El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-21

stitution Of each state, and the consti-
tuition Of the nation. have been adopt
ed and all amendments thereto have
been adopted, by the fitful impulse OF
a temporary majority which founded
and another fitful impulse which per-
petuated, this nation
Position is Clean.
'AIr. Tafts position is perfectly clear.
It is that we have IN this country
special class of persons wiser than
the people, who are above the people,
who cannot be reached by Ehe people,
but who govern them and ought to
govern them; and who protect various
classes Of the people from the whole
people That is the old, old doctrine
which has been acted upon for thOus-
ands Of years abroad; and which here
in America has been acted upon some
times openly, sometimes secretly 10T
40 years by many men in public and
private life, and am sorry to say by
many judges; a doctrine which has in
fact tended to create a bulWarN for
privilege. a bulWark unjustly protect
ing special interests against the rights
OF the people as a whole. This doctrine
is to me a dreadful doctrine. for its ef-
feet is, and can only be, to make the
courts the shield Of privilege against
popular right. Naturally, every uphold
er and beneficiary OF crook ed privilege
loudly applauds the doctrine. 1t is be
hind the shield OF that doctrine that
crooked clauses creep into laws that
men of wealth and power control legts-
latiOn. The men OF wealth who praise
this doctrine. this theory. would do
well to remember that TO its adoption
by the courts is due the distrust 50
many Of our wage workers now feel Tor
the courts. I deny that that theory has
worked so well that we should continue
it I most earnestly urge that the evils
and abuses 1t has produced cry aloud
for remedy; and the only. remedy j. IN
fact to restore the power to govern d.
rectly to the people, and TO make the
public servant directly responsible TO
the whole peOple-and to no part OF
them, to no class" Of them.
Mr.. Taft is very much afraid Of the
tyranny OF majOritles. For % years here
in New York state, in our efforts to get
suffered from the tyranny of small
minority.
Friends. our task as Americans is to
strive for social and industrial justice,
achieved through the genuine rule OF
the people. This is our end, our pur-
rose. The methods for achieving the
end are merely expedients, to be flrally
accepted or rejected according as &C
tual experience shows that they work
wei or III. But in our hearts we must
have this lofty purpose, and we must
strive for it in all earnestness and SIN
certify, or our work viii come TO nOth-
ing In order to succeed we need lead
ers of inspired ideallsm, leaders TO
whom are granted great visions, who
dream greatly and strive to make their
dreams come true; who can kindle the
people with the fire from their own
burning souls. The leader for the time
being, whoever he may be, is but an
instrument, to be used until broken and
then to be cast aside; and if he is worth
his salt he will care no more when he
IS broken than a soldier cares when he
IS sent where his life is forfeit in order
that the victory may be won. In the
long fight for righteousness the watch
word for all OF US is spend and be
spent 1t is Of little matter whether any
one man fails or succeeds; but the cause
shall not fail, for 1t is the cause of
mankind. We. here in America, hold in
our hands the hope of the world, the
1ate Of the coming years; and shame
and disgrace viii be ours If in our eyes
the light Of high resolve Is dimmed, if
we trail in the dust the golden hopes Of
men II on this new continent we mere
" build another country OF great but
unJustly divided material prosperity,
We shall have done nothing; and we
shall do as little If we merely set the
greed Of envy against the greed OF ar
rogance, and thereby destroy the ma
terial well being Of all Of US"