The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-05-19
THE CONSTITUTION.


Winning Grafton A. Weir of Isuena
College.
On the 25th day of May, 1887, there assembled in
Old Independence Hall body of men, the result of
whose deliberations has done more to benefit human
ity than other event in secular history They gave
to the world document that bore the seal of divine
approval masterpiece of craftsmanship which in
the profoundness of it's thought and the broadness of
it's conception has never been equalled Not only the
destiny of thirteen struggling colonies but the destiny
of hemisphere was developed in it's folds That doc
ument was the Constitution of the United States
The powers of the Old World watched for the down
fall Of the government and predicted its dire des
tructon and ruin; but a century has passed and it
stands FIRMLY fixed upon the principles of Justice
and equity when those thirteen colonies were first
united under it,
The American Republic is not result of the Declar
alton OF Independence 1t is not result of the suffer
ngs at Valley Forge, of the crushing defeat of
CORVALLIS at Yorktown. History abounds in strug
giles for freedom that just illustrous as the
American Revolution From the earliest traditions of
the human race generation after generation fought
to overthrow tyranny and oppression but it has most
frequently happened that the tyrant was deposed only
to make for the despot 1t was to gain liberty
that the people helped Sulla overthrow the Marian
Party but the record of his unjust reign one of the
many blots on the pages of Roman history 1t was to
regain their rights that the English purtans led
Charles to the executioners block and made Crom-
we'll Lord Protector of the Commonwealth but his
rule was arbitrary and despotc and the oppression of
the people it had been under his predeces
The desire for freedom caused France to send Louis
XVI beneath the guillone but the condition of the
people, bad as it had been, infinitely worse under
the awful reign Of terror which followed. Marat
Robespierre and Napoleon, each in his turn in the
name of liberty, caused the hot blood of France to
How like water while the burden of debt and injustice
constantly increased Had not the colonies utilized the
freedom which they had gained, by adopting the Con-
stitution, the Declaration of Independence Valley
Forge and Yorktown would be but monuments of
American failure.
The United States it's Success its progress, aye
it's very existence to the wisdom and fore
sight of the statesmen who from the experience of the
world and from their own judgments moulded form
OF government which, during century of advanced
thought and high civilization has proved itself able to
solve the most intricate complications that have arisen
1t has offered the proposition that the people
capable of ruling themselves, and it has demon
strated its practically to the world. AS result of
this declaration not crowned head nor tyrant's
throne remains upon the western continent.
The Constitution had no precedent but it became to
large extent the model of France, Mexico, Chill and
the Argentine Republic, and its principles SO in
fnitey comprehensive that, amid the greatest
culture intelligence and advancement recorded in his
tory, it stands absolutely unapproached.
Before the Constitution adopted, the 'Plan of
Perpetual Union embodied in the Articles of Con-
federation, the guiding principle of the United
Colonies. This plan approved by the
Congress two years before the close of the Revo-
luton and it not at all surprising that the colonies
struggling to throw off the yoke of bondage and OPP
preston and being familiar with the past history of
the world, were slow to yield themselves the power
of government which they feared might enguf them
at any time The southern colonies We're fitted by
climate and physical conditions for agricultural states
while the northern colonies especially adapted to
manufacturing and commerce. 1t seemed as though
they could have no legislation in common They be-
leved that strong central government could not ex
list without limiting the rights Of the states SO diverse