The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-02
Progressing Backward.

The best way of testing the doc
trines of Mr. Rooseve1t's Columbus ad-
constitution, which their acceptance
and application would destroy. The
simplest, wisest staten ent, of the pur-
poses and functions of a constitution
is contained in the preamble to that
of our republic.
I'VE, the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domes-
tic tranquility, provide for the COM
mon defense, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings of lib
erty to ourselves and our posterity,
do 6rdain and. establish this consti-
tuition for the United States of Amer
lea"
The principles here so plainly and
briefly stated are essentially those of
every state constitution. One thing
stands out from them. The trainers of
the constitution thought more of duties
than of rights or privileges.
They wrought charter of self-goV-
eminent. First, they. sought more
perfect union among jealous, conten-
tious, restless communities, whose
quarrels with each other and reckless
ness of common obligations mad
brought them to the verge of civic
chaos. Then they sought to establish
justice, which was at the mercy of the
passion and the greed of these COM
munities. Then they sought to insure
domestic tranquility in place of the
disorder and confusion that prevailed.
Then they sought to knead the states
into an organized union equal to the
task of common defense. Finally
they sought to promote the general
welfare by forging vital chain OF
common allegiance between all the
citizens of all the states. And thus
they aspired to secure the blessings of
liberty, menaced as they We're by weak
state governments and by the laWless-
ness which weak governments pro
duce, to themselves and their poster
ity. These were the high aims of the
trainers of the constitution, acting I'M
der commission from their state legis-
latures in the name and by the author
ity of the people. subject to ratl1ca-
ton by the people, also through their
legislatures. Thus the constitution
was a striking and splendid example
of representative democracy acting
upon a lofty plane for purposes or
great and lasting importance
The trainers of the constitution with
the full assent and authority of the
plopIe meant that the Interpretation
of the constitution should not be left
to the hayward disposition OF mo-
mentary majorities Influenced by pass
ing waves of excitem ent and, possibly,
passion or prejudice. Because they
meant this they established the federal
Judiciary They knew the need of it,
the sore and urgent need, arising
from the terrible conditions which
forced the adoption of the constltu-
ton. How completely they expressed
the conviction of the people is shown
bv the fact that every one of the thir-
ty-five states that have since entered
the union has made like provision for
the Interpretation of it's constitution:
Now it is proposed to change all
this A former president of the Unit
ed States, aspiring to further honors,
has invented new device for consti-
tution1 Interpretation. For the mo-
ment he confines it to the states, but
t. 1ral Iv- en-
for the nation. He would submit all
unpopular decisions as to cases arising
under the constitution for revision at
a general or special election. We shall
not argue in detail such a wild scheme.
To state it is to invite for it amazed
contempt We suggest only one point:
He calls this crazy plan progressive"
In reality it is a leap backward to-
ward chaos and black night-New
York Times.