The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-05-28

they worked out, nothing can be clear
er than that its trainers were trying
with all their strength to erect a gov
ernment which should be safe in the
hands of the average man. They dis
tributed governmental powers. The.
/ provided checks and balances. They
gave the executive a veto over the
acts Of the legislature, except when
the law-making branch could muster a
two.thirds majority They divided the
national Legislature into two houses,
who must concur in all measures to
make them effective. They made it
possible TO impeach judges and bring
them to the bar of congress; but the
charges must be formulated in one
house, and the cause tried in the other.
They gave the senate power to con-
firm or reject executive appointments
and made 1t also sharer in the treaty
making power one Of the most impor-
tant of executive prerogatiyes.
All this was a systematic, carefully
considered attempt to provide a gov
ernment dependent for its successful
operation not on the wisdom Of sages,
the virtue of saints or the might of
supermen, but simply on the good
faith aud reasonable diligence of the
average man All those elaborate
checks and balances show that the
fathers realized the weaknesses Of hui
man nature and the inevitable sur
prises attending the disclosure of the
faults of individuals, and strove to set
up a government that might continue
to minister liberty and equal oppor-
tunity, no matter where in its fabric |
might intoxicate, cupidity
corrupt or folly render insane
Every dispassionate reader of Amer |
ican history must admit that the sue
cessful operation of the government |
through long periods has depended up |
on the fact that it is workable without |
ability The Office of |
president. for example, shows no out
figure between Jackson and |
save only Abraham Lin |
coin; the national life broadened and |
deepened through those years when |
the White House was occupied not by
political geniuses. but simply by patri-
otto Americans fairly representative
Of the best among their fellows.
The fathers of the nation realized
that the quality in government which
they sought could not be obtained
without paying its price They, there
fore, We're content to make govern
ment complex where it might have
been left simple. and difficult and cum
brous whore it might have been easy,
had the exceptional man been always |
But knowing men, they
knew how spariug nature is of genius.
Government of the people by the peo-
pie and for the people must be adapt
ed to work by taking men as they ran.
This was especially evident In the
time of Washington and Jefferson.
Then if ever, the forms of government
might have been disregarded by lead
ars of transcendent ability, proven be-
yond doubt, and above all suspicion
)f self-seeking or unworthy ambition. |
Yet no president in the long line has
observed more scrupulously limita-
ions which we must admit to be gall
ug at times to a man of genius and
vision than did the father of his coun-
.ry and the author of the declaration
of independence. They remembered
hat popular government must be shap-
ID in view Of average conditions.
Il went and took it, and let congress
ak" 1T happens at this time that
typfy and embody the great cause
which can only be furthered by sup
porting me-" Nothing more complete
y foreign to the real and necessary
genius of our government can be con.
'eiyed than these utterances of Theo-
lore Roosevelt Nothing further from
he spirit Of Washington and Of Jeffer-
son can be imagined The fathers
trusted In the machinery of govern
ment They had saith in fabric,
given average ability and ordinary
idelity and patriotism, and they pro
1ided for the inevitable failure of par
Iicular parts OF the mechanism by
checks and balances. In this faith this
republic has endured well into its sec
1nd century Shall we cast it aside
and permit the impatient hand of a
Man Of Destiny to work what ruin 1t
viii upon our governmental inheri-
Louis Republic