Evening star., 1927-05-28
WINNING ORATIONS

Miss Dorothy Carlson's winning
Grafton on What the Constitution
Should Mean to an American Citi
zen" was delivered as follows:
"Since the dawn of history man
has ever aspired to freedom; the de
sire for liberty has been the greatest
urge of the human heart.
This aspiration was the moving
force in the establishing of the transi
tory republics of Greece and Switzer
land; it, later, wrested from King
John that significant contribution tC
liberty, the Magma Charta.
THE urge behind that heroic hand
ful of undaunted patriots, the Pilgrim
Fathers, as they braved the unknown
dangers of a trackless sea. was tc
secure religious freedom; they
dreamed, not of pelf and power. but
of liberty, the God-given birthright of
all men. The fruition of their noble
aspirations was the inspired Declara'
tion of Independence. Little did they
realize that, under Gods guidance
they were laying the foundation OF
universal democracy!
After the smoke of the Revolu.
ton had cleared, the gaunt specter of
want and misery was abroad in the
land; chaos, almost to anarchy, stalked
about with ominous tread: hearts
were heavy, but the Ship Of State was
destined to weather the storm. The
trainers of our Constitution met in
1887 and, out Of the confusion of the
loosely bound confederation, torn
with dissension from within and lack
of support from without. these great
souls gathered the scattered forces of
freedom and crystallized them into
q (NnY fit1ttinn--u {NnnCtif11tinn Hndi.
Gated to liberty-a Constitution that
has become not only the corner stone
of our liberty but also a pattern for
liberty loving people the world over
a Constitution whose new and domi-
nant note stressed the rights of the
individual.
Described as Masterpiece.
"a masterpiece of government
unique, in that it contains. for the
first time in all history, a bill of
rights so comprehensive as to cover
the full gamut of personal liberty; a
Constitution providing for represent
ative form of government: a Govern
ment composed Of sovereign States
under strong central control; a GOV
ernment having system of checks
and balances, whereby the legislative.
the executive and the judicial depart
ments each comprise an effective
check on the others, eliminating in a
well regulated balance of authority:
and, lastly, must / mention those wise
provisions whereby the Constitution is
kept a living force, capable of con-
forming to the ever-changing condl-
tions of national growth refer to
the power of amendment and to the
more flexible power of judicial inter.
probation through decisions of the
Supreme Court.
twas there ever a Constitution like
this-a Constitution affording the
humblest citizen equal rights with the
most powerful--a Constitution carry
ing out the will of the majority, yet
safeguarding the rights of the MI
nority?
"This immortal document is COM
posite of the genius and lofty 1deaiism
of it's creators, rejecting the majesty
of Washington, the wisdom OF Madi'
son, the common sense of Franklin
and the brilliance of Hamilton; yet, 1t
remained for the mighty Marshall TO
breathe into the Constitution the
breath Of life, making it a living In.
strument.
s'It now remains for us to uphold
that sacred guaranty of liberty. Our
Constitution is strong only as we are
as strong; weak, as we are weak. we
must guard against indifference TO
civic and national issues and the neg
lect to exercise our rights OF iran
chise. How can our Government be
truly representative IL we fail to vote:
Is liberty so cheap that we value 1t
so lightly? An intelligent. voting citl-
zenry is the Nations salvatlon-lts
greatest need.
Foremost Among Nations.
"America stands today foremost
among the nations Of the earth. May
it ever maintain this glorious prestige.
nFriends, Americas future rests
upon the individual citizen. Oh, for
Lincoln, to fuse into our civic and
national consciousness, in times OF
peace, the patriotic service and fidel.
ity Of purpose so manifest in times or
war! We need more leaders and
teachers to inspire in us, and especial
ly in the youth Of our land, the homeiy
qualities of honesty, fairness, helpful
ness, industry and thrift, without
which no nation, however great the
without which there would have been
no lasting Constitution. no united, free
America, no Stars and Stripes!
"Are we so stated with the pleasures
of life that the red blood Of true
Americanism no longer flows in our
veins? If so, God help us to awaken
to full appreciation of our citizen
ship! The challenge comes to every
American citizen, not only to uphoid
this Constitution. but to defend 1t; to
uphold it is not enough!
1--WE Americanize the foreigner. Are
not many native-born Americans just
as truly in need of Americanization!
For those who are ignorant or our
history and know not our TRADITIONS:
the valiant stand Of the minute men al
Lexington means nothing; the roar OF
Bunker Hill falls on deaf ears; the
blood-stained footprints on the ice ana
snow at Valley Forge bring no heart
throb: the Stars and Stripes, floating
resplendent on the breeze. brings no
quickening of the pulse.
Sees PeriIs to Nation.
'T.adies and gentlemen, vigilance
must be. our watchword, for real dan
ger confronts this Nation. Foreigners
under the guise Of friendship, come
here desiring to wreck the very citadel
of our liberty by poisoning the minds
of our youth with their seditious prop
aranda. For these insidious foes, Wno
hold contempt and hatred IN theiI
hearts for all established law ana
order. we have nothing but righteous
Indignation. We must, by process ol
education, teach these radicals ne"
ideals, new standards-teach them tna'
our constitutional freedom is based on
fixed rules of law and order; thai
liberty without responsibility Is !,