The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-26

to invite consideration of some
thoughts on political science as applied
under our American system OF govern
ment, for amidst these classic sur
roundings II can not be inappropriate
to acknowledge thai the guiding and
governing force OF the cultured MIND is
OF organized society and indispen sa BILE
to the further progress Of civilization.
The influence of the educated peopie.
the possessors of the cultured mind. ID
accepted as a prime postulate when
ever and wherever the usefulness of
the school-room 10 under consideration.
Just appreciation OF the power of In
tellectuai and refined men and women
Is happily in evidence everywhere, and
1t speaks well for humanity that the
disposition Of such men and women IN
toward q better study of civics. Espe-
cially Is this true in our own repub-
lie, and among the people who are In
the private walks OF life there Is a
healthy desire for a better understand
ing Of all public or political questions
velopment OF good citizenship that In
the common schools of Alabama there
~ now taught the elementary prinei-
Piles Of our civil government. The
fashion of the few to speak contempt
uously of politics--and by this Is
meant the practical administration of
government-meets the Just condemns
ton of thoughtful people.
With us government Ii the daily bus
mess of the people. and surely no sub
ject ought to be more engaging to the
thoughtful citizen who desires to do
his part In cooperation with his fell
lows in the high duty Of popular rule
tor Arnold said that after religion. pol
itics is the greatest and highest con-
Germ of man.
It cannot be doubted that as long as
the people take an interest In politics
they will deserve to and will perpetuate
free institutions and strive for that
higher ideal In civil affairs which was
the hope of the fathers who achieved
our Independence. founded the states,
and made this Union Of ours possible.
The interests of the whole people are
made UP of the interests Of the indi-
vidual citizens. and no man can right
fully escape his share in the duty to
carry on our government. The good
citizen is too busy with present prob
lens to waste his time In uselessly la
mentipg mistakes committed In the
past, and yet II Is well for him to re-
call such mistakes in the light of the
truth that history Is philosophy teach-
ing by example" The pessimist Is as
useless In the administration OF govern
tercourse. The exuberant optimist who
dismisses every complaint against the
abuse of governmental powers with
Let well enough alone." can not be
the real defender Of our free institu-
lions. The effort must always be In the
practical administration of public af-
fairs to bring our government toward
the ideal conception OF what It was de-
signed to be under the established
scheme. This is the gospel of hope to
be preached in behalf of good govern
ment Government Ia better according
to the real sympathy for its purposes
possessed by those who administer It.
In a government of laws and not of men
1t is essential to the life OF the govern
ment that there must be ever a whole-
some respect for its spirit and pur-
poses.
1t is well enough for the people on
all occasions, using commercial ex-
preston, to take an inventory of their
government business. In doing this 1t
Is worse than foolish to shut the eyes
to evil tendencies and to glorify the
good in fervent and patriotic express
sions. for 1t is of the last Importance
| that evil tendencies be reviewed and
evil accomplishments rebuked, to the
end that government now and hereaf
ter be rightly conducted. wrong be
averted. and the true purposes of the
| government be effectuated.
Now, let me. If you will, after brief
reference to the establishment of self
| government in our country and as brief
a consideration of the fundamental
principles upon which the dual system
especially to some of the encroach-
ments by the Federal government on
the reserved rights of the State. the
hurtful consequences. to conditions that
| threaten still graver dangers. and TO
| urge upon my fellow-ci to arouse
means to secure the priceless heritage
| OF local self-goveTnment. We can not
| forget that our free institutions were
| established by the consent of the gov
eTned. and they can never be Destroy
or accuisence of the governed.
As eternal vigilance was the price
paid for liberty attained. an abiding
care on the part of the people for the
administration of government and its
purposes must be the unceasing liba-
ton pouring from patriotic hearts up
on the altar of sustained liberty. My
countrymen, let US stand on the solid
ground upon which our fathers builded.
and insist now and hereafter upon the
observance of the line that separates
the powers reserved to the States. re-
spectiveiy, to Alabama. as one of them.
from the powers delegated to the Fed
oral Union. and resist through lawful
action and an acute public sentiment
and an enlightened public conscience
all Federal usurpations. Amphion's mu-
sic raised again the walls of Thebes
Let the voice of the people of the
States of the Union declare again the
right of State to conduct Its own gov
eminent. armed under the law of the
Constitution against the lnsidious en-
croachment of centralized Federal
power.
Our dual scheme provides a FEEDER
al or National power to protect the
States and their people from alien
aggression. to establish freedom Of
commerce within the Union, to assure
domestic tranquility. and guarantee
republican form of government in ev-
cry State. and yet, again. to secure to
the people the right OF local selfSgov.
eminent through the fun exercise Of
separate State autonomy. limited onlv
by the enumerated powers granted to
the Feedral government in the Consti.
tuition, as ratified by the States.
II NAV be assumed that every man
clothed with the elective franchise in
Alabama at this time, restricted as Il
is happily to the intelligent and patri.
otto. understands. at least in an ele>
mentary way, this character of our
government-a Federal government of
delegated ana enumerated powers and
State governme Mt with all the rights
belonging to organized society not
granted away in the Constitution. BY
this organic law of the Union the gem
eral government was Intentionally re-
stricted to national purposes In contra
distinction to the absolute. right of the
State to carry on the business of local
self government. fettered only by the
comparatively few limitations embraced
in the expression that the Constitution.
laws, and treaties of the United States
are the supreme law OF the land. Every
student knows that Individual States
are older than the Federal government,
and that the original State under sep
lrate autonomy and under a very lin
| elf-government before 1t was demon
-RN.at uaA klaoA r1a tnr. %