Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
THE RICHMOND PLANET, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

people In their wisdom or unwisdom
may determines; but tho changes
must not be the result of anger or
excitement, nor be due to envy or
passion or temporary discomfort.
Even socialism, communism, anarchy
or any other ism might be inaugur-
ated; but whatever was done, we
were obliged to stop, look, listen--
stop to think, look before ard after,
to the right and left, listen to the
voice Of reason and to the still small
voice Of conscience. These were the
methods of change and of progress
provided for in the Constitution IT.
self: and If they continued to BIO
regarded there was small danger Of
grave error"
This logic sounds strange during
this period Of fanaticism and during
this hey-day Of the small politicians,
who regard personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT
as being paramount to tho funda-
mental principles OF this Republic.
Here is more Of the same kind Of
enunciation Of great, right principles:
NIISl iclSicuCc W tHC WHO ana
somewhat influential propaganda for
the recall of judges and the reversal
of judicial decisions by popular vote,
and paying his respects to various
smatterers and meddlers who were
anxious to tinker with the intricate
machinery Of government the address
concluded as follows:
Everybody knows that laws do not
enforce themselves, however made.
Back Of them is the coercise sanction
of a crystallized public sentiment that
begat them in the first place. Our
Constitution is no exception to this
rule. lis energy and its agency, its
warrant and youchsafement, are
chiefly and certainly in our love for
1t. 1t holds ideas and ideals not
brought to us by the raffish multi
tudes Of Europe-too suddenly en-
franchised to comprehend or assume
the obligations of liberty, and yet for
whose special benefit, as an excepted
class, much of our recent legislation
has been enacted.
"'1t holds ideas and ideals which
our fathers died to realize. 1t grew
out of the War Of the Revolution.
1t survived the War Of the Rebellion.
1t must continue r. we il ordered
liberty Is to survive. 1t was not won
from armed resistance and saved
from armed rebellion to be treacher-
ously lost to us in a war Of words. |
We will not surrender it-any lot or
little Of ito the sappers and miners
nor to those who, for political az
grandizement, robe themselves In
Heavens livery to serve the devil.
eff the zealot, impatient OF the wise
caution and delay enjoined by the
Constitution, would break down it's !
barriers by hasty action, he should be ,
compelled, IL only as n penace, to
study the Constitution and to know
all the circumstances out Of which it !
grew, the quality of the men who |
fashioned It, as we'll as the quality Of |
the work accomplished by them. !
would fight for every line OF the Con- !
stitution as I would for every star
in the flag, for flag and Constitution !!
will live and die together"
God grant that other leaders,
men learned, in the law and exper- !
fenced in, ethics may have the nerve, |
the manhood, the patriotic spirit to
stand up in the face Of this landslide |
" "Siio5oS"oiHiIA' uhu "iilll"llld VI
deception and falsoh God and proclaim !
the eternal truth as these distin- |
guished jurists have done. If they i
will, there Is hope for this Republic !
and 1t may be that we shall not be !
forced to experience another orgie of |
bloodletting before the people are
aroused and Justice is again en-
throned at the Capital Of this nation.