The Cairo bulletin., 1908-04-12
JOHNSON At SHILOH
MINNESOTA EXECUTIVE MAKES
NOTABLE ADDRESS.
QUESTION CFSTATE RIGHTS
Doss Not Approve of Commonwe sIths
Being Made SubservIent 10 In
ferior Federal Courts--WouId
Uphold Constitution.

dehNeTed at the dedication of the Min
nesota monument on Shiloh battle
held, April 10, an address that 2-ii
rank as one of the ablest public de
hVerances of recent times. Spoken
| on battlefield that may be taken as
the symbol of the great war for the
union, the governor took occasion TO
tell OF the peril that threatens our fed
efal form OF government. This peril
was emphasized BY the recent deci-
sion OF the supreme court in the rail
way cases going up from MinnesOta
and North Carolina. which practi-
| cally makes the state governments
| subservient to the inferior federal
courts The significance OF these de-
cislons is widely understood. and they
have given rise TO a general discus
sion OF the question of the rights OF
the states, and Gov. Johnson's speech
VIII rank as an important contribu-
ton to that discussion The dedica-
tory address in part follows:
representing the people Of the com
monwealth of Minnesota, We are as.
sembled on one OF the historic battle
uelds or the civil war to pay our trib-
ute OF respect and affection to the
memory OF the sons of Minnesota
who here yielded up their lives that
this might continue to be united ma
ton. Their sacrifice Was not for per
sonal gain, but was in response TO
duty, and d contribution 10 the civ.
ilization of the age and for the pur-
pose Of perpetuating the institution Of
human liberty
appreciate that nothing which |
can say will add to or detract from
the glory of their achievement. which
IA itself Is an enduring monument To
the patriotism and heroism Of the
american soldier Their sacrifice.
A9wever was not different from that
which has been made throughout all
81 the ages by those lovers of liberty
who believe in a government when
might give TO all the people the right
70 life, liberty and property. The
lcya OF liberty was not born in this
country Of ours; it was Graded along
ne Danube and about TIE shores Of
ae Baltic, even when Rome had
reached the limit OF her imperial
4raadeIr. Increasing ir Intensity
with lhe passing OF the centuries, ii
found G,s highest expression in the
0'l1r counties in the great English
charter Oh civil rights. which forever
guaranteed To the people of that land
.I.l! .Eity from the despotism Of those
aho claimed to rule by virtue O. Di- /
vine light.
One hundred and thirty-two years /
go the great contest Of humanity was /
from the old world to the |
lew. and here, because OK the isola- !
ion Of this country. because Of the
ligh character of the man who es-
5ousel the cause of liberty. and be-
.ause OF the signal victory achieved
" them In that struggle. an opportu-
.ity was afforded 10 crystalline into
written law the aspirations of the pa
riots Of all the ages. The men who
Iilt the foundations of this govern
aeat were those who had submitted
o the supreme test of patriotism, for
hose who inspired the constitution of
he United States were the same who
adj pledged their lives, their proper.
les and their sacred honor to the
ause of Independence.
While the primary object of a writ
en- constitution is to define govern
mental powers. and to limit govern
aental departments, the overwheln-
NJ necessity for such an instrument
5 TO prevent insidiOus encrUachihents
pom the rights Of the individual citi-
en-, both from those in Office and
rom those who by reason OF their
'ealth and power have an influence ,
ar greater than that possessed by the
verage citizen. And SO the constitu-
ion Of the United States was regarded !
Y fits trainers as an instrument Of the .
lost sacred import. o. alteration OF !
'hich could only be made by the pec- /
le themselves in whom all ultimate
over is vested. and then only after
be fullest discussion and widest pub
city.
Under the beneficent government so
established the nation has prospered |
nd the people are happy One great
loud came upon the nation in the
)rm Of an awful civil war. in which
NO sections of the country were in
Dnflict with each other. The heroes
'ho rest here gave their lives that
lis nation might be maintained as it
anne from our fOrefathers. On another
attlefield of that war, Abraham Lin
Din said: 1t is for us, the living,
4ther. to be dedicated to the I'M
nished work they have thus far so
obly carried on. Ii Is rather for us
} be here dedicated to the great task
before us; that from these
onOred dead We take increased devo-
on for that cause for which they here
ave the last full measure of devotion; ! ]
rat We highly resolve that these dead t
hall not have died in vain: that the {
alton shall. under God. have a new | !
nth of freedom. and that the govern Z
tent Of the people, by the people. for 7
10 people, shall not perish from the t
arth." :
Our concern is not &C tho past nor ! q
molly with the present. but much 7
ith the future. II the destiny OF the q