The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-08-28
SOCIALISM REFuTep
Contention That Our National Stru,
ture Is Failure Amusing


national structure a failure; this splen-
did government, founded by our fore
fathers; after years Of struggle against
tyranny; weary years of noble self
sacrihce, years of searching and prov
ing the SEAL the basive principles of
government of the people, for the peo-
pie, by the people, failure! Incom-
petent for its mission in this goth cen
fury is the slogan with which the Soc.
ialist party enters the campaign.
And il would be amusing IL 1t we're
not the real, dark portentous clouds,
do hang over the horizon of our politi-
cal economy And thus II Is in a time
when men-true, and sagacious men
are searching for light; and the mass
les are feeling an ominous awe OF the
threatening clouds that this slogan of
failure can WELD its most effective
blows.
1t Is in such a time that statesmen
who believe in the wisdom of our in
stitutions, and in the future of this
nation as founded by the Fathers"
need to act with the utmost wisdom
and patience. 1t is time too, when
all men may well study more closely
the principles upon which our national
structure is built.
The desire for government of the
people, by the people, on the basis of
equal rights for all; the right "of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
has ever existed in the human heart
These are God given rights and are
declared in the Declaration of indie
nnv,Ianoa 20 no In, al nj
questionably include the individual
right to accumulate and possess prop
erty, and the enjoyment of the fruit
of ones own labor and enterprise
And upon these principles the Faith
ers" after wrestling from the grip of
the old world sovereign rule, this
choicest of lands, proceeded TO build a
government, out of the colonial system
that had grown up with the ripening
desire and hope of representation in
government under English grants.
Out of these conditions and environ
ments THE Fathers" framed our nat
ional structure and in the arena of
free debate as equal citiZents they dis
cussed the practical and the theoreti-
cal principles and forms of govern
ment 'of the people, for the people,
by the people"
Our national structure thus founded
has, thus far stood the test and surviv-
ed the strain of mighty forces that
have been hurled against It. In the
severest trials of the nations life,
when mems hearts have almost failed
them, 1t has been found that the in
strument which binds the states into
nationhood, has been broad enough,
and strong enough for the nations
!, needs
But now when still other grave prob
lens almost elusive, scarcely tangible.
yet threatening. are looming up out of
our social and national economics
which perhaps may tax the wisdom of
our statesmen in maintaining right
eousness as never before. The Soc
ialists as party are calling their for
ces together and demanding surren-
der of the principles of government,
founded by our fathers. and recon
struction of government by socialism.
And they are putting forward as a
; reason that this nation is failure. In
political economy; also that the inalien
able rights. for which our fathers
| iOh6ilt 10 a IA Ahs oas lhh luul NutiG 10
, no such thing as individual rights in.
alienabe.
1t is not my purpose to enter into
a discussion of Socialist theories
Their doctrines are we'll known. and
,, the American people are not ready to
adopt them. But | wish just to EN-
, phasize the one thought that this ma
: lion under our constitution is abun.
dainty able to meet and righteously
adjust economic, and all other prob
lens of national concern.
One of the strongest reasons that II
is thus able, lies in the fact, that the
organic instrument which constitutes
our nauonhood, deals only with those
$ basic principles and functions of gov
eminent which are absolutely neces
4 5ary to maintain strong national life
. and unity of government by the com
!. monwealths of the people, for the
Z people, by the people" who exercise
, their will in the nation through the
4 medium of both direct representation
|. and representation by the states
n these principles being not only the
I fruit of, but bearing direct reference
8 to the God given inalienable rights Of
every citizen, as equals before the
!. law.
The fact of statehood within the
sphere of nationhood is the result Of
circumstances, and not of forethough
or of structural erection by the
n trainers of the constitution, else in al
probability they would not have been
And let us thank an all wise and ovel
b ruling Providence that it is So
believe that here lies the grea
strength Of the nation.
q Our fathers saw the importance o.
v recognizing state representation in tn,
national counsels; and of the voice o
the people by states in choosing tn,
e chief executive, and especially in adop
= ing amendments to the constitution
Thus the policy of the government al
O limited and bounded by the constitu
n ton, and also of the administration
r. must represent the broadcast nationa
!. convictions as measured by the broad
@ est area of intelligence Throughout
the states, instead of being under tn,
sway of the massed population in tn,
N smallest area. And merely to stat,
e this organic feature of our government
g carries with it conviction of its ey
y cellence.
IS Thus ours is at once a popular an,
3 a conservative government which il
|. its organic law cannot be easll,
u changed by whatever wind of politica
a doctrine may happen to blow across
q the arena of political strife And We
l. 1t can be changed by the people whei
p the necessity of a change has becom,
the settled conviction of three fourth
o of all the states; providing that sucl
4 changeis in harmony with the funda
= mental principles upon which the nat
y. ional structure Is built.
" | nhA if rnrnnnnnd ohn..n. l.