The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1908-04-17
JOHNSON At Shiloh.
MINNESOTA EXECUTIVE MAKES
NOTABLE. ADDRESS.
Observation-Disclosures
Does Not Approve, OF Commonwe alths
Being Made Subservient to In
ferior Federal1 Courts-Would
uphodi CONSTITUTION.

bcHNcIeu 81 Tire u0QlCd4lOH OIL Inc Mill
nesota monument on Shiloh battle
field, April 102 an, address that will
rank as one, Of the ablest public de-
liyerances 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
eral form of government. This peril
was emphasizeds by the recent deci-
sion OF the supreme court in the rail
way cases going up from Minnesota
and North Carolina, which practt-
cally makes the state governments
subservient to the inferior federal
courts. The significance of these de-
cisions is widely understood, and they
have given rise to q general discus
sion of the question of the rights OF
the states, and Gov. Johnson's speech
will rank as an important contribu-
tion 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
fields of 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 a contribution to the civ
ilization Of the age, and for the pur-'
pose of perpetuating the institutions OF
human liberty.
/ appreciate that nothing which, i
can say will add to or detractt from
the glory of their achievement, which
In itself lis an enduring monument to,
the patriotism and heroisml Of the
American soldier. Their sacrifice,
however. was not differentt from that
which has been made throughout ala
of the ages by those loverssoa liberty
who believe in a government which
might give to all the peopleathearight
to life, liberty and property The,
love of liberty was not, born In THIS
country Of ours; ita was. Graded along
the Danube and about the shores OF
the Baltic, even when. Rome had
reached the limitt of her imperial
grandeur. Increasing in intensity
with the nassing> of the centuries, IL.
found it's highest expression in the
older countries i'm the great English
charter Of civil, rights which forever
guaranteed ito. the. people Of that land
immunity from the dcspotism OF those
who claimed. to rule by virtue Of pi-
vine right!
One hundred and thirty-two years
ago the great contest of humanity was
transferred from the old world to the
new. and here, because or the lsola-
ton of this country, because OF the
hirh character of the man who eS-
housed the cause sof liberty, and be-
cause OF the signal victory achieved
bv them in that struggle an opportp-
nitv was afforded to- crystalline into
written law the aspirations, Of the pa
triots of all the ages The men, who
hnilt the foundations OF this govern
rnent were. those who had submitted
"a the supreme, test Of patriotism, for
4hose who inspired, the, constitution OF
tho United Statessw ere, the same VINO
had pledged their lives, their proper
Ties and their sacred honor TO. the
cause of independence.
While the primary object ofia' writ
ten constitution is to- define govern
mental powersg and to limit govern
mental departments, the overwhelm.
ing necessity for suchh an instrument
il to prevent insidious Entertainments
upon the rights of the2individual citi'
zen. both from those In of1ce and
from those who by reason OF their
wealth and power have an influence
Tar greater than that possessed by the
average citizen. And so the constitu-
tion of the United States was regarded
nv its trainers as an instrument OF the
most sacred import an alteration OF
which could only be made by the peo-
nile themselves in whom all ultimate
mower issvested, and then only after
tho fulIests discussion and widest pub
licity.
Under the ,beneficent government SC
established the nation has prospered
and the people are happy. One great
cloud came upon the nation in the
form of an awful civil war, in which
two sections OFF the country were IL
conflict with each other The heroes
who rest here gave their lives thai
this nation might be maintained as il
came from our forefathers. On another
battlefield OF that war, Abraham Lin
coin said: 1T Isl for. us, the living
rather, to- be dedicated to the IN
finished work they; have thus far Sc
nobly carried on. tits rather for US
to be here dedicated to the great tasl
remaining before us; that from these
hunored dead we AXE increased devo
L.. for that cause for which they herr