Evening star., 1934-04-09
u. S. Constitutional System
Has Justified Its Existence
Our Form, of Government Has Been a
Chief Factor in Aduancement-Has
Stood Century and Half Test.

1t has also made possible a much
higher standard Of living than that
of any other nation in the world.
The exemption of the different Sec
tions of this continent from retalia-
tory trade restrictions Is, by itself, q
major accomplishment.
The preservation Of local rights
and customs in spite Of the scope Of
the continental union has been an
other of the marvellous results Of ad-
herence to that sharp distinction be-
tween national and local matters.
which is one of the great concepts
embodied in the Constitution.
This same localism, preserved amid
the whirl of large events and adhered
to even after the United States had
become a world power, has hand
somely repaid the National Govern
ment in many ways.
Blamed for Civil War.
For one thing, 1t has safeguarded
that priceless diversity in union which
has continuously speeded up the tenn
po of the national life. For another,
1t has at various times protected the
different sections from oppressive
treatment at the hands OF the CEN
trail Government. which would have
lowered its prestige. Most important
Of all, it has served to temper the
folly of highly centralized system
and to discourage precipitate rash
ness by retarding its steps in national
affairs.
1t has not been able, of course. to
prevent all possible abuses. 1t must,
indeed. be held accountable for one
major internal strife-the Civil War.
Nevertheless, its advantages have far
outweighed its disadvantages.
The local and State governments,
persisting alongside and within the
National Government. have been also,
until very recently, the chief factors
in holding the Federal Government to
asane attitude toward public ex-
penditures. The citizen, seeing that
local taxation fell on his real estate
and personal property, developed
very lively sense Of the seriousness of
taxation. For a time he carried over
the same notion as regards Federal
taxation. Certainly without his ex-
perience in local tax matters he would
have had less restraining influence on
Federal extravagances than he has
had.
Constitution Not Inelastic.
This system of Government under
which We have made such amazing
advances represent the sacrifice and
tho rov,frfb,,tf0v, ~ 80
est minds and noblest characters that
civilization has produced. 1t is the
wisdom Of the fathers, fortified and
adapted by the strongest intellects
which we have developed since their
time.
The Constitution never was intend
ed to be an unalterable iron code,
liked once and for all upon a Nation,
with no allowances for changed con-
ditions in changing world. It con-
tains within itself ample provisions
Tor amendment and adaptation. In
addition to the formal methods of
altering the Constitution, it has been
possible to adapt constitutional pro-
visions to particular situations by leg
islative enactment. by judicial de-
cision and by executive decree.
No one in his senses would argue
for an absolutely inelastic Constitu-
ton. That, however, is not the point
at issue at all. The real question Is
not as to whether or not there shall
be minor notifications and particular
adaptations, but rather whether or
not there shall be a virtual aban-
donment Of the basic principles Of our
constitutional system.