Evening star., 1925-05-09

gentlemen, in all the splendor of
Its achievement. the twentieth
century is here-and the old ship
of state is proudly sailing on. The
Constitution went into effect 1856
years ago, during which time there
has surely been enough to test it's
fiber. Since that time this coun-
try has passed through the fires of
Civil War and established once
for all the fact that this is a union
of States, "one and inseparable
The thirteen States, with a popu-
lation of three and one-half mil
lion. have grown to 4S States with
"A population of over one hundred
million. Ia the World War we
loaned the allies over ten billion
dollars, raised four million troops
on this side, two million OF whom
went across to fight Germany on
French soil in defense of liberty
for all the nations of the world.
Yet the Constitution, as il stands
today, though IL has been nodded
by judicial Interpretation and
broadened by usage and amend
ments to keep pace with the step
of the mighty growing Nation. iS
the same Constitution in its sacred
guarantee Of individual liberty
This heritage of liberty. safe
guarded and bequeathed in trust
To us by the fathers of 'S7-what
shall we of this generation do with
ii? The answer is clear We must
pass the priceless treasure on. un-
shackeled and secure. TO the next
generation. The challenge is to
YOU and me and every one who
loves this country and enjoys the
blessings of liberty under the
American flag.
Soon after the adoption of the
Constitution and before il went
into effect Washington. in letter
to La Fayette, wrote these sig
nificant words: THE Government
can never be in danger of degen-
Grating into a monarchy. an oil
garChX, an ariStocracy or any other
despotic or oppressive form so long
as there shall remain any virtue in
the body of the people" Ladies
and gentlemen. the words of
Washington clearly point the way
to the task before us. We must
maintain virtue in the body of the
people.
For one thing. we must face
with courage, good temper and
common sense that question touch
ing the assimilation of the foreign
element of our population. No
doubt the laws should be better
regulated and our efforts at as
similation more intelligent and ef.
ticient We would not be misuu-
derstood. To all those who would
come from other lands to help us
preserve the fundamentals of our
Government and make this a better
country in which to live. we would
extend the heartieSt welcome: but
we should never yield the right to
be Judge of standards. We would
have the world TO know that the
mere coming to this country en-
tails a solemn obligation and it is
ours to see that the obligation is
met.
Again. we should further the
popular means of increasing in
terest in and reverence for the
Constitution of our country so that
If will be reyerenced no longer as
an abstraction but as vital thing,
understood and valued. Beginning
in the home and public schools of
the land. we should instill greater
respect Cor law and order. which
is not blind acceptance of arbitrary
control but willing obedience to
what is right and reasonable. We
should educate the masses in the
duties of good citizenship, in
better understanding and appre-
citation of the spirit of the Ameri-
can Government. in the broader
meanings of patriotism and
stronger devotion to the flag and
the glorious things for which it
stands.
Let there be virtue in the body
of the people and we shall hand
down to 'our posterity those
"blessings of liberty" bought with
the blood of the patriots of old
and preserved by the fathers in
the finest example of free govern
ment the world has ever known.