The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-21
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY Elmer BARNES

TINE sanctity of the Constitution OF the
l. United States promises to be major issue
in the next presidential campaign. Already, the
reactionaries are offering up incense to the doc
ument and thanking God for the Supreme
Courts action in preserving it.
The best cure for this perverted and unhls-
torical attitude toward the Constitution is to go
back and find out what the fathers themselves
thought about it. Even the most ardent de-
Tenders of the Constitution in the generation
which made 1t never shared the view of Mr..
Gladstone when he said the Constitution of the
United States was "the greatest piece of work
ever struck off at given time by the brain and
purpose of man."
The contemporary friends of the Constitu-
ton were the first to recognize the many defects
and to describe it as the imperfect outcome OF
series of irritating and obstructive compro-
misses.
The prevailing opinion in 1889 was that the
Constitution provided the best framework Of
government which it was possible to secure
under the circumstances The makers believed
that it would eliminate the more fragrant evils
which existed under the Articles Of Confedera-
ton.
They hoped that with subsequent expert
ence and opportunities for amendment, the
document could be notably improved. Charac-
teriStc of friendly opinion is the estimate of the
Constitution given by its most active partisan
Alexander Hamilton, during the bitter cam
paign for ratification
1T is a matter both Of wonder and regret,
that those who raise so many objections against
the new Constitution should never call to mind
the defects of that which is to be exchanged
for it. 1t is not necessary that the former should
be perfect it is sufficient that the latter is more
imperfect
mo man would refuse to give brass Tor sill
yer or gold, because the latter had some alloy
in it.
So IN o1rit hot
IN and lettering habitation for a firm and
connexions building, because the latter had
not porch to it. or because some of the rooms
might be little larger or smaller, or the ceiling
little higher or lower than his fancy would
have planned them"
Probably the most sensible summary of the
whole matter is to be found in the cogent OBJ
servations by Thomas jefferson made near the
end of his life.
Some men look at constitutions with
sanctimoniouS reverence and deem them like
the Ark OF the Covenant, too sacred to be
touched. They ascribe to the men of the pre-
ceding age wisdom more than human and sup
pose that what they did was beyond amendment.
Il knew that age we'll; belonged to it and
labored with it, it deserved well of its country
1T was very much like the present, but with
out the experience of the present, and 40 years
experience in government is worth century Of
book reading; and they would say this were
they to rise from the dead.
II am certainly not an advocate of frequent
and untried changes in laws and constitutions.
think moderate imperfections had better be
borne with, because when once known we &C
commodate ourselves to them and find prac-
tical means of correcting their i'll effects.
"DUT also know that laws and institutions
ID must go hand in hand with the progress
of the human mind AS that becomes more de-
veloped. more enlightened; as new discoveries
are made new truths disclosed, and opinions
change with the change of circumstances, insti-
tutions must advance also and keep pace with
the times
If one wishes to know what the opponents OF
the Constitution thought about it at the time
of its making, let him turn to the "Centinel Let
ters" the most powerful condemnation of the
new Constitution:
80 fragrant, so audacious a conspiracy
against the liberties of a free people is without
precedent. Mankind in the darkest ages have
never been so insulted.
The new Constitution, instead of being the
panacea or cure of every grievance, so delusively
represented by its advocates. will be found upon
examination like Pandoras box, replete with
every evil. The most specious clauses OF this
system of ambition and iniquity contain latent
mischief and premeditated villainy.