Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-10

which the many could not pursue
the Individual. II was seen at the
beginning that changes In this
compact might be desirable from
time to time, and provision for
such change was made, but 1t was
also foreseen that stability required
that Fundamental principles be not
abandoned or modified by caprice
or temporary popular demand, real
or imaginary, but that they should
yield only to deliberate and sober
Judgment, For that reason the
process OF amendment was made
one OF slow operation,
What the Constitution Is
For the purposes of this paper,
the federal constitution may be
said to be, first, q plan Of govern
ment, and, second, a check on the
exercise OF arbitrary power by ma
1orlties. As a plan for an orderly
government, We find II providing
for the construction Of certain
agencies for our use In putting the
national sovereignty vested In uS
into effective operation. This SOW
ereignty being vested In all of us as
the collective body OF citizens, we
are our own rulers; but II. was un-
derstood in the beginning that we
could not, by reason OF our un-
Wieldy numbers, govern ourselves
directly, we could not assemble In
town meeting and adopt rules for
the effective regulation OF our so-
cial relations, and so 1t was pro-
Vided that the people living in the
different sections should choose
from among their number certain
representatives, who should meet
and with qualifications and author
ity to legislate for the whole. By
adherence to this plan, by the in
telligent selection of his represent :
ative, the citizen is protected
against mis-government. Bnt is
is the work and product of this
very body Of representatives for
which We find so much disrespect.
Doubtless, YOU expect me to dis
cuss the cause and the cure.
Public Business Suffers
said a moment ago that II is
by adherence to the plan OF INTEL
ligent selection OF representatives
the citizen is protected against mis- i.
government. Yet we complain of
being mis-governed II our COM
plant be justified, and In many In
stances II is, we might well pause
to inquire whether the fault lies
with the plan, or with our lack Of
adherence to the plan. Perhaps II
We examine the conduct and prac-
tees Of our neighbors it will be Of
assistance. We find them taking
little or no interest, and rendering
absolutely no assistance, In propos-
ing the several citizens from among
whom will finally be selected those
to represent them IN the exercise OF
their sovereignty. Such matters MS
these are left, entirely to few
seif-seekers who make such selec-
tions as satisfy themselves. We
find them refusing to serve in a
public office for which they are
well fitted, and complaining that
the offices are filled with incom
petents They make every possible
excuse to escape jury service, and
complain because ighorant and In
competent Jurors are chosen to
pass upon their rights OF liberty
and property. We find them al
ways mindful of their rights. but
forgetfui Of their duties. And now
that we have briefly surveyed our
neighbors, let us indulge in mo-
ment OF silent introspeetion. You
need not announce the result,
Thua II is that we find so many re-
sponsible public positions occupied
by glad hand artists, who spend
their official time in the practice
OF their art. while public business
suffers. Thus II is that our legls-
latures. state and national. are con
stantly grinding out half baked
laws, which do not command re-
spect because they are half baked.
1t is because the average citizen
does not understand that the SOW
ereign Ia burdened with duties and
responsibilities as well as blessed
with rights and privileges. and that
In a self governing nation, these