Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-08

|RKs HERALD. THURsD
governments built upfonly to be over
thrown. and the kingdoms Of the
Icarth from the pillars of Hercules to
the Yellow Sea have been shaken to
foundations. Through all this
change and obstruction, the Republic,
shortest lived of all forms of govern
ment in the prior history of the
world, surviving the perils Of foreign
and domestic var has endured and
I~f1ourished."
We 3 ourselves the causes of our
cherished progress. Is it alone in the
wisdom of the men of the hours 1t
that our people are different from
their brothers in foreign lands? No.
the ource Of our strength and our
power, is in the spirit of the consti-
tuition which proclaims the equality
of all men before the law. and which
guarantees the most sacred rights
from invasion by individual, or by
State or Nation. ~
And syet-there seems to be a. great
lack of complementary even a feel
ing of contempt existing in the minds
and hearts of many men for this
great Charter of human liberty. Men
born to the blessings of freedom
men who do not stop to think about
the cost Of freedom: men who do not
realize that this Nation is not the
child of chance. but that it is the out
growth Of centuries Of tears and
blood and sacrifice in the cause Of
human freedom-these men assume
an attitude of criticism. and would
fly from the ellis we have" and open
their arms to evils 1--WE know not Of"
cism, Is not limited to the ignorant,
nor the lowly.
Why the Unrest?
What is the source of. this wide
spread telling?
We are passing through a period of
readjustment in the political and So
(: cial life Of the nation. For years the
crystallized conscience of the people
a been appealing for numerous re-
forms. The people have felt that
privilege was too strongly entrenched
in governmental favor. A noble feel
ing OF sympathy for the weak and the
unfortunate created a demand for So
cial justice. A great political party
was thrown out of power. Out of all
this have come demands for legisla-
tion. most of it inspired, by the high
est motives. but much OF it impra ati-
cal n visionary. and some Of it 50
framed that in providing a benefit for
a certain class the rights Of some
other class are forgotten and invaded.
Often it has become necessary to re-
call the provisions of the constitution
and sometimes it has been used as n
bar against the enactment or en-
forcement of measures which :. were
inspired only by the Hottest motives.
Under such circumstances it is only
natural that those intensely interest
ed. seeing only from one standpoint,
not understanding perhaps the far
reaching effect of their favorite meas
ures. should cry out at the limitations
imposed by the constitution.
Then again courts are sometimes
compelled. under their sworn duty to
defend the constitutions, to hold that
a legislative enactment is unconstitu-
tional. because it violates some of the
principles of that great document
created. not by courts, nor by, prcsi-
dents. but by the people themselves
for their W guidance and protec.
ton. "
But Chief Justice White gives the
! strongest reason for .,his feeling OF
contempt for the constitution. He
says: 4"
There is great danger. it seems to
me to arise from the constant habi,
which prevails where anything IS op.
posed or objected to, of resortine
without rhyme or reason, 70 the con.
accomplishment, thus creating the
general impression that the constitu.
ton is butja barrier to progress in.
stead of being the broad highway
through which alone true progress:
may be enjoyed
Not only is this true, but unfor.
tunately it is also, true, tina, ever,
base murderer who begins to. ceei the
rope tighten about his neck. can find
some lawyer who car devise son1c al.
legged constitutional reason why his
client should not hang: rAe courts
are constantly engaged in defending
the>constitution against these base
n unworthy attempts to defeat Jus.
tice.t The plea that it is ':u%nconstitu.
tional." is becoming aln1os: as un.
popular as is the plea. Of brain
Storm" and the ever. present '.alibi.'
and h unfortunate part Of this con-
mon assertion of these defcnses and
pleas, is, that a. grave injustice, is
done to those for whom such pleas
may. be. and should be, Justly made.
AlCupeiAAS VI lSklLHtdle pleas
and defenses, is a grave. Mron,. which
the bar should be first all in wipine
out. - ~ 49, 20
Chief Justice White further saws
that there is "a growing tendency t.
suppose hat every wrong that exists
despite the system, md which would
be many times worse If the system
did not exist, is attributable to ii. and
therefore that the constitution should
be disregarded O. overthrown."
The FOREGOING are some, but not ali
Of the causes which weaken the faith
of the people in the constitution.
What Is Our Duty?
And now recognizing that there is
in this nation this feeling of lack OF
respect for the constitution, and
realizing something Of the u
which underlie> this feeling, realizing
that the constitution is in very truth
the fortress and the gloryAof u Re.
public. what is our duty?A 81, ~.
In the first place, as true Ameri-
cans, we should be the defenders and
supporters of the constitution. This
duty should be as binding upon usA as
is our duty to defend the flag. with
our lives. if necessary against assault
from every foe.
But how shall we defend it? Shall
we oppose all amendments of the
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