Evening star., 1924-09-06
Continued from First Page.)

AIeatNtu ny the enemies OF lndt
cause, he declared. I demand
public inquiry within the walls of this
chamber and in the face of this ma
tion.' AS his enemies dared not meet
the challenge, he was acquitted.
After few years of private re-
tirement he emerged to ray visit
to this country, 100 years ago. Con-
gress bestowed upon him citizenship
and treasure and he was received
everywhere with reverence and ac-
claim. When the revolution of July
occurred in 1880 he once more became
commander of the National Guard
where his influence saved his people
from horrible eXcesses Again there
was an effort to establish a republic
and make him president. But he
thought constitutional monarchy
best adapted to the needs of his ma
ton. So he refused this most ap-
pealing of all honors and returned
to his country home. His long career
was ended.
Dedicated to Liberty.
HE represents a noble and coura-
geous dedication to the service of
freedom. He never sought for per-
sonal aggrandizement. but under
heavy temptation remained loyal to
the great cause. He possessed
character that will abide with US
through the generations. He loved
his fellowmen, and believed in the
ultimate triumph of self f-government
But he did not consider France had
reached a point where representa-
tive democracy would be a success.
He was practical. Like Washington.
he refused crown. But while he
believed Washington performed
great service in accepting the pres-
dency of America. he believed he
had performed an equally great Serv-
ice in rejecting the presidency of
France. He approved the establish
ment of our Republican institutions,
and hoped they would one day be a
model for the government of his own
country. He recognized the value Of
native institutions. SO, while he was
loyal to freedom, he was likewise
loyal to the crown. In moderation,
in the gradual evolution of govern
ment and society, he perceived the
strongest defense against both re-
action and revolution, and the great
est hope for permanent progress.
I'VE have come here today to honor
the memory of LAFAYETTE because
long ago he came to this country as
private citizen at his own expense
and joined us in fighting for the
maintenance and extension of our in
stitutions. 1t was not so much to ac-
quire new rights as to maintain old
rights shat the men of that day put
their fortune to the hazard of war
They were resisting usurpations; they
were combating unlawful tyrannies
No doubt they wanted to be Ameri-
cans, but they wanted most of all to
be free. They believed in individual
liberty, safeguarded by constitutional
guarantees. This principle to them
was dearer than life itself What they
fought to preserve and extend we
ought to be ready to fight to main
tain
Very little danger exists of an open
and avowed assault upon the princi-
pie of individual freedom 1t is more
likely to be in peril indirectly, per-
maps with the avowed intention of
protecting it or charging it. Out of
a long experience with many tyran-
MES abroad and weak and ineffi-
clent government at home, the Con-
stitution of the United States was
adopted and ratified. The people who
largely contributed to the early set
tlement of America came to escape
the impositions of despotic kings.
Many of the early inhabitants were
separatists from the Established
church. They fled under the threat Of
make them conform or harry them
out of the land. Their descendants
fought the Revolutionary War in or
der that they might escape the i'm
positions of despotic Parliament.
Opposed Tyranny.
This lesson was firmly in the minds
of those who made the American Con-
stitution. They proposed to adopt in
should be supreme, and the govern
ment should derive it's just powers
from the consent of the governed.
They were determined to be a soyer-
elgn people under a government hav-
ing such powers as they from time
to time should confer upon it by a
written constitution. They did not
propose to be under the tyranny of
either the executive or the legislature.
They knew. however, that self
government is still government, and
tnat the authority of the Constitution
and the law is still. authority. They
knew that government without power
Is a contradiction in terms. In order
that their President and their Con-
gress might not surpass the bounds
of the authority granted to them by
the Constitution which the people had
made, and so infringe upon the
ed third Independent department of
the Government, with the power to
interpret and declare the Constitution
and the law, the inferior courts and
the Supreme Court of the United
States. No President, however power
full, and no majority of the Congress,
however large, can take from any
individual. no matter how humble,
that freedom and those rights which
a Spno 70 1x, L.
stitution. The Supreme Court has
final authority to determine all ques-
tions arising under the Constitution
and laws of the United States.
THAT power and that authority has
to reside somewhere In every govern
ment. Originally it lay with the King.
After limitations began to be placed
upon him. it was conferred upon the
parliamentary body. One of the great
contributions which America made to
the science of government was the
establishment of an Independent
judiciary department under which
this authority resides in the Supreme,
Court. That tribunal has been made
as independent and impartial as
human nature could devise. This
action was taken with the sole pur-
pose of protecting the freedom of the
individual, of guarding his earnings,
his home, his life.
Defends Constitution.
"It is frequently charged that this
tribunal is tyrannical. II the Con-
stitution Of the United States be
tyranny; If the rule that no one shall
be convicted Of crime save by a jury
Of his peers; that no orders Of nobility
shall be granted; that slavery shall
not be permitted to exist in any State
or Territory: that no one shall be
deprived of life. liberty or property
without due process of law; if these
and MANY other nrnvisiona nnada hu