The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-01
II Mr. Whitney Induces the Democratic
party to straddle the money question, he
may as well order It's tombstone.
TIE CONSTITUTION.

\ Valuable Work III that Instrumcu: by
Roger Foster, or the New York Hnr.
Commentaries Historical and Jurillcal.
1t was Gladstone who said. and 1t was
well said. that "thc American constItu-
ton Is the most wonderful work ever
struck on at n given time by the brain
and purpose of man." Yet how many
Americans to-day, men who boast OF
their citizenship, as In ancient times
they did who felt that to he q Roman
WAS greater than TO be a kinG-huw
many Americans in this age Of the re-
public nrc familiar with the tempest OF
opposition and storm OF dissatisfaction
which that immortal instrument en-
counterCd before 1t became the funda-
mental law OF the land? Not many,
painful AS the confession must be to
those from whom the confession Is
wrunS. II Is true In one sense that II
Is 4 dry subject. but It has really been
made Interesting and comprehensive,
without tn" slightest suggestion OF alb
~struseness. by Roger Foster, of tho New
York bur, In his admirable work, Com
metarics or the Constitution of the
United States, Historical and JuridIcal."
The constitution Is q wonderful paper
to have cmanated from such q chaotic
condition OF things MS threatened It's life
MS oon rs 1t waa-born. Foster, In his
admirable Introductory chapter, has this
to say OF IT.:
Paper constitutions have been the target
for the ridlculc OF most writer's during
the present century who have thought
themselves political philosophers. In
stable as water. they cannot excel. has
been the Judgment upon them by histO-
rlans. "HR you 4 copy OF the French
Constitutions" was asked OF u bookseller
during the second French Republic. EVE
do not deal in periodical literature" was
the reply. In tho United States. and only
In the United States. has II written con-
stitutlon survived n hundred years. while
during the same time the forms of gov,
ernmcnt OF all other nations have changed
more often and more radically than have
their respective boundaries.
That Is something TO he proud OF, u
circumstance that should lead Amcrl-
cans to Il larger pride In the benefits
their constitution hus bestowed on
themselves and the country, and that
Undue them with Il more exalted pntri-
Otism.
Now about the inception and birth of
that constitution. The articles OF con-
federation which held the colonies to-
ECthGr during the revolution was II wo-
fully impOtent document. In fact Il wa
not that that had anything to do with
the success Of the cause. The colo
niles CLING together because they were
determined to be rid OF British Opprcs-
sion. At the close Of the revolution all
the evils that had been accommodating
under the articles We're concentrated at
Il point where anarchy was about to en-
~ . D ,,,,r .. .tAI,.r,. Dr.. ,al ..IA l.. I be. -
Foster says:
The reaction from the patriotism which
carried the revolution to II successful tor
ininatlon left the people or the United
States In the most contemplate position
that they have ever occupied. The articles
OF confederation gave Congress power to
incur debts. but no mems of paying
Them. Tho result wuS Il bank
rul'tcy OF the common treasury. duo TO
Il REFUSAL OF many states TO supply funds
necessary TO pay arrcarH due to creditors
al, home and abroad. even TO tho TOidICra
who had risllrd their lives and wasted
tlic!r estates In the struggle with Great
Britain. The need Of II federal Judiciary
lSS w SSTn painfully s snS1T iaMs %'G MS,sf; I'm!
peeled tho collection OF Judgments, lender
lava which permitted debtors to meet their
0blishtlons IN state bills Of credit OF land
or commodities. were passed by different
legislatures, Many debtors were not sat.
isliCd with these pallintlGng. They do
inandcl nothing short OF tho cancellation
OF indebtedness md tho destruction Of all
rights OF property. Men rC-CCluOd tho
doctrines OF the Jewellers in Cromwcll'N
army and npplnudcd the tale IN plitarcl
of the king Of LncadncnOn, who burned
AL promlssory notes In tho market place
OF Sparta.
This was indeed d condition md not Il
theory, TINT confronted the people and
made them trcmble Mt the dawn Of tho
morrow. Shay's rebellion broke out In
massachusetts. The courts Of Justice
were the first objects OF attack, md their
sessions were furclbIy closed. Congress-
had no power under the articles of con-
federation to afford relief. When the