Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-23

letters are subject to conden-
sGtton.
law Of the land Is to say in
effect that we must change
our form Of government and
substitute the rule Of passion
for the rule of reason" P. Is.
THE Supreme Court could.
Of course, twist words around
and approve subterfuges on
the Machiavellian theory that
the end justif1es the means,
but the men on the highest
court Of our land are not of
that caliber. They have deep
convictions and they do not
seek the easiest way out Of a
dilemma like the politically
minded members Of the other
branches of the Government"
P. 81.
Unfortunately the opin-
ions Of the Court are being
made the football Of parti-
san politics and class conflict.
Hence it is more than ever
necessary to mark out. for
what they are. all insidious
attempts either in high places
or in low to undermine the
prestige Of the Court and the
efficacy Of our constitutional
system" P. vii. PerpIexed.
David Lawrence's article
September l9 on the subject
of the power Of the Supreme
Courts power to decide and
enforce the Indignation Of
the schools of this Nation
raises many issues that he
does not mention. He pro-
poses that the people of this
Nation have at their disposal
various means Of rendering
the Supreme Court segrega-
ton decision ineffective.
It would be in perfect ac-
cordance with the democratic
principle Of this Nation If
this took place. 1t would also
be an incomplete method Of
dealing with the issue. We
could not logically reverse
the Supreme Court without
also taking a few further
steps.
In effect. If the segrega-
ton decision was abrogated
by the popular will. this Ma
ton would be proclaiming
to the world that our Negro
citizens are. at best. second
class citizens. We would have
to strike that portion Of the
Declaration Of Independence
that says all persons are
created as equals. We might
possibly substitute George
Orwell's philosophy as he
expressed 1t In his book.
animal Farm: "All people
are equal. but some are more
equal than others"
We would have to strike
those portions of the Con-
stitution which guarantee
equal rights and protection
under law to all citizens.
Perhaps these amendments
would be distasteful to the
people who realize what
democracy is in this country.
Nevertheless. to reverse the
Supreme Court. and to re-
tain those portions Of our
national philosophy would be
sheer hypocrisy and a use of
mere empty words.
Mr.. Lawrence axes a
questionable attempt to es-
tablish that the Supreme
Court is being especially So
licitous to the Communists
lately, and has denied the
same solicitation to the peo-
pie Of the South. Mr.. Law
renee does not realize one
fundamental thing when he
takes this position: The very
decisions which have released
the Communists from jail are
the decisions which protect
him, and every other citizen Of
this country from arbitrary.
capricious and Ill inspired
application Of the laws. To
reduce the matter to good
side" and bad side" or to
hero and villain" as Mr..
Lawrence attempts to do. is
a perversion OF the legal
process.
When Mr.. Lawrence advo-
Gates that the States have
the power to adjudicate the
segregation question, he is
proposing that we return to
the good old days" Of the
Articles Of Confederation.
His suggestion that the power
to deal with the school ques-
ton be returned" to the
States further demonstrates
bis legal inability. This power
never existed in the States.
The Federal courts have
always been charged with the
duty TO enforce the rights
and privileges the constitu-
y