Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-09-13
CONSTITUTION DAY

CONSTITUTION DAY
whats that you're talking about"
said Jack. II guess l know something
about the Constitution. It was sign
ed on September 49,"
"And what day do you say it was
signed on?" asked Uncle Ted speak
ing to Ruth.
81 said it was the 17th," answered
Ruth.
'sThe 18th is correct" said Uncle
Ted. '"That should teach you, Jack,
never to argue with lady. The
younger you learn that, the better off
you will be. l wonder if you both
know who was the big man at the
head of things when the Constitution
was framed"
George Washington" answered
Jack "That's right. He was Presi-
dent and deputy from Virginia when
the Constitution was signed. All Of
the thirteen original States ratified
the Constitution of either 1887 or
1888 with the exception of two. North
Carolina ratified In 1889 and Rhode
Island in 1890 Now, each year,
September II is known as Constitu-
ton Day for it was on that day in IT
SO that the document which has so
well stood the test Of time was signed
In many cities, towns and villages
throughout the United States that
day is remembered with fitting cere-
monies. To me it should be as inn
portant as day as the Fourth of
July. True enough, the Fourth Of
July stands for the day our liberty
began, yet September II represents
the binding together of nation with
document that never was and pro-
badly never will be duplicated for
forethought and thoroughness.
''This is the age Of rush and bang
and our thoughts are too much what
we cali modern and new ideas. That
is I'll fine. We should and must pro-
gress and it is right that we should
have ambition for new and better
things. But some people are ignoring
all the lessons of experience and pro-
posing to overturn our system of gov
eminent by changes that are revolu-
ionary and destructive.
Nobody undertakes to say that our
Constitution is or ever was perfect.
In fact, the men who wrote the Con-
stititution recognized that it was
imperfect and made provision for
changes in it. But they made a.
mendments quite difficult so that
there could be no change until after
long public discussion and then only
when large majority of the people
favored the change A proposed con-
stitutional amendment must be sup
ported by two thirds vote in each
House of Congress and be ratified by
three-fourths of the states. 1t is
pretty safe to say that an amend
iuCHL dOOPLcu III tHio way Will iioc
be very wrong.
"But there are a lot of people in
this country who are opposed to our
whole system of government OPP
posed to any kind Of government, in
fact. That is, they are opposed to
any kind of government that stands
in the way of what they want, but /
notice that when any Of them get in
to trouble they are mighty quick to
demand their constitutional rights.
people who are opposed to our
form of government are either ig-
norant or vicious. / don't see how
anyone can know the history Of our
government and observe the progress
Of our people have made under it's
protection, and still be opposed to it.
1t is nothing short of marvellous
what has been accomplished in few
years. Back in the 1905 and 49,
40's central United States was prac-
tically wilderness. Chicago was a
village, St. Louis trading post, anc
New York City was small towr
| compared with what it is toaay.