Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-08-12
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THE AMERICAN ISSUE.
From nBulI9 August 19l6.

Woodrow Wilson thinks that
American Foreign Relations should
be taken out of politics. In other
words that the Secretary OF State
should be made a Czar. Therefore
the power Of Congress should be linz
tied to such matters that in the opin-
ion Of the President should not be
decided by his Secretary Of State.
We would like to analyze this re-
markable proposition. To begin with
our forefathers, in the Declaration
OF Independence, laid down three
great fundamental principles: First,
all men are created equal; second,
all governments derive their Just
powers from the consent Of the gov
crned; and third, it is the inalienable
right of all men to life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness and ito
attain these objects governments are
instituted amongst men" The Con-
stitution was framed to carry out
these objects. The Constitution to
do this, divided government into
three parts, executive, legislative and
judicial Now, fellow Americans,
there is not a word in the Constitu-
tion to the effect that any one Of
these branches is subject to the will
of the oher Each branch acts inde-
pendently and it was the purpose Of
the fathers and Of the Constitution
that they should be Independent, and
rightly so, because the moment one
becomes subject to the will Of the
other, 1t ceases to exist as an inde-
pendent function, and merges in the
power that controlled it.
Strange though it may seem to
some newspapers, partisan polite
ians, whimpering congressman and
careless citizens, the maintenance of
the American Constitution is of far
greater consequence than the out
come Of the European War; the
amount Of our foreign trade, or the
lives Of American citizens. Without
our Constitution we are slaves. When
our forefathers fought to maintain
the Declaration of Independence they
did so because they considered their
independence more precious than
their very lives because as Henry
proclaimed, death Is more preferable
than slavery, which means that the
Constitution is greater than human
life
When Woodrow Wilson says that
our foreign relations should be taken
out of politics, he means to say that
Congress should not pass any laws
that will interfere with any question
that Is the subject of diplomatic con
troversy What Congress Should
not do" means Congress cannot do,
and when Congress cannot perform
Independent functions, 1t becomes q
legislative slave.
We beg to differ with Woodrow
Wilson, Congress is not an appen-
dage to the executive. 1t is an inde-
pendent function Of our government.
Senators and c6ngressmen have a
right to introduce resolutions and
bills in accordance with Constitution
nal powers and the President has his
right to send messages against bills
and to veto them If passed, and then
Congress has the right to pass bills
over the executive veto by two
thirds vote.
The maintenance Of the Constitu-
tion is a greater issue than the Mex
ican question Or any foreign ques-
tion. 1t goes to the existence OF the
nation. The fl eedom Of Congress in
wolves the freedom OF the people We
know Woodrow Wilson has no re-
spect for Congress. We know he de-
stroyed a tradition created by Jeffer-
son so that he could 60 there-stand
on a rostrum and lecture it. We
know that he considers himself far
more qualified to govern the nation
than with the assistance Of Congress,
and the advice and consent Of the
Senate, and we know, too, that the
use Of Federal patronage by Presi-
dent Wilson has made Congress
truckle to him like a doorman, and
in effect destroyed its individuality,
it's effectiveness, its independence
and its functions, but we believe the
Constitution is greater than Wood
row Wilson, and that Is the solemn
duty Of the people, regardless of par
ty, to remind Mr.. Wilson OF his oath
Of office and his duty to the Constitu-
ton, and that he should respect Con-
gress as Congress should respect
him.
This cry of take this and that thing
out of politics is another way of say
ing "that the people are not fit to
govern" The more things that are
taken out Of politics." the more the
American people will be taken out Of
government. Some day the people
will wake up after they have been
bound hand and foot by czars, kings
and kaiscrs. fTake it out of pol
itics" is another way Of saying dem
ocratic government is a failure" 1t
is another way of taking the Amer
lean people out Of politics When
the people take the men out Of pol
itics who do not understand what
means, Americanism
win prevail.