Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1937-09-02
Our Youthful Founders

Ooi III
Every little while something calls our attention
again sharply to the fact that America is a young
mans country. What brings 1t up now Is an article
about the Constitutional Convention OF 1887. point
Ing out that the average age Of the delegates OF the
thirteen colonies who met in Philadelphia 150 years
ago and laid the foundations Of our government were
what We. nowadays. would call very young men.
Their average age was only AZ years.
The venerable DR.. Benjamin Franklin, to be
sure, was IS, but Alexander Hamilton was only 80.
Edmund Randolph vas "a. Charles Pinckney WAS so.
Couverneur Morris. whose hand wrote the Anal draft
Of the document. was 35. Those four and James Will
con. As, we're the ones who led the convention. which
finished Its work on September II. 1877.
We have a way Of thinking Of historic figures -
n they were all old men, and are inclined to look on
the Constitution as the work OF rich old graybeards.
Most Of the men who framed 1t were comparatively
poor. Thep stood out among their fellows not be-
cause they we're either millionaires or aristocrats but
because they were educated men. In an era when not
one In nve could read or write, education was the
mark Of the superior man in whom the common peo-
pie placed their trust.
Those young men did a good job. The govern
ment they planned has lasted longer and brought a
greater measure OF good to a greater number of peo-
pie than any other government ever set up anywhere,
any time. in all human history.
Hungary Shows the Way
1t took a World war enemy to first recognize
among defaulting nations. its legal war debt to this
nation.
Last week Hungary. which sent its armies to
battle the Allies in the war to end wars" formally
notified the United States government that she plans
to make payments on the long-past due debt.
Hungary will join little Finland. who has paid
regularly without default, in being the only two ma
lions "atle' to pay their war debt obligations to I'm
Gle Sam.
Shortly after the war. Hungary had a hungry
p~opulace. The country was shattered and they were a
beaten nation. This great sympathetic and generous
nation of ours fed her people bread to stave off COM
plete disaster. Shipload after shipload of wheat was
transported to them for which they were grateful.
and although they had no money there was a promise
to pay.
For years it was thought that this enemy of 20
years ago had forgotten the generosity accorded them
as formally, each year. they joined with other big ma
tions of Europe in evading their war debt payments.
Now Hungary says she will pay. The notice of
intention TO meet the obligation has been met with
%jubilance in the nations capital. 1t may pave the way
to further war debt payments from greater nations
who have ability to pay but continually shirk the just
obligation.
Most brazen among the defaulters are France,
England and taly-our World war allies.
Each year they fail to pay their due instruments.
They have no money, they say.
Despite tales of difficult financial conditions.
these defaulting nations spend billions to build great
armies. They blanket the oceans with fleets costing
millions. They fill the air with giant armadas.
Their people are over-taxed and their wealth
goes for such purposes. No wonder they cannot pay
their legal debts.
Maybe we are at fault for being too generous.
Europe undou btedly recognizes that Uncle Sam has
learned from this past experience. and the days Of
generous giving are over.
The defaulting countries have prepared their
own beds. Time will bring repentance Of their short
comings.
This nation has notified Hungary that her pay
ments. although small, will be dOubly welcome.
1t took a former enemy to show Europe the way.