The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-05
OPPOSITION TO CONSTITUTION

We are celebrating today the 143d an- , niversary of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. The American colonies planted the seed of freedom and equality in the soil of the western hemisphere and then began that irrepressble struggle between democracy and autocracy which culmin- ated in democracy's triumph on the bat tlehelds of France in November 1918. The signing of the treaty of peace with Germany coming so near the day we celebrate, gives it added significance and 1 icyousness. Little did the men of 1776 realize that they had launched a war
 for freedom which would require 142 years { of struggle to win, and yet they did have ] the vision to see that the salvation of humanity depended upon freedom and i equality of the individual, self f-govern-
 r1ent through democratic institutions and
 denial of the divine right of kings As i the 1S feeble American colonies took the
 step in 1176 which secured their liberty
 and independence after six years of des-
 perate war and subsequently, consolidated
 their victory through a federal union which brought into existence the great est republic of all time, so now that re- | public, by combining it's strength with | the great democracies of Europe, has destroyed the greatest autocratic govern ments on earth, and has given to the people of Europe the opportunity of es- ltablishing self government and of so consolidating and organizing their vic tory that the peace of the world may be secured. It rests with us and with them to say whether this is victory of peace or a victory of war.
 ''It is Illuminating to recall at this time the events that led up to the formation and adoption of our own federal constitu- tion and to outline the character of the fight which was made against the for nation of this great republic, because they present, in many respects, a strik
 ing parallel to the character of fight
 which is now being made against the rat
 ification of the league of nations.
 FOLLOWING TREATY OF PARIS
 '"The treaty of Paris of 17S3 secured the
 independence of the American colonies.
 Up to that time the common danger had
 given them cohesion in the war But no
 sooner had the victory been won than
 the jealousies and rivalries of the sev-
 eral states began 10 assert themselves
 Then, as now, more critical situation
 was presented than the war itself had engendered. How to make liberty and
 independence impregnable and to secure
 future peace was then, as now, the great
 problem. Cooperation between the va
 rious states not only ceased, but com mercial war between them began. Dis
 putes about territory arose and actual Possibilities occurred between Connecticut
 and Pennsylvania. War was narrowly averted. New York and New Hampshire
 had similar territorial dispute which
 almost eventuated in war Financial dis
 tress pervaded every state. There was no reliable medium of exchange and trade
 and commerce were hampered every
 where. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island actual rebellion broke out and civil war was threatened. Each state was striving for it's own advantage. and selfish interest and bitter antagonism were rapidly producing condition of anarchr which threatened to destroy all