The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-22

compromise, the Constitution was
signed, on September IL, 1857.
There was no legal way for this
instrument to be put into use with
out the unanimous consent of all
thirteen states. But, inasmuch as
this was impossible the Convention
before adjournins decided that when
nine of the states had ratified, II
should be put into use in those sta
ties. This was an act of revolution,
but nothing short of revolution
would bring the desired results.
1T is proper that on this l35th an
nlversary, American citizens every
where should pay great respect and
honor to the men who so success
fully framed the Constitution of the
United States. But, We must not
forget that economical and social
conditions had much to do with
its success. AS men saw their for.
tunes waste away with the deprecia-
ted money they were quick to cob
denim the Articles OF Confederation,
and were willing to try something
new. But so definitely were the PEG
pie of 1877 divided into classes that
IT was next TO impossible to get the
Constitution ratified in some states !;
when it was once ratified, in some
states; when 1t was once ratified,
however, a large majority of the
people were willing to give their
support to the new government.
But the debtor class, the small land
owner, and the masses who made I'D
the group that was most Indifferent
to the new government, was soon to
be organized into social and politi-
cal groups whose influence has had
much to do in determining the
course of evolution of the Constitu-
ton Some of the most important
Revolutionary leaders were to be
found in this claSS-Samuel Adams,
Patrick Henry. Eldgridge Gerry, and
George Clinton, the latter two who
later became vice presidents Of the
United States. They we're all TO be
found in the group who condemned
the work OF the Philadelphia Con
Vention, and disapproved of the
new government 1t does not seem
likely that the new government
would have had such an auspicious
beginning, and would have met with
the success that ii did. in the first
quarter century of its history, If ii
had not been for a particular turn
in world affairs Just at this time.
The French Revolution which
commenced in 1871, threw Europe
into turmoil which resulted in
twenty dve years of war. Europe
was forced to buy of America. Crops
could be sold at much more sat
isfactory price than during the Art
icies of Confederation. Hard money
was more in evidence. General
prosperity was insured. Under
such a condition the efforts of those
who attacked our government were
all in vain. For quarter of a cent
ury America experienced a pros
perity for which they felt their new
government was largely responsible.
Their faith in the Constitution gave
II dignity and strength.
The Constitution of the United
States has rendered and renders
now, inestimable services. 1t was
adopted to serve a few million
people, and continues to serve well
over a hundred million. It offers
obstacles to rash and hasty changes.
1t secures time for elaboration. II
causes the people to think seriously
before they alter it or pardon a tran
sgFeSsion of it
1T makes legislatures and states
men slow to go beyond their legal
powers to propose measures which
the Constitution seems to disapproye
1t tends TO render the inevitable
process Of modification gradual.
1t makes impossible many chang
es which temporary majorities
clamor for. 1t attaches those who un :
der stand 1t by ties of probe and
reverence to the fundamental prin-
81 M
The Constitution of 1889 has I'm
it has been changed in four distinct
ways: By amendments which have
been added, by Interpretation of the
judicial department, by statutory
enactments, and by custom of polit-
ical parties and leaders. The first
of these is by no means the most
important. Those who were opposed
to the Constitution when it was be-
fore the states for ratification de-
manded more than 100 amendments
to it. before they would be willing to
give IL their support. When the CON
stitution was ratified the new Con
gress took into consideration all OF
these proposed amendments. Seven
teen of them passed the House OF
Representatives, and twelve passed
the Senate. or these, ten were rat
flied by the necessary three fourths
Of the states, and became the Bill of
Rights of the Constitution. For all
practical purposes they might wen
be considered a part of the original
document. Within the next twelve
years, the eleventh and original
amendments were adopted. Then
for over a half a century, no add
tional amendments were added. The
crisis of the Civil War resulted in
three more, and in the last half cen
fury, the last four have been added
The nine amendments which have
been added to the original ten, are
few indeed when we consider that
between two and three thousand
have been proposed:
in 1903 the supreme court of the
United States gave one of the most
important decisions Of its history in
the famous Marbury VS. Madison
case. It declared that a statutory
law passed by congress was uncon
stitutional. Assuming the right to
do this the supreme court secured a
position of influence all out of pro
portion to that intended by those
who, framed the Constitution. Again
to show the influence of the supreme
court upon the Constitution, we note
that the orj9inal instrument provt7e'
that direct taxes should not be lev
led, except in proportion to the pop
population of the several states. In
spite OF this fact such taxes were le-
We'd in Washington's administration
The inc0rna tax WAS used for the de-