Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-20
"Liquefying the Constitution

1t is to be feared that our country
is in a danger of this sort. The
light and sportive manner in which
some among us assume to deal with
our constitutional limitations is pos
itively alarming. In a public adj
dress widely circulated some years
ago, Theodore Roosevelt. while pres
ident of the United States and sworn
to support the constitution, said, I'VE
need through executive action,
through legislative action. and
through judicial Interpretation and
construction of law to increase the
power of the federal government.
Such an utterance fairly construed
was nothing less than an exhortation
to the officials in every branch of the
government to violate furtively the
constitution which they were sworn
to observe faithfully. 1t was an in
citement to commit crime akin to
treason. Since then he has not
ceased to take appeals against the
constitution He is fond of re-enact-
ing the ten commandments in season
and out of season, emphasizing al
ways, Thou shalt not steal; but In
the words quoted he deliberately
counseled that the. rights of the
states should be systematically stol-
en- and given TO the federal govern
menty Evidently this energetic talker
does not conceive that the command
ment against stealing is of universal
application; when it serves his ends
he invokes ii, and when 1T is in his
way he sets it aside without so much
as making reference to it,
Now, the worse form of secession
is the notification of the constitu-
ton: for the Union without the con-
stitution is not the Federal Union,
under which the nation has prosper
ed and grown great; but 1T is an or
ganized tyranny of an INSCRIPTIONS
majority trampling under foot the
sacred rights of minorities. This
proposal to fitch the powers of the
states to centralize the federal gov
eminent is a revolutionary PROPOSE
ton as truly as If it were call to
arms to overthrow the government
Orosco and Zapata in Mexico make
more open show of revolution, but
they ere not engaged in a more real
or dangerous uprising against con-
stitutional government.
If the Federal Government needs
more power to fulfill its proper func-
lions. there is a regular and leSiti-
mate way for amending the consti-
tuition; but 1t does not appertain to
the executive, legislative or judicial
departments, or to all of them COM
bined, to steal slyly the reserved
rights of the state or the people,
to confer such power on the govern
ment at Washington.
But does the Federal Government
need more power than it now has I'M
der the constitution Scarcely. II Is
said that there has been accomplish
ed a perilous concentration of wealth
in the hands OF a few people in our
country during the last twenty-five
years. Suppose we should centralize
the government and that eventually
concentrated wealth should get hold
of the centralized federal power. What
then would become of the rights of the
people? What powerful men would do
then would be simply what might be
desired by them while welding this
Ftupendous combination of financial
and political power. The limit Of
their evil deeds would be the boundary
of their eager desires. OF course they
would prate about ''the dear people,
while destroying our political ip5utu-
lions and enslaving the nation. Did
and tyrant or set of tyrants ever fail
to profess vehemently their devotion
to popular rights and interests? The
worst of the Caesars did that.
Men welding concentrated wealth
and centralized political power would
use millions to corrupt the electorate;