The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-16

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is under stronger discussion
than since the Civil War, in
which the issue was Negro
slavery. Today the issue is
the rights of the individual.
In the hurricane of revolutions
which have swept the world since
the war, men, struggling in the
wreckage and poverty brought by
that catastrophe and complications
of the machine age. are in despair
Surrendering their freedom for false
promises of economic security.
Whether it be Fascist Italy, Nazi
Germany or Communist Russia, the
result is the same. Every day they
have repudiated every principle Of
the bill of rights. with speech, press,
worship and criticism censored, and
men sent to Jail for uttering their
honest opinions
Stresses Vital Principles"
Referring to the crisis" facing
the United States and its Constitu-
ton, he declared that this is the
most fundamental clash known to
mankind. 1t involves the issue
of the rights of the individual in
relation to this government.
IF for no other reason, this dis
cussion (of the Constitution is
forced on us by new PHILOSOPHERS,
new theories of government which
have arisen, denying the validity of
our principles.
Our Constitution is not alone
a working plan of great federation
of states, but has embedded its vital
principles of the American system
of liberty, based on inalienable free
doms that not even the government
can infringe upon.
They are called the Bill of
Rights which, as clear as the Ten
Commandments, include freedom
of worship, freedom against unreal
sOnable search, security against dep
rivation of life. liberty. and the
pursuit of happiness without due
process. These are the principles
that distinguish our civilization"
challenged From Within"
OF the new economic philoso-
phieS," he said:
Here is a form of servitude Slip
ping back into the middle ages.
Whatever these governments are,
they have one common denominator
the citizen has no assured rights.
Here is the most fundamental
clash known to mankind-free men
and women cooperating under or
derly liberty as contrasted with
human beings made pawns under a
dictatOrial government-who are
slaves of despotiSm, as against free
men who are masters of a state.
Even in America, where liberty
blazed brightest, it is besieged from
without and challenged from within.
Many in honest belief hold we
can no longer accommodate the
growth of science and technology
and mechanical power to the bill
of rights and our form of govern
ment.
Sacrifice Efficiency, He Says
1T would be better that we sacri-
flee some economic efficiency rather
than primary liberties" he con-
tinued. L do not admit that the
sacrifice of these rights would add
to economic efficiency or produce a
single job. or give a single assurance
for old age.
But there are always groups Of
audacious men in government and
out, who i'll attempt to consolidate
the privileges of their fellows and
the function Of government must be
readjusted from time to time to re-
strain the strong and protect the
weak
Wherever in the world there is a
system of liberty maintained, man.
kind is better clothed and better
housed. and has more leisure.
From the release of the spirit
of initiative, from which alone
comes freedom, has been builded the
machine age. The publication Of
liberty from abuses and restoration
Of rights Of men are alone the
methods in which the solution is
found and the purpose Of American
life assured.
Rights and protection of the bill
of rights are safeguarded in the
Constitution through a delicate ball
ance and separation of powers
which centuries Of experience show
is the only safe way to preserve lib
erty.
We know power feeds on itself,
partly from greed and partly from
the innocent belief that Utopia
can be attained through dictation