Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-08-03

truth. But the recall institutes a tri.
bunal where everybody decides and no
body Ii 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 Ia no
appeal. In such forum idle gossip
and village scandal stand in the place
of evidence; assertion takes the place
of sworn testimony: and the foulest lie
goes unchallenged by the touchstone
Of cross-examination. The voter Will
make up his verdict Of vindication I'M
der the Illuminating radiance Of the
torchlight procession, In the calm, tu-
dicial atmosphere of the brass band
and the drum corps, and upon the log
zeal summing up of the spellbinder and
paign quartette.
Sir, hope am not given to over
extravagant statement, but declare
my solemn conviction that the moment
q 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 a safer guide than pre-
diction. The tree Is known BY it's
fruits rather than by its blossoms, for
sometimes the fairest blooms. like the
sairest 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 ID 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 d.
verse and changing needs OF society.
until It has become fitted and nodded
and adjusted to all the conditions OF
life. And 80, sir, with the great prin-
cIples Of our government Like the
common law, they are a 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-
tion 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 ola
faith in their eficiency and virtue re-
Rard as essential to our continued de-
yelopment along sane and symmetri-
cal lines.
n the visionary and the dreamer.
the aaitator and the demagogue, could
succesd m tearing them from the state
10 eSifce of constitutional government.
which. builded by the wise ana loving
hands OF the fathers and cemented oy
the blood Of the Civil war. has proven
the sure refuge and shelter OF az our
people throughout the years IN ums
AZ stress and trial. no man can
foraeea what miserable and made
auste makeshifts might be set In their
Mace. Mr.. President, look WITH
srave apprehension upon the present
day tendency to overturn. uproot ano
destroy these vital and fundamental
nrinciples Of representative govern
ment under which we have made and
are making the most wonderful moral
social and material advancement man
lind has ever beheld But sir. I
preach no gospel OF despair Ny sure
confidence rests 10 the saving graco
al the sober second thought Of the
American people. for. IN the last anaiy-
~. We are a practical and a conserve
ave people. sometimes Il h true.
dreaming with our heads IN the clondA
but always waxing to the realizing
sense that We must walk with our feet
upon the earth. Sometimes the haunt
ing opeil Of the darkness ID up0n %.
81 II he end the night eocE -lha
dawn comes, The cock crova ne ghost
rrnl1heH;- We ope1 our eyes and ell
M unsaay and terrlfYing visions dis.
aerr1r n ~ light u1ich 1ill lha n1al
~ ne rlouirr promise q anci11E