Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-16
Birthday of the Constitution.

oiAO HuiluISu anu InlFty-Illno years
ago tomorrow the Constitution of the
United States was adopted. This an
niversary will be observed in two
places, at the Sesquicentennial in
Philadelphia and at a patriotic meet
ing in New York under the direction
of the Sons Of the American Revolu-
ton. Elsewhere there appears to be
no particular commemoration of the
event The date is not particularly
significant. a span of one hundred
and thirty-nine years Is not especial
ly impressive. like that of one hundred
years or one hundred and fifty. But
1t is nevertheless the time to recall
a momentous happening, as important
as the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, indeed one of the chief
landmarks in the national history.
The adoption of the Constitution
was not assured when the work of
the Constitutional Convention was
completed. Months elapsed before
the assent of the nine States neces-
sary to the complete establishment Of
the compact between the States to
govern all was secured. The conven-
ton accepted the final draft on the
18th OF September, 1887. The rati-
fications came in the following order:
Delaware, December Z, 1887; Pennsyl-
vania, December 12; New Jersey, De-
cember IS; Georgia, January 2, 1888;
Connecticut, January 8; Massachu-
sets, February 6; Maryland, April
%; South Carolina, May %; New
Hampshire, June 81; Virginia, June
%; New York, June 26; North Caro-
lima, November 81. 1889; Rhode Island,
May 20. 1890. The ninth State, New
Hampshire, voted on the 21st Of June,
1888, which is, therefore. actually the
date on which the Constitution be-
came operative.
The first ten amendments to the
Constitution were submitted to the
States by the First Congress, in a
resolution adopted on the 25th of Sep
TENDER, 1889, fifteen months after the
definite ratification. They were rati-
fed by the sufficient number of States
before the close Of 1891.
Recent additions to the Constitution
have comprised the income tax, direct
senatorial election, prohibition and
woman suffrage amendments. They
have exercised a profound influence
on the lives of the people. One of
them is now under sharp discussion,
although there would appear to be
little, If any, chance Of it's repeal,
which would require first a two-thirds
vote in both houses of Congress and
then a three-fourths vote Of the
States, being the same procedure that
is required to amend. It is accepted
as established law that State that
has once ratified an amendment and
thereby contributed to it's final adop-
ton cannot later withdraw that rati-
fication. 1t can withdraw ratification
before the completion Of the three
fourths vote of the States. Just so, it
can, after once rejecting, proceed on
reconsideration to ratify.
Study of the Constitution has in
the last few years been extensively
carried on by the younger people of
this country through the oratorical
contests that have been promoted and
now become an annual institution to
stimulate the understanding of the
junior citizens of the United States
Of the great instrument of govern
mental foundation. In consequence of
that study the Constitution is Today
better understood, more fully appre-
ciated than ever before in this coun-
try. The anniversary of it's adoption
should be always observed, and there
should now be thought upon the sub
ject of an adequate commemoration
of it's sesquicentennial in 1887.