Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-23
RULE OF REASON
Continued from Page One)

land has been the part it has
played in the establishment of re-
sponsible representative form Of gov
eminent. founded on the independent
conscience of the individual citi-
zenG."
THE independent conscience of
the Individual" he later declared.
finds an exaggerated counterpart in
the independent sovereignty of each
nation"
To the early settler of New Eng
land, Vice President Coolidge de-
clared, belonged the credit for the
working out and putting into prac-
tice of the solid, the substantial and
the stable form of representative
government.
The Federal constitution twas but
a beginning of the triumphs of that
form of parliament government
which New England nourished and
sustained for more than $50 years."
he said.
Triumph on triumph has fol-
lowed, from the establishment of the
republic of France and the British
reform bill of 1882, down to the new
~ formed republic of the ancient
empire of China and the recently
freed nations of Continental Europe.
Prom these great benefactions
which have accrued from representa-
tive parliamentary government. there
follows the obvious necessity that leg
islatures should be free, that they
should be under no domination save
the obligation to serve the public wei
fare. Seeing the great function they
perform alike in state and nation,
they may we'll continue the worthy
objects of admiration and confidence.
Wherever Legislative bodies have been
lowered in the public estimation, TIE
foremost duty of the people is to seek
their reestahlshment and restoration.
1.-The source of authority. the source
of liberty, lie in the people themselves.
But the safest repository of nc cessary
public authority, the firmest and
staunchest guardians of liberty, are
the representative parliamentary bod
les of the world. Unless through them
there can be provided security against
lHr Tuft VI lOANt anu d + Ndi dIltc VI
the rule OF reason, it cannot be pro-
yided at all.
"One of the most difficult problems
for the legislator of the presf mt day
is to distinguish between the advo-
Gates of private interests and public
welfare. Unless this distinction be
made. representative government, as
we have established it in America.
fails, and public authority will be
vested net in the hands of those who
are entitled to be designated as public
officers but rather in the hands OF
those privately selected to serve a
special interest.
There is little danger that modern
parliamentary bodies will fall under
the domination of. the most pc werful
of executives. If action be wise, there
must be leadership: If it be effective,
there must be organization: but always
as the result not of prejudice not of
coercion. but of rcas son. There must
be no domination either of ore man
in office or ten thousand supposed men
at the polls. This standard IL main
tanned throughout America to 6 much
greater extent than the public may
suppose.
"If New England has performed one
service which was greater than an
ether it has been to lead in freeing
men from the dominion of a force I'M
posed from without, and bring them
under the dominion Of that reason
which speaks from within. It's teach
ings have released man from every
servitude but laid on him every duty"