Evening journal., 1914-11-20

duty as a citizen of a free State. Gould
the inherent capacity of the people for
self government have been thus in
creased and developed under a con-
solidated government, established by
the absolutism of the whole people of
the Republic merged in common
mass? | do not believe that you or tho
other thinking people OF this country
are of that opinion.
Let us secure ourselves against
the despotism that turks behind cen
tralization of power. by defending the
dual system of national and local self
government embodied IN our COnsti-
tuition. My apology. If Il is needed. for
asking your serious consideration Of
these important features in our
growth and history. is that we have a
common interest in this great sub
iect. and that upon the intelligence,
common-sense and patriotism OF the
two million members of your society
is staked in large measure the perpet-
uity of our institutions.
Let me call your attention, then.
TO a few of the incidental benefits
that have resulted from this inviol-
able right of local self government.
To the sovereignty of each State has
remained the control of all those af-
fairs and interests which are most
intimate and eXigent in the daily life
of the citizen. The needs of each
community, as seen and appreciated
by It's own citizenship, have been
wisely left to its own control, and,
as the States have increased I'm num-
ber. they have each increased in
civic pride and the capacity for self
government. We can all bear wit
ness that State pride has not de-
creased, but augmented. our national
pride and loyalty. A wholesome
competition has grown up among
these self-governing communities
which has Injured to the advantage OF
all. The science of what lawyers
call comparative Jurisprudence" has
been wonderfully fostered. With the
advancing education and intelligence
of the people, experiments in govern.
ment have thus been enabled to bC
localized, and while one State takes
a tentative step. the others can anC
do stand by to observe and watcl
and record the result for the benefi
of all. The tentative step sometimes
proves a desirable advance step
which can be safely taken by othel
/ communities, without shock or dis
turbance of public feeling or Of ex
/ isting institutions. A certain health!
/ rivalry and competition between tn
/ States have resulted, and have don
much for the common advancement
/ OF all.
Suffrage and Prohibition.
Certain states are now trying tn
/ experiment of woman suffrage, and III
results are being watched with increa'
ing interest by are peoples OF all IL
States. Whether this great enlarg'
ment of our electorate shall general
obtain. will depend upon the compar
son Of advantages and disadvantage
that How from il, as found by act'
experience How much better is il tbs
50 radical change in our existing fun
danental law should gradually come,
come IL must. as the result of localize
experiments, than to come with q
awful sweep of centralized power ov'
.our broad expanse from ocean TO ocea
and from the lakes 10 the gulf, in
posed, it may he, on unwilling con
munities and protesting peoples. wit
all the ensuing bitterness and rcsen
ment which the exercises of an srbitral
power is bound TO produce.
yet. an amendment to our constit
tion for this very purpose, as well
one for the purpose of nation-wi
: prohibition, is being urged by maj
, good and excellent people who wou
b change our fundamental law and wea
p en- tie structure of our local self &c
ernmrnt because they are impatie
with any obstacle TO the Insta
achievement of the ends they have
view. Pardon ne if differ from sol
who hear me and allow me TO EXPIRE
! the hope that there arc some who W
assent to what | have said. AT
| events, / am appealing to you, as in,
vidual members of your great associ
! tion, TO ponder long and earnestly t
far-reaching proposition to which ] ha
, alluded. l am expressing no opinic
= either for or against the abstract ms
; its of either proposition. | am only pI
testing against the method by which
is sought to accomplish ends. hOwey
meritorious; method which TAX
y from the States a control SO essent
: to she integrity of their sovcreigni
! and which, if sanctioned, tends to
Z dangerous ceHtralization of power i
: contemplated in our dual system
: government.
: Would End Wars.
4 1T seems almost impossible
, make a public address. however sho
: at this time without allusion to VIII
@ is in the minds and hearts of us a
v growing out Of the unprecedented
r ternecine war now raging In Z