Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-22
Congressman Dawson Delivers
Address at Constitutional
Celebration
FIFTY YEARS OF ADVANCEMENT
Second District Representative Reviews
States Progress and Points Out
Some Of Its shortcominss-PIeads for
Loyalty to the Hawkeye state-other
Points Of interest.
,pectal to- Times-Republican.

Iowa City. March 22.-Congressman
A. f. Dawson, of the Second district
was the principal speaker at the ex-
ercises in commemoration of the fif-
.tieth anniversary of the constitution
of Iowa this afternoon. After paying
a high tribute to the past history OF
Iowa and forecasting a brilliant fu-
ture for the state, Mr.. Dawson said in
part:
This celebration, marking the fif-
tieth anniversary of the constitution
of the state, brings naturally to mind
a survey OF our splendid past, and the
hopes and aspirations of our still more
promising future.
compare. Iowa's position in the very
heart of the republic, with our ample
expanse of territory Of unequalled fer
tility, made high destiny possible.
When she was settled by a sturdy race,
who possessed honesty, energy. self
reliance, and supreme faith In guild
ing Providence, and whose hearts were
filled with the love o. liberty and free
institutions, then that high destiny was
assured.
Fifty years is brief span in the
history of a state, but that period has
marked an advance in intellectual ana
material progress which stands without
a parallel in history, and today, taxing
into view all those characteristics
which go to make a great state = re-
sources. wealth, education, morality,
and the Christian virtues OF her peo-
ple-Iowa stands without peer IN the
American union.
Looking backward over our brleE
but brilliant history, we see Iowa the
pioneer in bringing the higher eouca-
ton close to the people; we see the
of colleges and churches
without number; we read the long roll
OF illustrious men who have served
their state and country with high dis
tinction; and above all, and proudest Oh
all, we have seen our rapidly -lhcreas-
ing population steadily pursue the pat
of right living. clean thinking and VIZ
tuous endeavor.
"But it is not only the results of the
mast that crowd upon us at time IKE
this: the spirit of present-day pro-
draws our thoughts to the
present and directs our attention to
the future.
"The future of our state Is bright
with promise and Drumming with hope.
Endowed with the vigor and vitality OF
youth. sinewed with conscious strength
and irresistible energy, Iowa IS
marching majestically forward, with
implicit and unbounded confidence In
her future success.
"But in marking the mile-stones o.
our progress. as We do in such ceie-
brations as this. it is duty we owe
to ourselves to point out our short
comings, as we'll as extol the virtues
of our people. With all their excel
lence. the people of Iowa are deficient
in one trait which is a powerful factor
in the upbuilding of a commonwealth.
We are lacking in the proper de-
gree of what is commonly called state
pride
"This is deficiency which is COM
mon to the western states. Whether
this comes from lack of years, the,
a bsence of traditions, or because the
first half century of our statehood has
been spent by our people in close applt-
to material advancement / do
not know. Certainly 1t comes from no
lack of patriotism or love OF country,
as Iowa has amply proved by the gen.
erous offering of her sons in times Of
war.
1T has been wisely said that the
state Should be the first object of our
loyalty--the loyalty we owe to the ma
ton is most ennobled by conforming
1t with that which we pay to the state.
The two will grow together. High cit
izenship will give to ones state and
country an affection second only to the
love for his family and his devotion to
God.
What the people of Iowa need Is to
stimulate this spiri. of state pride; to
plant deep in our hearts the feeling
that, whether in matters sentimental or
patriotic, moral, educational or COM
Iowa always affords the best.
The deepening of this spirit will do
much to increase the homogeneity of
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