New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-16
GOVERNMENT BY PRINCIPLES.

impatience with the limitations OF q
written constitution, when the break-
ing down Of fundamental law, Doth
state and national, by the "recail Is
being urged in the name OF progress
such an inquiry into What Is FROG
ress In Politics." as that made by IL
Nicholas Murray Butler before the
Commercial Club of Chicago must
serve to clear many minds. ProoaDl!
few who in their eagerness for speclHc
reforms advocate these radical changes
in the structure of our government
fully realize that they are attacking
what DIR. Butler calls 1.-TWO funua-
mental and farreaching principles u
"move away from which is not prog
"ress but mischievous retrogressloll.
These principles he describes as W
"the limitations of a written constltu-
"tion. and (2) the relation that mas
"hitherto existed in America between
"the individual and the state Or II
thew do realize it they fail to under
stand how vital these principles are 10
true democratic progress.
They are indeed one principle TOT d
written constitution such as ours Il
the establishment of the just balance
botveen the individual and the mass
and the impatience with it is dlrecteu
10 a change in that balance ana 're
suhiection of individuals and mlnorl-
ties TO the unrestrained despousm "
the mass overriding constitutions III
particular cases-nOt changing thelli vi
general principles-as the interest VI
nassion of a momentary majority ma!
dictate. This proposed surrender 10
the mass of what has been so palhluiiS
conquered for individual liberty raises
AN issue concerning which Dr. Buuer
says:
1Ttl is sometimes stated to be one be-
tween those who believe that the peo-
nile are wise enough and strong enoush
to carry on a government OF coLiPle
hensive powers and those VINO peiieVe
that they are not. II is deScrlpeu 40
an issue between those who trust the
people and those who dlstrust thc
people. Nothing could be turner rom
the fact Those who trust the people
ore the ones who believe in individual
liberty who have confidence that a
man can work out his own fortune ana
build his own. character better than
onv me else can work II out or Dullu
a for him Those who distrust the
people are the ones who wish 10 reg
late their every act. to limit their gains
and their accomplishments and 10
force by the strong arm OF government
an artificial and superficial equality as
O s,,bstitute for that equal opportunity
which is liberty There could be no
greater evidence Of hopelessly confused
thinking than to suppose tnat soN
eminent of limited powers is so lHllleu
because the people distrust themselves -
The fact is precisely the opposite 10
trust the people is to leave theIh -, IA
fullest possible possession OF Ihelr III.
ertv and to call upon them TO use that
liberty and its fruits for the pubic
good.
This does not mean that the abuses
OF government and business or the eA-
cesses Of individual opportunity shouiu
NOT no corrected. DIR. Butler would be
the first to urge farreaching reforms TO
moot new Industrial and social condi-
tions Nor does it mean that consttu-
tions must remain fixed: only that we
should adjust them to our changins
needs with loyalty to our fundamental
principles Of self-restrained democ-
racv Recognizing the prevalence OF
tbe complaint that our federal Consri-
tution is too difficult to amend, Dr'
Rutler commends the plan suggested
nv Professor Burgess some twenty
wears ago for easier amendment ms
nlan AS worked out and modified by
professor Munroe Smith provides that
amendments shall be submitted to the
states when passed by a mere majority
of both houses Of Congress in two sue
cessive Congresses. Such amendments
may he submitted to the legislatures,
IN constitutional conventions or to the
peonle. and shall become effective
when ratified by a majority OF the
states according TO whichever method
Is prescribed by Congress, provided the
ratifying states also contain major
ity of the people Of the United States.
Whether It is true that the Constitu-
tion is as inhexible as is often charged
NAV be doubted. Amendments, in
deed. have been few. But that Is
chiefly because the mass Of the people
have seldom seriously wished a
change. A few ardent souls have
often urged changes to which the great
body of the citizens were Indifferent.
Their tendency is Of course to think
there is something hopelessly hide
bound in a system which doesn't in
stantly accomplish what they are sure
is good. But in fact as the progress
of the income tax amendment shows,
when the popular mind Ia once unmis-
takably made up and is sure it wants
something the amendment comes
along. Yet perhaps it does not come
quickly enough. If so, let us make the
process easier, as DR.. Butler says, but
let us still make general laws on gen
eral principles and not substitute for
constitutional rules the despots arbi-
- ..t-.nn iecuad ARMAND I'm narffcll-