The New York herald., 1920-01-18
FINDS
CONSTITUTION IS
SAFE AND SOUND
Priceless Document Preserved
in State Department Shows
No Sign of Deterioration.
Herald Bureau,
No. 1,502 III Street, n. W.,
WaahfpgtOn, ID. c., Saturday.

For the first time in twenty-eight years
the original copy of the Constitution of
the United States which, with the Declara-
ton OF Independence, is preserved In a
steel case in the library of the State De-
partment. was exposed to view on Thurs
day The parchment upon which 1t Is
written was found to be in good condition,
and the document itself shows no signs
of deterioration, The inspection was made
by the Secretary of State, who Is charged
by law with the responsibility Of preserv-
ing the priceless document.
The examination was made tho occasion
OF an informal ceremony. Secretary
Lansing. addressing the small group OF
newspaper correspondents and officials
and their wives who were permitted to-
see the constitution, made a significant
appeal for unswerving allegiance to the
principles of democracy formulated by It,
''The Secretary Of State" said Mr..
Lansing, being the custodian of the con-
stitution, may at his discretion make an
inspection of that document in order otl
assure himself that proper measures are
ching employed to protect it for this and
future ages. That is the purpose of this
Informal ceremony. l observe that 1t is
perfectly protected from light and air
and the elements which ordinarily by long
periods of time destroy written documents
which may be exposed to them. We find
the constitution safe, so far as the forces
of nature are concerned. We should pro-
tect it equally we'll in our minds and
hearts.
-Four great documents mark the prog
ress of a thousand years to attain the
civil liberty which has found expression
in American citizenship-Magna Charta in
1915, the English Bill of Rights in 1689
the Declaration of Independence in 1776
and the constitution of the United States
Of America in 1888. Epoch making as each
of these documents Ia. it is the constitu-
ton which represents the highest express
Son of the sovereignty Of a free people.
Cleaned from the collective wisdom of
the ages and forged into a perfect whole
in the fires of genius, the constitution.
consummating the hopes and aspirations
Of generations, brought into being a ma
ton founded on the principle that all men
are equal before the law and that all are
entitled to an equal voice in the govern
ment under which they live.
This great instrument. whose excel
lence has been proven in war as well as
in peace, Is thechannel through which
our national life finds true expression
1t is the bulwark of our individual rights
and the guardian Of the destinies of the
Republic With reverence we stand in
the presence of the constitution OF the
United States. beholding IN II the symbol
of democracy victorious 4fter centuries
of conflict. the visible evidence that this
nation is builded on the eternal rock OF
human liberty. May we never surrender
this great birthright Of American citizens.
May we give to 1t our undivided alle-
glance. May We defend it, even with our
lives, from every enemy who seeks to
destroy 1t in principle or power AS It
shiended our forefathers and has shielded
us. let us always shield 1t from profaning
hands"