The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-01-14

IL is important, likewise, that the
habits of thinking in free country
should inspire caution in those en-
trusted with its administration, to con-
fine themselves within their respective
| constitutional spheres, avoiding, in
! the exercise of the powers of one de-
partment, to encroach upon another.
The spirit of encrOachment tends to
consolidate the powers of all the de-
partments in one and thus to create,
whatever the form of government, q
real despotism. A just estimate of
that love of power and the proneness
to abuse it which predOminates in the
human heart is sufficient to satisfy us
of the truth of this position.
But let there be no change by usurpa-
tiOn; for though this, in one instance,
may be the instrument of good, it is
the customary weapon by which free
governments are destroyed"
This was a good doctrine a century
ago and it is good doctrine now. It's
everlasting vcrities do not decay with
the flight of time. A legislature, a
congress Or . parliament, once it be-
came accustomed to executive domina-
ton, would soon lose it's power of ini-
tiative and its virility and become an
inane and helpless thing, unworthy of
respect and useless as an institution
of government The experience of
civilized mankind has shown that the
details of legislation can best be
wrought by the elected representatives
of the people, reserving to the people
the right to take the initiative or to
pass final judgment on the wisdom or
propriety of legislative acts in certain
cases. This does not mean that the
executive department shall have no
share in lawmaking. 1t should have,
and during this administration that
power will be vigorously exercised
within the limits prescribed by the
constitution. Nc responsibility will
be shirked, no duty evaded. The
elected heads Of the executive depart
ments are anxious that the mandate
of the people as expressed at the re-
cent election shall be crystallized into
legislation and realized in administra-
tiOn to the end that there may be re-
trenchment in public expenditures,
abolishment of offices not necessary
to an efficient public service and de-
centraliZation of power without i'm
pairing the enforcement of law. To
the accomplishment of these desired
ends the executive departments will
lend all aid within their constitutional
power without any purpose to set up
a dictatorship or to detract from the
credit which will properly come to the
members of the general assembly
from a wise solution of these great
problems.
System of Government.
Such is conceived to be the Amer-
can system of government 1t were
folly to say that this system is the
acme Of perfection, yet it is only the
plain truth to state that according to |
the judgment of the intelligence of |
the world it is the best system yet |,
devised by man.
This is the peoples government and !
it must be preserved. Without regard !
to party distinctions our people are a
unit for its maintenance, its principles |
and it's honor unsullied.
elf-government is on trial. Lincoln |
said of it: I'VE shall nobly save or
meanly lose the last, best hope of
earth" That hope was "nobly saved
by our fathers generation ago; we
must not and will not "meanly lose" it
now. Mindful of the past, cher,shing
its heroic memories and reverencing
its well-taught lessons, the people of
Ohio have their faces toward the fu-
lure and will apply time-tried prin-
ciples of equity and humanity to new
situations arising from changed condi.
ions. In so far as the activities of
he state can be utilized to humanize
he relations between it's citizens it
must spare no effort to protect the
xeak. TO relieve the oppressed, to rem.
sdy inequalities, to give hope and COM
ort and aid to the unfortunate-all
his without Injustice to any legiti-
nate interest, individual or corporate.
70 these policies of humanity, econ
my, self-government and law enforce
nent, the incoming administration
10Th legislative and executives def
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