Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-15
CONSTITUTION IS
NATIONS BULWARK
SAYS CLERGY
REV. CHESSMAN BREACHES SER.
MON ON AMERICAS GREATEST
DOCUMENT AT BAPTIST SERV-
ICES.

Holding that the constitution isI
Americas bulWark and the worlds
greatest document, Rev. G. W Chess.
man, at the Baptist Church last night.
did his bit in helping to celebrate Con
stitntion Sunday The clergyman used
as his topic Our Charter of Iibcrty,"|
taking his text from porvcrbs %; Is,
Remove not the ancient landmark
which thy fathers have set.
Ne said in part:
Next Wednesday. Sept. IL, occurs
the one hundred and thirty-second an
niversary of the constitution of the
United States
1T is hitting, in the light of the days
in which We are living days OF dan
RerOuS tendencies goycrnmentlllj,
that we stress the virtues of our fed
era constitution, which guarantees
for today and tomorrow what it thus
far tor nearly century and a halt has
guaranteed stable and just reprcsen
tatve government
The social unrest following in the
wake of the great war is a rich icld
for the propaganda Of the doctrines
Of bolsheyism. Bolsheyism takes ad
vantage OF the popular Clamor for
democracy II cries revolution against
all existing government II strikes a.
the heart of our American republic.
II would destroy the constitution, or
charter Of liberty, BOlshoViSt mis-
sionaries, as Robert McEIroy points
out, are at work in our midst, urging
revolution. teaching oar people that
our own democratic republic is block.
ing the way to industrial democracy,
We must make education in tn" prin-
cples and practices of our cOnsFltu-
ton our alll in combating this serious
peril Bolshevism. with its gltterin5
promises, thriveS III the soil OF ignur-
ance. American citizens must be
made immune to the soviet appeal
through real knowledge of the con.
tent and history Of our constitution.
Great men have declared our con
stitution to RANK above every other
written constitution 1T is the most
important production OF its Kind in
human history Nicholas Murray But
Ter said The constitution is The
surest and safest foundation for a free
government that the Wit of man has
yet devised Baron Rosen, once a
Russian ambassador to the United
States. calls it the brightest hope OF
mankind William Pitt the great
English statesman, after reading the
constitution. declared, 1t will be the
wonder and admiration of the fu-
ture generations Gladstone said
The constitution of the United States
is the most wonderful work ever
struck off at given moment by tEc
brain and purpose OF man.
During the thousands of years
prior to 1883 the pendulum OF govern
ment was swinging back and forth
from one extreme to another from
autocracy, which makes tor tyranny
to democracy, which issues in chaos
in mobacracy. From May - to sept
II of l7sS tilty-tive statesmen selected
by the several states and presided
over by George Washington met in
Independence Hall to frame a federal
constitution After stormy debate
and long delibcration they seemed n
abandonment of the great purpose fol
h th hoy had moi
Franklin arose and pointed ont tha'
they had delheratcd without implOr
ing the assistance of heaven and 1t.
blessing on their dolibcra ions. TIC
recommended that every morning be
fore proceeding to business that one
or more of the clergy of the city h'
requested to otficiate in Oliernt
prayer. From that moment they be
gan to make progress in the tramtni
and adoption of our constitution,
1T is our especial duty at this var
ticular time to be we'll informed con
corning the principles of this vital
fundamental document Of our govern
ment It is the very palladium of GU
liberties It Is the guarantee of thu
inalienablc rights of man. The limo
vations and dangerous tendencies q
government in these days strike a
this great magma Charta OF American
liberty. 1t is our solemn duty a
Christians. as citizens of this grea
free republic which We love. to iunc
ton in every possible way for goy
ernmcnt of law, order, justice ant
human rights such as our country /
under the constitution. Tho ancien
landmark which our fathers set u
must not only not be removed but /
must not be impaired so as TO ondan
iAn un1.nnlLilN Of .nnAnrnInnnl n