The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

| taxes Tor the 0etence or welfare OF
other than our own people. The Fathers
had been told in childhood of the doings
of CHARLES the Twelfth and of the
Fourteenth LOUIS. by which Sweden
They knew the outcome Of those two
universal lusts, the lust OF religious
propaganda aud the lust Of political
propaganda. They framed Constitu-
ton which, when well examined, Is
found to exclude even the mere pur-
pose Of achieving the welfare" Of other
nations. In this way our Constitution
Is sort of Tenth Commandment. Most
of the other nine In their literal sense
forbid certain outward offences merely.
The Tenth strikes inward and forblds
even bankering after the forbidden.
This can be doubted by no sane person
who, casting aside all wishes I'm the
matter, reads the Preamble to the Con-
stltutton, the first paragraph Of Sec
ton s Of the First Article, together
with all the Tenth Article, desiring to
obey them as loyal citizen.
No more can II be doubted that
| without breaking through the Constitu-
ton. the welfare of our people. and
even that VI the Mexican people, might
"a, times be subserved by diplomatic
means. The diplomatic influence of the
| United States might lawfully be
brought to bear in favor Of the fittest
person to rule in Mexico. That fittest
person will he as observant as wls
DIAz OF the Mexican constitution. that
is, OF the way the Mexican is consti-
| tuted. Paper constitutions are trash in
I Mexico.
/ The requirements OF the Constitution
are definite when 1t comes to a ques-
ton OF force and Of forces. The en-
ployment Of these Is war. BY the
tenth paragraph Of Section 9, Article
l., war can be declared by Congress
only. To declare war In order to secure
the blessings Of liberty to any people
but the people of the United States,
or "to serve mankind lin Mexico1 IL
we found out the way" to serve them,
is not permitted even to Congress by
the institution. The purposes for
which taxes, &c.. can be laid and col
lected" are specified in the first para
graph Of Section OF that article and
in no other place. They can only he
! laid and collected for the common
defence and general welfare of the
| United States II makes no differ
] .I,.th
the Mexicans." IF we venture to serve
them with the forces of the United
States we violate the Constitution.
To seize a custom house In order 10
collect Just Indebtedness might he an
act of peace even II accomplished with
/ bloodshed. To seize a custom house
! in order to cut off ornaments consigned
| To foreign Government and intended
/ to protect that Government against its
enemies Is an act Of war upon that
with It's enemies, even II II Is not ac-
companied with bloodshed. No declara-
/ ton Of war need be made In writing.
Every one knows that an act Of war
is perfect declaration. In warfare
the first principle Of strategy and In
deed of tactics is TO intercept the nd
yersary's supply of arms.
( The joint resolution which the Ex-
/ ecutive desired and which the House
/ passed at first by an immense majority
would have affirmed the act Of war and
thus upheld the President uncondi-
tionally. In this the Senate refused
/ to unite. The joint resolution there
upon passed was worded with much in
! terror caution. It upholds the Execu-
tive's act in respect of the purposes
/ therein specified. 1t justifies no other
purposes. If the act should be shown
hereafter to have been done with other
| purposes, the resolution will not have
served to justify the act. II those pur-
poses should he unconstitutional no
resolution could Justify them. Three
/ fourths Of the States must Join in IN
amendment which would be retro
active. But II the act was an act Of
war, II was declaration Of war and
was unconstitutional per Sc. because
] oiiN SohHiCNs Nhh war. lie
resolution might avail TO Justify the
act II the purposes Of the Executive
were in fact limited to securing repa-
ration for an insult. The instant the
purpose is shown to have been be-
yond that limit the act is a violation
Of the Constitution, and the resolution
aims In nowise to condone II.
An unlawful purpose evidenced later
cannot he sheltered by the legitimated
purpose so as to purify tainted act.
! II Mr.. Justice LAMAR does not carry
in his breast pocket copy of the ~-
preme law OF the land he undoubtedly
carries Its golden text both in his
heart and In his head.
The Yellow Peril In Russia.