The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-16

to flee from oppression and MAIN
tain liberty. This he referred to as
the dream of our fore fathers in
establishing this republic. II.
"But this dream never would have
ben realized had it not been for the
recognition of that great constitu-
ional principle announced by Chief
Justice Marshall, that in this nation
the law is supreme. T.
"And yet it is true, that in these
days there SENS to be in the minds
and hearts of many lack of con-
fidence and even q feeling of COM
tempt for this great charter of hui
man liberty. Men sbasna to the bless
ing of freedom, men wing do not stop
to- think about the cost of freedom
men who do not realize that this, ma;
ton is the child Of chance7yIthese
men assume an attitude Of criticism
and urge the destruction of the
Constitution" !" y
That some of those who chose to
criticise and condem are among those
occupying high positions in the
government, that the purpose Of
the constitution is itself defeated in
the attempted legislation whereby
congress will be given power to
veto the decisions Of the Supreme
court, and that these measures are
a direct menace to national integ-
rity coming as they do when the
whole national mind is in such q
state, were further points
made by the speaker:
eff we are to have q constitution
at all it is, mandatory that we shall
have recognized body to interpret
it, A constitution is in fact and must
be regarded by the judges as q
law. It. therefore be-
longs to them to ascertain its means
ing, as well as the meaning Of any
particular act, proceeding from the
legislative body. If there should be
an irreconcilable variance between
the two, the Constitution ought to
be preferred to the statute. {, /
-
"This supervisory power of our
courts over legislation is the heart
of our American constitutional sys-
tenn It is one of the original COM
tributions which America has made
to the worlds jurisprudence. For
more than a century this American
doctrine has, from
time to time been violently assailed;
and it seems probable that still an
other assault will be made upon it,
perhaps within the present decade.
g But it is the concensus of in
formed American opinion that when
undergoes its ultimate
test, and the tale is finally told, it
will be found that = our = judicial
scheme will prove to be the. best
ever devised not only for the admin
istrtaion of justice but for the pres
ervation of institutions Of orderly
freedom. .c>-... w.: -. 4 . 49,
~ can plainly see in the Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs 9 force of
power upon which America can al
ways depend in time Of emergency,
q body Of earnest women who are
alert to the great principles of
Americanism and through whom the
fires of patriotism and loyalty will
be lighted in the hearts Of our child
rem and the great truths Of our ma
tional life will be kept in the homes
of the land. -! =
"And now, in conclusion, may we
under the providence Of God, sue
work out our own far
reaching, complex and delicate prob-
lens, so that we shall in the end
achieve not only the largest happiness
for ourselves and our posterity, but
also to bestoW the richest blessings
on all mankind; and may we, by the
gentle but restless power Of example
strengthen, the hopes and steady the
purposes Of liberty loving peoples
throughout the world"