The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-04

forth in the pride ofJACK TURNER
her freedom so intent on liberty that
she forgot the need, the necessity of
union--and Greece persisted Mighty
Rome fostered. and exalted union for
it's strength and power until she be-
came tyraiit---and Rome fell.
Then how did America find the solu-
ton to the problem over which the an
Gent labored through the ages? Why
did America succeed? 1t was not that
there arose patriotic Moses who led
us out of this political wilderness. Nor
was it that we were blessed with some
super-miuded philosopher who devised
perfect system for us to follow.
!, The secret of the solution lies in the
document which since it's birth has
been the classical model for hundreds
of republics, those fundamental laws.
the American Constitution.
1t Is the product of fifty of our
statesmen, the greatest of the eighteenth
century. The fact that these men sue
ceeded in establishing the Constitution
which has solved the ancient problem
is not proof or even suggestion that
their work is accidental. The fact that
this law has been our rule without
change through the century and "a
half which has seen more scientific
advancement than all the time of man
before then does not tell us their work
succeeded BY chance. That conyen-
ton which was destined to draw up
'the most wonderful work ever struck
off at given time by the brain and
purpose of man. was as Jefferson said,
IAN assembly of the Demigods.''
In the group there were representa-
flyes from all the walks of life. In
thinking. however, they were philos-
ophers. broad-minded and prophetic
minded. In fact they foresaw an inn
mediate era of mechanical and scientific
discovery. Knowing that changes in
the Constitution would be necessary
with such advancement they deter
mined to make this supreme law flexi.
Die and elastic, yet firm and durable
1t is true that these men no matter
now wise, could not determine in detail
the nature of the coming progress. But
tney mad one constant, tangible element
upon which they could base all OF their
aEticleshuDndn nature. They knew.
as we know, that human nature with
al 81 it's AmotiOns, jeaIousies. weak
ncsses,s and virtues had been the same
when the great pyramids were built as
y was in their time. They knew alao
that It would continue to be funda.
mentally the. same after those pyramids
had crumbled to dust. II was unnn
S snis pasic understanding, that they
~ Is not profitable to look into the
past, unless We are solving through the
past problems Of the future. Our
question is whether or not the United
states Will continue to exist az. the
model republic of freedom and Justice
and whether our Constitution will al
ways serve as practically as it served
Tor hundred and fifty years.
AS we look back we are inspired with
a Keeling of confidence. We think of
now these supreme laws were born in
the minds of our pioneer statesmen. In
1that: age that tried mems souls" we
recall how the patriotic desires lacked
the urge of personal profit. We tbink
or how those thirteen states. which
were held loosely together by that rope
OF sand, the Articles Of Confederation
became firmly united by the American
Constitution. We remember how 4
national spirit sprans up which has
grown with religious fervor through
out the years. And then we recall
how this document, which was ouf
guide through the uncertain time Of
birth, again suffered severe strain, four
score and seven years later. But we
remember also how it survived this,
the most terrible of Civil wars, and how
those states were brought back to-
gether, under the same flag, the same
president, and under the same Constitu-
ton.
They reunited to form the most pros
porous nation on earth, Soon they
held the worlds balance Of power. And
when the dark clouds Of war lowered