The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-15
Initiative, Referendum and Recall

initiative and referendum and still be
able to recognize the essential iden-
'tity OF their government They might
lessen or destroy the responsibility
and dignity of their legislators and
still preserve the form or outer shell
of representative government But
the remedy labeled the recall is pois-
onous. AS present by the most var
ious and redundantly obvious medi-
cine man of them all, it is revolutions
airy, and had almost used an uglier
word for 1t would demolish every Sc
curity of our peace and liberty for
which written constitutions are
ordained. Theodore Roosevelt, to the
contrary notwithstanding, constitu-
tion is a straight jacket. needed when
the people go mad. Used to our sal
vation fortyfour years ago when the
people thought they willed the con-
viction of Andrew johnson.
| A man Of different temperament. a
statesman hitherto deemed qualified
above all others, if we except the
great Chief Justice John Marshall, to
comprehend the science of govern
ment and to expound the constitu-
| ton, said sixty-four years ago, not in
| his haste Zone principle is that the
people often limit their government,
another that they often limit them
selves" "They secure them
selves against sudden changes By
mere majorities The fifth article OF
the constitution of the United States
is a clear proof OF this Which makes
necessary the concurrence of both
houses Of congress to propose amend
ments, and their subsequent ratifica-
ton by three-fourths of the states for
their adoption.
4 The American mode of government
does not draw any power from tumult-
uous assemblages. If anything is es-
tablished in that way it is deception"
1T has been said that the people
can get together, call themselves SO
many thousands and establish what
i government they please. But others
have the same right. We have then a
stormy South American liberty sup
4 ported by arms today and crushed by
] arms tomorrow. One theory places a
beautiful face on liberty producing no
4 tumult, when it is necessary to ascer-
tain the will OF the people the legis-
lature must provide the means of as
pertaining It," THE constitution of
4 the United States was established in
+, this way
The constitution of the United
States. the constitution of every state
provides for its own final interpreta-
ton by court of last resort.
MIR. Roosevelt would have the peo-
! pie by vote determine whether any
decision of supreme court on a con.
stitutional question is to be sustained
) Every constitution provides for its
own amendment in deliberate and
!, orderly way
Mr.. Roosevelt would nullify such
constitutional provision for amend
ment; at the same time and by tho
same stroke he would nullify in any
given case an unpopular interpret
tion of constitution by vote of the
people.
& OF course he says Sin an extreme
case which means nothing as the
same people must pass upon the Tex
tremity.''
II we hold to the ancient principle
that the main object of a constitution
$ is to limit the people against them
: selves: to protect the minority against
the majority, can we without anxiety
I reflect upon such doctrines of re
/ form in American constitutional gov
: eminent illuminated by one seeking
9 the approval of the people, and fol
:, the purpose of attaching them to his
personal cause.
OF course MIR. Roosevelt must admit
I that the people of the United State.
have, and ought to have the same
: sovereign power Of their nationa
$ constitution that the people OF New
York or Ohio or Iowa have over thei
s respective state constitutions. So W.
o might be puzzled BY his prcviso a
e Columbus, February 81, Subject onl.