Semi-weekly herald., 1915-07-12

dation stone Of human liberty-not the
liberty which makes every man law
unto himself but the liberty which
finds its highest expression in consti-
tutional government.
-Four centuries after Magma Charta,
The Commons forced Charles to sign
the Petition of Right. This document
became the basis Of the first twelve
amendments to the American constitu-
ton.
In 1916 came the Declaration Of In
dependence upon the threshold Of a
new world.
Reverting to that historic hour at
Runnymead it Is interesting to note
the attitude of some of the person
alities involved. After King John
had sealed Che did not sign it) the
document with great piece. of bees
wax as large as a saucer and an inch
thick, he rode slowly to Windsor
castle Iii is to the historian Holm
she'd we are indebted for this picture.
Great reioicing was made for this
conclusion of peace between the king
and his barons, the people judging
that God had touched the kings heart
and modified it, whereby happy days
we're come for the realm of England
as though it had been delivered out
of the bondage Of Egypt; but were
much deceived for the king having
consented to make such grant of liber-
ties, far contrary to his mind, was
right sorrowful in his heart, cursed
his mother that bare him, the hour
that he was born, and the paps that
gave him suck, wishing that he had
received death by violence of sword
or knife, instead of natural nourish-
ment; he whetted his teeth, he did
now bite upon one staff as he walked
and then upon another, and oft brake
the same in pieces when he had done,
and with such disordering behavior
and furious gestures he uttered his
rrief, in such sort that the noble
mon very we'll perceived the inclina-
tion Of his inward affection concern
ing these things before the breaking
up Of the council, and thereafter sore
lamented the state of the realm, CUES
sing what would come of his impati-
eree and displeasant taking of the
matter.
The fight, in fact, was only begun;
the king Immediately set about the
taking of his vengeance and the over
throw of all he had been compelled to
do, and within the next year England
was in the sorest danger that had
come to it in centuries. War ragged
throughout the land; the hard-bese'
country had to choose between the
tyranny and the destruction of its lib
critics on one side and a foreign rulel
on the other and only the death oi
John saved it from coming under
the dominance of France. Thereafter
for nearly century, the barons ant
the church and the people had tt
wage n long contest against the sus
ceedine kings who sought to annul the
charter, and not until 1900, afte'
many changes of fortune, was thu
victory finally won. .l l-r
In that year Edward ! granted th'
last confirmation of the charter. From
1851 to 1900 the battle for the charter
lnsted; and with Edwards action
(not voluntary one, but exhortes
like all that had gone before) thu
next step could be taken. From that
time there went on a struggle o.
ages, in which the principles not lait
down in the charter but inspairinf
every line of it were broadened b,
slow victories until the final one
was granted in 1888 and the forma
destruction by the nation of the the
ory of Divine right--Des Moines Cap
ital.
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