Evening star., 1927-05-28

| task. Error then meant the loss OF
all advance made in America toward
democratic government. Temptation
| to establish a monarchy was great.
But individuality. training. environ
ment-yea, nspiration-assured a
glorious achievement. To assure the
permanency Of the new Government
| they wrote with ink those immortal
principles that had been indelibly en-
graved on the pages of history with
| the blood Of martyrs. For these prin-
ciples were not new. They We're as
old as human intelligence. human
| longing, human aspiration and hui
man suffering.
Having in mind the weaknesses of
the Confederation. they sought to
form "A more perfect union Driven
into the wilderness by injustice. they
longed to establish Justice Rent
by quarrels and rebellions. they craved
domestic tranquility Just emerged
i from bloody struggles, their brothers
and fathers slain by foreign bayonets,
their sisters and sweethearts scalped
by savage foes, they determined to
provide for the common defense.
Weakened and impoverished, they
were anxious to promote the general
welfare
BLESSINGS of Liberty"
Fearing persecution, they desired
to secure the blessings of liberty to
themselves and their posterity.' These
We're the blessings sought for them
selves by our ancestors. These are
the blessings guaranteed to us by our
Constitution. Having thus accom-
plished the purposes Of its creators,
inc q
of the people, the supreme law of the
land. The trainers of the Constitu-
ton, surveying the shortcomings, and
remembering the pitfalls. of others,
charted a governmental highway on
the roadbed of human rights. They
removed the crown of sovereignty
from the polluted heads of kings and
placed it on the brow Of a nations
ctizenry They recognized sovereignty
to be in the people, who ordained and
established the Constitution itself.
The provision for amendment again
recognized the sovereignty of the peo'
pie. This principle. first advanced in
concrete form in the American Con-
stitution, is the bulwark of liberty.
America today recognizes no other
sovereign. American history. Ameri-
can ideals, and the American Consti.
tuition alike proclaim the sovereignty
of the people. Today our Constitu-
tion insures this sovereignty.
-Four foreign wars and fratricidal
struggle have brought its possibilities
into clearer relief. Constructed in a
nations infancy, it has met the require
ments Of the nations maturity. 1t
provides the machinery Of govern
ment in war and peace. James Bryce
says, 1T is both brief and rigid. in that
it lays down great and general prin-
ciples. and names powers only; it is
both extensive and flexible, in that 1t is
open to Interpretation to meet all the
details of new conditions
This could have been accomplished
only by recognition of the equality of
individuals under the law. Federal
and State courts stand ready to defend
the rights and redress the wrongs of
individuals. Citizens of each State
were guaranteed equal rights, privi-
leges, and immunities in all States.
The trainers of the Declaration Of In
dependence asserted that, "all men are
created equal The trainers of our
Constitution proclaimed to a doubling
world that this equality should con
tinue through life. Each principle of
government resting on an inherent
right of the individual stands on a
foundation as firm as Gibraltar. After
a test of seven score years our Con-
stitution still means equal rights to
individuals. This principle serves as
a beacon, attracting to the protection
of the Stars and Stripes the prosecuted
of all lands. It has inspired struggling
people from the Orient to the Occident;
from the frozen North to the Southern
seas.
Come for One Purpose.
"But what was the hope that drew
the best blood and the stoutest hearts
from the comforts and luxuries of
European civilization to the hardships
of an American wilderness? They
came for one purpose. Quaker, Cath
olic, Hebrew, Pilgrim and Huguenot
in the free soil of America buried
their Old World hatreds and wrote
into our Constitution a guaranty of
religious freedom.
Americans, our Constitution means
religious freedom today Let us re-
tain that heritage. A jewel of such
price should not be abandoned in a
sea OF Indifference nor lost in a
wilderness of mistaken ideas.
THE trainers of the Constitution.
who reserved all powers to the peo-
pie not expressly granted to the Gov
ernment, placed not only the power of
kings in American citizens, but they
also placed on them their responsible
tiles. The millions Of our citizens who
refuse to participate in the Govern
ment thereby abdicate their inherited
throne and place over the graves of
the heroes Of Concord and Yorktown
the mantle of Indifference. If SOW.
ereignty rests in the people, a part of
the responsibility of ruling devolves on
each citizen. Our Constitution means
such responsibility today.
America from her station Of funda.
mental principles of government, as
embodied in our Constitution, is broad
casting message of individual liberty
coupled with national security. Man.
kind, with receivers in tune, is ac.
cepttng that message, and everywhere
despotism Is fallen or tottering. I'm.
told millions would rejoice to share
the blessings of the bill of rights, to
hold aloft the banner of personal and
religious liberty, to enjoy with us
equality under the law and to share
the responsibilities Of a sovereign
people. These are our rights: these
are our duties.
Americans, the flag, the Nation.
the Constitution. the emblem, the
craft. the God-given chart: thew are
yours, they are mine, they are ours. i"