Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-07-04
SOUND WARNING
AGAINST IDEAS
NOT AMERICAN
Bar Association Calls on Cit
izens to Give Problems Of
Nation Due Thought and
Consideration
By The ASsociatcd Press }

Wy y ne AN~bfIHfeU f-EPSN.
DALLAS. Texas. July 4.-The govern
ment of the United States can endure
only through reasonable amount Of
thought and time devoted to its re-
quirements by citizens who love il and
wish TO have il preserved in all its
force and integrity. declared an In
dependence Day message made public
tonight by the citizenship committee
Of the American Bar Association.
The message was issued over the
signs-res Of Il. r. l. Saner. chairman
Of the committee, Dallas; Walter
George Smith of Philadelphia: Andrew
A. Bruce. Chicago; Wallace McGam-
ant. Portland. Ore, and John Lord
O'Bricn, Buffrlo. II asserted that since
before the world war there have been
tendencies and elements creeping into
Amrican life and government which
would undermine the foundation stone
Of liberty. II continued.
"On the one hand there has been a
tendency TO depart from the republican
or representative form OF government
to legislation by popular vote in such
ways as are represented by the initia-
tive. referendum and recall, the pri-
mary SYSTEM Of selecting candidates for
office. insidUous attacks upon the
Supreme Court Of the United States
and other forms Of hasty legislation
whereby spasmoGic agitation of public
opinion tends to undermine and over
reach the system of government which
the makers of the declaration of inde-
pcndcnce and the constitution so care
fully devised.
Independence Day sanctioned by
statute in every state in the Union ms
the birthday Of the nation Il an cx-
preston Of the solidity and unity that
this country has achieved. IL is a day
for rejoicing and also for sober
thought. IL is day for reviewing at
public meetings the historical and con
temporary significance Of the day, for
re-establishing the ancient landmarks
constitutional government
which our forefathers erected. and for
repledgfng our allegiance TO the prn-
ciples and aspirations Of those cour
ageous souls who dared to declare
their independence of the Mother
Country and to vow anew in the words
OF him upon whom the mantle of our
revolutionary forefathcrs visibly des-
cendcd, that Government Of the peo-
pie, for the people, and BY the people
shall not perish from the earth
The Declaration Of independence is
the expression Of that passion for in
dividual and political liberty which Is
implanted in the human breast" the
message continued Asserting il first
declared the doctrine of equality. the
message sets forth that equality docs
not mean social equality or equality Of
wealth or equality Of inherent ability.
The declaration referred to political
equality. which means equal opportu-
nifty under the law, and equality in
this sense IL an essential Of American
ideal of government"
Next speaking of the right Of life y
the message said:
If the greed Of profiteers and the
ingnorance Of parents place undevelop-
cd children in factories and mines. the
American idea Of the right of all to life
II gone. Against this greed the public
schools stand as the best proponent Of
the national purpose TO give to all the
people a chance to live rounded in
ttiiEeHt' Sohpiclt AheiiSah hlc.
After discussing the meaning Of
Liberty" as used in the declaration Of
independence the message said:
THE American principle i that all
power rests in the people az a whole.
The government of the United States
il Republic and not a Democracy. A
tendency to depart from this system in
various ways in recent years has been
the cause Of much discussion. BY many
thinking men il is strongly urged that
only as we hold steadfastly to the rep
rescntative form of government as es-
tablished BY our forefathers can our
Republic endure. This Is a question
that demands serious thought upon the
part Of each and every citizen today