The New York herald., 1922-01-06

exertion of violence. But as amend
ments are usually adopted under the
stress of great public excitement, except
in those Instances of mere mechanical
conveniences, 1t may be questioned
whether the means provided is not lack
ing in the elements of deliberation which
are essential to intelligent constitution
making. The burden of proving the
necessity for an Amendment and Of Its
adaptability should always be upon
those who propose It; the experience
of the past shows that none or them are
entirely necessary to human happiness,
the great desideratum in government.
When the Republican party came into
national being In 1855 1t declared in It's
platform that 1t favored restoring the
action of the Federal Government to
the principles of Washington ana JEFF
ferson," and yet It has stood sponsor
for the greatest violations of those prin-
ciples, as manifest in the constitutional
amendments, of any party in the history
of the nation, and President Harding
is counseling yet q further encroach-
ment upon the sovereign rights OF the
States. AS a Republican / suggest the
propriety of a single amendment which
shall adjust the Constitution to the abo-
lition of human slavery and otherwise
restore 1t to the simple form In which
it was given to the people.
Washington declared the principle
that not only should we discountenance
irregular oppositions to the acknowl-
edged authority Of the Constitution, "but
also that you resist with care the spirit
of innovation upon It's principles, how
ever specious the pretext." while Jeffer-
son declared for equal ana exact Jus
tice to all men, of whatever state or
persuasion, religious or political; peace.
commerce and honest friendship with
all nations, entangling alliances with
none: the support of the State govern
ments in all their rights, as the most
competent administrations for our do
mestic concerns. and the surest bulwark
against anti-republican tendencies; the
preservation OF the general Government
in its whole constitutional vigor as the
sheet anchor Of our peace at home and
safety abroad. and should we
wander from them In moments Of error
or Of alarm, let US hasten to retrace our
steps and to regain the road which alone
leads to peace, liberty and safety
Every State In this nation should be
Interested in a movement which has
for It's object the restoration OF the
principles of tho Constitution of the
United States. which undertook the pres
ervation of the sovereign rights OF the
States. SO far as they were not dele
gated. We need the competent admin
istrations of the States in our domestic
concerns; we need the legislative intelli-
gence of all the States IN dealing with
the peculiar local conditions Of widely
diversified populations, and we need the
conserving influence Of these Legisia-
lures upon the conduct Of our Senators
in Congress.
In short, we need a return 70 the
principles OF washington and Jefferson !;
to the Constitution a. II was drawn by
an intelligence, a patriotism and a skill
that has commanded tho admiration OF
enlightened statesmen throughout the
world. Let us have the last amcndment.
an amendment which shall restore. rcs
further enervate. The Constitution OF
the fathers. BENJAMIN s. DEAN.
JAMESTOWN. January s.