Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
PENNSYLVANIANS AND THE
CONSTITUTION.

That the Constitution has fallen
into disuse and is spoken of in some
quarters with contempt seems to be
recognized, if we are to believe some
Of the things that were said at Bed.
ford Springs, Pa. at the 23rd annual
session Of the Pennsylvania Bar AS
ISOLATION last week. Tie date Of the
meeting was June 26th. The report
is as follows:
The proceedings were opened by
the address of the President, Cyrus
G. Derr, Of Reading, upon the subject
PHILOSOPHY Of Lawmaking.
One of the dominant notes in the
address was expressed in the phrase.
"A people unwilling to fight for the
right to make its own laws will soon
the maintenance OF the conQuerOr's
right to make It's laws"
After reviewing briefly some Of
the proceedings Of the present Legis
lature Of Pennsylvania, the speaker
said that the enlightened stranger
reading the statutes passed by a sin
gle Pennsylvania Legislature would
notwithstanding many imperfections,
confidently and unerringly infer that
they are the laws of a people free
and happy, highly civilized, rich and
powerful.
Referring to the fact that there
were forty-seven important republics
beside Pennsylvania, and the Federal
Republic embracing them all, In
which the people by their agents or
representatives make their own laws
the speaker propounded and answered
the question, evil this free govern
ment endure?" His conclusion was
that though human betterment has
been arrested sometimes and at . tier
times positively set back, and though
during periods civilization seemed to
have been destroyed by some cata-
clysm, the race had unerringly
emerged and resumed its forward and
upward movement.
There ia much in those utterances
that may apply to colored people in
this country. The conclusion reached
is encouraging and Is In strict ac-
cord with the truths Of history, the
experiences Of the past In all ages
The report continues:
The address concluded with the
following estimate Of the status Of
American democracy In the present
crisis: ''If the form of Government
toward which the people OF the earth
n, ic hnUn
we, the American people, reached the
goal? Have we reached 1t to remain
there, or are we now or at some time
to be pushed back into an unfree con-
dition to the end that later some
other people, perhaps in some other
part of the world, shall establish
permanent democracy?
eve think not.
'The leaven which our forefathers
supplied in 1776 has been constantly
working; it made France free; 1t has
checkered the southern. half Of this
hemisphere with free states; 1t has
made China a republic, and Russia,
and now, the sacred right Of the peo-
pie to make their own laws being
assaulted in Central Europe, America,
like Belona's bridegroom Tapped In
proof Is going to the rescue"
The speaker takes an optimistic
view Of the situation and then another
speaker comes to discussion of
present-day conditions in this coun-
try. Here 1t Is:
Using as texts the famous express
ion OF New York East Side politi-
clan, "What is the Constitution be-
tween friends?" and that more sim
lister phrase, "To hell with the Con-
stitution and Judges" latterly so
much in the mouths of agitators who
seek to inculcate hatred Of the Gov
, eminent and authority, Henry D. Es-
tabrooll, of New York, presented In
! his annual address to the Pennsyl-
vania Bar Association a vigorous de-
, tense OF the Constitution.
J The classic joke Of the New York
politician, however, had latterly al
most ceased to be so regarded. The
vice and, wickedness contained In it
at one time seemed so absurd and
| impotent that it was only laughed at,
| but recently he had been wondering
| why we laughed, since there had
| arisen a wide propaganda which
made light Of the constitution and
that was impatient Of its restraints
where they stood in the way of pet
schemes and short cuts to their real
| iZation.
Mr.. Estabrook continued:
J "The purpose of the Constitution
was to substitute the rule Of law for