Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-11
JOHNSON SPEAKS AT SHILOH
Minnesota's Governor Addresses Vet
erans on Battlefield.
MONUMENT TO MEN OF HIS STATE
Talks of Consultation and Need of Up-
Holding It-COmments ON Recent
Decision of Supreme COurt
in Railroad Case,

SHILOH BATTLEFIELD, Tenn, April
l0.-The monument erected by the state of
Minnesota in the National park at Shiloh
to the memory Of the Minnesota soldiers
who fell on that battlefield. was dedicated
here today. Governor johnson and his
staff accompanied by party Of fifty
and participated in the dedicatory exercises.
Ideal spring weather prevailed.
General l.. F. Hubbard, chairman Of the
Minnesota Monument commission, presided.
Governor johnson spoke as follows:
While the primary object of a written
constitution is to define governmental pow
ers and to limit governmental departments
the overwhelming necessity for such IN
strument is to prevent insidtous encrOach-
ments upon the rights of the individual
citizen, both from those in office and from
those who by reason OF their wealth ana
power have an influence far greater than
that possessed by the average citizen. And
so the constitution of the United states
was regarded by its trainers as an instru-
ment of the most sacred import, an alterd-
tion of which could only be made by the
people themselves in whom all ultimate
power Is vested, and then only after the
fullest discussion and widest publicity.
Shall We not today consecrate for the
further perpetuaton of the principles OF
American liberty and constitutional form
of government, purchased at the cost of
the blood OF patriots? In this hour when
there seems to be a 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 bureau
Cracy, rather than in a representative de-
mocracy, 1t becomes you and me to pro-
test against any departure whatsoever
from the government which came to us
from the constitutional convention of 11Si
and those amendments which haYe been
made to il by specific will of the people.
Our duty is to recognize the majesty of
the law when enacted by the legislature, TO
abide by and with the honest execution and
administration of the laws when so en-
acted and to respect. even though wrong,
the opinions of the courts of the land
because when respect for these institutions
Is gone, then the very framework OF our
government is bound to crumbie and de-
cay. But, having thus given our acqui-
escence to the voice of authority, II in the
opinion of the people the action taken. Is
one which should not be exercised by that
particular department. il is our inalienable
right TO so further limit its power as TO
prevent the recurrence of the error.
Very recently there has come from the
highest judicial tribunal i'm the land a de-
cisiOn of vital interest and concern to the
American people, because II has estab-
ber of the court, which would work a
radical change In our governmental system
and would inaugurate new era in the
American judicial system and In the rela-
tions of the national and state govern
ments. IL would enable the subordinate
federal courts to supervise and control the
official action of the states as though
there were dependencies or provinces. II
would place the states of the union in a
condition of inferiority never dreamed OF
when the constitution was adopted or when
the eleventh amendment was made a part
of the supreme law of the land. II this
is the result of this decision. II Is, to my
mind, one of the unhappy incidents in the
history OF our republic because tho very
theory of our government is based upon
the right Of the states to control abso-
lutely their own domestic affairs.
IF, then. our whole system of govern
ment is changed, have we not only re-
tarded the progress of the republic hat
have we not gone back a century toward a
centralized form of government which Is
not to the advantage of the people? What
this government needs Is not more power
What It needs today is to so distribute the
privileges under the government that all
citizens will have equal opportunity. Amer
lea has been called the land of opportunity
But American opportunity should not mean
a granting of special privileges to any
class, but should afford all alike the means
for culture, education prosperity and con-
tentment.
c. c. Andrews of ST. Paul, secretary of
the commission, also delivered an address
The party will start on the retlAn Jour-
ney this afternoon.