The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-02-27
sAUK CENTRE HERALD, Sank Centre MINI.

crisis, far greater than that of to-
day, not been surmounted in a way
| that fix the Inspirations of the
great mass of American people,
| there would be no Y. S. of A. We
had been through a devastating
war. AS in Germany after the
World War, our currency had be-
come worthless, the natural
rights" of men so ably set down by
jefferson in the Declaration of In
dependence, were being invaded;
Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts,
made it seem that not only had the
National government failed, but the
State governments, also. To meet
the crisis, representatives of the
various states met at Philadelphia
in 1877 after attempts of some
states to settle their differences
failed, notably the Mount Vernon
and Annapolis convention; they
elected George Washington Presi-
dent of the Convention and pro-
ceeded to draw up a new scheme
of government to meet the crisis.
How well they succeeded is a mat
ter of history. 1t wasn't easy; the
nation was torn with conflicting
elements; jealousy was rampant,
and it was only after bitter
struggle that compromises were
made and the final document was
approved. 1t was a great period in
our history-revealing people,
who, without shedding a drop of
blood, calmly and deliberately
abolished one government, substi-
tuted another, and erected it upon
foundations that have endured $50
years. AS Gladstone says, TT is the
most wonderful work ever struck
off, at a given time by the brain
and purpose of man." The princi-
Piles it embodies were those dear to
the hearts of a people who had ex-
perienced hardship and misfortunes
for centuries, and it was the first
attempt to establish a workable
democratic government that sue
ceeded. The Constitution, as fin
ished, consisted of about 1000
words, 80 sentences, and about 140
distinct provisions. AS the Late
Lord Bryce so we'll has said, The
Constitution of the United States,
| including amendments, may be
read aloud in % minutes. It is
about half as long as st. PauPs
Epistle to the Corinthians, and one
fourth as long as the Irish Land
Act of 1881. History knows few in
struments which in so few words
lay down equally momentous rules
| IF Ypn1fforS nf tho
the highest Importance and COM
plexity."
He further explained the six diff
ferent ways in which the Consti-
tuition has been changed, stating
that it has not been a static one but
has been changed to meet the
changing conditions. He mentioned
that it had been changed by amend
ments, usage, national acquiesean-
ce, administration and interpreted
ton, extra constitutional machin-
cry and administrative law.
He stated that today the question
of the constitutionality of laws and
the distribution of powers beween
national and state governments has
become an issue of paramount in
terest, and warned of the dangers
of living under such governments
as rule Italy and Germany today.
Mr.. Olson in mentioning the ~
cent discussed trend toward ma
tionalism and dictatorship, and its
possible effect upon free govern
ment, stated that only public opin-
ion could bring that about. He
continued: I'm application, our
Constitution has changed to meet
those new conditions, but the fun
damental principles upon which it
rests remain the same. 1t is our
duty to see that they do so remain
in the future, to keep before us al
ways that government is a means
to an end, that end being a richer
and more abundant life for our
people"
Mr.. Olson's subject was well
chosen and timely and it was in
terestingly defined. 1t is with re-
gret that we are unable to publish
the entire talk as it would be edu-
cational to our many readers. He
gave considerable time and thought
to his subject and presented it in a
well defined manner.