Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-05


the governed that is final. No adj
vance, no progress can be made he
yond these propositions. II any one
wishes to deny their truth or their
soundness, the only direction in which
he can proceed historically is not for
ward. but backward toward the time
when there was no equality, no rights
Of the individual. no rule of the peo
pie. Those who wish to proceed IL
that direction cannot lay claim &c
progress. They are reactionary. Their
ideas are not modern, but more an
cient than those of the Revolutionary
fathers.
True to Principles.
"In the development of its inStitu-
tons America can fairly claim that
IL has remained true to the principles
which were declared $50 years ago. In
all the essentials we have achieved
an equality which WAS never pos
sessed by any other people. Even in
the less important matter of material
possessions we have secured a wider
and wider distribution of wealth. The
rights of the individual are held
sacred and protected by constitutional
guarantees which even the Govern
ment itself is bound not 10 violate. If
there is any one thing among us that
Is established beyond question. il is
self government--the right of the peo-
pie to rule. If there is any failure in
respect to any of these principles it
is because there is a. failure on the
part of individuals 10 observe them.
We hold that the duly authorized eX-
preston of the Will of the people has
a divine sanction. But even in that
we come back to the theory of John
ChrjSf'G
eminent. - The ultimate sane
ton of law rests on the righteous au-
thority of the Almighty.
ION an occasion like this A great
temptation exists TO present evidence
Of the practical success of our form of
democratic republic at home and the
ever-broadening acceptance it is secur-
ing abroad. Although these things
are well known, their frequent con-
Sideration is an encouragement and
an inspiration. But it is not results
and efforts so much as sources and
causes that l believe it Is even more
necessary constantly to contemplate.
Ours is a government of the people.
1t represents their will. Its officers
may sometimes go aStray, but that is
not a reason for criticiZing the prin-
ciples of our institutions. The real
heart of the American Government
uop6DOS upon the O0dTI Ol the people,.
1t is from that source that we must
look for all genuine reform. 1t is to
that cause that we must ascribe all
our results.
at was in the contemplation of
these truths that the fathers made
their declaration and adopted their
Constitution. 1t was to establish a
free government, which must not be
permitted to degenerate into the unre-
strained authority of a. mere majority
or the unbridled weight of a mere in
f1uential few. They undertook to bal
ance these interests against each
other and nrovide the three separate
Independent branches, the executive,
the legislative and the judicial depart
ments Of the Government, with checks
against each other in order that
neither one might encroach upon the
other. These are our guarantees Of
liberty. AS result of these methods
enterprise has been duly protected
from confiscation, the people have
been free from oppression, and there
has been an ever adeninG and deep
ening of the humanities of life.
Advices Spiritual Renewal.
"Under Il system of popular govern.
ment there will always be those who
will seek for political preferment by
clamoring for reform. While there Is