New-York tribune., 1909-01-02

ditions assuring due regard for health and
safety Our charities hospitals. prisons
should reflect the counsels of wise philanthropy
and exhibit the most intelligent efforts for Gus
todial ca re. .$cure and reformation. our processes
for the settlement Of disputes and the punish
of crime should display the least possible
delays and the fewest technical Instructions
consistent va opportunity for fair hearing nj
proper deIiberation Our laws So far as possible
should be general and not special The charters
OF our cities should establish local responsibility
for the details Of administration. thus making
each municipality training school for tho de-
velopment Of civic spirit our electoral ma
chinerv should be carefully safeguarded 70 as
sure uncorruPted expression Of the popular Will
And the supremacy Of public right and the Just
exercise of public privilege should ever be en-
forced, to the end that individual liberty should
have its proper scope and that the common
interest upon which the liberties of ali ultimately
depend should be secure against exploitation.
FAITHFUL WORK INSPIRING.
We may congratulate ourselves upon the gains
which have been made and may devote our
selves these important tasks inspired by the
work of the long line Of faithful servants who
through the generations have striven for the
public good and have made possible our pres
ent attainments.
Within the limits of the federal Constitution
the people Of the state may have the govern
ment they desire These limits leave the po-
pie free administer their state affairs. tn"
care of which has not been committed 10 tne
federal government. long they maintain
republican institutions and the common priv
ileges OF citizenship and act in accordance With
the essential principles Of Justice embraced IN
the concept of due process Of law They are
not subject to federal restraint in perfectng
state administration
But thew must act in accordance with their
own fundamental rules. The people Of the stat"
have established their own constitution, which
defines the sphere within which all public Off
GERS must act. T-nhesitatng obedience To its
mandates and loyal recognition Of It's r"stric-
1ions : the first la Of our political being Con
sttutional rule is the rule Of the people. for the
Constitution is the fundamental and direct OK
rrassior Of the naople's will 1t is not only
check upon representatives, but is an act Of
self renunCiatlon. the voluntary pledE" ~ a
salutary conservatism. If they desire, IN" poo
pie may change il: hut the change must h"
made in the prescribed manner. and until 8"
changed the Constitution binds tn" people them
selves and their Off ral representatives. as eK-
pressive of the deliberate policy which fhey
have deemed il wise to protect from haSty al
teration even at their own hands.
The powers of government are classified as
executive legislative and Judicial " hlle the
propriety of avoiding their confusion SO iar as
may be praCtica bic is generally recognized, the
people have wide range of choice in the DIS
tribution of these powers. and they are not and
cannot well be separated with logical exaCtn"ss
with regard to the officers who exercise them
Perhaps the judicial branch Of the govern
Tent IS most closely confined 20 single class
Of powers. though in certain cases (and NOR"
conspicuously in other states than in our OWN
4 is permitted administrative functions. We
cannot too strongly emphasize the importance Of
proper respect for the authority Of the courts
as the arbiters OF our judicial controversies All
rational progress must be based upon the main
tenance of the fundamental principles o. law
and order and upon the support OF the iustitu-
tions for the peaceful settlement Of conflicts
over rights. And it is precisely for This reason
that depreCate attempt L. involve
the courts in questions which essentially
legislative administrative. and where, in the
absence of the invasion OF constitutional guar
antees. the matter IS one Of policy and the iu-
dicial function, properly speaking, is not con-
Cerned