The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-01-30
THE CONSTITUTION
SAW DAYLIGHT AGAIN
GREATEST DOCUMENT EVER
WRITTEN BROUGHT FROM
VAULT TO PHOTOGRAPH

WASHINGTON.- the first
time in years the Constitution of the
| United States and the parchment
bearing the Declaration of Independ-
ence were brought out of their steel
home in the state department last
week and shown the light of day.
These two sacred documents of the
republic are seldom subjected to the
fading influence of sunlight and are
only brought forth for most import
ant purposes. This time Secretary
of State Robert Lansing brought them
out to exhibit them before the motion
picture camera, in the hope that the
message of honest liberty they hold
might be flashed before the country as
an antidote for ultra-radical "Redism"
Protected from the air by hermetic-
ally sealed glass plates both the sacred
instruments guaranteeing the safety
and structure of American liberty were
withdrawn from their steel safe by
the secretary and held for a few mo-
ments under the lenses of the camera.
Only a few of the state department
staff were present with the photo
graphers, and the documents were ex-
amined minutely before being return
ed to their resting place to determine
the effect that sunlight and time have
thus far had on these original copies |
About 70 years ago the Declaration of |
independence was subjected to letter |
press copying process and in conse-
quence is much more faded than the +,
Constitution. Out of the blurred |
that of "John Hancock"
stands out boldly still proclamation
to the world of the principle of hum
an liberty he stood for before all 9TH
ers.
Mr.. Lansing addressed the group as
the cameras flicked over the docu-
ments, explaining the purpose of the
state department to have the 100000
900 citizens from Maine to California
view once again these original birth
papers of the republic as a reminder
Of the institutions under which and
for which we live in united country.
-Four great documents" Mr.. Lam
sing said, mark the progress of the
struggle of thousand years to attain
the civil liberty which has found ex-
preston in American citizenship,
Magma Charta in 1915, the English
Bill of Rights in 1859, the Declara-
ton of Independence in 1776, and the
Constitution of the United States of
America in 1778. Epoch making as
each of these documents is, it is the
Constitution which represents the
highest expression of the sovereignty
Of free people.
''Gleaned from the collective wis
lom of the ages and forged into a
perfect whole in the fires of genius
The Constitution, consummating the
hopes and aspirations of generations,
into being a nation founded
IN the principle that all men are equal
before the law and that all are en-
titled to- an equal voice in the govern t
nent under which they live.
"This great instrument, whose ex- {
ellence has been proved in war as
veil as in peace, is the channel
through which our national life finds {
rue expression. It. is the bulwark of
'ur individual rights and the guard
an of the destinies of the Republic. :
With reverence we stand in the pres
nee of the Constitution of the United /,
states, beholding in it the symbol of :
democracy, vicaorious after centuries I
# onflit, the visible evidene that this !
lation is builded on the eternal rock !
f human liberty. /.
"May we never surrender this grea !
irthright of American citizenship. :
lay we give to it our undivided al
egiance May we refend it, even
Nth our lives, from every enemy who ;
eeks to destroy it in principle or n
over. AS it shielded our forefathrs q
nd has shielded US, let US always 2
HELD it from profaning hands" t
Guaranteed spring rye seed. Mark n
leans c. Lewiston idaho 106 rs n