The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-21
bryce PRAISES CONSTITUTION.
PANS REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO
MEN WHO FRAMED TT.
Great Britain's Retiring Ambassa-
dor Guest Of Honor at Affair Ccle-
br~ting t2sth Anniversary OF
Framing of Constitution Of United
States-Prcscnted Gold Medal by
Pennsiyvania soct~sy-Guests Re-
cclvc Handsome Copies of Consti-
tuition ~ Souvenirs.

New York. Dec. 1&.--In commemo-
ration OF the one hundred and TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary OF the framing of
the constitution OF the United States
the Pennsylvania Society held It's
fourteenth annual dinner here tonight
with James Bryce. the retiring Brit
ish ambassador. as the guest Of hon
or.
Attorney General George w. Wick
ersham wis toastmaster and delivered
an address. as did the ambassador.
Other speakers were United states
Senator william Il. Borah. Of Idaho.
and Job Il. Hedges. OF New York. A
message Of congratulations to the So
cisty from President Taft wes enclos-
ed In each copy OF the souvenir OF
the evening. q handsomely bound
copy OF the Constitution OF the United
States.
A feature Of the dinner was the pre-
sentation of a gold medal to Mr..
Bryce. This medal was founded Sow
sral years ago by q group OF men,
bcrs for the purpose Of providing spe-
cial distinction to any person whom
the Society particularly wishes to
honor. Its presentation to Ambassa-
dor Bryce marks the first time 1t has
been given to any one not citizen
Of the United States.
Ambassador Bryce spoke on "The
Constitution Of the United States"
He said. In part:
The Constitution was the work OF
an extraordinary group Of men. such
as has seldom been. seen living at the
same time In any country. and such as
had never been brought together In
any other country to undertake the
immensely dificult task of framing q
fundamental instrument Of govern
ment for q nation. The nation was
then q small one and II Ia one OF the
most striking tributes to the genius
and foresight Of men that that frame
Of government which they designed
for three million people should have
proved fitting to serve the needs of
ss.oo0.o 900.
what have TO say Of the Consti-
tuition must refcr chiefly to the past.
because its provisions seem to be now
not 90 far removed from the field Of
political controver a. they have been
since 1885. Fortunately there Ia
plenty to be said without trespassing
on that controversial field from which
my ofncial position debars me.
Tho whole Of your history since
17ss In q record OF the services which
tho Constitution has rendered to you.
II formed anew. or at least II strength
sned and developed. for the sentiment
was fortunately brought by your an
cestors from England. the habit Of de-
ference to the law and respect for It's
forms. with q sense OF the value Of
directing everything by strict meth
DDS. which Is one or the finest tributes
Of n free people.
1T taught you to recognize that q
free government must be founded up
on tho sense OF right. upon the re-
spect of every man and every COM
munity for the rights of every other
man and community to the exclusion
Of all violence. II impressed upon
every citizen the sense that the will
of tho whole people. duly ascertained
and acting through tho prescribed
forms. must prevail. The doctrine
OF popular sovereignty Is a fine and
wholesome principle when II Is ex-
ercised In the duly prescribed and
duly observed forms. just as that
doctrine may be the source OF tur-
moil and injury 10 people which
rushes heedlcssly to carry out its ar
bitrary will at The impulse of sudden
passion.
Both the Federal Constitution it.
self and all those State constitutions.
which have been enacted upon similar
lines have had the effect OF stea dying
the machinery OF government. Of
slowing down sudden impulses. of Sc
curing respect for the rights OF every
man and every section Of the people.
Such services would seem TO you
much more wonderful II IL were not
that you are 40 familiar with them
Look at other popular governments
and see how much they have suffered
from the want OF similar safeguards.
IL you wish fully TO realize what your
constitutions. Federal and State,
have done for you.
Senator Borah. In his speech on
"The United States" strongly defend