Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-02


from the money-len6ers of Europe Ever
| Washington exclaimed in despair: II Sc,
one head gradually changing into thirteen
/ see one army gradually branching int
thirteen, which, instead OF looking up tt
Congress as the supreme controlling power
ing on their respective States" AND
later, when independence had beer
won, the impOtency of the Gov
ernment wrung from him the eXclama
ton: After gloriously and successfully
contending against the usurpation of Great
Britain, we may fall prey to our own folly
and disputes :"
But even through this Cimmerfan dark.
ness shot flame which illumined the com.
ing century, and kept bright the beacon
fires OF liberty. The architects of consti-
tutiOnal freedom formed their institutions
They may not have understood at first the
whole truth, but, for that which they knew,
they had the martyrs spirit and the cru
saders enthusiasm
The government of the republic by Con-
gress OF States. diplomatic convention of
the ambassadors OF petty commonwealths,
after seven years trial was falling
asunder. Threatened with civil war among
its members. insurrection and lawlessness
rife within the States foreign commerce
ruined and internal trade paralyzed its cur
Iency worthless, its merchants bankrupt
It's farms lnortgaged, its markets closed, its
labor unemployed, it was like a helpless
wreck upon the ocean, tossed about by the
tides and ready to be engulfedin the storm.
Washington gave the warning and called
for action. 1t was voice accustomed to
command, but now entreating. The vet
erans of the war and the statesmen Of the
Revolution stepped to the front The
patriotism which had been misled, but had
never faltered rose above the interests of
States and the jealousies OF jarring Con-
federates to find the basis for union. 1T is
clear to me as A, B, c." said Washington,
that an extension Of Federal powers
would make us one of the most happy,
wealthy, respectable and powerful nations
that ever inhabited the terrestrial globe.
Without them we shall soon be
every thing which is the direct reverse. l
predict the worst consequences from half
starved Hmping Government, always NOV
ing upon crutches, and tottering at every
step" The response of the country was the
of 1871, at Philadelphia The
Declaration of independence was but the
vestibule of the temple which this illustri-
GUS assembly erected With no successful
precedents to guide, it auspiciously worked
out the problem of Constitutional Govern
ment, and of imperial power and home
rule. supplementfng each other in promot-
ing the grandeur of the Nation, and preserv-
ing the liberty of the individual
The deliberations of great councils have
vitally affected, at different periods, the
history of the world and the fate of En-
pires; but this Congress builded, upon pop
ular sovereignty, institutions broad enough
to embrace the continent, and elastic
enough to fit all conditions of race
and traditions The experience of
a hundred years has demonstrated
for us the perfection of the work, for de
tense against foreign foes, and for self
preservation against domestic insurrection,
for hmitless expansion in population and
material development, and for steady
growth in intellectual freedom and force
Its continuing influence upon the welfare
and destiny of the human race can only be
by the capacity Of man to culti-
vate and enj joy the boundless opportunities
Of liberty and law. The eloquent character
lzation of Mr.. Gladstone condenses its
merits: THE American Constitution is the
most wonderful work ever struck off at
given time by the brain and purpose of
man"
The statesmen who composed this great |
Senate were equal to their trust Their |
were the results of calm debate |
and wise concession. Their character and |
abilities were so pure and great as to COM |
mand the confidence of the country for the |
reversal of the policy of the independence |
Government which had hitherto been the |
nvariable practice and almost universal |
opinion. and for the adoption of the idea of |
5he Nation and its supremacy
Towering in majesty and influence above |
hem all stood Washington, their President |
Beside him was the venerable Franklin, |
who, though eighty-one years of age, |
brought TO the deliberations of the conven- |
ion the unimpaired vigor and resources of |
he wisest brain, the most hopeful |
philosophy, and the largest experience of |
he times Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards
'hief Justice of the United States,
nd the profoundest jurist in the |
ountry; Robert Morris, the won
lerful financier of the Reyo- |
ution. and Gouverneur Morris, the most |
ersatile genius of his period; Roger Sher- |
nan, one of the most eminent of the sign
rs of the Declaration of Independence, and !
ohm Rutledge, Rufus King. Elbridge Gerry, |
Edmund Randolph and the Pinckneys, Were |
eaders of unequaled patriotism, courage,
biiity and learning: while Alexander Ham |
lton and James Madison, as original think
rs and constructive statesmen rank among
he immortal few whose opinions have for /
ges guided Ministers of State and deter
mined the destinies of nations
There were no examples to follow, and the
experience OF its members led part of them
o lean toward absolute centTalization as
he only refuge from the anarchy of the
while the rest clung to the
overeignty of the States, for fear that the
concentration OF power would end in the
bsorption of liberty. The large States did
ot want to surrender the advantage of
heir position, and the smaller States saw
he danger to their existence.
AT this crisis the courage and confidence
eeded to originate a system weakened
he temporizing spirit of compromise
elzed the convention with the alluring
roposit1on OF not proceeding faster than
ne people could be educated to fol-
ow, The cry: Let us not waste
ur labor upon conclusions which will
OF be adopted, but amend and
dlourn." was assuming startling unan-
nifty. But the supreme force and majestic
ense OF Washington brought the assem-
lage TO the lofty plane of its duty and op-
ortunity. He said: 1t is too probable
hat no plan We propose will be adopted
erhaps another dreadful conflict is to be
lstained If TO please the people we offer
hat we ourselves disapprove, how can we
fterwards defend our works Let us raise
standard TO which the wise and honest
an repair; the event is in the hands of God
Freed from the limitations of its en7ir n
lent, and the question of the adoption of
s work. the convention erected its Gov
upon the eternal foundations of
lie power OF the people 1t discussed the
elusive theory OF a compact between in
ependent States, and derived National |
over from the people of the United States
broke up the machinery of the Confeder-
.ion and put in practical operation the
littering generalities OF the Declaration of
From chaos came order from
security came safety, from disintegra-
on and civil war came law and liberty,
ith the principle proclaimed in the pre-
nbie OF the great charter, We. the peo-
le OF the United States, in order to form
ore perfect union, establish justice, in ,
Ire domestic tranquility. provide for the
lmmOm 0PfPnSn ha wal |
re, and secure the blessings of liberty to
1rselves and our posterity, do ordaIn and
'tabhSh this constitution for the United
sates" With wisdom inspired of God,
work out upon this continent the liberty |
man. they solved the problem of the
II lf-government with National authority,
nd the riC Is of the Stntes with the