The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-12-07

COMMENT
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One of the most highly priced
documents in the world, the Eng
lish Magma Charta, was s recently
taken from the British pavilion at
the New York Worlds Fair and de-
posted in the Library of Congress
in Washington, D. c. 1t was placed
there for safe keeping, the govern
ment of Great Britain fearing it
might be destroyed during air raids
to which London might be subject
ed in the present war.
This priced British document now
rests beside two equally priced
American documents-the original
copies of the Declaration of indie
pendence and the American Con-
stitution. Soldiers stand constantly
on guard. day and night, over those
great treasures. A few years ago
stood looking at those pieces of
parchment SO dear to the hearts of
all true Americans and remarked
to the guard that they were price
less. There is not enough money
in all the world to buy those two
documents, > replied the guard. Now
they are joined by another price
less piece of parchment.
Men are speaking sadly of the
thought that comes to one from the
placing here for safe keeping of the
great Magma Charta-symbol of
mans fight for liberty-by the side
of two other meaningful documents,
likewise symbols of the struggle for
release from the oppression and ty-
ranny of kings. BY this trust,
America becomes the guardian of
these three great documents so
closely connected with mankind's
battle for liberty. Men are asking
if America has not become likewise
not only the guardian of the sym
bols of liberty but in fact the Gus
todian and protector of what lib
erty there is left in the world to-
day. The free peoples of the world
are today battling against a pow
erful alliance of dictatorial gov
ernments, with tyranny following in
the pathway of that alliance. No
one yet knows what the outcome
of that titanic struggle will be.
A great revival in interest in our
American heritage of liberty and
opportunity seems to be sweeping
the nation. Numerous movements
have been started in recent months
stressing the importance of clear
understanding of American princi-
pies of government and the vital ne
cessity of implanting in the minds of
the nations children patriotism and
a proper reverence for the men who
have huilded this great common
wealth.
One of the latest movements along
these lines has been taken by the
Montana Bar Association. It is to
be commended for that work. The
association has asked the state SUI
preme court to set date to be
observed each year as Citizenship"
day, when throughout the state,
schools and other organizations
would present programs designed to
acquaint Montanans with the func-
tons OF the federal government and
the meanings of the constitution.
The programs would be planned I'm
der directions of the bar associa-
ton.
Resolution to ask the court to set
aside Citizenship" day was
adopted by the bar association at
its annual meeting this fall at Bill
ings. The petition to the court was
drawn up by Attorneys Lester
Lobe of Helena, Arthur F. Lamey
OF Havre and Julius Wuerthner of
Great Falls.
There seems to be a strong con-
viction in the minds of an increas-
ing number of people that there is
something drastically wrong in the
people themselves, and that this is
one Of the principle causes for much
of the trouble and woe the world
is now passing through.
Men and women are very prone
to turn for help to sources outside
of themselves when they realize
they have failed in their dearest
efforts and when they feel there is
something within their innermost
selves that is regrettablydawrong.
This conviction of failure, of flu
tility, of need for guidance from
Higher Power is finding expression
in many ways these days. Appar-
emily many are becoming convinced
at last that righteousness exalteth
nation but sin is a reproach to any