New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-10
Cheers Greet Chairman S
Speech in Which He
Tells Of Presidents
Achievements.
Achievements.


| ray Butler, president Of Columbia Uni
versity. in his speech to-day as tempo
rary chairman OF the Republican con-
vention discussed The supreme Issue
OF 1912" His words were taken as the
KEYNOTE OF the national campaign, and
the delegates frequently cheered the
telling points of his address.
/ DR.. Butler was escorted 10 the
speakers stand by Ex-Governor Horace
( White and Timothy Woodruff.
Or. Butler devoted himself about
equally to a bitter attack on the Roose-
| welt doctrines. which he characterize I
practically rs socialism and to a con-
structive argument on Republican cam
paign proposals. His address was re-
ceived, on the whole, quietly, although
he received liberal applause for his
many striking phrases. It was notice
able, however, that this applause was
| spontaneous only when he made mention
of President Taft's name
| In his spe ,ch Or. Butler said, in part:
What criticism is made of the Republican
administration OF the nation during the
lest sixteen years? There Is. first, the
honest and fair criticism OF our opponents
from whom we differ in many matters or
fundamental political policy. This criticism
Is natural and necessary incident In the
conduct OF republican form OF govern
ment Second, there is criticism from an
element which. however numerous, Is Ger
trirly in full possession of its powers OF
speech, and which IS found in part within
the ranks Of our own party and IN part
within the ranks Of the Democratic party.
II includes the whole Of the Socialist party
as well as some Of those whose mental
condition is one OF such blissfu elevation
that they cannot find any political asso-
citation quite satisfactory TO them.
These critics tell us that We are behind
the times, that are, in the significant
language Of the gaming table, stand-pat-
tiers, that we have lost touch with the
march OF progress, that we are out OF sym
pathy with the satisfaction OF the deepest
human needs and with the alienation or
human suffering. that We put property
rights above human rights: and that some
means violent II possible. peaceable II nee
cssary-must he found 10 free the govern
ment from our paralyzing control
To one who knows the political history
OF the United States these charges seem
strange. indeed One wonders whether he
Is really listening 70 the speech OF sane
men or 20 the incoherent rawlings Of Bed
lam.
The answer comes back that our whole
form Of government Is askcv: that tho Re-
fault. that all departments OF the govern
mtnt are controlled by special and material
interests and that the people. whose gov
eminent Il IS. have no longer any voice IN
its management
II these statements were made q the
government of Russia IN the seventeenth
century or n the government of China IN
der the Manchu kings or Of the government
OF an uureformed Turkey. thAv would
neither surprise nor alarm us But they
arc made 81 the government OF tho United
States
These statements are so prcposter-
Gus, so contrary 20 recorded and demon
strated fact and iprinsiesly so absurd,
that unless we were constantly hearlna
and reading them We might have dim
Guilty IN per,uedinu ourselves that they
are really made.
Despot VIII Get incompetent People.
These extraordinary statements appear
70 mean. 80 far a. they mean anything m
tellCible. either that the American peopl'
are incompetent for self government or
that they have created governmental ma
cninerv which. while IN form under popu
lar control. is really managed y prlNh'"
and special interests Examine for mo
n1ent these alternatives II the American
people are incompetent for self government 1
then II can make little difference what PRO
srsmne We Propose or what candidates We
ADOPT sooner or latAr p rAonl' incoWl1-
tent for self government VIII pass under
the noel of n dcspot where they belong.
II appears, IN further inquiry. that what
IL reall, meant is that representative GOV
eminent and representative institutions ar"
failure end that the, must be swept
aside % make way for a direct democracy.
In particular It appears that the most
characteristic and bcnehce1t OF Amer
can institutions. tho independent Judi
cisry charged Nth the Interpretation 81
the iaW and with the safeguarding OF
constitutional limitations, is now regard
ed as = harmful check upon the peoples
viii ard IS an obstacle 20 their free and
progressive social and political Develop
n1snt.
~ this vehement denunciation 81 our
government and Of our courts IS one hall
true, then the Republican party should
1ct down on It's knees snd apologize 10
the people OF this country Tor having
three times defeated so fsrsiahted man
as Mr.. Bryan for the Presidency OF the
United States,
What these revolutionary elements 81 the
population most dislike IS the rule Of law. !
Their conception Of government - sort
of glorided lvnchine. before which me
achievements 81 Sprngneld, III or a.
Ccatesvine Penn would fade into insig /
n'fcarce ANY judioial otfcer who. IN
obedience 20 MS oath. ventures 10 declare :
the law 10 hn something winch - ont OF {
agreement with their present day plepos- /
becomes a tyrant who should be dashed /
frc m his place on the bench by the pro- I
foundv wicked instrumcntality OF the re /
call Of Judges
II Is forgotten apparently, that Judge
declares tn Law, bur does not make II, and !
that, IN declaring the law he IS executing /
the peoples highest and most mature VIII. /
In so doing he Sc not imposing ANYTHING /
upon the people save what they have i'm. !
POSED upon themselves as the necessary and |,
we'll justified restraints upon appetite ana
passion.
Must Be Government of Laws.
The man who would destroy the inde !
pendent judiciary Because he disIikes or |
differs from some specific judicial find |
ina is as mad as q man who would set
his house on fire in order TO improve its |
ventilation.
With ell this the Republican party |
must be everastinglY at war. We are
not yet ready to substitute government 7
By men of presumably good intentions
for government by law. This contest /
within the party and this Presidential T.
election may decide whether our govern |
ment is 10 be republican or Cossaok.
f3ut. IL is said. the Constitution was made !
g., t,e ef~btaeptb century nv, men W a lived