Evening star., 1926-10-16

AO tcAt OI the FreSluont SpeeCn
follows:
'The National and International
Oratorical Contests are held not SO
much for promoting the arts of ora
tory as for interesting young people
IN q study of the science of govern
ment, especially as exemplified in the
institutions of their own countries.
Th1s patriotic purpose was originated
and promoted by a group of newspa-
pers In America, to which have been
Joined representatives OF the press In
England, France, Mexico and Canada.
Three of the national contests have
already been held In our country, but
this is the first international contest.
Because of my belief in the pro-
found benefit of this movement, l have
taken this opportunity again to give
1t my most sincere commendation. l
wish to extend to all the participant
in this contest the most cordial greet
ing of America, and to the repre-
sentatives of the press who have as
SoCiated themselves in making the
plans and bearing the expense Of this
enterprise | offer the assurance Of my
appreciation.
The widespread interest that has
been created is indicated by the par
tiCipation Of more than $500. 900 stu
dents of the secondary schools Of the
i've nations which are here repre-
Sented, while more than l 800 publica-
lions of various kinds have co-operated
with the newspapers sponsoring and
financing the contest by giving It pub
licity and encouragement.
Has Educational Value.
This movement had its incept ion
in widespread desire to secure Il
broader knowledge on the part Of the
,f,,l rNl.
uf our Government especially as eX-
emplitied in the American Constitu-
ton. II began to be apparent that in
the estimation of all too many govern
nent was considered as mostly meth
cd of restraint upon the people and
process by which unfair advantage.
usually designated as privilege. ac-
crued to wealth.
Many people from foreign lands
were crowding into our country, who.
while they were by 10 means the only
source of opinions Of this character,
Yet because of their generations of eX-
perience with forms of government
partaking largely of the nature Of
tyranny and relying On constant eX-
hibition of force and repression for
their authority were IL most fertile
held in which to promote discomfort
with its danger Of future violence and
by reason OF the traditions to which
they were born We're easily led to look
with suspicion and diStrust upon all
political institutions.
Also it had been long time since
we had had much public discussion
and exposition of fundamental Amerl
can principles. Such comment as was
being made, being SO largely made up
of adverse criticism, was founded too
much on misapprehenSion. so that our
own people needed that enlightenment
which comes from candid investlsa
ton on the constructive and aftirma
tive side of fgovernment under free
institutions. 1t was confidently eX-
pected that such action would inform
the people that this Government Is
their Government. that it exercises its
authority as a result OF the expression
of their will, and that II is maintained
for their benefit.
Provisions for Changes.
1t was further known that If study
and consideration revealed defects or
abuses, they would also reveal that the
people have been provided by our Con-
stitution itself with q means for It's
peaceful. orderly and legal revision
and reform without resort to anything
like violence or revolution. We have
had our day in this country of resort
to arms in order to defend our rights
and insure our liberties, and out OF
that experience the founding fathers
made wise provision for enabling the
people hereafter through the courts
to protect themselves against all en-
OachmentS upon their rights and
through the ballot box against the
evils of bad administration.
1--WE have gone SO far as to under
take to furnish ample protection Tor
the rights of the individual and of the
la.A NNr-A1s
of the ma jOrity to modify and change
whenever it is convinced of the pro-
priety Of proceeding in that direction.
Our Government is simply what the
people through their duly constituted
procedure sanction, ordain and estab-
lish.
THE importance of full and COM
plete comprehension of these great
outstanding facts in American life by
all the people cannot be too strongly
stated or too often emphasized. While
il is true that we live under a system
of self government, it is also true that
self-government is still government
Progress and Order.
Nothing is better established than
that human progress depends upon the
maintenance of order and the guidance
Of conduct in accordance with fixed
rules. AS civilization advances and as
human relationships thereby become
more and more intricate. these rules
become more and more complicated. IT
is for this reason that the multiplied
ton of laws has become unavoidable.
II they are wise and just, the fact that
they are necessary is a sure index or
progress They provide the definition
and the protection of all the rights and
liberties of the citizen. They are the
sole protection Of the weak against
the strong. 1t is these conclusions
that must inevitably follow the con-
temptation OF the American system OF
government To study it and compre--
hend it will be to cherish II and de
fend il.
Belief in our own form of Govern
rnent is not by any means TO be con-
eidered a criticism of the institutions
of other people. We think ours is
best for us. while it is entirely prob
able that some other forms are bet
ter for others. Institutions are not
handmade. they are not imposed
they are a growth. they are the
achievement of the people themselves.
A crude and harbarous people could
not establish and maintain a free re-
rNtyhli,1 Snrh n0nnlp have alW3VS