The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-03-22
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able as far and only so far as they &C
complish that elaboration and that j.
is warped and unworthy and improp
err construction of our form of gov
eminent to see in 1t only means OF
thwarting the popular will and of pre-
venting justice. Mr.. Taft says that
"every class" should have 'voice" in
the government. That seems to be Il
very serious misconception of the
| American political situation. The real
trouble with us Is that some classes
! have had too much voice. One of the
most important OF all the lessons to be
| taught and 20 be learned Is that man
class, but merely as n good citizen
whose prime interests are the same rs
those of all other good citizens.
Taft's Disbelief In tho People"
Mr.. Taft again and again, In quota
lions | have given and elsewhere
through his speech, expresses his dis
belief in the people when they vote at
the polls. In one sentence he says that
the proposition gives powerful effect
to the momentary impulse OF major
ity of an electorate and prepares the
way for the possible exercise OF the
grossest tyranny" Elsewhere he
speaks Of the "feverish uncertainty"
and unstable determination" OF laws
by Temporary and changing MAORI
ties" and again he says that the sys-
TEN propose would result In suspen-
sion or application Of constitutional
guarantees according to popular
whim," which would destroy "all pos
sible consistency" in constitutional in
depreciation. I should much like TO
know the exact distinction that is to
be made between what Mr.. Taft calls
"the fitful impulse OF n temporary ma
jority" when applied to n question such
as that raise and any other question
Remember that under my proposal to
review rule Of decision by popular
vote. amending or constituting to that
extent the constitution, would certainly
| take mt least two years from the time
| of the election Of the legislature which
| passed the get. Now only four months
election Of man as president, to ill
for four years the most important of
flee In the land. In one Of Mr.. Taft's
| speeches he speaks Of "the voice OF
the people as coming next to the voice
of God" Apparently, then, the decision
of the people about the presidency, aft
er four months deIiberation, Is to be
treated as next to the voice Of God"
but If after two years Of sober thought
they decide that women and children
shall be protected In industry, or men
protected from excessive hours Of labor
under unhygenic conditions, or wage
workers compensated when they lose
life or limb in the service Of others,
then their decision forthwith becomes
a "whlm" and "feverish" and "unsta-
BILE" and an exercise Of "the grossest
tyranny" and the laying Of the ak to
the foot Of the tree OF freedom" That
is the old, old doctrine which has been
acted upon for thousands OF years
abroad and which here in America has
been acted upon sometimes openly,
sometimes secretly, for forty years by
many men In public and In private
life, and / am sorry to say by many
judges; a doctrine which has in fact
tended to create bulwark for privi-
lege, bulwark unJustly protecting
special interests against the rights of
the people as a whole. This doctrine
is to me dreadful doctrine, for its eff
feet IS, and can only be, to make the
courts the shield Of privilege against
popular rights. Naturally, every up
holder and beneficiary Of crooked priv
ilege loudly applauds the doctrine 1t
is behind the shield Of that doctrine