The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-19
BONES OF STEPHEN llNGTOy.

Tho Patriot Priest To Whom We 4trc In.
debtcd for Magma. Cinitn-Dlscoyery of
His ltemnins.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
The announcement in Tile Inquirer
yesterday Of the discovery Of the body
OF Cardinal Archbishop Stephen Lang.
ton, preserved in good condition, with
robes and gems, in an ancient tomb in
Canterbury Cathedral is one OF the most
important resurrections OF this century.
Not Ramescs II nor Cleopatra is as in
tercsting to the Anglo.SaXon race as this
Archbishop, whose bones have lain un-
marked for centuries. Perhaps no man
since the Christian era has done 40 much
for the English speaking people Of to-day
US he.
We owe to day much Of our chartered
rights to Stephen Langton. If any one
man is worthy the title OF the Founder
OF Constitutional Liberty it is he. What
he did might have been done by another,
but rs matter OF fact he is personally
responsible for organizing and carrying
through the first movement by which
the powers OF the sovereign were limited
by the constitutional rights OF the peo-
pie. We justly look upon Magma
Charta rs the foundation OF constitu-
tional government. 1t was q crude
ailnir, but it Was a greater advance in its
day than would be in this age the grant
ing OF constitution like ours to the
Russian people.
Before that momentous day at Runny-
mede the King OF England was Il law
unto himself restricted only by fear
OF the Pope. But at times the power OF
the Vatican in England was slight and
its authority little regarded. King John
detied the Pope and laughed at the bull
OF accommodation, but in time he was
Obliged to make peace on terms very
humiliating to himself. But from the
earliest times until King John the SOW
ereigns had done pretty much IS they
pleased. II they acknowledged the Pope
as their superior lord it did not restrict
their power over their subjects OF any
class. II the Pope did interfere it was in
ecclesiastical matters, and ii tho King
didn't like it he raised row, rot ex-
communicated and usually made up be-
fore he died. But the people had no
rights. The King took their lives and
property as he chose, or rs be was able,
for, after all, there We're some things
which even king was physically un-
able to do. Might makes right was the
English constitution previous to the
days OF Stephen Lanston. a
Langton was born in llG0, educated at
Parie, made cardinal in l206, and in the
Same year was elected Archbishop of
Canterbury by order OF the Pope, though
not allowed to take his seat by King
John until that obstinate monarch sue.
cumbed in 1918, and tried to get the
Pope to help him against his barons.
But Langton was not a party to the al.
legged compact with the Vatican. He
joined the barons, ind was their leader
in bringing King John to terms. He
drew up the preliminary articles which
formed the bases OF Magma Charta, and
Langton was the first, after the King,
to sign that instrument on Runnymede,
June Is. 1915. The Pope was displeased
with him for this, aud deposed him
from his office, but he was restored in
l2lG. He crowned King Henry III,
WAS the champion through life OF the
Great Charter, and made Henry III con.
firm it in later years when he became
FESTIVE at the rights of the people,"
10 him is also attributed the division OF
the Bible into chapters. = lie died N
1928, and no record was kept OF his
tomb, SO that its discovery last week was
purely accidental.
The great charter owes its establish
ment more to Laugton than any one else.
He controlled the savage barons, brought
them to terms and himself drew up or
dictated tho charter itself. 1t granted a
speedy trial by jury to NIL offenders, for
babe the King to seize the property or
persons OF his subjects, prohibited
amercementsaud purveyances, provided
for equal weights and measures, and by
it tho King promised not to sell or delay
justice. This was mostly for tho benefit
of the barons, but out OF it grew the
English constitution and the common
law, the basis OF government. and Justice
among the English peoples and many
others. ,l-;! ~. 81.
To-day in this country Magma Charta
is recognized Us Fundamental law, and il
is constantly appealed to in the courts
It was a crude affair, but 1t was u noble
beginning. Many centuries passed be
fore it was firmly established, but to il
to-day wo owe our constitutional rights
For this reason every American has al
abiding interest in the patriotic priea
who faced king and Pope for th'
rights Of his countrymeu.. T'.sag