Show POPULAR WILL VS THE constitution veneration for the federal con ution is rapidly fading in the country A corresponding sentiment in favor of tampering with it is spreading the conditions which will exhibit the fact that the latter day saints are more tenacious in adherence to its principles than any other elms class of citizens are developing the provisions of the instrument are barmon harmonious lous with the requirements of justice and the saints hold that its fra trainers inere were inspired when they formulated it joseph smith prophesied that the principles it embraces would in course of time be ignored and tram trampled upon and the nation consequently dalven into the direst distress from the resultant chaotic condition it would become the high privilege of the mormons cormons Mor mons to redeem the country by summoning thel the good intelligent and true to flock around the standard of liberty to assist in the re establishment of the government on a constitutional basis every invasion of a natural right is necessarily at variance with the constitution all citizens alike being entitled to the protection of life liberty and property all laws that treat thew these subjects differently as they relate to one class of citizens to the treatment accorded to all others are essentially unconstitutional the theory of our institutions being that all men are equal before the law this theoretical equality enters into the administration of the law baw as well as the intrinsic quality of measures A sentiment ie ho gradually gaining ground among leading men of the government that threatens existence of the constitution carried to its legitimate result it would I 1 wipe out the instrument heretofore regarded as the great of the peoples III li liberty erty it was expressed a few days ago in the united states senate by a gentleman no less distinguished than senator ingalls who during the discussion on the antitrust anti trust bill Is ie reported to have expressed himself thus the people of nf the united states have a reasonable degree of respect for the constitution bat they are not afraid of it the constitution was a growth and not a manufacture and the constitution of 1894 by reason of jhb operation of the will of the people who made etwas it was a vastly different in strument ment from the of 1789 ita Ite authors would not know knowlt it they made it fora for a specific purpose not for the object of coventry lawyers to device crevie definitions or to put obstacles and barriers to the will of the people 19 senator edmunds not long since took similar ground which means meads that a constitution places no restriction upon the people when they will to ignore it what is meant by the will of the people simply the will of the majority one of the chief objects of a constitution is 18 to protect minorities from the encroachment of majorities if it has not the salutary effect of restraint the weak will be at the mercy of those who outnumber them rhe fhe popular win will is directed by the public conscience consequently when there is a decadence of rectitude in the majority good bye to the rights of minorities the constitution embodies a declaration of principles which if lived up to would prevent innovations of natural rights if it is not binding on the popular will which means the will of the greater number it becomes incompetent for its duties and goes to pieces the tendency to set aside tue the fixed principles which the constitution inculcates is fraught with great danger to the country |