Evening star., 1912-09-21
LODGE OPENS FIGHT
Continued from First Page)
ople. but in every case by the hope Of

people; but in every case by the hope Of
votes
Senator Lodge asserted that the ac,
tions of the democratic legislators mao
crippled the State Department to ehect
a saving of $4,000: that they selected
this year, when Mexico is in a ferment
Of revolution, to cut off five cavalry
regiments from the army; that their
economy had caused this country TO
drop from second to third place among
the navies of the world with the Panama
canal on the point of being opened, and
that their civil service legislation
threatened the disorganization Of the
service.
by President Taft, were criticised by
Senator Lodge. who continued:
Recall of Judges and Decisions.
"But during the last few years another
question, or rather series Of questions,
have arisen, which far transcend all 9TH
ers. because they involve the fundamental
principles upon which our government
and our institutions rest. These ques-
tions have been raised and violent con-
stitutional changes have been ag1tated
and advocated by men OF all parties. Ihls
agitation has divided opinion in the two
great parties, whether the division has
been openly declared or not. These ques-
tions are far graver than any possible
question of economics or administration.
If the proposed constitutional changes
should be carried into effect they would
completely revolutionize our system and
theory Of government as we have known
it since the beginning of our history.
"It is now seriously proposed to
make the courts dependent upon the
will Of majority of the voters at any
given moment majority which may
be f1eeting, temporary or accidental.
The courts of the United States were
made independent by giving to those
who sit upon the bench tenure during
good behavior, and an independent
| judiciary has been, as whole, the
great bulwark Of human liberty. II
you make your courts subservient to
the will Of a majority of the voters at
independent than when they were sub
seryient to the will Of the king. and
the vital protection of our individual
rights and liberties vanishes.
Progress Credited to Republicans.
"All the progress that has been made
in this country in fifty years has been
made by the republican party. The re-
publican party came into being for the
| purpose of riddins the land of human
slavery. To the republican party Is due the
financial credit of the country, for 1t is
the republican party which 1ouGht ior the
payment of the debts and which sus-
tained the gold standard. In recent
years, with the new questions that have
arisen to what party do We owe the
| Sherman act the interstate commerce
commission the law stopping rebates.
the pure food law and every other meas
ure which has marked an advance in gov
| ernment and progress, in the protection
of the rights of the people? They are all
alike due to the republican party-to re-
publican Presidents and republican Con-
crosses. The republican party has al
| ways been the party Of sane and rational
| progress under the Constitution. 1t is SO
today. A party can profit by its victo-
ries and endure defeats If it is true to Its
| principles, but when principles are aban-
doned, victories are worthless and de.
feats are ruin. Parties come and go, but
principles survive"