The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-01-17
PATRIOTIC ADDRESS GIVEN BY
FORMER WENATCHfE ATTORNEY
Tells Discharged Soldiers Why it is
Not Necessary to Use Force to
Change Our Laws

Camp Lewis, Wash, Jan Ia, 1919
George F. Hannah, Seattle attorney,
formerly of Wenatchee, today ad-
dressed the soldiers of Camp Lewis
who are about to be discharged, upon
the subject "Active Citizenship" Mr.
Hannah spoke upon the origin and de-
velopment of the United States con-
stitution and in part said:
"In a government like the United
States, whose government is founded
upon a written constitution with pro-
visions for its amendment, the use of
force can never be justified to bring
about a change. Whatever the people
want they can have. If the constitu-
ton prohibits what they want they
can amend the constitution so as to
permit it. True, the method of change
is somewhat difficult, and wisely con-
templates the lapse of considerable
period between the time when an
amendment is proposed and the time
of its final ratification. This is to
prevent hasty and ill-considered
changes in our basic law. Recall the
recent amendment TO permit the levy
of the present income tax; recall the
pending vote upon the national prohi
bition amendment; recall the ratifi-
cation of the 18th, 14th and 18th
amendments after the civil war, and
then answer for yourselves the objec-
ton that the method of amending our
constitution is too difficult to be of
practical use. Have not all of these
amendments been adopted and the
present proposed amendment voted
upon with as much expedition as is
compatible with thoro consideration
In every country men and parties arise
that favor change in the govern
ment by force-favor bloody revolu-
ton. History shows that frequently
revolution is jrstifiable. Witness the
American revolution, the French rev.
olution, the English revolution; but
revolution is only justifiable when the
existing order does not recognize the
right of the people to change the form
or method of government. If it were
possible for the people of France 70
dethrone the Bourbon autocracy by
vote, what sane nation ever would
have endured the ten years of terror
and bloodshed between 1870 and 1900?
Whatever changes, if any, may seem
necessary in the American govern
mental system; however wide de-
parture from existing institutions may
seem wise, let us remember that the
means of change are completely pro-
vided by the constitution itself. The
power of the people to change is I'M
limited and unbounded. The method
of change is by the ballot. We, there
fore, as soldiers and citizens of this
republic should throttle by every
means at our disposal those individ
uals and organizations that advocate
the use of force either to change our
institutions or to resist the law. We
Americans have at hand the means of
lawfully making any change that is
desired and consequently the use of
force to effect any change can never,
in this country, be justified"
Mr.. Humans address was one of
series of talks arranged for the de-
parting soldiers by Major Jones, COM
handing officer of the school of arms.
Other speakers who will address the
soldiers from time to time are: Dean
John w. Condor, of the University of
Washington Law School,; John D. Car
mody, deputy prosecuting attorney of
King county, and Walter F. Meier,
corporation counsel of Seattle.