West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-04-30

o'peu W itSiraiu the ficn ana powerful
from encroaching upon the natural and
legal rights OF the poor and weak.
The constitute -. of the ancient re-
public or Rome. which for 600 years
had recognized the voice OF the people
as supreme. was expanded by execu-
tive Interpretation and contracted by
executive administration until Rome
had 30 completely outgrown Its 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 to that destiny
and realize that fulillment which will
DO the inspiration OF right thinking
men OF all ages yet TO come.
Our government Is divided into three
separate and distinct coordinate
branches-the legislative. the executive
and the judicial. Danger will surely
como 10 this republic when any OF
these departments OF government Mt.
tempt In the slightest degree to usurp
the functions OF the other. And, while
now and then II may be that n court
OF the land In constituting the constitu-
tlon may nullify n section OF Il, | have
the faith 10 feel that the people OF the
country Will rise above the falllbllity
or judicial tribunals and assert and pre-
serve their own rights. Our duty Is
not to critlcise the executive. the legIs-
lature or the judiciary.
Very recently there has come from
the highest judicial tribunal In the land
decision OF vital interest and con-
Germ 10 the American people, because
1t has established a principle. as stated
by one member OF the court, which
would work n radical change I'm our
governmental system and would inau.
gurate new era In the American Judi.
cial system and In the relations OF the
national and state governments. II
would enable the subordinate federal
courts TO supervise and control the OIL.
cial action OF the states as though they
were dependencies or provinces. Ii
would place the states or the Union In
condition OF lnferlority never dream
cd OF when the constitution was adopt.
ed or when the eleventh amendment
was made a part of the supreme law
OF the'land." III this Is the result of
this decision. 1t is, to my mind. one OF
the unhappy Incidents In the history OF
our republic. because the very theory
OF our government Is based upon the
right OF the states to control absolutely
their own domestic affairs.
III, then. our whole system Of gov.
eminent Is changed, have we not only
retarded the progress of the republic,
but have we not gone back century
toward n centralized form OF govern.
ment which Is not to the advantage OF
the people? What this government
needs is not more power. What Il
needs today is to so distribute the
privileges under the government that
all citizens will have equal opportunity.
America has been called the land OF
opportunity, but American opportunity
should not mean granting OF special
privileges to any class. but should ar
ford all alike the means for culture, ed.
ucation, prosperity and contentment.
For nearly II century and half
America has presented to the world
the spectacle of II happy. prosperous
and intelligent people maintaining
pure democracy founded upon their su-
preme will. The hallmark OF de-
mocracy Is that the powers OF gov
eminent are close to the people.
Throughout the world wherever de-
mocracy is advancing its progress Is
marked by greater measure of self
government to each community. Will
the American people turn to the set
ting rather than the rising sun? Shall
we now because some laws nre found
irKsome by class and interfere with
their selfish aims commence TO de-
prive our sovereign states of that meas.
ure OF home rule which until now they
have seen fit to reserve to themselves7
cannot believe 1t. Upon the contrary,
L believe that the limitations upon state
and federal governments, the nice bal
ancing OF the powers of each and of
the different departments I'm each,
which have been so efficacious In the
past. Will be maintained in their full
vigor in the future
Therefore. discharging all Of our re-
sponsibilities as citizens of country.
refusing TO surrender our rights of citi-
zenship I'm any degree. let us so live
that the heroism exempllied on this
aud other American battlefields may
not be simply n tradition and the ma
tional wisdom OF our forefathers a
mere legend. but that through us and
those to. come America will reach her
full destiny In the permanent estab-
llshment OF n perfect union which
shall be not for today or for tomorrow.
but forever. and be so established that
1t VIII be for all Of the people and that
their government shall MT nartob