The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-09-16
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1887.
AMERICAS CONSTITUTION

OCpLtIHUGI 10 hIlOWIl W AIIlSIlCd d.
the month which brings to US our Con-
stitution Day, and September 18th
this year has more than special signifi-
canoe because it marks the 150th an
niversary of the signing of the immor-
tai document which gave birth to our
nation. So much has been written and
said about the Constitution that there
would seem to be little that could be
added. Constitutional government has
brought US from thirteen struggling,
discordant colonies to become the rich
est and potentially the most powerful
nation on earth in less time than it
took to plant the original colonies on
our Atlantic Coast and infuse feeble
life into them.
1t would seem that the record of
America, surprising anything in the
history of the world, would satisfy our
people with the soundness and eff
cheney of their government. Fortu-
nately most of them are satisfied. But
of late there have sprung up among US
many agitators and pseudo prophets
of a so-called new era, who tell US that
everything which has gone before is
wrong, and that if we really want to
succeed we must adopt something new
"a form of government made in
Europe, or perhaps in Asia. Up to this
time they have not succeeded in sap
ping the foundations of our national
structure and they will not 90 so I'M
less our people forget the proud record
of the century and half from 1887 to
1887. But the economic depression
from which we are just emerging, fur
nished an excellent fog in which the
opponents Of the new order could oper-
ate and they have not been without
their deluded converts.
The best evidence of the efficacy of
our constitutional government is in
the results of its operation. 1t worked.
We today are the most prosperous ma
ton in the worldly comparison
much the happiest and the most peace
full of any of the great powers. We
have liberty, security, free speech and
a free press. These blessings are Sc
cured to US through our Constitution
and the balanced government which
provides for three separate and dis
tinct branches of control-balanced so
that none can blossom into an autoc-
racy at the expense Of the other two
and of the entire nation.
Compare conditions today with those
of one hundred and fifty years ago.
Then America had four million people
little wealth, general diffusion of
poverty, Indebtedness, high taxes and
money made worthless by imitation
There was no credit for America either
here or abroad. And the greatest
handicap of all was lack of national
feeling. Thirteen little colonies were
thirteen petty jealous states-nothing
more.
Then the patriots, almost in despair,
met in Philadelphia and formed the
Constitution of the United States-a
document which has evoked the praise
and admiration of the greatest states
men of Europe. Immediately conf
dence supplanted panic, nationalism
took the place of dissolution, and the
thirteen colonies became little nation
"a going concern which was soon on
its way to power and prosperity. The
same people and the same resources
were here before the adoption of the
Constitution. 1t took the machinery
set up by that document to start gov
eminent to functioning. And it did
function. If we don't believe this, let
us compare America today with
Europe. Then let us decide whether we
want something new in the way OF
government.