The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1917-08-25
of knowledge of Ameri-
can Institutions.
Continued from first page.


press. Lastly we have the strong adj
dicional safeguard of the U. S. Supreme
Court, the eight judges of which hold
their office for life or good behavior,
and are altogether removed from undue
influence either by politics or by the
other departments of the government.
Whenever the Supreme Court pronoun-
ces any measure unconstitutional, that
is the end of it, no matter If 1t Is ap-
proved by the President and Congress.
And, lastly, even the Supreme Court
has check on it, because its members
are subject to impeachment, and have
have been removed for cause.
AS to State Institutions, time would
fail me to discuss the ramificatlons OF
our State institutions, which are mod
eled somewhat after the national plan.
Then we have the courts and the grand
and petit juries, and the miniature leg
islatures of our counties ana parishes.
These matters are nearer home, and
we all have a pretty fair knowledge
and appreciation of their Importance.
So l will confne myself mainly to our
national institutions, the Monroe Doc
trine, States Rights, Publicity, Politi-
cal Parties, and the Executive, Legis-
lative and Judiciary of our government.
The Monroe Doctrine. For nearly
hundred years it has been the settled
policy of the United States that we
would not interfere in the affairs OF
the old world, but on one thing We
would insist, that no further foothold
of old worlo powers would be allowed
on the American continent. This be-
came known as the Monroe doctrine OF
non-interference by European powers,
and it applies to both North and South
America. 1t was established in 1923,
and grew out of the recognition by
Congress of Spanish American re-
public that had asserted its ind- pend
ence. II requires that the free lands
OF the American continent ''shali hence
forth never be subject for colonization
by any European power. On our part
We were to have no entangling alliances
with the old world powers. This doc
trine, which has SO long set forth what
was regarded as a cardinal principle of
the policy of this government, has late
iy been modified somewhat by Presi-
dent Wilson. From the position of no
arrangements and non-interference in
old world affairs, MIR Wilson now pro-
poses that the United States take The
leading part in a combination with the
powers of the Grid for preservation
of the peace of the world. This pro-
posal has become a worldwide sensa-
ton; but who can tell. in the rapid
changes that have taken place, but
that this Woodrow Wilson proposition
will in the future serve to preserve the
peace of the world as effectually as the
Monroe doctrine has served to preserve
the peace of America?
Another cardinal doctrine of our ma
ton is States Rights. By the adop-
ton of the United States constitution
each State has surrendered a portion
of its rights to the general government.
This is deemed necessary for the main
tenance of the Union, the regulation
of the affairs of the nation, and to pro-
tect our interests in the intercourse
with foreign countries. The States Of
the Union have their individual rights,
and they have to be recognized and re-
spected. Yet all of our State officials
are required to take an oath to support
the constitution of the United States as
well as the constitution of their own
State. The States are separate as to
their own individual affairs, but what
ever pertains to the nation is directed
and controlled by Congress.
l now come to the Executive, Legis-
lative and Judiciary. By wonderful
ly wise balance of power in the divid-
ing of their service and duties these
three branches of our government are
preserved as a harmonious whole. The
Executive, of course, we recognize as
the President, charged with conducting
the government and administering its
affairs. There is no need to discuss
the duties that fall to the President, as
they are generally understood, although
of great variety.
Our national legislature, Congress,
has some peculiarities that it may be
well to note. 1t is composed, as you
all know, of two branches, the House
and Senate. Why so composed is not
SO well known to all. At the outset of
my address | told you that both the
Democratic and the Republican ideas