Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
nUTSCH STRESSES
j. S. ADVANTAGES
Firm Foundation Made Pos.
sible by Constitution Held
Factor in Growth.

The speech delivered by James Leon
ard ButSch, st. Johns College boy
who represented The Evening Stars
area in the Sixth National Oratorical
Contest finals in the Washington Au-
ditorium last night, follows:
The United States, a great Repub-
lie, land of freedom and opportunity
reaching from the rocky shores of the
Atlantic to the sunswept sands of the
born, leaving their native countries be-
hind, leaving their homes and friends
to come to this. a new and strange
land, to be adopted as its citizens.
What is your appeal? For that rea-
son in our country the greatest of them
all. 1t cannot be our wealth. We were
not founded upon wealth alone. Our
forefathers braved the cold and bleak
New England shore, suffering hardship
and poverty to make possible your
birth Prosperity is not the incentive
that brings these people here, nor the
reason for the success of the Nation.
There must be some greater influence
which has caused our country in spite
of civil strife still TO remain a great
republic. This is a cause. and 1t Is
that greatest document in The history
of tirae-the Constitution of the United
States.
Cites Advantages Onered.
wherein is the strength of our Con-
stitution? The answer has grown
hackneyed. It's strength lies in the
happy combination of respect for au-
thority with training in individual
initiative.
In America all men are civilly and
politically equal, all have the same
rights, all WELD the same arm Of de-
Tense and Of conquest-the ConStitu-
ton, tt takes from the liberty of the
individual only so much as is necessary
for the veal of the Nation. 1t gives to
him inalienable rights which are his
protection. 1t guarantees to him the
right to liberty. This means the very
right to life itself which cannot be
taken even by the Government without
due process of law. 1t inSures for him
legal rights which enable him to appear
in the courts for his protection, regard
less of his lack of wealth or position.
The Constitution gives to the individual
freedom of conscience to enjoy liberty
of religion, of speech and press, that
great power which has drawn millions
to this Temple Of Freedom,-the Unit
ed States.
them to habits of obedience. 1t
strengthens their conservative instincts,
their sense of stability and permanence
in political arrangements. 1t makes
them feel that to comprehend this SUI
preme instrument Of government Is
personal duty. 1t familiarizes them
with and attaches them, by ties Of pride
and reverence. to those fundamental
truths upon which the Constitution is
based.
Public Opinion Governs.
'These are enormous services to rem
der to the people Of any free country,
but above all, to a country which, more
than any other, Is governed. not by
men of rank and wealth, but by public
opinion, that is to say. by the ideas
and dictates Of the people at large.
In no country are political changes so
keenly watched, because nowhere has
material growth been so rapid and i'm
migration so enormous. In none might
the political character OF the people
seem more likely to be bold and prone
to changes, because their national ex-
istence began with a revolution which
even now lies only century and half
behind.
The Constitution of the United
States has been amended and changed.
The world Is not so much advanced
that in this age of laws, even the best
and most venerable laws, will of them
selves command obedience. Constitu-
tionS which in quiet times change
peacefully and gradually must in time
Of revolution be changed bodily, some
provisions being sacrificed for the sake
of others, as the mariner throws part
Of the cargo overheard in q storm to
save the ship itself. The original Con-
stitution was not received by all the
people Of the United States as a mas
terpiece of statecraft It met with OBJ
lection in several States and was even
burned by the bowling mobs of Boston
Fearing it was written solely to rob
them Of their liberties, the people did
not accept it until they understood its
real meaning. They did not accept 1t
jet, which was to insure to the Ameri-
can individual and to any other indi-
vidual who might seek protection and
prosperity under the American flag, the
liberties and opportunities which any
free born person has the right TO de-
mand.
Foundation Declared Firm.
There may be nations which have
great governments; there may be ma
lions which claim prosperity-but there
In no nation that can boast OF sucn
foundation of government as that OF
the United States OF America. Our
OOIlSblbulIOIl IldS IClioCiCo oh0 AChaSI .
now invaluable services to the individ-
uals; it sums up the best in laws and
customs and has stood the test OF
civil war, from which it emerged with
greater significance. In that crisis 1t
proved to be the supreme law, the
fundamental principle of our national
existence.
The God-given mission of the Re-
public of the United States is not con-
fined to it's own individuals alone-it
extends to all the peoples of the earth
to whom the United States Is symbol
of human rights and liberties and to-
ward whom its flag f,utters hopes of
future happiness. The United States
Is honored and respected in every
country as the greatest Nation in the
world. 1t will continue so to endure
as long as you and l, its citizens, obey
and respect its Constitution. The hap
piness and welfare and prosperity of
the American individual can be ascribed
only to that famous document Of 1888
the Constitution of the United
ed States"