Phoenix tribune., 1922-09-16
CONSTITUTION IS
l35 YEARS old
SUNDAY, SEPT. II
Gov. Campbell Issues Proclamation
Asking That Anniversary of Sign
ing of That Great Document BE OBJ
served in Arizona.

Next Sunday, September IL, will be
Constitution Day throughout the
United States, the anniversary of the
signing of that document And for
its observance in Arizona, Governor
Campbell has issued the following
proclamation:
1t is 1876 years this month since
the cradle of our liberties, the Consti-
tuition of the United States of America,
was signed by two score delegates,
representing IL states, assembled in
constitutional convention. The ami
versary is an important one, deserv.
ing Of more than passing recognition,
yet the keeping of anniversaries is of
little value unless there is a conscious
effort to carry out in spirit their mean
ing and to measure up to the respon.
sibilities which they impose on us as
citizens.
American liberty is based upon the
American constitution, grant of pow
er given by the states in a time when
great patriots were known, men who
appear to have been diyinely created
for an especial purpose, to bring lib.
erty to the land and to establish peace
and justice therein. This constitu-
ton still is the heart of our nation.
1t is the basis of our laws and our
strongest defense against all forms of
disorder Its destruction, or any gen.
eral violation of its spirit, would mean
the end of the republic.
1t has been said that Without
constitution or something to counter.
act the strong tendency of govern
ment to disorder and abuse and to
give stability to public institutions,
there can be little progress or perma-
nent improvement" A great thinker
has written Constitutions are estab-
lished for the protection of a right
eous minority against a predatory ma
jority." Constitutions also may serve
to protect righteous majority against
a predatory minority.
Today the nation is In the midst of
sporadic efforts to overthrow the
constitution, these efforts put forth by
violent minorities who would use force
to secure their ends, knowing them
selves too few in number and too poor
in logic to succeed at the ballot box,
the only arbiter of political and econ
omic questions that can be tolerated
within the United States. AS in SINH.
lar crises in the past, so now our de.
pendence lies in the American consti.
tuition and in respect for the wisdom
that established its safeguards and
its limitations.
Now, therefore, l, Thomas E. Camp
bell, Governor of the State of Ari-
Eona, do hereby designate Sunday,
the seventeenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One Thousand
Nine Hundred twenty-five, and of the
Independence of the United States of
America, the One Hundred and Forty.
seventh, being the One Hundred ard
Thirty-fifth anniversary of the birth
Of our constitution, as Constitution
Day, and do request that all citizens
of Arizona and of the United States
within the borders of Arizona recon
secrate themselves to the principles
set forth by the Constitution of our
republic. And l especially request
that in all the churches the day may
be appropriately observed and cele-
brated through discussion from the
pulpits of the constitution and the priv
ileges and safeguards embodied there
in. 1t is also requested that the day
be marked by the general display OF
the national flag, the symbol of Amer
icanism, and that throughout the week
following Constitution Day, a sub
startial period of time be devoted bv
all schools, public end private, which
may be in session, to the study and
explanation of the constitution in or
der that our young men and women
may come to haze Il al knowledge
Of the rights and privileges conferred
upon them as An:e ican citizens by
the matchless d Q ;.nent whose adop-
tion we gratefully recall at this time
In witness whereof, I have here
unto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State of Arizona to
be affixed. Done at Phoenix, the
Capital, this 9Th day of September.
1922.