Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-11
STATE RIGHTS URGED
Governor Johnson Says They Are
Being Invaded.
SEES CAPITALIZATION TREND
Minnesota's Democratic Candidate For
Presidency Believes Federal Govern
msnt Is Encroaching on individual
CommonweaIths' Ground.

Presidency Believes Federal 0ovsrn-
msnt Is Encroaehing on Individual
CommonweaIths' Ground.
Shiloh Battlefield, Tenn, April IL
In the presence of large and distin-
guished gathering from many parts Of
the south as well as from his own
| state Governor Johnson Of Minnesota
dedicated the monument erected by
Minnesota in the National park at Shi-
lob to commemorate her brave sons
who lost their lives on that great bat
tlef1eld.
Governor and Mrs. Johnson, accom-
panied by the staff Of the former ana
by fifty prominent citizens Of tho
Gopher State, reached Shiloh after
twenty mile voyage on the Tennessee
river, debarking at Pittsburg Landing.
Ideal spring weather prevailed.
After the services Governor johnson
and party returned to Nashville. He
will speak Sunday at Mammoth Cave
After pralsing the men who saved
the Union, Governor Johnson spoke In
part as follows:
Constitution Peoples viii.
THE scheme of government devised
by our forefathers was Adopted after
most mature deliberation, and after the
fullest investigation and only when
they were satisfied that In the distribu-
ton Of the powers Of government the
sl.,ht e. - tuoylA ho 4Ad
II was founded upon the theory that
/ the right existed in the people to make,
alter and modify their form Of govern
ment, and to this end the several states
in constitutional convention agreed upon
and adopted constitution which was
the foundation upon which this nation
rests
! While the primary object of a writ.
ten constitution is to define govern
mental powers and to limit govern
mental departments, the overwhelming
necessity for such an instrument Is to
prevent insdlous Entertainments upon
the rights of the individual citixen.
both from those in office and from
those who by reason Of their wealth
and power hive an influence far great
er than that possessed by the average
citizen.
And so the constitution of the Unit
ed States was regarded by its trainers
as an instrument Of the most sacred
import, an alteration of which could
( only lie made by the people themselves,
in whom all ultimate power is vested,
and then only after the fullest discus
sion and widest publicity.
Liberty's Great csst.
"Shan we not today consecrate our.
selves for the further perpetuation Of
the principles of American liberty and
a constitutional form Of government
purchased at the cost Of the blood IT
patriotsf In this hour, when there
seems TO be disposition to depart
from the established forms, when there
seems TO be a desire upon the part Of
/ those in authority TO abide In central
bureaucracy rather than in a represent
alive democracy. Il becomes you and
me TO protest against any departare
+ whatsoever from the government which
came 10 us from the constitutional con-
/ vention OF 1857 and those amendments
. which have been made 10 it by speeifc
will Of the people.
I For nearly a century and q half
America has presented 20 the world
the spectacle Of a happy. prosperous
and intelligent people nssntsinfng .
pure democracy founded upon their SUI
prems will. The hallmark Of democ-
racy is that the powers Of government
are close TO the people. Throughout
the world. wherever democracy n ad-
< vancing. i;s progress 10 marked By q
greater measure Of self gevernxspt 10
each community. VIII The Ame<aran
people turn to the setting rather fhsn
to the rising sun? Shall we now, be-
cause some laws are called iFksoms By
a class and interfere with tkeir se16sh
aims. commence 10 deprive eur s0vsr-
eign states of home rule which Hnfii
now they have seen at 10 reserve 10
themselves?
Il cannot believe IL. On the con
trary. I believe that the Iimitatio
upon state and federal governments.
the nice balancing Of the powers Of
each and OF the different departments
IN each. which have been 50 eficacious
in the past. will he maintained in their
suif rigor In the future