Weekly journal-miner., 1911-03-01


 courts of justice. And, in snort,
 let it become the political reiig- ion of the nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and ! the poor, the grave and the gay of all sexes and tongue and cOlOrs and conditions, sacrifice
 uneeasingly upon its altars''
 If respect for law and order, for established authority, for the life and precepts of Washington, Jeffer- son and Lincoln constitute conserva- tism, then am conservative. l use the word conservative" rot in the sense of blind adherence to .x- isting conditions, but as meaning a careful consideration of new things and new measures before adopting them, for the purpose of determining whether existing conditions will be improved or impaired by the change. One of the lessons that may be learn- ed from study of Washington life and character, Is that changes in the forms and theories of government should only be made after careful, dispassionate consideration and ma ture reflection. Change does not necessarily mean improvement. No man who fails to inform himself re- garding the characteristics and gen. eral nature of the government under which he lives, to the extent of his opportunity, is fit to exercise the right of suffrage, and to the end that ln- creased opportunity may exist, night schools should be established where those, otherwise without adequate op- portunity, might, without cost. be in- strueted by teachers specially train ed in the science of government.
 The question of whether the exist ing form of government shall be- maintained or the direct form sub stituted, and the advisability of the recall as applied to the judiciary, are too broad in their scope as affecting the perpetuity of our government and the welfare of the nation, to be legitimate subjects of consideration from the standpoint of political par tisanship, and their consideration should be approached only with our hearts and minds filled with a sin cere desire for the welfare of the nation. Upon the latter question. I can best express my views by quot ing from an address of Attorrey General Wickersham recently deliver ed in New York upon the occasion ! of a dinner in honor of MT. Justice ! Hughes:
 "The keen interest whiel the
 profession takes in the law sc-
 cures many acute and competent critics of the interpretation put
 on the law by the judges. Suea
 
 opinion judges are sensitive.
 "There is much current advo-
 eaey of a change in our institu-
 tions. But no radical change
 iE the government has ever been
 made in the face of the opposi-
 tion of a considerable majority
 of the American bar"
 "The greatest obstacle in the
 way of a sudden accomplish
 ment of purely democratic
 government is undoubtedly the
 bar. The greatest protection of
 the individual from the tyranny of the crowd is the bench.
 Protected from the moment
 ary rage of disappointed social
 reformers by life tenure in of
 flee, the Federal judiciary is the
 most conservative power in our
 government.
 'Let us uncover and punish all
 corruption in office. remedy all abuses of power and mould our
 own laws to protect the op-
 pressed and downtrodden.
 "But let us ponder long and
 deeply before we lay our hands
 upon that vital principle of self
 government, a fearless and inde-
 pendent judiciary.
 And, upon the same occasion, MT. | Justice Hughes, speaking of the Su- preme Court of the United States, said:
 ct is purely a peoples tri-
 bunal, for its function is to safe
 guard the fundamental rights ex- pressed in the peoples Constitu-
 tion. And I assure you that in conference the judges of the Su- preme Court exhibit a eandor, eomprehensiveness, sincerity and
 complete devotion to their task that I am sure would be most
 gratifying to the entire people
 of the Union could they know
 more intimately what actually takes place" The spirit described as aetuating the Supreme Court of the United States in the discharge of it's duties, believe equally aetuates the mem- bers of every Appellate Court in the land. I have faith that adequate | remedies will be found for the cure of our national ills, and that such remedies will be devised by those | who from their habits and training | are best equipped for the work, the leaders of the American bar. And | when these remedies shall have re- ceived the sanction of legislative en- i actment, l believe the couIts of the 1 land will vie with one auother in giving to such enactments such con struction as snail best effectuate their beneficent purpose.
 Colonel Tillson, the new command CT at Whipple, should have been an orator instead of a soldier. No more clever address has been heard before l h., al L,I