The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-04-17

a.r sobertson, Nezperce, Has One of
rest Compositions In Inland En-
pire oratorical Finals.

hart Wunder1cn, OF. na1ies nig
school, first; Patrick s. Doyle, spe
kane. second; Wayne Hargrave, Co
fax, third.
Miss Gay Robertson, who victorious
/, represented the Nezperce Zig
school up to this meeting, while no
among the winners there, was account
ed first by one of the judges and he
eo,nnosition was said to be near tn
hest of the nine in the finals. TIL
other five contestants who had wol
the honor of representing their schools
n Spokane, were: Bruce B. Hall, Ro
nan. Mont; Geo. Prior, Yakima; Miss
Eloise Troutman, Oroville, Wn.; Neil
shaeffer, Pasco, Wn., Walter Keith
Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Miss Robertson enjoyed her trip to
the city and the experience gained
through her efforts in the contest, and
feels well repaid for it all. We are
glad to be able to publish her oration
in this weeks Herald. 1t follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Honorable Judges,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
My topic is The Constitution.
A constitution is collection of
principles according to which the pow
ers of the government, the rights of
the governed, and the relations be-
tween the two, are adjusted Our
constitution is divided into three de-
partments: the legislative, the exc
cutive, and the Judicial. The trainers
of the constitution spent much time
on the Virginia plan of union, y
which provided for a two-house legis-
lature This would have created a
government similar to that of modern
France, and would have left the states
mere administrative districts. Other
plans grew out of this one, and it was
found that the chief aim of all the
members was to divide the govern
ment into these three departments,
Franklin said, when he read the
great document as drafted by Gouvcn-
our Morris, ~ do not approve of
some parts of it, but am astounded
to find it so nearly perfect. =
Strange to say, England has no writ
ten constitution; yet ours is an out
growth of their form of government.
Since the signing of the Magma Charta
by King John, the English people have
slowly and steadily won their way in
to the ruling body of the nation. We
Americans, or should say the Ameri-
cans of '76, were farsighted and wise
enough to forsee that only by this
copying of the English system of gov
ernment could they become real dem
ocratic nation. 1t is true that some
If the great leaders at that time were
against this idea, nevertheless, it pre-
7ailed, and we have our United States J
# to-day.
Our constitution is best understood
md appreciated by thorough knowl- y
dge of the provisions of the preamble {
which states, eve, the people of the t
United States, in order to form a more
'erfect Union, establish Justice, in 9
ure Domestic Tranquility, provide for t
ne common Defense, promote the gem J
nral Welfare, and secure the Bles- G
ngs of Liberty to Ourselves and our a
osterity, do ordain and establish this t
for the United States of h
merica.'' b
First, justice is established. This is 6
important provision In that it gives t
all more equal chance of advanc- Il
lg our positions. Every person with b
our borders has an equal chance in Q
le courts. In many of the European e
'untries, before the war, and even e.
ow, the peasant is denied trial by Il
ny Here, with the exception Of 4
NOR offences, everyone has chance a.
Y jury trial. Then we have the Writ o.
Habeas Corpus. This prevents a el
nzen from being thrown into prison I
definitely from false charges, as was II
AN Val Jean of French revolutions m
y fame. A few of the foreign coun- bl
les have trial by jury, but without Il
Is important feature it is failure. &C
second, the constitution was estab- is
ned to insure domestic tranquility. HI
US means to maintain peace between w
. several states. Our Interstate al
mmerce Commission is an outgrowth OF
II. This banished the chance OF de
J state favoring another in inter TO
lte commerce, which includes the ac- or
n OF trading, navigation, transpor- wi
lon, communication, and even the OF
truments and agents employed, pro- ac
nng they affect two or more states. ap
ere would be grand mixup if the pr
lrss had not interpreted this phase tu
rectly. These systems are so COM pl'
that had not the constitution tel
de way for this committee, we be
uid be unable to enjoy their bene- Eo
: Before the constitution was ing
med each state took the attitude th'
! 1t was sovereign body, and as to