The Century Volume 68 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ...opened, the government, as well as the members, in deliberating upon national affairs, might find it necessary to make changes in the laws relating to such sub jects as those just enumerated. If such changes had to be made in the text of the constitution, opportunity might be afforded for unscrupulous politicians to attempt to secure other changes affecting fundamental principles; and even if the attempt proved a failure, it would certainly lessen the authority of the constitution. But when matters of detail are separated from the constitutional text, amendments, rendered necessary by changing conditions, can be easily made. This has been found to be the case especially with regard to the law relating to the election of members, in which the provisions concerniig qualifications of members and other details have been'modified from time to time in order to conform to the progress of the people and to changes in national conditions. This feature of our constitution was highly commended by the late James G. Blaine, whom I visited in 1889 at his summer residence at Bar Harbor. He was kind enough to say that it was, in structure, the most perfect constitution he had ever read. During his long service in Congress, the constitutions of various States, newly admitted to the Union, had come under his observation, and he had been impressed with the idea that it would have been both wise and expedient if the framers had separated principles from details and had enumerated only the former in the text of the instruments. In February, 1890, I spent many a pleasant and instructive hour at the Athenaeum Club discussing with the late Herbert Spencer the Japanese constitution. He considered it an almost miraculous feat that the new constitution of Japan did no violence to the...