Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-09-30
Next Years Centennial.


No event in American history is more
worthy Of celebration than the anniversa-
~ OF the formation Of the Constitution,
which occurs next year. The movement
begun in Philadelphia. at the meeting Of
the Governors Of seven of the old coloni-
al states. to commemorate this occurrence
deserves the hearty cooperation of all
patriotic people. The successful forma-
ton of the Constitution under which our
Government was organized has met with
little popular recognition. Every school
boy can tel when the Declaration of In.
dependence yas adopted and relate Incl.
dents.of the convention which gave that
instrument It's sanction, but Of the gath.
eripg which framed the Constitution
which carried into practice the principles
of the great Declaration OF Rights none
but scholars and statesmen know, Next
years centennial should lead to moro
intimate study Of the character and work
of the men whose genius and sagacity
moulded the Constitution under which
the United States have grown great and
strong.
1t Is a fact not creditable to tho Ameri.
can people that the labors of the conven.
ton which met in. Philadelphia May IA,
1887, brought fame to few, If any, Of its
members. George Washington was chair
man OF the convention, but hardly any
one ever thinks OF him in that capacity.
His fame rests IN his leadership Of Con.
tinental armies and his occupancy Of the
executive chair during the first two presi-
dental terms. Alexander Hamilton is
known as the great ~financier of the young
Republic, but the fact that he sat in the
convention as New Yerk's delegate has
been almost forgotten. Benjamin Frank
lin is known to posterity as the astute
diplomatist during the Revolutionary
War and as the first postmaster. general,
and not as one of Pennsylvania repre-
sentatives. James Madison is vaguely
known as the father Of the Constitution,
but the country will remember him chief
ly as the sixth president of the United
States. OF the other members of that
convention only the shadow of a name
remains. Elbridge Gerry and Rufus
King, of Massachusetts,; Roger Sherman,
of Connecticut; William Livingston. Of
New Jersey; Robert Morris, James Will.
son and Gouverneur Morris, of Pennsyl-
vania, and Charles sBfnckney and Pierce
Butler. OF South Carolina, have never yet
received their due need of fame. ,
If most of the actors in that memo
rablc gathering have been allowed 10 pass
into %obscurity, their patient efforts to
frame an organic law for the new nation
have met with little better appreciation.
History says that they represented 1.-THE
talent, intelligence and especially the con-
servative sentiment Of the country" But
the popular mind concerns itself little
with the various steps by which the com
posite work which we call a constitution
came out OF the crucible into which the
ideas and plans Of those master minds
were cast. Little Is known Of the skill
by which the jealousy ofsthe smaller
states was quieted and the pride Of the
i"iSSl SeotcS Wao oOlVcucu. I1OW WiSe,
too, these fathers were is shown by the
fact that nearly every scheme whichhas
since been suggested TO better the Consti-
tuition was considered and passed upon.
And when the various and conflicting in
terests are considered 1t is not strange
that a complete failure was often immi-
nent. When the ebulitions of feeling
and the ~clashings of self interest and the
perpetual conflict Of opinions in the as.
sembly are regarded, together with the
additional fact that the Constitution was
framed with only thseelmportant com
promises, the work Ok the convention
stands as such monument to patience as
to craftsmanship. The commemoration
OF the hundredth anniversary of such an
EVENTS well worthy the attention of the
American people.