The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-09-06
COOLIDGE ON THE AMERICAN
SYSTEM.

1t is evident that when President
Coolidge declares his intention to carry
out the policies of President Harding
he did this, not merely because ne is
to fill out the term of Mr.. Harding but
because he is himself in sympathy with
the policies of his predecessor.
Coolidge, like Harding, is a believer
in the soundness of the American sys-
tenn of government-partc in its
distribution of power among three
branches. He is not of that autocratic
type which entertains a feeling of jeal-
Ousy or contempt for the legislative
branch of the government. In this con-
necton it is interesting to re-read his
address at the time of his Inauguration
as Vice President March 4, 1921. when
he said:
Senators, five generations ago there
was revealed to the people of this ma
ton a new relationship between man
and man. which they declared and
proclaimed in the American Constitu-
ton. Therein they recognized a legis-
lature empowered to express the will
quired to determine and state such law.
and an Executive charged with secur-
ing obedience to the law, all holding
their office not by reason of some SUI
perior force, but through the duly de-
termined conscience of their country |
men.
"To the House, close to the heart of |
fha Nation t. xtrh
bership by frequent elections, repre- |
senting directly the people, rejecting .
their common purpose, has been grant
ed a full measure of the power of leg
islatiOn and exclusive authority to or
ignate taxation To the Senate. re-
newing its membership by degrees, re-
presenting in part the sovereign States.
has been granted not only a full meas
ure of the power of legislation but, if
possible, far more important functions
To 1t is intrusted the duty of review.
that no negotiation there may be added
ratification and to appointment approx
al But its greatest function of all. too
little mentioned and too little under
stood, whether exercised in legislating
or reviewing. it is the preservation OF
liberty; not merely the rights of the
majority-thev little need protection
but the rights Of the minority. from
whatever source they may be assaiIed.
The great object for MS 10 seek here.
for the Constitution Identifies the Vice
Presidency with the Senate is 20 con
-inue to make this Chamber as il was
Intended by the fathers. the citadel o.
liberty. An enormous power is here
conferred. capable of much good or i'll,
open it may be to abuse. but necessary. =
wholly and absolutely necessary. to Sc
,ure the required result
Whatever its faults. whatever its "
human imperfections. there is NO legis-
alive body in all history that has used ?
is powers with more wisdom and dis
retion, more uniformly for the exc "
ution of the public will or more in ~
armOny with the spirit of the author "
ty of the people which has created it. "
han the United States Senate take
p the duties the people have assigned "a
he under the Constitution, which we m
an neither enlarge nor diminish. of u
residing over this Senate agreeably ei
, its rules and regulations. deeply con- 81
,ious that it will continue to function to
| harmony with its high traditions as ef
great deliberative body. without pas
on and without fear unmoved by Ia
amor. but most sensitive to the right, m
he stronghold of government accord pf
e to law, that the vision of past gem %
ations may be more and more the WI
ality of generations yet to come" ia