Evening star., 1924-09-26
COLONIAL STATESMEN'S WORK
is VITAL TO-DAY, SAYS COOLIDGE
People VIII Not Lightly Change or abandon Consti-
tuition, He Declares in Anniversary Address
at Philadelphia.

last night at the anniversary of the
hrSt Continental Congress:
NO American coming to Philadel-
phia on this anniversary could es-
cape being thrilled at the thought of
what this Commemoration means. 1t
brings to mind events which in the
course of the century and half that
has passed since the day we are cele-
brating have changed the course of
human history. Then was formed the
IDEAL of the American Nation. Two
years later this was put into practi-
cal effect by the Declaration of Inde-
peDdence. Here. too, was prepared
and adopted the Federal Constitution,
guaranteeing unity and perpetuation
of our nationall ife. The place of this
Imperial city in history is secure.
Your heritage has that mysterious
quality by which it has enriched not
only your own citizens, but the people
of the earth. Wherever we find a ma
tion which has gained its liberty,
which has shaken itself free from
despotism and established republic,
there reigns the influence with which
the exalted record of your achieve
ments had directed the destiny of the
world.
Traces Growth Of Ideal.
We cannot do justice to the MEM
Continental Congress without recall
ing events which preceded il and rec
ogniZing the consequences which fol-
lowed it. The first important act of
cooperation among the Colonies had
resulted from their need for common
defense in the French and Indian
War two decades earlier. Even prior
to that various royal governors had
proposed some union of the Colonies
J u !,
weakening of the local and popular
assemblies and a broader and more
effective control by the crown. Such
proposals were resisted by the in
habitants. who were extremely jeal-
Gus of their liberties.
AS far back as 1884 a colonial con-
| ference was held at Albany on the
initiation of the governors. Only
minority. however. attended. At that
time Benjamin Franklin, with
prophetic vision. proposed plan of
union which bore remarkable re-
semblance to our present ConStitu-
ton. But the people feared this
would destroy their local government.
leaving them d the mercy OF dis
tant Parliament while the English
authorities feared that by revealing
to the Colonies an accurate knowledge
of their own power il would inspire
plan of Franklin at that time found
no support on either side of the At
lantic.
solemn Protest Made.
But the idea grew. When the Eng
liSh government entered upon
course which threatened the liberties
of the Colonies by passing the stamp
act and the Boston port act, by in
terfering with the local assemblies.
by suspendinS the writ of habeas
corpus, by maintaining standing
army quartered on the people. by
denying to the inhabitants the right
of trial by a jury of the vicinage. by
Undertaking to make judicial officers
the creatures Of the crown, and other
unwarranted tyrannies. the first
Continental Congress was assembled
to register d solemn protest against
these illegal exactionS.
They came with various credentials
from local assemblies and voluntary
conventions, scarcely representing the
people in a legal way, but rejecting
their spirit in the determination to
defend their liberties. 1t was no ordi-
Jay. and Livingston, Galloway and
Mifflin, Bilile and Chase. Harrison
Lee, Randolph, the Rutledges, the
Adamses, and, finally, George Wash
ington. They were men of faith.
They believed in their cause. They
trusted the people and freedom.
still Remarkable Men.
Judged by the character of the
state papers which they produced, and
by their later careers in the field or
at the council table, after $50 years
they still rank as most remarkable
gathering of men. Their deliberations
careful study by the American peo-
Pile. If we could better understand
what they said and did to establish
our free institutions we should be
less likely to be misled by the mis-
representations and distorted argu-
ments of the hour. and be far better
equipped to maintain them.
The colonists claimed certain rights
of self-government. They were de-
termined to maintain that principle.
The burdens which resulted from the
pretentions of King George and his
ministers and the exactions of Par
Lament were not of great conse-
quence and could be borne, but the
principle which the people declared
was of supreme Importance. To ac-
quiesce even in minor violations was
to admit that course of action might
be taken which would deprive them
of the chartered rights of Englishmen
and reduce them to mere subjects.
But in their resistance they re-
sorted neither to threats nor extreme
measures. but pursued the dignfied,
stronger and unanswerable course of
moderation. The Congress prepared
a petition to the King, address to
the people of the Colonies, an. ad-
dress to the people of England and
an address to the people of Quebec.
While they protested vigorously
against their grievances, they pro-
tested also a loyalty to the crown
and a pride in the empire. They de-
clared they were supporting the COM
mon cause of liberty. both of the Col
onies and England itself.
Warning to English.
May not aministry with the same
armies enslave your they asked the
English people? DO not treat this
as chimerical. In less than a half
century the quit-rentS reserved to the
crown from this vast continent will
pour large streams of wealth into the
royal Golfers and if to this be added
the power of taxing America at pleas
ure, the crown will be rendered inde-
| pendent of you for supplies and will
! possess more treasure than will be
necessary to purchase the remains of
| liberty in your island. In a word,
| take care that you do not fall into the
! pit that is preparing for u.s.
No wonder such statement
aroused the sympathy for the colonial
cause of such broad and liberal
statesmen as Pitt and Burke.
But to the crown and to the ira
ditions of English liberty it contained
only expressions of loyalty. The ad-
dress to King George was an explicit
cfniy h,,t =
closed with these words of loyal de-
uotion. .'Thaf Your majesty may en-