Evening star., 1922-09-24
ny WILL KENNEDY.

n II AXE the Constitution the back
M bone of national life today and
Ivv not merely an historic docu-
4 4 nent Make 1t a vital force, a
creed and guide of action. with every
clause Of which every person in this
country will be familiar through fire.
qnent reading. Make 1t revered and
held safe from insidious schemes to
weaken it.
That is the high purpose to which
many leaders of public thought and
legislation are now pledging them
selves. They see In a general IA
miliarization with the simple but fun
damental mandates Of the Constitution
the best solution of many serious ills
that affect the body polite.
In School and Home.
1t is proposed to put copy Of the
Constitution into every schoolhouse and
every home in the country: to have
day set aside on which at great public
gatherings all over the country the Con-
stitution shall be read. so that on that
day. as far as possible, every man.
woman and child in this country shall
have heard or himself read this great
gospel Of the fathers: and to have the
Test public speakers deliver addresses
on the Constitution throughout the land.
The most noted men of the country,
from President Harding down. are
pledged to this renewal of faith in the
wisdom Of the forefathers-such men as
Nicholas Murray Butler. Frank o. Low
den. Martin W. Littleton and senator's
and representatives and state governors
too numerous to mention. The drive
comes as spontaneous. impulsive surge
Of patriotism. setting up the banner for
real Americanism.
World Recognition Won.
The whole world recognizes the in
trinsic merit Of the Constitution. The
late Viscount Bryce. one time British
ambassador in Washington and author
Of the American Commonwealth" de-
clared that the Constitution Of the
United States was the most notable sim
gle contribution to the science Of gov
ernment. This is IN accord with the
notable statement of William E. Glad
stone, the greatest man in modern Eng
lish history, when he declared "the
American Constitution is the most won
derful instrument ever stricken off by
the brain or purpose of man at any one
time" This was the matured ijudg-
ment of a master mind in the quiet of
his study.
The progress Of the American repub-
lie Is distinctly the one outstanding
ovent in all modern history. As an ex-
pertinent In government it is the most
stupendous aet. in history. In these
troubled days M un-Apnerican doctrines
propagated, sometimes blatahtly ard
more often surreptitiously. it Is be-
lieved by these leaders in thought and
legislation who are making the drive
for universal reading of the Constitu-
ton that here is an lark of the cove
nant" guiding to more peaceful times.
Our Benehcient Institutions.
One conspicuous authority on the
Constitution must suffice to sketch the
line of thought and action: Representa-
tive Simeon D. Fess Of Ohio. life
long student of political science ond ore
of the greatest experts on constitutional
law. Three years ago he delivered
terse but comprehensive speech on the
Constitution. a couple of weeks later
Representative Hutchinson of New Jer-
sey came to him and said that he had
on the previous Sunday gone to church
in Trenton, N. J.. where the PreSbyte-
rian preacher read a speech from the
Congressional Record. saying it was a
five-minute speech that had been thirty
years in preparation. It was DR.. Fcss'
speech on the Constitution.
It cannot be successfully controverted.
Representative Fess emphasizes, that
here in America under our institutions
Of government, which offer equal oppor-
tunity to all citizens to make the most
Of their talents. there Is greater enjoy
nrent of participation In government, a
Of labor and less strat!fcation Of society
than anywhere else or at any time in
the history of civilization. But we have
recently seen, as never before, the need
for protection against un-American doc
trines, born beyond our borders and
imported under too generous immigra-
ton policy. Numerous mob movements
IN many cities. frequent outbreaks
axnjnst the law and open murders are
i&eWtable symptoms, he says. of dis
eased mind where theories take form
in anarchist. communist and I. w. W..
organizations.
Against Alien Propaganda.
The country must give more atten-
tion to an Anericanisation program.
We may be compelled to forbid by dras-