The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-12
LINCOLN DAY
IS OBSERVED
BY n. D. S0L0NS.
A. G. Divet Delivers Address
To Members of Legisla-
ture Today
TALKS ON BASIC LAW
Necessity For UNFOLDING Con-
stitutiOn Is Emphasized
BY Him

A plea for less of blind adherence
to factions in voting in support Of
legislation, and warning that states
must protect their rights against
of powers in congress,
was voiced by A. G. Divet, represen-
tatiye from Cass county, in the chief
address Of the Lincoln Birthday me-
mortal joint session of the North Da-
kota state house and senate this
The program opened with the sing
ing by the audience of "America the
Beautiful" the program including in
vocation by Rev. w. f. Water, Metho-
dist minister of Bismarck; read
ing Memory Picture of Lincoln" by
Mrs. Obert A. Olson, wife of Sena-
tor Olson of Burleigh county; 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" by the au-
dience, Mr.. Divets address, and
closing with america" The COM
munity singing was led by Henry
Halverson, Bismarck. 1t. Gov. Wal
ter Maddox presided at the joint
session which opened at 3 o'clock,
and the program was arranged by a
joint committee composed of Reps.
Minnie Craig and Laura Sanderson,
and Senator Obert Olson.
Quoting Scripture Mr.. Divet took
for his text in his address: "Choose
We this day when you will follow, the
Gods of the Amorites or the Gods of
your Fathers; as for me and my
house, We service jehovah" The
speaker announced the development
of humanity from the biblical days
to the present time and extolled the
great leaders of America; Washing
ton and Lincoln.
LincOln's Speech
The speaker gave tremendously
impressive word picture of the fam
Gus Gettysburg speech of the Civil
War president and quoted the speech
in full.
"Mr. Lincoln finished and stepped
back. There was not handicap nor
cheer. And the president of the
United States left the platform with
out demonstration of approval. The
address was failure. There had
been no word of defiance to meddling
foreign nations, no threat of speedy
humiliation of wicked and wilful
fee, no promise of speedy victory
Disappointment was written on the
faces Of the official party; the great
occasion had been wasted. Surround
ed by his official family, Lincoln
took from his pocket the piece Of
wrapping paper on which he had
written the words he had just dehv-
cred.
when / wrote that coming up on
the train this morning, l thought it
was pretty good he said YEARLY
Then so great man as Stanton fail
ing to sense the true meaning of the
occasion and seeking to cheer his
chief said: Mr.. President you are
tired and worn out
They were all mistaken-the ad-
dress was not failure. 1t has fall
en- on the ears of the multitude and
stunned them into silence by its
grandeur and simplicity"
Declaring that the people of today,
the North Dakota Legislature and
the Legislatures Of other states are
pledged to discharge a duty owing
to the heroic dead of Gettysburg and
Antietum, San Juan and the Argon-
ne, Mr.. Divet declared that the great
est need is the .Ioption by the peo-
pie themselves of respectful re-
gard for the constitution and for law
The forefathers of this country rig
idly adhered to the constitution but
the people have gone far in the
years and the gap in understanding
has grown, gust as tradition has tax
en- the place of actual knowledge.
"The ordinary citizen acts upon the
promise that he. has neither time nor
inclination to study law. That rock
of Indifference; that contempt born
of familiarity must be removed, or
on it we will founder. The time has
come when we, the people, must
study constitutions and become con-
stitutional lawyers, to the extent
that we understand the purpose and
theories of constitutional government
or such government will disappear
from the face of the earth, and pure
~ legislative government will sup
plant it.
Hits Communists
Mr.. Divet also paid his respects
to the Communists and others Of
like type who seek by insidious at
tacks to destroy constitutional gov
eminent from within and quoted the
words of Washington written one
hundred thirty years ago, in which
the Father Of the Country warned
against alterations Of the original
constitution. He emphatically op-
posed any legislation or amendments
which would give Congress power
over the constitution-which would
break down the trinity of govern
ment, the Legislative. executive and
judicial departments.
The very people who are seeking
power are those Who cry most loudly
for changes, "thus has the tyrant Of
history, ever cried for more power
Continued on, page thrss)