The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-21
RIGHTS or PERSON AND PROP.
ERTY.
Obsolete nstitutiopaI Motions OF George
Washington.

Washington.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-sir
George Washington never saw a mani
curlst or moving picture: never even
organized literary bureau to accom-
pany him in his explorations OF an
untravelled wilderness. Why, then,
should he assume to lecture us on con-
stitutional rights and duties? What
did he know about statesmanship7 In
the light of up to the minute states
manship. In WHICH the errors even Of
the Almighty are condescendingly cor
rected. let us glance for a moment at
the utterances Of this pretender to au-
thority In the domain Of statecraft. that
we may note the progress of these
times, the advance we have made
toward chaos and the dark" In his
Farewell Address he says:
Toward the preservation OF your govern
ment and the permanency OF your present
happy state. It 10 requisite not only that
you steadily discountenance Irregular OPP
positions to its acknowledged authority. but
also that you. resist with care tho spirit
Of innovation upon Its principles. however
speeious the pretexts one method OF as
sault may be to effect. In the forms OF the
Consultation, alterations which will impair
the energy OF the system. and thus to un-
dermine what cannot be directly over
thrown. In all the changes to which you
may be Invited, remember that time and
habit are at least as necessary to nx the
true character Of governments as OF other
human Institutions. that experience Is the
surest standard by which 10 test the real
tendency OF the existing Constitution OF a
country; that facility in changes. upon the
credit OF mere hypothesis and opinion, ex-
A..
less variety Of hypothesis and opinion: and
remember especially that for tho efficient
management OF your common interests In
a country so extensive ours a Govern
ment OF as much vigor as Is consistent
with perfect liberty Is Indispensable. LIB
erty Itself will md In such a Government.
with powers properly distributed and ad.
justed Its surest guardian. II Is. indeed.
little else than a name, where the Govern
ment Is too feeble 20 withstand the enter
prises OF faction. to conine each member
OF the society within the limits prescribed
by the laws. and to maintain all In the
secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights
OF person and property.
Just think OF any man going to the
people as n candidate for delegate to
the coming constitutional convention
upon such a platform as that: assert
ing the doctrine evidently held by Mr..
Rockefeller that II is the duty OF Gov
eminent ito confine each member OF
the society within the limits prescribed
by the laws and to maintain all in the
secure and tranquil enjoyment of the
rights OF person and property"
BAH What we want is a Constitu-
ton that is up to date; a Constitution
on continuous reel. with q new thrill
at every revolution OF the dynamo: a
Constitution automatic and self-ex-
ecuting, which will transform the de-
servcdly poor into the undeservedly
rich: Constitution which will feed the
ignorant and vicious on oysters and
champagne without effort, physical or
mental that they may have the op-
portunity 10 grow TO the funess OF
their impulses. In short, we want a
Constitution which shall take from him
who hath not only all he has. but all
that he might reasonably expect to get
through his own efforts and give to
him who hath not not only that which
Is taken away but the prom.ssory notes
for all that the man who now hath
may get in the future.
BENJAMIN g. DEAN.
JAMESTOWN, May 20.