Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-09-05


good citizenship
There never was q time when
| they stood less in need OF statutory
strait-lackets. or When they less de-
served to be discredited in their own
estimation and before the world by
Official consurc and public criticism
"A government under which a
people can accomplish such wonder
ful success at home aud exert such
| influences abroad. cannot be too
thoroughly studied or too carefully
guarded. Practically an the great
est publicists agree that the most
vital feature OF the general plan of
our government is found I'm the dis
,ribution OF it's powers among three
separate independent and coordinate
departments
"It is fundamental that neither
shall encroach upon the other. The
Legislative shall not. without con-
stituuonal warrant. take from or add
60 the powers of the judiciary.
nor shall the judiciary aunull
or cmbarrass the lawfully enacted
win of the legislative. Working iu
harmony as their official duties re-
quire. the result is ass near perfection
as human imperfection viii allow"
Now, most anybody could spell
Roosevelt in the first nine lines Of
those sentences for he has been the
Chief Executive 20 do this very thing.
His friends accordingly had chance
TO dodge before he save voice to
further declarations along this line
Gle said furthor.
eve can only speculate as Go the
Disappointing consequence that
would cnsuc if they should work at
cross purposes. for. to the credit of
these two departments. neither has
ever willfully infringed unon or de-
med The powers of the other.
Through an tine years that have
passed they have been $50 true to- the
purposes of their creation that they
have carefully. respectfully. and
jealousy guarded each the rights OF
the other. But worse than legisla-
tive and judicial discord would De an
invasion of either of the other de-
paruRnts by the executive
This then is practically a direct
reference 90 the President of the L.
nited states. He goes further when
DE says. Q
"Au the powers of that depart
mcnt are consolidated in single in-
diyidual. Tie BIS the Commandcr-in-
chief OF the army and navy. tle has
iu his own hands am Che tremendous
power of public patronage. Tie not
only has under his control and SUBJ
icct go his win. $50 far as their tenure
is concerned. thousands OF Office
holders bat DE has even more im-
mcdiatcly under his command q con-
etaut.y increasing army of moro. at
tho present time. than 5000 special
agents. inspectors. and secret service
men. whose highest law is his bid
ding
This then is species of iuforma-
tion that may well Doe termed O
warming to the people. He doesn't
say $50. but Sc is plain that the able
Senator charges his political undoine
Co the paid aeeuts OF the President
of the United States and not TO the
uuinnueuccd viii of the people.
Ee continues:
Under bold. aggressive. unscrup
uious and designing executive this
power of appointment and these arr
mics of appoiutecs could Dee so eXor-
cised and directed ass 90 destroy the
Independence and impair the useful
mess and efficiency OF bota the other
departments. Such au abuse of pow
a.na ID g.. d..
stituuon. which DO long acquicsced
in. might eventually work its over
throw"
Is there a man In the United States
OF ordinary intelligence. who can
consistently question the accuracy of
this declaration Senator Foraker
is hiding his time" He is philoso-
pher enough TO know and statesman
enough to appreciate the fact that
wrong lasts for brief scnson and
that right eventually triumphs. IL
was so in the beginning and will be
so 10 the end OF the chapter Pres
ident Roosevelt has grown more head
strong and more autocratic He has
reached that stage where he can
not tolerate even an honest differ
ence of opinion on the part of his
fellows. Such ailments in great men
are almost invariably fatal from a
political point Of view
With the passing of Theodore
Roosevelt from the White House will
come a reaction and we do not be-
lieye that there is a person living. :
who Will not be able 10 live TO see the
change so plainly promised If not in
words. certainly by implication in :
all that the distinguished Senator |.
from Ohio has been bold enough to /
say. Rooseveltism must be sent 10 !
the rear or the Republican form Of 7,
government in this country must
perish from the earth.
-O-