Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-11-22
Ilbe Democrat.
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"WEDNESDAY. NOV. e, 1911.

WEDNESDAY ] !, !, 3. NOV. I, q, 1911.
THE MEASURE OF THE PEOPLE.
Under the above caption. Editor
Murphy q the Telegraph Herald, con-
3tinnes to argue in favor Of the recall
of judges.
MI. Murphy asserts THAT those
who oppose the recall Of Judges con-
less . lack Sof faith in the people;
and. II that assertion is based upon
either, reason o. Fact, Mr.. Murphy
lis correct otherwise he is II error.
Never since he has attained the
age q reason has the writer, doubted
the ability Of the people Of this
country to wisely govern themselves,
and he has no quarrel with his
friend Murphy or anyone else on
that subject
The people Of this country never
\ have. do not now and we trust new
er will believe in the unqualified
rule Of a mere majority. They have
{ wisely adopted con3t ions. which
mere ma1orities cannot change. and
which place limitations upon the
rule Of mere ma GNies.
Those who oppose the judicial re
call contend, that the advocates OF
the measure are endeavoring to give
4 mere maj rifles the power to under
mine and weaken institutional gov
ernment. not in one particular, but
an along the Tine. They contend,
sthaa the American people; after ma
ture consideration and FULL Discus.
sion. viii reject the proposed iano-
vation with practical unaminity.
The space used by Mr.. Murphy in
criticsing foreign constitutions has
little to do with the merits OF the
question under consid euation. We are
not pleading Tor the Safeguarding q
esl
,cosnstt utions other than those of
our own country.
The constkatton g an American .a,, g: : y
state Is the supreme, organized and
written WI of the people, and not
{ a. evil ence e any lack of faith In
the people BY an insp cotton and
examination e an the comet tutionne
o6 our country. they VIII be found
70 ne nothing more than 80 many re,
. strictions a. Limitations upon the
Departments OF the government and
the people. An Overwhelming ma
a jority oe the people q this country
s are attached to the principles con-
tanned in our constitutions. and re-
gard them 40 the foundation Of our
national greatness, the fundamental
rules OF justice, and the guardians
OF individual liberty and opportu-
nifty While that Is true. 1t is equally
\ true that we have in our body poll
I tic a certain element which resents
nearly every constitutional restraint
4 upon the exercise Of individual de
sirea That element rs not alone op
posed to the principles Of our con-
stitution, which places restrictions
upon the desires OF mere ma5orities.
but also opposed to the fundamentals
upon which every Christian religion
is based.
The Great Law Giver, who wrote
the Ten Commandments upon table
~ y i
Of stone, knew that human nature
was fallible, was weak. was in need
Of certain fixed restraints and ruling
principles.
And when the American people
adopted their constitut ions, which
safeguard the essential rights of
everyone from the attacks of mere
majorities, they simply followed tn
precedent set them by the Divine
Ruler when He inveighed agains
killing, and stealing. bearing false
witness and the other offences mann
ed in the Ten Commandments.
MG. Murphy makes an eloquent
and catchy argument against con-
stitutional limitations, as interpreted
! by the counts. and in favor Of the
unrestricted rule OF the people. Here
is one Of his best paragraphs:
1T is indeed wise and necessary
to order that strict lines shall mark
where the rights OF one leave off
and the liberties Ct another begin.
There is no quarrel with the Consti-
tuition per Sc. The quarrel is with
those who would make the Constitu-
ton a dead hand upon the rights of
huma nifty and hold back the progress
of democracy by giving to the courts
the divinity ct kings and by denying
in the ploddtng masses-'God's COM
mon people the Intelligence, I'M
selfishness and virtue esssntial to
the administration OF equal justice