The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-05-21
This ESSAY Won
THE D. A. R. Prize

With a view to stimulating inter-
est in the subject, Mount Hyalite
chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution, recently conducted an es-
say contest on the United State con-
stitution. A number Of most excel
lent essays were submitted, first
prize being awarded to James Martin,
Grade S-A, Emerson school, who took
as his subject the History of the
Constitution" His essay follows:
Century after century has passed
since the birth Of the first nations on
earth. Many changes have taken
place. Many lessons have been
taught. In their struggle for mas
terry, many plans have been formu-
lated, which often have resulted in
oppression of mankind. AS time
passed on, nation after nation rose
to power. They seemed progressive
and endowed with men Of master
minds. Such were the early Grecian
and Roman Empires, each a living
wonder in its day. However, they
rose only to fall in ruins, many of
which are yet visible in the Old
World, silent witnesses of the past.
Then the new world was discovered
which brought forth many new ideas.
The opposition to the old practices
of the past grew steadily greater, un-
til the tyrannical rule Of Charles the
Second in England set off the powder
which set in motion the American
Revolution. Soon the Declaration Of
independence heralded to the worlC
the rejection Of the old ideas. The
revolution ended. The successful sep
aration from the Old World had beer
accomplished.
The next step was evident. Tn,
freedom which the colonies had OBJ
tanned must be preserved. A govern
ment must be set up which would car
~ out the principles for which the!
had fought. But, there was grav,
danger ahead! There was the DANCE
of the colonies each declaring itsel
a sovereign and independent stat
and refusing to recognize a commo
authority. Again there was the OF
pOsite extreme of comforting to
much power on a general govern
ment. The situation was critical.
The first attempt to form a govern
ment had been made during the RevC
luton. It prove unsuccessful. II
Articles Of Confederation were fs
too weak for the purposes of the III
ion. 1t was evident that a new pla
must be devised.
This was the task which evolve
upon the fathers of our countr
Who met at Philadelphia on Il
Second day of May, 1887" Great WI
their wisdom and faith as they pr
ceeded with the task. Deliberate
they disregarded the plans of Il
past, rejecting many of the thinl
which were thought to be necessa'
fer the building of a strong and eff
cient government. Carefully tn.
devised a plan Of confederate a.
representative sovereign republi,
united in distribution Of powe.
which reserved to the separate stat
all the political powers necessary
local administration, and gave t
general government those requiI
for the service Of the people a
states. Thus we see from the W
beginning of our Constitutional h
tory the division Of power was
most important principle. Balan,
against the power Of the state y
the power Of the general governme
However, the drafters Of this D
saw the danger in this form Of g
eminent Of one power gradually
sOrbing the other power. In order
prevent such an occurrence they C
structed a set CT balances to
known as the constitution on WI
could be weighed these two pow
from time to time one against
other. Thus it was thought that
defects Of the powers could easily
detected. The task was finished,
plan was given to the states to
ratified with the hope that It VIC
stand forever q living example
popular government
BY JAMES MARTn
Mary III. Metheney, writing on i"
Federal Convention" took sec
prize. Miss Metheney's essay
be printed in The Courier Of
q.