Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-08

fully separated the three departments
of government, and eacn department
is jealous of any encroachment upon
its sphere of activity The judge re-
sents any attempt of the legislator
or of the executive to usurp the func-
lions of the court; the executive re-
sents any attempt of the court or of
the lawmaker to enter his domain,
and the lawmaker is equally insistent
upon the preservation of his independ- .
ence. If there is any time or place
where a jury is needed, it is in
case OF indirect contempt. 1t is not
strange that abuses have crept it, for
man would have to be more than
human to unite in himself the deliber-
alton of the legislator the zeal of the
public prosecutor and the impaHiality
of the judge.
Not "a Labor Question.
While the laboring men have been
| the first to complain of this denial of
| the right of trial by jury i'll cases of
indirect contempt. it ought not to be
considered a labor question. The
| jury system is 50 essential TO the adj
ministration of justice tibet the sub
ject ought to appeal to all who make
a study of the science of government.
If citizens would only be on their
guard against the beginnings of evils,
it would be very easy to apply neces-
sary remedies. but in the struggle for
existence the voters are often indif-
ferent to the application of an erron-
eous principle until repeated applica-
tons establish custom, and in time
a custom crystalliZes into law. 1t be-
hooves us, as lovers of our country
and as the friends of liberty. to insist
upon the independence of the differ
ent departments of our government
and upon the maintenance of the
rights which have been shown by ex-
perience to be essential to freedom
/, and self-government The jury sys-
; TEN must be preserved. and we can
, not hope to preserve it if, for any
, reason or under any pretext, we per-
nit any citizen to be denied the pro
: lection which it furnishes.
According to the Declaration of In.
: dependence. governments are insti
: tuted among men to secure for them
5 the enjoyment of their inalienable
rights. Among these inalienable
l rights three are specifically enumer
2 ated-life, liberty and the pursuit OF
+ | happiness. The second and third
| however. are really parts of the first
] for life means nothing 10 the indi
t vidual if it is confined to mere animal
: existence. Man is distinguished from
e the brute in that the latter merely
e eats, sleeps and dies, while man is en-
=. dowed by the Creator with infinite
, possibilities. His conscience must BIZ
left free that he may fix for himsel
$ the relation between himself and hi:
p God. His mind must be left free tina
( he may devise and plan for himself
o for his family and for his fellows
+ His speech must be free that he ma.
( give to the world the results of hi
l. investigations and present to other
t the ideal which he is trying to realiz'
i in his work His pen must be fire,
@ that he may scatter seed thoughts t.
i the uttermost parts of the earth ant
leave to posterity a record of his work
/. He finds in government the cheapest
il as well as the surest. protection o
V this liberty. to be, to think. to speak
). to act.
S What Constitutes Happiness.
1t And what constitutes the pursuit o
g happiness? Man must have home ant
e friends-family and society. He mus
It have food or he will starve. He mus
e have clothing and shelter; he mus
It have books, he must have instrument
Il with which to work. He must provide
J. during the period of strength for tn
d years when age dulls his energies ant
e benumbs his hands. He may have am
h bition, he may have willingness 4
:, work and an environment that spur
o him on; but the government may ell
S courage or it may discourage his eli
Il forts. Government may bid him hop
= or leave him to despair.