The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-21
Is It Too Modern?

matter herein are also reserved.
Is It Too Modern?
In the discussions brought on b.
he recent observance Of Constitution
Week, much was said favorable t,
he preservation of that grand docu'
ment which has come down to u
from the nations founders as bull
wark against injustice and oppres'
sion.
Here and there, however, Their,
we're some who contended that i
should be changed, that it Is obso
lete and not geared to the stresse
and necessities Of these stirring
times.
It was to that contention that Ma.
than l.. Miller, one OF the leaders O.
The New York bar, addressed himself
IN q recent speech. incidentally, h,
advanced some thoughts which art
worth consideration by those person!
who would cast all experience asid,
and attempt to change everything
Here's what he said:
"Slurring reference to our
eighteenth century constitution
suggests to the minimizing that
it is obsolete, just as like refer
ence to the capitalistic system
suffices at q time like this to
arouse the antagonism of many
who would not willingly surren-
der the right to possess and en-
Joy the fruits Of their own labor,
which Is all that capitalism means.
The trainers of the constitu-
ton did not gear our institutions
to the stage coach. They fore
saw vast changes on this CONT
nent. The scheme which they
devised, the principles which they
applied and the safeguards which
they provided have become in
creasingly important at each stage
Of our national development and
are today indispensable, unless
we are to substitute the suprem-
acy Of the state for the supremacy
Of the people, arbitrary power for
our democratic institutions.
THE truth Is that there has
never been another combination
Of circumstances SO favorable to
wise decisions in the organization
Of government, uninfluenced by
selfish and partisan considera-
tions, as existed on the 25th of
May. 1857, when the convention
assembled at Philadelphia to
frame q constitution. There has
never been and Is not likely to be
gathered again such another as
semblage Of men under such
presiding officer as framed the
document, which. until 1t be-
came the vogue to scott at expe-
rience, has been regarded in the
words Of Gladstone as the most
wonderful work ever struck off
at given time by the brain and
purpose OF man. The leading
men Of q period that produced
statesmen and philosophers as
sembled at Philadelphia.
THE subject OF government
had been uppermost In their
minds since Yorktown. They had
studied the science Of govern
ment and the history Of govern
ment more deeply than any SIM
liar body Of men that has ever
been assembled. They were i'm
bued with the august nature Of
their task. They visualized
country stretching across the con-
tineut and they undertook to
frame q constitution which should
be q charter Of liberty for ages
to come. It was not code Of
laws to fit temporary conditions
such Is its critics would frame
today. It provided q scheme OF
government based on fundamen-
tai principles as unchanging as
human nature itself. It contained
q plain and concise statement Of
the powers conferred without
any attempt to define the means
Of exercising them, which were
thus left entirely to time and
circumstance"
Modern reformers might examir
that statement closely before urgir
their ideas too strongly. They migl
consider. among other things, wheth,
their patriotism is as real and the
judgment as good as the men wi
wrote the original document. II thu
answer such questions in the affirm
alive they have only the task Of &c
ting others to agree with them in 0
der to achieve success.