The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-12-03
A NEGLECTED SUBJECT.

4 1t is unfortunate that every voter cSn
not read the very thoughtful and thought
provoking article which opens the Novem-
Der number of the North Ameri-
can Review. It is a review ard a restate-
ment in the light of existing conditions OF
our fundamental institutions.
We in Louisiana have so long lived IN.
der the domination Of a political machine
that we are III peculiar need of marking
back to the foundation of our govern
ment and considering the arguments that
led up to the separation and establish
ment on footing of independent equality
of the legislative, judicial and executive
departments of government. We have
become entirely too much accustomed t.
seeing a governor dominate all the ma
chinery Of state. In view of the great
accession to our population of an alien
element to whom our tongue as well as
/ the fundamentals of our institutions are
equally unknown, and to whom individual
or bureaucratic despotism seems the nat
ural order of the universe, it is mere than
ever necessary to keep before our own
eyes and to set before the eyes of our PEG.
| pie of all ages and conditions the fact that
with US the sovereign authority resides
III the people and in the people alone, that
absolute arbitrary power is in no mans
hand and that the exercise Of it is a
usurpation and a breach of the official
obligation Of the usurper.
Our government is a government unde-,
through and by law. This law resides in
no mans breast. but every BIT of it is
written IN the books, The constitution is
adopted by the whole mass of the people,
The legislature makes laws under and in
pursuance Of the constitution. The judi
cial branch. the courts. construe the law
when necessary and apply il to particular
cases, and the executive branch, the gov
ernor and those under him, enforce the
law and give effect to it in the administra-
tien of the business of the state.
The same things are true with respect
TO the congress, the federal courts and
the president. CT recent years nlischiev-
GUS precedents have been made by presi-
dents and governors assuming the func-
ton Of debating to congress and state
what laws shall BE- passed
and what the form of those laws shall be.
1t is most important that the people in
diyidGaily should realize that this habit
and the establishment Of these precedents
means system Of executive relationships
such as we have been accustomed to re-
probate in the Central and South Ameri-
ian republics.
The literature of the early period Of our
is full of most wise discus
lions of these subjects. 1t would be well
o get out The Federaiist" and read it
ifresh.
At a meeting of Mohawk Tribe No. SO,
!. Q. K. NJ, which was held last Monday
light at the wigwam in the Masonic
-emple, the Tribe accepted the proposition
+ the Peoples Bank to rent the upper
tory Of the banks new building at the
orner of Railroad avenue and Mississippi
treet for use as club-rooln and wigwam.
q order TO meet the additional expense
eeessary for the running of the club. it is
fon0sed TO amend the bylaws of the
fibe SO as to Increase the dues Is cents :
n month. Of from So TO SO per yea.
MS matter will be acted upon at tie n 1t i
lated council 81 the Tribe to be convened
\ Monday, Dec. 8, ana as the election Of t
Ulcers for the ensuing term viii also e j
cid at this council an unusually large at i
Of members Is expected.