The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-09-11
Undermining of Courts is
Direct Attack on Liberties
of the People.
SHOWS GRAVE DANGER
President Speaking at Balti-
more Pleads for UNFOLDING
Constitutional Safeguards.

called upon the AHteIioah PSoPtS
Lafayette day address here today TO
take stand against ga deliberate and
determined effort" which he said rs
being made to break down the guaran-
tees of our fundamental law through
4 movement ITO limit the jurisdiction
of our domestic courts"
Speaking at the unwilling Of a statue
to Lafayette, the president character
lied the great Frenchman as "a true
son of world freedom" and asserted
that "this occasion is dedicated to free
DOM"
"The question ISIS he declared,
whether America will allow itself to
be degraded into communistic. and
socialistic state, or whetherSitT vail re-
main American: Those who want to
continue to enjoy the high estate OF
American citizenship will resist All at
tempts to encroach upon their liberties
by encroaching upon power OF the
courts"
Draws Lesson from Lafayette.
While devoting his address primarily
to a defense of the United States SUI
preme court, the president also drew
lesson from the French leader who
"joined US in fighting for the malnten-
ance and extension of our institutions"
and proposed policy Of service in for
eign relations.
He pleaded also for the adjustment
of war hatreds and assistance in the
restoration of the German people,
now shorn of militarism."
Referring to the supreme court, Mr..
Coolidge said if its authority should
be broken down and it's powers lodged
with the congress, every minority body
that may be weak in resources or un-
popular in the public estimation, also
nearly every race and religious belief
would find themselves practically with
out protection"
"The time for Americans to range
themselves firmly, squarely and UNI
cotnprisingly behind American ideals is
now" he asserted. "The great body o.
our people have an abiding faith in
their own country. The time has come
when they should supplement that
faith with action. In this contest
there is but one place for a real Ameri-
can to stand"
Mentions No Names.
The president mentioned no names
in connection with the attack he de-
scribed against the supreme court. He
characterized it as an assault upon the
constitution, with it's purpose the con-
fiscation of property and the destruc-
ton of liberty"
every little danger exists of an open
and avowed assault upon the principle
of individual freedom" he said. ut IS
more likely to be in peril indirectly,
perhaps with the avowed intention of
protecting it or enlarging it."
In his discussion of foreign affairs,
Mr. Coolidge said "to be independent,
to my mind, does not mean to be iso-
lated. There is no real independence
save only as we secure it through the
law of service"
Speaking again of the supreme court
as we'll as of the entire system of in
dependent judiciary, Mr.. Coolidge said
it's establishment through the constitu-
ton was zone Of the greatest contribu-
ltions which America has made to the
science of government"
Supreme Court Impartial.
"That tribunal" he continued, in
speaking specifically of the supreme
court, "has been made as independent
and impartial as human nature could
devise. This action was taken with the
sole purpose of protecting the freedom
of the individual, of guarding his earn
ings, his home, his life.
Somewhere must be lodged the pow
er to declare the constitution. If it be
taken away from the court, it must go
either to the executive or legislative
branch of the government. No one, SO
far as l know, has thought that it
should GO to the executive. All those
who advocate changes propose, / be-
lieve, that it should be transferred in
whole or in part to the congress. With
a dominant executive and a subservi-
ent legislature, the opportunity would
be very inviting to aggrandizement and
very dangerous to liberty That way
leads toward Imperialism.
Out of Touch with World Move.
cat a time when all the world is
seeking for the adjudication of differ
ences between nations, not by war, but
by reason, the suggestion that we
should limit the jurisdiction of our do
nestle courts is reactionary in the
highest degree. 1t would cast aside
the progress of generations to begin
again the contest for supremacy be-
tween legislative and executive.
"a deliberate and determined effort
is being made to break down the guar
antees of our fundamental law. 1t has
for its purpose the confscation Of
property and the destruction of liberty.
At the present time the chief obstacle
besides to the people to this effort is
the supreme court Of the United States.
In this contest there is but one place
for a real American to stand. That Is
on the side of ordered liberty under
constitutional government. This is not
the struggle of the rich and powerful.
They will be able to survive. 1t is the
struggle Of the common run Of people,
unless we can maintain our instltu-
lions Of liberty unimpaired, they will
see their savings swept away, shcir
homes devastated, and their children
perish from want and hunger.
"The constitution of the United
States has for its almost sole purpose
the protection of the freedom of the
people. We must combat every attempt
to break it down or to make it easy,
under the pretended guise of legal pro-
cedure, to throw open the way to re-
action or revolution. To adopt any
other course is to put in jeopardy the
sacred right to life, liberty, property
and the pursuit Of happiness"