Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-10
Cardinal Principles Involved,

Cardinal Principles Involved.
To the Editor OF the Evening Star:
There are three fundamental princi-
pies in our American government
which may be to the citizen what the
North star is to the mariner. They are:
First-Law Is supreme.
second-Representative bodies are
free.
Third-The executive must have the
warrant of law for everything which he
does.
BY the first OF these principles 1t fol-
lows that law must be respected and
loyalty obeyed. There must be no in
fringement. no evasion. There will. Of
course, be unwise laws, but there Is
legal provision for their annulment
There will be unconstitutional laws, but
there are established courts TO declare
them void.
The peril of breaking or evading law
lies not IN the enormity of any n act,
but in the fact that one infringement
becomes precedent for another. We
have had on illustration of this In con-
nection with our primary vote for
United States senator. No sooner was
objection made to this movement on the
ground that II was unconstitutional
than we were told there was precedent
for It in the present method Of electing
the President by popular vote. But is
that a Justification? Is 1t not rather a
fearful warning that should arouse
every lover of his country to stay the
progress of hat evil while 1t 10 yet
possible to stay it7 II we may nuilify
one part OF the constitution, we may
tarily assail the integrity of that palla-
dunn of our liberties, be assured there
will not be wanting those who, coming
after us, will follow our example. And
when once the sacredness of that docu-
ment is lost, the fate of our liberties is
sealed. We cannot too often recall, nor
too carefully weigh these words of
Washington:
IF, In the opinion of the people, the
distribution or modification of the o n
PO"SAC ~ - may PoA
wrong, let 1t be corrected by an amend
ment in the way which the constitution
~designates. But let there be no change
by usurpation, for though in one in
stance 1t may be the instrument Of good
it is thu customary weapon by which
free governments are destroyed"
Legislators are not officials TO execute
the will Of the people. They are per-
sons to whom for a limited time the
people have delegated their power OF
action. They stand in the place of the
people to do that which the people could
not do for themselves. Wise laws dc
not come to men by inspiration. They
are the results OF calm study and DELHI
GRAFTON. The duty Of Legislators ia
therefore to deliberate, devise and enac
such laws as In their judgment will best
protect and promote the interests of the
people. To do this they must be free.
Many persons appear to think that
the people may instruct their repre-
~sentatives N that the representatives
are bound to vote as their constituency
DEGREES. But this idea has no consti-
tutional support. In most cases II
would be utterly impractical and In
any matter affecting the general gov
eminent would be absolutely uncon-
stitutional. Take, for example. the
choice of a United States senator. The
Constitution says: THE Senate of the
United States shall be composed of two
senators from each State, chose by
the Legislature thereof" The people
of the State are not recognized here
The senator must be chosen by the Leg
islature. and without a tree vote BY
that body the State is not entitled te
a representative in the Senate of the
United States.
We have today In New Jersey a case
in point. AT a primary ballot under Q
permissive law some $4,000 voters ex-
pressed a wish TO have Mr.. MARITIME