Evening star., 1924-09-06
Defends Constitution and
Supreme Court as Guardians
of Individuals Rights.
HITS HOUSE PARTISANSHIP
WHEN IN JUDICIAL ROLE
Scores Domination of Congress by
Executive as Leading Toward
Imperialism.
By a Staff Correspondent.

BALTIMORE, September 6. - De
clarinG in a most forcible manner
that there is now in this country !,
deliberate and determined effort
being made to break down the guar
antees Of the fundamental laws Of
this Republic, President Coolidge in
an address before several thousand
persons attending the exercises in
cident to the unveiling of monu-
ment here 10 the memory of Lafayette
appealed to patriotic citizens to range
themselves firmly, squarely and un-
compromisingly behind American
ideals.
The President stanchly defended
the Constitution which provides the
individual liberty cherished by all
and which safeguards that same
liberty. Pointing out that the CHIEF
obstacle of the present assault being
made upon the present form Of Gov
ernment is the Supreme Court of the
United States, the President said that
that tribunal has final authority to
determine all questions arising under
the Constitution and the laws of the
United States; that it has been made
as independent and impartial as
human nature could devise. made 80.
he said. with the sole purpose Of
protecting the freedom of the in
dvidual. of guarding his earnings, his
home. his life"
Opposes Changes of Power.
Without mentioning any one or
any organized body by name, the
President made direct reply to the
proposals of Senators La Toilette
and Wheeler, according to the view
expressed by many who heard him:
for instance, regarding the La Fol
lette proposal, he declared:
somewhere must be lodged the
power to declare the Constitution. If
ii be taken away from the court. II
must go either to the Executive or
the legislative branch of the Govern
ment No one, so far as l know, has
thought that it should go to the
Executive. All those who advocate
changes propose, | believe. that il
sohuld be transferred in whole or in
part to the Congress. 7 have very
high regard for Legislative assem-
blies. We have Put a very great en-
phasis upon representative govern
ment. 1t is the only method by
which due deliberation can be Sc
cured That is q great safeguard
of liberty. But the legislature i
not judicial.
Along WIN "naI are aO1nltlfu
TO be the merits of the question, also
what is supposed to be the popular
demand and the greatest partisan
advantage. weigh very heavily in
making Legislative decisions. 1t is
we'll known that when the House
of Representative sits as Il judicial
body, to determine contested cleo
tionS. it has tendency to decide in
a partisan way. 1t is to be remem-
hered also that under recent political
practice there is a strong tendency
for legislatures to be very much in
tluenced by the Executive. Whether
We like this practice or not, there
is no use denying that it exists. With
a dominant Executive and sub
servient legislature the opportunity
would be very inviting to ag
grandiZement and very dangerous to
liberty. That way leads toward i'm
perialism."
The President referred to the cele-
bration here as an occasion dedicated
to freedom and, because they cher
ish that sentiment they cherish the
name of Lafayette
Regarding the foreign policy of
this country the President said: W.,
want Europe to compose it's diff
culties and liquidate its hatreds" and
that America should at the same
time set the example and ''liquidate
some of our own"
Text of Presidents Speech
The President spoke as follows:
This occasion is dedicated to free
dom. The people of Baltimore, and OF
Maryland. are gathered here in that
spirit. Because Americans cherish
that sentiment they cherish the name
of Lafayette On the anniversary or
his birth. we are gathered about his
statue in this proud city which we know
he loved, almost in the shadow of the
stately monument reared to his great
friend, Washington, to rededicate our
selves to the inspiring memory of i
true son Of world freedom.
This is not only his birthday. but
the anniversary of the farewell re
ception extended to him at the White
House by President Adams during
his last visit to our country. This
day not only recalls his youth
and his dashing figure in our Revo-
luton, but it reminds us of the ven
erable man, half a century later, held
in love and admiration by two coun-
tries for the sacrifices he had made
in the service of liberty.
Ills picture to me seems always to
have the enthusiasm and freshness
of youth, moved with the high mind
He displayed the same ambition for
faithful service, whether he was lead
ing his soldiers in the last charge
for American liberty at Yorktown or
rebuking the mob at Paris for it's
proposal to make him king His
part in the French revolution is well
known. He served the cause of order
ed liberty in America: he was un-
willing to serve any other cause in
France. His admirers might say OF
him on the first anniversary of Bas-
tile day, he is galloping through the
the ages But he refused to be man
on horseback. He knew that the well
fare of his country lay in modera-
ton. The people trusted him, but
the extremists, whether Jacobin or
Royalist, feared him. He urged the
national assembly to establish by
constitutional guarantees what the
revolution had gained.
Contended for Liberty.
'As commander of the national
guard, again he might have made
himself dictator. Insteal he was
pleading with the assembly to adopt
the preamble of the American con-
stitution as the foundation of it's
declaration of rights. When alien
armies were brought to France 10
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