The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-10-05
Cardinal Gibbons Utters Political Advice

Cardinal Gibbons does not hesitate to
say the thing he believes. In his ju-
bilee sermon on Sunday he felt it right
to express in broad way some OF his
convictions on political subjects. No
man, he said, should be a drone in the
social beehive. No citizen should be
an indifferent spectator OF the political.
moral, and economic questions that are
agitated around him. Very eloquently
ne warned his hearers against sup!os-
ing that every man who runs about
waving a new panacea for social evils
is to be worshiped as political and
moral reformer. Better to trust to
the old lamp of the fathers which has
guided the steps of the American
people for four generations" he said,
"than to con6de in every ignis fatuus
that may lead US into dangerous pit
falls. Do not disturb the political
landmarks of the republic"
This was the impressive prelude to
powerful passage in condemnation OF
certain current propositions OF revolu-
tionary faddsts, as follows:
At the present moment there are
three political problems which are en-
gaging the serious attention of our
public men. 1t is proposed that United
States senators should be elected by
popular vote instead of being chosen
by the state legislatures, as is pre-
scribed by the Constitution. 1t is pro-
posed that the acts of our legislatures,
before they have the force of law,
should be submitted to the suffrage of
the people who would have the right
to vote. 1t is proposed to recall or re-
move an unpopular judge before the eX-
piration Of his term of office.
No one questions the ability, the sim
cerity, and patriotism of the advocates
of these changes in our organic laws.
But | hope | may not be presumptuous
in saying that, in my opinion, the wis
dom of the proposed amendments must
be seriously questioned. The election
of senators by the votes of the people
involves the destruction of a strong
bulwark against dangerous popular en-
croachments. The reason given for the
contemplated change is that many of
our state legislatures are charged with
being venal, and that it is easier to
corrupt legislature than the whole
people. In reply /, would say: If you
cannot trust the members of the legis-
lature, how can you trust their consti-
tuents from whom they spring? If you
cannot confide in our legislatures you
cannot confde in human government,
nor in human nature itself. If a few
U. our Legislatures have been found
guilty of bribery, II is most unjust to
involve all the others in their condem-
nation. | have sufficient confidence in
.he moral integrity OF our legislators
to be convinced that the great majority
of them have never bent the knee to
Mammon.
70 give to the masses the right of
the acts OF the legislature is
to substj tute mob law for established
law. TO recall Judge because his de-
cisions do not meet with popular APP
proval is an insult to the dignity, the
independence and the self-respect of our
judiciary. Far less menacing to the
commonwealth Is an occasional corrupt
or incompetent Judge than one who
would be the habitual slave of ca
PRECIOUS multitude, who had always his |
ear to the ground trying to find out the
verdict of the people. The Constitution |
of the United States is the palladium
of our liberties and a landr' ark in our
march of progress. That instrument
has been framed by the anxious cares |
and enlightened zeal of the fathers of |
the republic. It's wisdom has been !
tested and successfully proved after a
trial OF century and quarter. 1t |
has weathered the storms of the GEN.
fury which is passed and it should be
trusted for the centuries to come.
These are wise words of a great man,
aoof from politics, speaking not like a
partisan, but like patriot Very diff
ferent from converting the pulpit into
a rostrum for factional political appeals
is its use for the eulogy and defense of
the American Constitution. Cardinal
made good use OF the oppor-
tunity which his jubilee sermon afford
ed when he employed it to buttress the
system of free government which was
established by the founders of the Re-
public-w hich made and preserves us
a nation" with larger liberty for the
individual than is enjoyed in any other
nation under the sun.-From Milwau-
kee Evening Wisconsin.