New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-16
GERMAN POLICY
LACKSMORALITY,
ROOT DECLARES
Theory That of Ancient
Republics Which Held
State Supreme.
HOPE OF MANKIND
IN MAGMA CHARIA
Lawyer Speaks at Celebration
of 700th Anniversary
of Its Grant.

rr-,-, , So cr--.sr--4..' 70 TIE Tribune
Albany. June l5-Germany IN iuvad-
ing Belgium and sinking the Lus'tania
was following the theory Of the ancient
repub'Ics that the state is supreme and
the individual derives his rights as a
member thcrctrom declared Ellhu
Root. president Of the Constitutional
CoDvertor. In the Assembly Chamber
here tonight. when the 7O0;h Rnniver-
sary Of the granting Of Magma Charta
was celebrated.
This was the first word Mr.. Root has
uttered publicly on the European war
although he has been constantly asked
for an expression Of opinion. All the
delegates TO the convention were pres
ent and many Of their wives. Among
the others were two former Chief
Judges Of the Court Of Approximation
B. Parker and Charles Andrews
Nicholas Murray Butler, president Of
Columbia University, and William D..
Guthrie, o.. OF whom delivered ad-
dresses.
"The first theory Of the ancient re-
puJlics." said Mr.. Root, that the state
IS all IN all and the Individual derives
his rights as member, is the principle
that was applied in Belgium. It IS the
rrincip!o that was applied 10 the Lusi-
tania. its logical and inevitable result
Is that the state is free from, those
rules Of morality by which individual
men are bound.
The other, asserted in the great
charter by logical and inevitable result,
binds the state by the rules Of morality
which the individual recognizes, and
this supremacy Of that rule Of right,
governing all men and all states and
powers, is the hope Of mankind.
"The assertion OF that great and
eternal principle, determined 700 years
ago. we celebrate tonight as the great
est of all events in the political GeVeI-
opmeut Of modern liberty.
1.-THE essential thing said Mr. Root,
"was that this great charter asserted
q principle Of human liberty upon
which rests the development OF inc
freedom Of the world. Il asserted-lt
did not ask for-the rights Of Eng
lshmen as against their government,
and superior 10 their government
Without rhetoric. without philosophy,
without reasoning, il asserted those
rights which nearly COO years later the
sons Of those Englishmen crystallized
in the Declaration of American indie
pendence, as the inalienable rights Of
men, 70 secure which governments are
created
There are but two underlying
theories Of man in the social relation
70 the state. One is the theory Of the
ancient republics, under which the state
is the starting point from which rights
are deduced and the individual holds
rights only as member Of the state.
That was the theory Of Greece and
Rome and the Italian republics.
"The other is the theory Of the great
charter, the theory of the habeas
corpus act, Of the Statute Of TTeasOns,
of the Petition Of Rights, Of the Bill
Of Rights, Of the Massachusetts, Body
of Liberties, Of the Declaration of In
dependence, Of the Amer can Republic,
that the individual has inalienabLe
rights Of which no government may
Genrive him, but TO secure which all
governments exist