Milford chronicle., 1934-09-14

l
the Constitution of the United Stat
es. The reading will require an hour
or so-there are nearly twelve
thousand words in the Constitution
of the United States, about six
times as many as there are IN the
Declaration of Independence-but II
is an hour which any Of us should
rejoice to set aside for this patrio-
tic duty. An hour? Recall the agon-
lied months that went into the
struggle to produce an America that
might have a constitution, the blood
spilled on Northern and Southern
battlefields, from 81 to '65 I'm order
to form a more perfect union" 1.-THE
first specification in the Preamble
to the Constitution ITSELF, the fam
ing days of sixteen years ago when
Americans fought and died to "se-
cure the blessings of liberty TO our
selves and our posterity." An hour?
It is not too much to ask of any
American.
And while you read, the very
pageant of American history will
move in vivid panorama before your
eyes. For here is no stuffy document
pigeOnhOled in the dustbin OF for
cotton archives-bere, rather, is a
vital, pulsing, breathing spirit that
guides us today as It has guided MS
now for nearly a century and half.
Here is America. Here is the basic
law of our land-as IL was in 1883.
when 1t was declared in effect, ss it
is in 1884, as It shall be as long as
America endures. For If ever the
Constitution ceases to exercise its
benign influence on our course as
nation, if ever its words of fire be-
come the ashes of high resolves and
noble purposes, then, and then only,
and then inevitably, America her
self shall become one with the ma
tiOns that perished because they
were false to great heritages.
Lincoln, in his first inaugural.
held that, lin contemplation of uni
versal law and of the Constitution"
the republic must be perpetual"
and he added this profound axiom:
mo government proper ever had a
provision in its organic law for its
own termination" And Webster saw
in any rupture of the Constitution
the surest, the inevitable road to the |
disintegratiOn of this nation. I'm
der the present Constitution" he /
declared, wisely and cOnscienti)uS- |
ly administered, all are happy, safe |
and renowned. The measure of our |
fame may fill all our
breasts. 1t is fame enough for us all
10 partake of her glory, If we will |
carry her character onward to its
true destiny. But if the system is
broken, its fragments must fall alike
IN ALL"
Daniel Webster lived in a troubled
lge. He visualized the very 1ounda-
ion of our. constitutional govern
nent threatened by force within
'ur nation. His warning, sounded in
4 speech at the. celebration of the
centennial anniversary OF. the birth
# George Washington, seems to
ne to be just as applicable today as
he day he uttered it, On that oc-
asion Webster said: THE constitu-
ion is a vital. pulsing,f breathing
pirit that guides. us today as it has
uided us now for nearly.a century
nd a half.
Other misfortunes may nc borne,
# their effects overcome. If disas-
rous wars should sweep our rom-
nerce from the ocean, another gem
ration may renew 1t; If il exhausts
ur treasury, future industry may
eplenish it; If II desolate and lay
TastN our fields, still, under a new
they will grow green
gain, and ripen to future harvests.
were but trifle even If the walls I
( yonder capitol were to crumble,
its lofty pillars should fall, and
s gorgeous decorations be all COW /
red by the dust of the valley. All 3
lese may be rebuilt. But who shall I
econstruet the fabric OF demolish-
d government. Who shall rear S
gain the well-proportioned col a
INNS of constitutional liberty. Who I
hall frame together the skillful ar I
hitecture which unites national \
Dvereignty with State rights, indi- Y
dual security, and public prosper r
y? No. if these columns fall. they
ill not be raised again. Like the
oliseum and the Parthenon, they I
ill be destined to a mournful and |
melancholy immortality. Bitterer I
,ars, however, will flow over them
ian were ever shed over the mon j