Milford chronicle., 1930-03-21

G1lCo Il 4U0CmNEN - AAe Os 4AtN-AtFAA '
At Ceremony In Federal Building
Aside from the Holy Writ, the
Constitution of the United States is
the most sacred document in exis-
tence, said Judge Hugh M. Morris,
in an address this week to the 80
members of the graduating class OF
the AmericanizatiOn schools at cX-
ercises held in the Federal Court
room, Wilmington.
These newly made citizens, repre-
senting the countries of Poland,
Germany, England. Russia, Ruman-
ia, Bulgaria, Italy, Denmark and
Greece, were examined by a Federal
examiner. Monday they were pre-
sented with their certificates by
Clerk of the U. S. Court, H. c. Ma
haffy, who also administered the
oath of allegiance.
Judge Morris Speaks
Judge Morris, after greeting the
new citizens, said the problem is
how to present the facts to Ameri-
cas- citizens in such a manner they
cannot do otherwise than realize the
sacredness of the Constitution.
mo headway," he said, "is made
by repeating time-wOrn platitudes
and by quoting the phrase that the
Constitution is the fundamental law
by which the United States is gov
erned, but when considered in the
light of fundamental principles, 1t
becomes self evident that the Con-
stitution is, indeed, sacred, not
from a sentimental viewpoint, but
because it is indispensable to the
welfare, the freedom and happiness
of every American citizen"
Judge Morris, after giving a re-
sumo of what the Constitution pro-
vides for the freedom of the people;
the powers of government and how
successfully the Constitution meets
all the tests and requirements de-
manded of it, said the great docu-
ment is the "deed" through which
the liberties wrenched by our fore
fathers from King and tyrant were
transmitted to the people of this
great country, but added like the
deed which gives a citizen a title to
his property and makes him its alb
solute owner, it's effectiveness may
be wholly destroyed by change or
alteration.
"Where is the citizen, who with
out the most careful consideration
and the best legal advice?" asked
the jurist, would permit a single
word to be added to or stricken
from the deed for his land, yet the
rights of the citizen preserved and
protected by the Constitution are of
far greater benefit and value to him
than the rights he holds under the
deed of his land"
After quoting how the famous doc
ument has withstood the strains of
both peace and war, Judge Morris
said the Constitution now stands as
a barrier to the encrOachment upon
the rights of the individual by any
group of men clothed with the robes
of Office and is the guarantee of
freedom to every citizen of Ameri-
ca.
Constitution Sacred
"Is the Constitution sacred?" ask
ed the speaker, and answered bis
own question by saying: Surely not
if the God-given rights of an indi-
vidual to life, liberty and happiness
are not sacred" and in conclusion,
"but if the right to life, to do as one
wills under the law, to worship God
according to the dictates Of ones
own conscience and not in accord
ance with the mandates of govern
ment, to be secure in the enjoyment
of ones home and the fruits of
ones labor, in short, if immunity
from slavery, if human freedom is
sacred, then, indeed, the instrument
tality, the Constitution of the United
States, which guarantees, which
preserves these rights this freedom
to us, is likewise sacred"
Salute to the Flag
The presentation to the June class
was made by members of the grad
uating class. This was followed by
the salute to the flag and the play
ing in the corridor Of the Star
Spangled Banner"
Members of the Americanizatlon
Schools faculty with the director,
Miss Marguerite Burnett, served
cake and orangeade to the new cltl-
zens and their friends.