Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-21
AS ONE WOMAN SEES IT
" Every Citizen Learned the Text Of
the Bill Of Rights Its implIea-
, tions Might Bear Fruit
BY SARAH ID. LONRIE

revision versus amendment, and as one Of the
men had been on the committee appointed
by the Governor which, so to speak, sat
upon the constitution all last winter, his
point of view of the document was very
interesting. The other man is--what few
OF us Americans attain tO-a purist as to
the meaning Of words. He is incidentally
the president of very great business or.
gnnlzation, where | dare say his strctncss
ABOUT the carrying power of words has Its
uses.
1t began by his challenging me to rebut
his assertion that the United States of
America was not democracy but repub
lie. As hung back from the battle. the
other man, the lawyer, looking on ready to
back him. he shot this question at me:
What is your idea Of the form of gov
ernment of a dcmocracy?'
"A kind of town meeting government"
I faltcred
Exactly. where the people express them
selves upon each question by voting. An
impossible form Of government for anything
larger than n village" was his retort.
Now, then. what is your idea of re-
publican form of government
1 clutched wildly at tag ends of floating
memories of Bryce's American Common
wealth.: THE people delegate their gov
erning and legislative power to represen-
fatives,' / faltered.
But though I felt worsted. I did not yet
'NNi pVuttu, So NtntuTpu 10 uSk tDpm III tnpN
really believed the people in this country had
tair chance to choose who should lcgiSlate
for them: were they not rather put In the
position by the political machines of both
parties of having their representatives
chosen for them by n few persons who
worked behind closed doors, and I muir
INJURED something about an oligarChy
They riddlcd that idea with the buckshot
ot masculine common sense. The man Of
business opincd that. if the people left it to
70. 4. .anl
business of the country while they attended
to the business of making money il was
their own fault. AS well might absentee
and forgctful stockholders blame the direc-
tors or company for running the business
OF the company without consulting them
between board meetings. The man of law
pointed to the constitution not only of the
United States of America but of the com
monwealth, of PENNSYLVANIA. and not only
to the constitution but to the bill of rights
] was iippnnt about the bill OF rights
o"ing too grandloqucnt and hoping it would
be tanned down in the proposed new consti-
tuition.
After got home 'had n look" at both
federal and state constitutions as fur as
the sections regarding the rights of citizens
are concerned. and | concluded that the
man of business was right-wc have enough
rights If we only use them.
Those granted to us as citizens of the
United States are almost enough to scratch
along on:
''The United States shall guarantee to
every state in the union n republican form
of government. cart. IN-4D
NO state without consent of the Com
gross can pass any law impairing the obl-
cation OF contracts, or cx post facto law.
Cart. I-1OD
Slavery or involuntary scrvitudc, except
as punishment for crime. can never be en-
forced within the United States (Amcnd-
mcnt NIII.)
NO state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abrdgc the privilege or immu-
mites of citizens of the United States nor
shall any state deprive any person of life.
liberty or property without due process of
law, nor deny to any person within it's jurs-
diction the legal protection of the laws.
(Amcndmcnt NIN.)
The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by any state on
account Of race, color or previous condition
of scrvtude." IAmcndmcnt XVI
But as PennSylvanians we have even more
rights than these.
The first article in the state constitution
(adopted in 1874 is the much debated bill
of rights. | still hold that the Language is
grandiloquent, but the rights are all very
sOlidly ours.
lnalienablc rights guaranteed to every
citizen of Pennsylvania known as the bill
of rights.
l. Inherent Rights of Mankind. .-"Au
men are born equally free and independent
and have certain inherent and indcfeasib.c
rights. among which are those of eniovng
and defending life and liberty. of acquiring,
possessing and protecting property and rep
utation. and of pursuing their own hap.
pineSs.
>. Political Powcr.-"An power is in.
hcrcnt in the people. and all free govern
mcntS are founded on their authority and
instituted for their peace, safety and hap
piness. For the advancement uf these ends
they hav" mt all times an ina"nabe and
indrfcasiblr right to alter, reform or abolish
their government In such manner as they
may think proper.
g. Religious Frocdom.-"All men have n
natural aud ipdcfcasible night to worship
Atmig~g G}nk&ording to the dictate IT
thr'r "Sn ~ ence; no man can of right
be conlishe - attend erect or support
any p,ao" N gnr~hip; or ia maintain any
authority ran. in any case whatever. con
troll or interfere with the rights of con-
science, and no preference shall ever be
given by law to amy religious establishments
or modes Of Worship"
/, RcIigtous Tcsts.-"No person who ac-
knowledgeS the being of a God and q future
state Of rewards and punishmcnts shall. on
4eecunt of his religious sentiments. be dis.
qualified to hold any Office or place of trust
Sr profit under this commonwealth.
4, Elections, - Elections shall be free
aaH rquul; and no power, civil or military.
shaH at any time interfere to prevent the
free exercise of the right of suffrage"
9. FrSol by Jury.-"Trial by jury shall
b" as heretofore. and the right thereof re-
main tnSioistc."
!. Ftsedom Of Press and Spcech-Libcls.
Tho Rrinting press shall be free to every
person VINO may undertake to examine the
proceedings of the Legislature or any
branch of government, and no law shall
ever be made to restrain the right thereof
Tha ffec communication of Thoughts and
opinions is one of the invaluable rights of
man. aud any citizen may freely speak,
write or print on any subject being respon-
sible for the abuse of that liberty"
$. Security From Searches and Seizures.
Tile people shall be secure in their per.
sons, houses, papers and possessions from
unreasonable searches and seizures, and no
warrant to search any place or to seize any
person or things shall issue without dcscrib-
ing them aS nearly aS may be. nor without
probable cause, supported by oath or AFR
nation subscribed 10 by the afiant. -
g. FIX Post Facto Iaws.--''No ex post
fHCtO law. nor any law mpairng the obiga-
tiOn of raCtS or mixing irrn nn,,