The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-04
CARDINAL GIBBONS, WISE ADVICE

CARDINAL GlBBONS' WISE ADVICE
In the course of jubilee sermon
preached last Sunday Cardinal Glib
bons referred to political questions in
this country and expressed himself
with the wisdom becoming one Of
the great prelates of the church and
one of the recognized leaders in all
fields of thought and endeavor. He
urged upon all good citizens the duty
of taking part in political and econom-
ic discussion with view to the adj
vancement of the general good
In the course OF his sermon he re.
ferred to three prominent questions,
namely the recall of judges the di-
rect election of United States senators
and the submission Of laws to the peo-
pie at popular elections under what
is called the initiative and referendum.
The cardinal did not look with favor
on any Of these propositions. He
| did not question the ability, the sim
cerity or the patriotism of those adj
vocating these changes, but he look
ed upon them as fads evolved in the
heat of political thought, and, some
times. growing out of the desire OF
overzealous service.
On the subject of direct elections
for senators, the cardinal said that it
| involved a distrust of legislatures, but
| legislatures are apt to be as good as
| the people who elect them. He said,
in substance:
IF you cannot trust the members
of the legislature, how can you trust
the constituents from whom they
spring? If you cannot confide In our
legislatures you cannot confide In hui
man government, nor in human
nature itself. If few of our legisla-
lures have been found guilty of brib-
cry, 1t is most unjust to involve all
the others in their condemnation.
have sufficient confidence in the NOR
al integrity of our legislatures to be
convinced that the great majority of
| them have never bent the knee to
| Mammon."
The power to annul acts Of the leg
| islature, submitted at popular cleo
lions, he feared would result in prac-
teal mob law, since the people have
not the inclination nor the ability to
study carefully the provisions OF the
laws. The votes on such questions
would be rendered, he feared, on pref
udices aroused by the politicians.
The recall of the judges he consid-
| cred ian insult to the dignity, indie
| pendence, and the self respect of our
judiciary He thought that an oc-
casional corrupt Judge was far less
of menace to our institutions than
a whole Judiciary subservient to pub
/ lie caprice and rendering decisions to
meet popular approval merely.
In concluding he paid fine tribute
to the constitution of the United
States:
"The constitution Of the United
States is the palladium of our liber-
ties and a landmark in our march OF
progress. That instrument has been
framed by the anxious cares and en-
lightened zeal by the fathers of the
republic. It's wisdom has been tested
and successfully proved after trial
of century and quarter. 1t has
weathered the storms Of the century
which is passed and 1t should be
trusted for the centuries to come"
The words of the cardinal are time
lv and true and deserving of wide con-
sideration. He is also to be unde-
servedly commended for his counsel
that every man who runs about
waving a new idea" is not a man
who can be safely trusted Better
bear the few ills that we have under
established customs than to fly to new
ones under economic experiments.