Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1908-05-15
discussion a.d widest publicity.


who rest here gave their lives that thls
nation might lie maintained rs 1t came
from our ferefathers. On another Dat
tleled OF that war Abraham Lincoln
said: 1t Is for U.s. the living, rather 10
he dedicated 10 the unfinished work
they bave thus far so nobly carried on.
II is rather for us TO be here dedicated
to the great task remaining before u.s.
that from these honored dead we take
increased devotion for that cause Tor
which they here gave the last full
:.easure OF devotion: that we highly re-
solve that these dead shall not have
died In vain that the nation shall un-
der God have n new birth OF freedom,
and that the government OF the people,
by the people and for the people shall
not perish from the earth"
Our concern is not Of the past nor
wholly with the present, but much
with the future. If the destiny OF the
republic Is In the hands OF the Ameri'
can Of today. then II becomes him to
be guided and governed only by patrl-
otic impulse and the desire to do that
which will most largely contribute 10
the permanency of republican institu-
tions. Advancing our civilization 80
that we will not, by recognizing the
false claims Of selfish interests and for
getting the American maxim that our
object should be to attain the greatest
good for the greatest number. incur the
penalty which other people have paid,
rather let US hold ever In mind that
those who framed our government be-
lieved In the equality Of the people and
that the chief aim Of government Is to
maintain that equality.
Under our system Of government the
nation has reached material develop
ment hitherto unknown. The people
have prospered beyond the dreams OF
those who lived a century ago. But
with the development Of the country
and changes In economic conditions,
and particularly with the growth OF
great private corporations performing
many Of the functions Of government,
has come the necessity for the exercise
OF strict governmental control and
rigid enforcement OF all the laws en-
acted to restrain the rich and powerful
from encroachIng upon the natural and
legal rights OF the poor and weak.
The constitution Of the ancient re-
public OF Rome, which for 500 years
had recognized the voice OF the people
as supreme. was expanded by execu-
tive Interpretation and contracted by
executive administration until Rome
had so completely outgrown It's demo
cratic conditions as to become only a
tragedy and tradition. Let us I'M
plOre the aid OF him on high to pre-
serve us from the errors which ruined
Rome. by the avoidance OF which
America may travel on 10 that destiny
and realize that fulilIment which will
be the inspiration OF right thinking
men OF al ages yet to come.
Our government IS divided into three
separate and distinct coordinate
branchps-the legislative. the executive
and the judicial. Danger will surely
come TO this republic when any OF
these departments OF government at.
tempt in the slightest degree to usurp
the functions OF the other And. while
now aud then II may he that a court
Of the land IN constituting the constitu'
ton may nullfy Il section OF IL. ] have
the faith TO feel that the people OF the
,.ountry will rise above the falllblIity
OF judicial tribunals and assert and pre-
| serve their own rights. Our duty Is
mol to crltlciSe the executive. the legis
| lature or the judiciary.
Very recently there has come from
the highest Judicial tribuna! In the land
| decision OF vital interest and con
Germ To- The American people. because
| il has established principle. as stated
by tonp mrnlrr Of the court. whicl
| would wO:,. ra Zeal change IN oui
| governmental SyY!,'.n AM would inau
| giira:e Il urw era IN til" American JUDI
| cial system aui ~ The relations or th'
national AL state governments.
| would enable ilr subordinate fedora
courts 10 Supervise and control the OH
ciai action uf Tie states iIS though the.
were drm.Ld..ncics or provinces.
would place tie states 0f The Inl0n II
4 condition of inferiUrity never drr'lln
ed uf when tie constitution WAS adopt
cd or when the eleventh amendmen
was made Il part Of the supreme iav
Of the iand" II this Is the result o
this dcci.iOIi. IL in. To my mind. Que
the unhappy Incidents In the history o
our republic. because the very theor.
Of our government Is based upon TN
right OF the states TO control absolutel.
their own domestic affairs.
If. then. our whole system of gov
ernnlcnt Is changed, have We not onl.
! retarded the progress Of tho republic
49,, f,.,,a NO not ,,ana knPE "A ,spfltllr