Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-04-23
u. S. CONSTITUTION;
WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

(By Lucille Johnson, daughter of Geo.
R. Johnson, Foreman Madison Divis-
ion, Chicago & North Western Ry.)
1 am thankful that 1 am living in
the United States, a country which
has a good constitution that guaran-
tees every one equal rights and priv
ileges. Our constitution is great
work 1t took a long time before it
was thoroughly organized. The men
who organized it were careful to put
in sections which would provide for
| our freedom and liberty. No other
country in the world has such a sys-
tenn.
What is the constitution? 1t is a
! document which consists of powers
granted to different departments of
our government; which gives the
manner of elections and inter-rela-
lions of the Nation and the States
plus our rights and privileges. The
word CONSTITUTION" as used among
us means written instrument. 1t is
called the supreme or highest law of
the land.
The constitution is the strong pro-
tector of every American. 1t provides
for an equal chance for every one
whether he be rich or poor, white or
coiored The constitution gives us
freedom of speech and religion, pro-
tects our human rights and helps
the weak so that the strong may not
take advantage of them. By free
dom, [ do not mean that anyone may
do as he wishes but that he may do
it if it does not interfere with any
one else's rights. The constitution
also preserves our liberty, which is
the most valuable thing in the world
We do not realize the value of our
human liberty because we have had it
ever since we were born. We take it
unthinkingly just as we take our food
and drink. We should all understand
this freedom of ours, whence it came
and how we can keep it, for it is our
most precious gift. The people, who
come to America from other coun-
tres seem to feel the joy of this free
dom more than the American born.
A law cannot be passed which
would take away any of our rights
and liberties given us by the cOnsti-
tuition. Or rather, if such law were
passed the Supreme court of the Uni
ted States could rule it out if it
thought it was something contrary to
the sense of the constitution.
The constitution was made by wise
and experienced men. 1t was the in
tention of those, however, who made
the constitution, that it should be
changed when occasion required; but
this can be done only after long dis
cussion, expressed public opinion,
congressional action and vote of the
people. One of the founders of the
constitution was James Madison who
was called the Father of the Consti-
tuition" It took four months of the
hardest labor to construct the docu-
ment, but gradually as new states
were added to the Union, amendments
were added to the constitution. About
the constitution, Gladstone, the great
| English statesman, once said: 1t is
! the greatest work ever struck Off at
any one time by the mind and pur-
pose of man" "The American con-
| stitution," says James Bryce, is
the living voice of the people"
The president leads the nation ac-
cording to the rights and duties pro-
yided in the constitution. He has to
preserve, protect and defend the ma
ton as prescribed in the constitution
1t also prevents the president from
becoming a tyrant.
We must understand and know the
constitution that we may understand
how the liberties Of the people are
protected through it and also realize
our privileges. We should also help
other people to understand and to
feel a sense of gratitude for the bles-
sings which have come to them from