Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

principle on which it Is founded, and
destructive of the great object for which
it was formed"
The contest between Jacksonian Fed
eralism and the Calhoun Haynes doc
trine of State notification theories was
most bitter and involved strange combi-
nations of support for President jack
son. the Democra TOT Democrats, the
ex-PreSident Adams. as we'll as Daniel
Webster and Henry Clay and other out
standing supporters of the Union, one
and inseparable. stood firmly and sup
ported profoundly the Jacksonian Fed
eralism.
1t was in the midst of that struggle
that there came the despairing cry of
Adams and Marshall, predicting utter
ruin of the constitutional Union within
few years.
That was practically a century ago,
and today, with all Of the agitation for
reputation of such parts Of the Con-
stitution as do not meet approval Of the
two States which have never ratified
the eighteenth amendment, in agree
ment with the IS States which have SO
ratified it, 1t Is inspiring to recall Gar
fields famous exclamation in the dark
hour of Lincoln'S assassination, God
I'reigns, and the Government at Wash
ington still lives!"
On the morning of September II,
1897, Benjamin Franklin rose in the
Constitutional Convention and thus ad-
dressed that memorable body:
Mr.. President, several parts Of this
Constitution do not at present ap-
prove, but I am not sure shall never
approve them It astonishes me to
6rNd cx,cfn nh
perfection. I consent to this ConStitu-
ton because I expect no better and
because am not sure that it is not
the best. The opinions have had of
its errors sacrifice to the public good
ION the whole, sir, cannot help
expressing wish that every member
of the convention who may still have
objections to it would. with me, on
this occasion doubt little of his own
infallibility and, to manifest our una
nimity, put his name to this instru-
ment."
Mason, Gerry and Randolph per-
sisted, however, in opposition and for
time refused to sign the instrument.
Il, too, had objections" said Gouver-
neur Morris, "but considering the plan
the best that can be obtained, I shall
take it with all its faults. The moment
it goes forth the great question will be,
or general anarchy"
II am anxious" said Hamilton, "that
every member should sign A few by
refusing may do infinite mischief. No
mans ideas are more remote from the
plan than my own are known to be, but
Is it possible to deliberate between an
afchy and convulsion on the one side
and the chance of good to be expected
from the plan on the other?"
81" said Gerry, fear a civil war
In Massachusetts there are two parties,
one devoted to democracy, the worst, I
think. of all political evils: the other
as violent In the opposite extreme. From
the collision of these confusion Is great
ly feared"
So all II States then represented in
that convention officially signed the
CONSTITUTION to avoid anarchy; they GER
tainly builded better than they knew.
Today there are opponents of the same
Constitution, inclusive of the amend
ments adopted according to its original
provision, and among them are enemies
who would welcome the anarchy feared
by the fathers. It has stood the test
Of 142 years-and a century after its
stanchest early supporters gave up hope
for its permanence. The Government
1t established is today the oldest Gov
eminent In the world, and the Nation
i the mightieSt, the juSteSt, the richest,
the happiest that the world has ever
known.
Copyright. 1929. by Paul v. ooilins.)