Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24
SPEECH ON CLAY
WINS APPLAUSE
James A. Moore of Western
High School LaudS His
Doctrine of Union.

James A. Moore OF Western High
School, The Stars representative in
the national oratorical contest last
night. spoke on Henry Clay-the Great
Unionist" Although Jimmy" failed
TO place, his address was well received
by the audience. The address follows:
In the courtyard of a small Illinois
town, great national figure is telling
his views of government On a raised
platform he standS-and with a pas
Sionate oratory that thrills his audience,
he expounds his doctrine of Union, first
last and always
Among the eager faces turned up to
his IS one That's fairly glows with the
radiated charngof his personality: the
lean and homely young face of an
awkward country boy. catching his first
glimpse of his hero. filing away in his
active brain each passage in a brilliant
ly presented argument. He leaves the
meeting afiame with the spirit Of
Union. Forty years later men called
him its saviour, for the awkward coun-
try boy was Abraham Lincoln: the
great statesman who inspired his devo-
ton TO the Union was Henry Clay.
Believed in Perfect Union.
1--WE do not know what Clay said in
that fateful speech, but we know that
in his long public career he kept ever
before him one guiding star-the fun
damental purpose set forth by the
founding fathers in the very first line
OF the Constitution, I'VE. the people of
the United States In order to form q
more perfect Union Henry Clay ac-
cepted those words literally. He be-
lieyed that the Constitution achieved
that declared purpose: that 1t formed
a binding and permanent Union.
a 70 - g. Fl. = aSn
any one wishes to know the paramount
interest of my publis life the preserva-
ton Of the Union will furnish him the
key
THE Union was preserved. Today
all men agree that our Constitution
warrants nothing less than indissoluble
Union. But there was a day when the
most burning issue which ever inflamed
a people was whether our Constitution
had made us confederacy or a nation.
Political leaders who sought sectional
support, misguided men who gave 10y
atty first to their native States. these
and thousands Of others preached the
doctrines of secession and notification,
and the fate of the Nation trembled in
the balance
Henry Clay had vision; vision that
enabled him to see beyond sections
with a courage that made him declare
Alll1isEll lUI ally SCCblOIl
and all sections Coming from the
heart of Kertuckys beautiful Blue
Grass, as favored a. land as God ever
created, nevertheless he yielded to
his State not one small fragrant Of the
loyalty he felt he owed his Nation.
Bigger than State or section, bigger
than any selfish group of citizens. ne
could see. in a day when mems visions
were clouded, that national salvation
lay only in Union, anc. higher concept
even than that, he knew that the Con-
stitution had created Union, and on
that rock he built his faith.
Faith Attested by Career.
His entire public career attests that
faith. His great American system, his
campaign for the national bank, his
many history-making compromises. all
were parts of his one constant endeavor
the preservation and upbuiiding Of
the Union.
Historians have denominated him
the Founder of the American Senate
the Benefactor of South America the
Great Pacificator' Let us recognize
the supreme conviction that made these
titles fit him; his unwavering belief
that the Constitution of his country
was. above all else, an instrument OF
Union. Let us give to the inspired and
inspiring teacher Of young Abraham
Lincoln his broader, noDler title, Henry
Clay--the Great Unionist';