The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-07-27

mhtttT Vi IdCt lkS amendment uOes
not involve any greater difficulties
than were intended or than would
seem reasonably necessary or thar
as II seems to me, would be provided
II we were now framing a new ma
tional Constitution. The prescribed
machinery of a vote by two-tbirds OF
both Houses Of Congress and ratifica
ton by three-fourths of the States
simply compels deliberation and pre-.
vents hasty and inconsiderate action.
If the people of the country really
desire a particular amendment, 1t
ought to be readily obtainable within
two years.
The first 10 amendments to the
Constitution of the United States
were proposed by Congress in Sep
TENDER, 1889, and were adopted in
those days of slow travel and difficult
communication by eight States with.
10 six months and by the requisite
three-fourths within two years The
twelfth amendment, proposed in 1903
was ratified In nine month";. The
thirteenth amendment, proposed by
Congress in 1865, was RATIFIED ny the
legislatures of 81 cut of the then SO
states within 10 months; and the fif.
teenth amendment, the latest, pro-.
posed in February, 1869, was ratified
by 20 out of the 81 states within one
year. The delay In the adoption of
the proposed sixteenth amendment
authorizing congress to levy an in.
come tax is due wholly to the fact
that there is serious difference of
opinion as to whether or not the
states should confer this power, al
though the advocates OF the amend
ment protested the existence of al
universal desire on the part of the
people for such an amendment of the
Constitution.
The most insidious suggestion that
can possibly be made to the people
at large is that there is great or in.
surmountable difficulty in securing
amendments to our constitutions, just
as misleading and poisonous as it is
for them 20 be told that their desires
are being thwarted by the judiciary
and that they must accomplish re.
forms either by coercing the courts
or by undermining the foundations of
their constitutions. The future con-
tentment of the people requires that
they shall feel that our governments
state and federal are their govern
ments; that they themselves are III
timately the sovereign power, and
thet they are at liberty to amenl
their organic law from time to time
as their mature and deliberate judg-
ment shall deem necessary or 1esir-
able All that We conservatives can
ASK or do ask is that the people snGl
act O. lberately and under ctrcum-
stances calculated to afford time aud
opportunity for full explanation and
a full understanding of the scope of
the proposed changes, so that errors
may be discovered and exposed and
so that theorizing, sentimentalism,
clamor, and prejudice may exhaust
themselves and the sober second
thought of every part of the country
be asserted. If, then, it be determin-
ed to amend our constitutions event
to the extent of placing our liSns,l
our liberties, and our property at the
discretion and mercy of
our legislators, the will OF the SOW
ereign people will have to be obeyed
Let us hope and pray, however, that
when amendments are adopted they
will be conservative and wise, that
the rights of the individual as against
the majority will not be heedlessly
sacrificed for the temporary advan-
tage of one class over another and
that 1t will be appreciated that indi-
vidual liberty is the vital concern Of
every man, rich or poor, and is ss-
sential to the perpetuation OF the IN.
situations which We cherish as pecu-
liarly and pre-eminently American.
Let us especi lily try 20 avoid permit.
ting any class - make M of consti |
tut'cnal amen lmen.B Or Of statutory
'nactments for its Own special pur
poses. Let us strive to ascertain the
real motive OF tho'e who are fomcni
ing u.scord or uTg!r. rel ;...'ics for nj.
legged social evils. Let us, while
meeting in full sympathy, generosity.
and charity the legitimate demands
OF the laboring classes and the poor
and humble, nevertheless keep our
eyes open to prevent any such vicious
results as would arise from constltu.
tional or statutory provisions framed
nominally In the interest of labor