Evening star., 1924-09-26

agreement known as THE Associa- :
ton" BY it they pledged themselves
not to import, export or consume
British products were not to be
brought in after December l, 1714.
The importation of slaves was to
cease.
A few months later trade with the
West Indies was to be suspended.
Exports to Great Britain and Ireland
to adopt these boycott agreements
were to feel the boycott of the peo-
pie. The production and manufac-
ture of wool was to be encouraged.
Local committees were to enforce
these proposals by the power Of pub
lie opinion. The association en-
| Joined frugality thus: I'VE will 3.
| discountenance and discourage every
species of extravaganza and dissi-
patton, especially all horse racing.
and all kinds of gaming. cockfight-
ing, exhibitions of shows. plays and
| other expensive diversions and enter
tainmGntS
The non-intcrcourSe agreement was
to continue until Parliament repealed
the Objectionable laws. This bold
measure was denounced by many in
England as reasonable but it has
often been referred to in this country
as the beginning of the movement
for independence. Where appeals
and supplications had been disre-
garded this could not fail to secure
earnest attention.
Moderation Aided Cause.
In the declara ton of the Congress
there was no note OF defiance, but
their very moderation increased their
| influence. The vigor of their argu-
ha of
position were relied upon to defend
| their cause. While there was a
growing feeling that conflict i'm
pended the Congress carefully avoid
ed anything that could be distorted
into provocation for resort to
arms. Here was the great strength
of their position. Because OF their
restraint they secured the confidence
OF the most influential forces at home
| and abroad They promoted union
among the Colonies while promoting
dtssension in England. They com
PEELED the sympathy of the great
! Wing leaders. who could not support
liberty in England while denying il
| in the Colonies
1t would be difficult to find a
| better illustration Of the superiority
OF moderation and candor over yio-
lence and deceit in seeking a solu-
tion of difficult public questions 1t
is easy to draw broad indictments or
indulge in sweeping promises. 1t is
no trouble to indulge in invective.
But denuncia ton does not provide
a remedy. In moderation and re straint
is much more likely to be found a
way TO agreement upon constructive
measures. Appeals to violence and
hatred in the first Continental Con-
Gress might have produced rebellion,
but they could not have accomplish ed
revolution. They might have led to
war. but they could not have secured
victory.
Importance of Event.
Almost all our history as an inde-
pendent and united nation can be
ira ced back to the assembling of the
first Continental Congress. which we
are met to celebrate. Our achieve
ments have been wrought by adher-
ence to its policies of reason and
restraint. accompanied by firmne SIS
and determination. We are not like
ly to desert that course of action now.
The case which the Congress stated
was unanswerable. One side or the
other must either give way or main
| tain it's position BY force of arms.
! That conflict for which the Congress
had laid the logical foundation was
not long in beginning Liberty never
| won Il more substantial and far
| reaching victory than that which re-
| suited from our Revolutionary War
| 1t established the American Nation
with all that it has since meant in
the accomplishments of the world and
all that it holds of future promise.
a form of Government was organ
| lied in harmony with what Franklin
| had proposed at Albany in 1854 But
the Constitution was not adopted un-
| til various experiments with unwork-
| able systems showed some such ac-
| tion nece ssary. Whatever may be the
| reputation of that great instrument
at home, modified and adapted to
local needs, it has been adopted as
the fundamental law for republics in
every quarter of the world. The in
| fuence of that great document, fran
ed in Philadelphia in 1881 can be
traced in every constitution on earth,
from China to Peru, from the Aus
| tralian commonwealth to the German
republic. They all bear the same
| testimony.
New Plan for Old Idea.
The idea of a republic was not new,
but the practical working out of such
d form of government under separate e
and independent, and yet well bal
| anced departments. was a very new
thing in the world. The govern
| ments of the past could fairly be
characterized as devices for main
| tanning in perpetuity the place and
| position of certain privileged classes.
without any legitimate protection for
| the rights of the people. The Gov
| eminent of the United States is a de-
vice for maintaining in perpetuity
the rights of the people, with the ul-
innate extinction OF all privileged
| classes.
It is a Constitution which is the
| product of human experience, with
| all its toll and suffering, it's blood
| shed and devastation, its oppression
| and tyranny. but likewise with all
| its wisdom, its love of liberty and its
| determination to follow the truth
The first Contin entail Congress met to
redress grievances which were the
result Of Government action. The
revolution was fought to resist those
| Constitution was adopted to prevent
similar impositons from ever agair
being inflicted upon the people.
| They are all in that precious docu-
ment, these priceless guarantees
| The people do not propose again to
| intrust their Government to others
but to retain it under their own con-
| troll No one can tax them or even
propose a tax upon them, save them
selves and their own representatives
| Instead of encroaching upon local as
/, semblies, it guarantees each State a
| republican form of government. II
regulates suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus.
| Protection of Home.
| 1t protects the home from the un-
invited intrusion of the military force
| OF the Government. 1t guards the
| right of jury trial and undertakes to
| make judicial officers independent