Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-08-18

truth. But the recall Institutes tri-
bunal where everybody decides and no
body is responsible; where at least
rs per cent. of the membership have
already, as the judges accusers, pre-
judged his case, and from whose arbi-
trary and unjust findings there is no
appeal. In such forum idle gossip
and village scandal stand In the place
or evidence; assertion takes the place
OF sworn testimony; and the foulest lie
goes unchallenged by the touchstone
or cross-examination. The voter will
make up his verdict of vindication I'M
der the Illuminating radiance of the
torchlight procession, in the calm, jul
dicial atmosphere of the brass band
and the drum corps, and upon the log
1cal summing up Of the spellbinder and
paign quartette.
Sir, hope am not given to over
extravagant statement, but l declare
my solemn conviction that the moment
a provision for the recall Of the judges
Of the Supreme court shall be written
into the Federal Constitution, that mo-
ment will mark the beginning of the
downfall of the republic and the de-
struction of the free institutions of
the American people.
EXPERIENCE SAFER THAN EXPER-
IMENT.
Mr. President, in the main and in
the long run changes which come by
the gradual and orderly processes Of
evolution are better and far more en-
during than those brought about by
the spasmodoic methods of revolution.
Experience is safer guide than pre-
diction. The tree is known by its
fruits rather than by it's blossoms, for
sometimes the fairest blooms, like the
fairest promises, produce no fruit at
all The rules Of government that
have been tried, that have been round
ed into shape by years of practical
use, that have stood the strain and
pressure from every direction, are not
to be lightly cast aside in order that
we may put high sounding experiment
in their place. The strength and the
glory of the common law, which is but
the crystallized common sense of the
clear-thinking English race expressed
in definite form, Is that it has been
gradually developed by hundreds OF
slow years of application to the di-
verse and changing needs of society,
until it has become fitted and nodded
and adjusted to all the conditions Of
life. And so, sir, with the great prin-
ciples of our government. Like the
common law, they are growth, not
an invention. Year by year they have
developed in enduring strength, strik-
ing their roots deeper and deeper into
the intimate life of the people. They
have withstood the specious opposi-
ton of the doctrinaire and the theor-
list. as well as the open shock of arm
ed conflict. The preservation, the re-
newal, the Strengthening of the old
faith in their efficiency and virtue ! re-
gard as essential to our continued de-
yelopment along sane and symmetr1-
cal lines.
If the visionary and the dreamer,
the agitator and the demagogue, could
succeed in tearing them from the state
ly edifice of constitutional government,
which, builded by the wise and loving
hands Of the fathers and cemented by
the blood Of the Civil war, has proven
the sure refuge and shelter OF all our
people throughout the years in time
of stress and trial, no man can
foresee what miserable and made
uuate makeshifts might be set In their
place. Mr. President, l look with
grave apprehension upon the present
day tendency to overturn, uproot and
destroy these vital and fundamental
principles of representative govern
ment, under which we have made and
are making the most wonderful moral,
social and material advancement man
kind has ever beheld. But, sir. l
preach no gospel of despair. My sure
confidence rests in the saving grace
of the sober second thought of the
American people, for, in the last analy-
sis, we are practical and conserva-
tive people, sometimes. 1t is true,
dreaming with our heads in the clouds.
but always waking to the realizing
sense that we must walk with our feet
upon the earth. Sometimes the haunt
ing spell of the darkness is upon us,
but in the end the night goes, the
dawn comes, the cock crows, the ghost
vanishes;" we open our eyes and all
the uneasy and terrifying visions dis
appear in the light which fills the east
with the glowing promise Of another
morning.