admonished. have to come into
court with clean hands in order to win
with il.