The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-06-18
THE FAITH OF THE FATHERS

Vice-President Marshall stands al
most alone, in these days OF political
contentious, urging upon the people.
upon American citizens of whom he
is one most loyal and patriotic 70
"a speedy return to the constitu-
tion-the faith OF the fathers OF
the republic" His urging is
timely: it is of utmost Importance,
especially in these days when there
is so much of unrest, so much of a
desire manifested to get away from
the solid bedrock of government as
prescribed by the constitution under
1ich and by which the people OF the
United States have become the treest.
The most enlightened, the most pros
porous of all people in all the world.
Men, some men pretend TO believe
that we have outlined the constitution
as it was laid down in the wisdom of
the fathers of this republic, men OF
courage and of vision, men who were
actuated by a desire ito form more
perfect Union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense, promote the gen
eral welfare, and secure the blessings
OF liberty to ourselves and our poster
ity," quoting the words of the pre-
amble of the constitution which our
fathers so wisely drafted and made
the foundation Of this government.
They had Astounding and abundant
faith in the people, else they would
not, in the very beginning of that pre-
amble, from which the above words
are quoted, have said: 1--WE, the peo-
pie
Their faith was and is justified. 1t
is the faith that has held fast ITO that
which is good" in government. 1t is
to return to that faith that Vice Presl-
dent Marshall is urging. He may be
classed as 'old-fashiOned' in his
views, but better than a thousand
times than to desert what is old III
constitutional government, that has
been tested and found true, and turn
to something new and untired especi-
ally something that is not the result
of wisdom, something that gives no
promise whatever of insuring justice
and tranquility, or >of promoting the
general welfare, all of which were the
matters of prayerful consideration on
the part Of the fathers of this republic.
The cure-alls that are being offered
today, to replace the original cOnsti-
tuition of the republic, will not answer
Vice-President Marshall and other
wise, patriotic citizens recognize this.
He and they also deplore the present
drifting away from the old but none
the less true principles of government
He urges "a speedy return to the con-
stitutiOn-the faith of the fathers"
That alone is sufficient to keep this
government from falling into the pit
which its WOuld-be deStroyerS are dig
ging. They have nothing to offer that
in any degree approaches the form
government or the assurances Of safe
ty, such as the fathers of the republic
had to offer the people, such as has
served as safe and sure foundation,
upon which has been reared the great
est and most just government ever
instituted among men. Why, then, de-
sert that which has proved to be good
for something that can not and is not
born Of truth and right!
All, no. Let rot the American peo-
pie be deceived The faith of the
fathers is the faith that all loyal, pat
riOtic American citizens need now to
have and to hold, and all who have in
anywise wandered away, who have to
any degree lost that faith, let them
heed the urgement of the vice presi-
dent and return with all haste to the
faith that the fathers possessed and
by whose wisdom we have been guided
successfully, and with prosperity and
happiness, all these years-Times-
Union.