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TUB 1S11SLE
To tlio Editor o tlio Courier-Journal: It is
gratifying to many people to read the state
ments of W. J. Bryan regarding the Biblo, as
published in your issuo of the Gth of May, page
5, and it brought to my mind a' quotation from
"Tho Glory of tho Cross," by the Rev. A. B.
Mackay, as follows:
"At one of tho social gatherings of Baron
d'Holbach, whoro tho most celebrutod infidels
of tho ago wore in the habit of assembling, great
entertainment was afforded by tho witty way in
which tho pretended absurdities, stupidities and
follies of the holy scriptures were descanted
upon. Tlio philosopher Diderot, who had taken
no part in tho conversation, brought it to an
abrupt termination by saying, 'Gentlemen, I
know no men, either in Franco or elsewhere,
who can speak or write with more talent than
you who are hero present, and yet, notwith
standing all the evil that has been spoken of this
book (do co diablo de llvre), and no doubt with
reason enough, J defy you, with all your power,
to compose a narrative as simple and yet as
subllmo and touching as the story of the passion
and death of Jesus a narrative which shall
produco tho samo effects and make so strong a
sensation, felt so generally by all men and tho
influence of which shall continue the same after
so many ages.'
"So astonished wore the company and so
touched in their inmost consciousness that a long
and awkward silence ensued."
I may add that it has always seemed a thing
most significant to mo that, though the Jewish
people are responsible for tho holy scriptures,
nothing worthy of being classed with them has
over been written by them since tho canon of
their sacred writings was closed over 2,000
years ago.
Many will feel grateful to Mr. Bryan for his
thoughtful and timely statement. Yours truly,
CHAS. I-I. MOCKRIDGE,
Rector St. Peter's church, Portland.
FUNCTIONS OF JUDGES
' Objecting to the recall of judges as proposed
for Arizona and New Mexico, Albert Fink say's,
in a current number of a' magazine:
"Tho judges are not the servants of tho
majority. The judges are tho servants both of
tho majority and tho minority and must of
necessity bo independent of each. It is one of
tho peculiar functions of a judge in a state
governed by laws and not by men to protect
tho minority. Though chosen by tho majority,
the domination of this majority after election
is tyranny. Such a practice can be maintained
only by arms, and this power does not always
lio in majorities."
Referring to Mr. Fink's article, tho Dubuque
(Iowa) Telegraph-Herald prints this admirable
answer:
"If Mr. Fink were not a lawyer, and if he
did not essay discussion of the subject with the
voice of tho omniscient, his mistakes would be
excusable. But there is no warrant whatever
for asserting, as he does, that 'it is one of tho
peculiar functions of a judge to pro
tect, tho minority.' That, as the merest tyro
knows, is the end served by the constitution. It
is tho notion that some judges get, that theirs
are extraconstitutional functions, causing them
to exaggerate property rights and minimize
human rights, that has brought home realiza
tion of tho need of adopting means of defense
against them, which would be meanB of defense
of tho constitution against perversion of its
terms and its spirit. The real enemies of the
constitution are not those who advocate the
recall for judges, but those judges who bring
tho courts into contempt by theories of tho
constitution at variance with tho principles of
humanitarianism and progress."
A WAIL FROM RICHMOND
The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch, a publi
cation that claims to bo a democratic news
paper in tho faco of its persistent service to
special interests, says: "Woodrow Wilson
Beems to be inclined to flirt a little too freely
with the 'head of the party' in Nebraska, for
which we are truly sorry Wilson is such a' nice
man, so promising, so full of good things so
fit for higher honors than he has yet won that
wo hate to see him losing his fight before he
begins."
If Mr. Wilson can livo down the support of
the Richmond Times-Dispatch and certain other
publications known to be under tho control of
special interests, he need have no fear of beimr
injured by the fact that ho is on good terms
with, any democrat whoso offense is that ho
The Commoner.
believes tho demcratlc party should be true
to its name. Tho best thing that could happen
to Mr. Wilson at this tlmo would bo his open
repudiation by these publications that aro now
speaking kindly of him but whose masters
mean no good to the democratic party and no
Bervico to tho American people.
A MUCH NEEDED REFORM
Tho democratic party will make a great mis
take if it loses tho opportunity now presented
to change the dates for the convening of con
gress. Under the present law the first regular
session does not meet until thirteen months
after the election only eleven months before
the next election, and the second session does
not convene until after the succeeding election,
when many congressmen have been defeated.
It is unfortunate that the country should have
to wait so long after an election beforo secur
ing the remedial laws voted for, and still more
unfortunate that it should be made the victim
of legislation that could not be enacted before
the election. The democratic congress should
take advantage of its majority to pass a law
changing the date of both sessions. The first
session should convene March 4, (or, if the date
of inauguration is changed, on that day.) This
could be the short session. The second session
should begin the first of December (when the
first session begins now) and should adjourn at
least thirty days before the following election.
Provision should be made for a' third session
every four years to count the electoral vote and ,
tho president should be empowered to call a
special session at any time to provide for
emergencies. The change above suggested is
Imperatively needed. Who will secure the credit
of inaugurating the reform? Tlie necessary bill
ought to be introduced at once. -
KEEP COOL!
It may not be doubted that in his efforts to
prevent anything that would bring about compli
cations for the United States in the Mexican
conflict, President Taft has the support of
Americans generally. The American people do
not want war or" anything that would result in
any sort of a1 war. It would be well if public
men could keep as cool on these war questions
as Americans generally are. Certainly Presi
dent Taft in his peaceable attitude represents
public sentiment in America.
The American people are distinctly for peace
peace with Mexico and the Mexicans, peace
with Japan, peace with all the world; and
finally, for the abolition of war altogether. They
will commend heartily the efforts of every man
who strives to bring about the realization of
this good end.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TBTE PRESIDENT
When a number of republican "farmers"
called upon President Taft to protest
against Canadian reciprocity and to threaten
tho president because of his champion
ship of that reform, Mr. Taft told them bluntly
that he would not be influenced by predictions
that his course would lose him votes. He said
ho believed Canadian reciprocity is important
for the public interests and he would on that
proposition be a standpatter even if he could
not stand among the "standpatters."
Congratulations to the president! It is a
good sign whenever a public man can show
that threats have no terrors for him and that
lie cannot be swerved from what he conceives
to be a righteous position by the promise that
his course will result in the loss of votes.
MAYOR GAYNOR'S TESTIMONY
A New York clergyman wrote to several
public men asking them why they believed in
God. Among the answers received was the
following from Mayor Gaynor:
"You ask me 'Why do I believe In the Father
God? Because I simply cannot help it. I have
absolute confidence in Him and am willing to
submit to whatever He wills in respect to me "
Simple testimony, indeed, but the mayor of
New York is big enough to bear witness to the
simp o faith of a little child when occasion
requires, and testimonies of this kind certainlv
must have far-reaching influence upon younc
men and young women. J"ub
MAKING CONVERTS
Tho action of Judge Petit in standing between
Lor raer and the Illinois investigating com
mittee will mako converts to the recall It will
not hurt to deprive such a judge of "indepen
dence" such as Judge Petit manifested
PROGRESSIVE
The Boston Transcript declares that Senator
Lodge "belongs with the progressives and not
with tho regulars." The Transcript adds:
"Undoubtedly La Follette and other insurgents
are offensive to a man of Mr. Lodge's tastes
and they have not been careful of his feelings'
Somo of them aTe hypocrites, for example, on
reciprocity, but they aro not alone. Moreover
as Dr. Cyrus Bartol used to say, you have done
a good deal for a man when you have made
a hypocrite of him. These insurgents are voic
ing popular doctrines, and if there is a chance
for republican victory in 1912, they will be
the men to bring it about. Mr. Taft has at last
found this out. The country is done with tho
other faction."
Mr. Lodge has had ample opportunity to
show where he "belongs," and to men outside
of the Transcript office he seems to have made
it very clear. It would be strange, indeed,
should we find the Massachusetts senator
actually lining up with Senator La Follette and
other insurgents who are so "offensive" to a
man of Mr. Lodge's tastes. It would seem that
if Mr. Lodge had within him any of the ele
ments of the progressive, men who wage the
good fight La Follette has made would be able
to beat down any personal antipathy that might
be felt by so aesthetic a gentleman as the
Massachusetts senator. It was a matter of com
mon remark during the Roosevelt administra
tion that the president picked his boon com
panions from the strongest men among tho
stand-patters and from the weakest men among
the progressives. Thus we found him associat
ing intimately with men like Elihu Root and
Henry Cabot Lodge, while he was hardly on
speaking terms with Robert M. La Follette, and
of course it is a matter of record that his
attitude toward Bristow drove that gentleman
from . public service under the Roosevelt ad
ministration. This was of course a favor to
Mr. Bristow because it won him a senatorship.
The Transcript is right in one particular:
The insurgents are voicing popular doctrines,
and the revolt is against Aldrichism, which is
only another name for Henrycabotlodgeism.
LEGITIMATE ENCOURAGEMENT OF TRADE
The republican party has been trying for
years to subsidize steamship lines' and the demo
crats have very properly opposed the plan; and
fortunately they have succeeded in defeating
the scheme. Now that the democrats have
control of the house of representatives they
ought to outline their plan for the encourage
ment of the merchant marine. First, free ships
give our ship owners a change to buy their ships
anywhere. We have been protecting a few ship
builders at the expense of the country. Second,
discriminating duties can be given in favor of
goods imported in American bottoms. Third,
the government can build transports, to be used
for carrying troops In time of war and to be
leased in time of peace. In leasing these ships
trade routes can be established and provision
can be made for training of American seamen.
A line could be established between New York
Si?UenoS Ayres' PPing at Porto Rico,
Baibadoes anad Brazilian ports; another from
New York (or some other sea port) to Panama,
to be extended to Equador, Peru and Chile, as
PoiLJT x? caJ?al Is 0Pened; another from
P?ln nl ?W Orleans and other gulf ports to
f 5? ,t0 be Jrxtended south when the canal
oitSPl ?; i1110.?61, from Seattle and other Pa
M Panama via Mexico and Central
? lnd sti11 another from Panama along
orS C?ast of South America to Porto
tro-f id Barbades. These lines could, by
nnrt?S ? CTaTr?oa, at meeting points, give all
Cfb Athe,UnIted States access to all ports of
twh,frriCa,1 If we have any battle ships
tholr S exercise they might give up a part of
spvivn? t0 Cargo aild Passengers. There are
inl lZa7S ?f encouraging trade without turn
undPr n X1n&r 0Ve to tne snIP owners, who,
?? th VUfbBld 0lIcy' would bG as clamorous
Am2tnP?tected interests. South and Central
oS tvlM ?e,se7e attention and we can encourage
our trade in legitimate ways.
WHY? . ' r
in J Jf u?lca2 leaders in congress are mak
ing dnnP?ate efforts t0 defeat not only tariff
III J S proPsed by democrats, but tariff
rninproposed by the president elected
nrnn.fv PU!ani in the form f Canadian reci
SSSiLi let the republican platform of 1908
Shi? tw P??ple tarifc revision. Is It pos
VaLI i republican leaders will yet insist upon
5nrlvBiM0hl,ld Senatr Lodge's plea that the
.party aid not promise to revise downward?
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