Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-23
IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES

II the spirits Of the men Of revolutionary times have
the power Of revisit the earth, and to follow and under
stand the events taking place on it since their departure.
they must get q grim sort Of enjoyment out Of comparing
tho discussion OF. the League Of Nations with that which
preceded, attended and followed the creation. a century
and q quarter ago, Of that other league Of nations, the
American republic.
When the colonists protested against the misgovern-
nent. and when, their protests proving unavailing, they
took up arms In defense OF their rights, the idea of'inde-
pendent national existence separate from the British, en-
pire existed. II at all, only in vague and indefinite form.
Washington himself declared against separation, and he
and other leaders insisted that they sought only to main
tain the rights which, as British subjects, were theirs.
Being, in the main, sensible men. when they found that
the policy which they had advocated did not square with
the facts, they changed their minds and their policy, and
fought for independence. Probably they were censured
for this change Of front, just as other men, in other times,
have been censured for the abandonment of old opinions
and the adoption of new ones to fit new facts.
The constitutional convention of 1887 was no affair
Of . few days to record the unanimous opinion OF men
who met with but a single thought. It lasted for months,
and there were as many opinions to reconcile as there
were individuals in the convention. Notwithstan ding the
fact that the convention had to deal only with the affairs
of a small group of colonies, similarly situated in respect
to most matters affecting their political life. and with
what was then thought to be unlimited room for expan-
sion. there developed in tie convention not only a strus-
gle between two antagonistic conceptions Of gdyernment,
but the warning and the working at cross purposes of
men who thought it their province to obtain advantage
for special local interests.
The constitution when completed represented COM
promise after compromise, and it represented in full the
views of no single delegate who aided in framing it. The
most vigorous defenders Of the constitution regarded it
as a fairly Satisfactory production which would serve as
= working basis until Its omissions could be supplied and
its defects corrected. A great number of men who were
familiar with 1t considered it a miserable makeshift
which would crumble to pieces when the first test was
applied. In spite of the elaborate propaganda which was
undertaken in its support, it was months before the
narrow margins, and it was years before the last of the
thirteen colonies accepted 1t.
In view Of the developments Of our own day, it is
interesting to read this paragraph from a letter written
on October 10, 1897. by General Washington to an init
mate friend, Col. Humphreys:
The constitution that is submitted, is not free from
imperfections; but there are as few radical defects in it
as could we'll be expected, considering the Heterogeneous
mass Of which the convention was composed and the d.
versity Of interests which were to be reconciled. A con-
stitutionai door being opened, for future alterations and
amendments. I think 1t would be wise in the people to-
adopt what 10 offered to them, and 1 wish it may be by
great majority OF them as in the body that decided on it;
but this n hardly to be expected. because the importance,
ana sinister views Of 81 many characters will be affected
by the change. Much will depend, however, on literary
abilities and the recommendation Of it by good pens,
should it be openly. I mean publicly, attacked in the Ca
sette. Go matters however as they may, I shall have the
consolation to reflect, that no objects but the public good,
and that peace ana harmony which 1 wished to see pre-
vail in the convention, ever obtruded, even for a moment,
in my mind, during the whole session, lengthy as it was.
What reception this state will give to the proceedings
(thfough the great territorial extent of it, I am unable,
to inform you. In these parts of it. it is advocated be-
yond my expectation. The great opposition, if great is
given, will come from the counties southwark and west
ward: from whence I have not, as yet, heard much that
can be depended on"