The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-05


rarely Is anything said In public
speech or in print about the tremen-
dous political influence which We
have exercised beyond our own
shores.
When the fathers proclaimed this
republic mt Philadelphia one hundred
and thirty-seven years ago today
there was only one other ON the face
OF the Garth, Switzerland, and the
fathers were not At all certain that
this one would live until Christmas.
1t was about an even break whether
1t would or not. Now. thanks he to
the Almighty God-there are TWEEN
ty-six and we made them every one
not by the mailed hand. not. by con-
uuering armies, but by the whole
someness of our example----by teach
ing the nations Of the earth that men
are capable Of self government-the
most difficult Of all arts and sciences.
Unfortunately this appears to be
the day of the pessimist. Their lugu-
brious utterances constantly vex the
ears of men and carry fear to timid
hearts. According to their tale of
woe there is nothing right or true
or honest or patriotic or decent be-
ing done between the two seas. Every
body. to hear them tell 1t. Is corrupt
except their own small coterie. They
constantly preach the doctrine that
nothing cid Is good and that the
country Is headed for what Mr.. Man
tilini would call 1.-THE demnition bow
vows" There Is not syllable OF
truth In 1t. What's more, such talk
must have a very bad effect on the
rising generation. and upon the for
eigners who settle among us
A thing is neither good nor bad
because T. is old. A thing Is neither
good nor bad because 1t Ia new. The
correct rule In the Biblical rule: TRY
all things; hold fast to those which
are good"
OF course, corruptionists should be
scourged from public life with a whip
Of scorpions or a cat-o'nine tails;
but honest men in public life are in
vast majority, and the corruption
lists are being weeded out everywhere.
That the world Is growing better Is
proved by signs all about us. All
we have to do IL to open our eyes
and see them. believe this is the
greatest, best and freest country un-
der the sun. like to quote Elmer
sons words: 1--WE live in a new and
exceptional age. America is another
name for opportunity. Our entire
history appears like las, effort Of
divine providence In behalf of the
human race" Every boy and girl In
the republic should commit those
three sentences to mepory.
Greatness of the Fathers.
Taking up one side and down the
other. the men who framed our con-
stitutIon were the most distinguished
body of ,aw-givers. They wrought
marvelously well. but not being
prophets they could neither perceive
nor foretell the conditions which we
have to meet and the circumstances
by which we are surrounded. They
never dreamed that the great docu-
ment which they prepared was like
the laws Of the Modes and Pers.ans.
interchangeable from everlasting to
everlasting On the contrary. realiz-
ing full well that conditions would
change. and that their descendants
might desire to amend their work.
they placed in the constitution plan
OF amendment ] am fain to believe
that could they return to earth and
realize the many far-reaching and
momentous changes which physical
invention have worked in human ex-
istence. they would be the first tor
welcome such amendments to our
organic law as will ameliorate the
conditions under which We live, and
tend to improve and perpetuate our
free institutions.
The fathers did not make II too
easy to amend the constitution. Most
assuredly amendments should be care
fully and critically considered and
the plan of amendment which they
wrote into the constitution compels
careful and critical consideration. For
example, the house of representatives,
in several congresses. passed by the
necessary two-thirds majority the
resolution to submit 20 the States for
ratification constitutional amend
ment providing for the election OF
sena tors by popular vote. Several
congresses had to pass IL before the
senate seriously considered 1t. Al last
the senate passed il by the necessary
two-thirds vote and threefourths of
the States ratified It. Surely nobody
with a straight face and clear con-
science can claim that that amend
ment WIS added to the constitution
with unseemly haste. and yet many
good. honorable, Intelligent citizens
ayowed that we who advocated that
amendment were a lot of anarchists
who are engaged in pulling down the
pillars Of the temple and were driving
headlong for chaos.
The Income Tax.
We also, after due deliberation ana
inyNStlgatlOH, pI&SSd fc5ptatA'h SoH
hitting a constitutional amendment
providing for graded income tax
with a liberal exemption. the justest
of all taxes Again we were de-
nounced as Socialists and anarchists,
but again three-fourths OF the states
ratified and endorsed the action OF
congress.
Government Is an experimental
science, not an exact science. We
have not attained perfection. but we
are gradually. II slowly. approximat-
ing It. The only way to approach 1t
is to make such changes In the con-
stitution and laws as our experience
demonstrates should be made. To
stand still Is to stagnate: to stagnate
il to die.
Every citizen should take part in
politics. 1t Is said to have been the
wish dearest to the heart OF Henry
the Fourth, greatest of the Bourbon
kings. that France might become so