Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 225, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1920 — TODAY IS CONSTITUTIONAL DAY [ARTICLE]

TODAY IS CONSTITUTIONAL DAY

BY FREDERICK E. SCHORTEMEIER.

Secretary lediaae Republican State Comasittee.

Men and women of the Republican faith everywhere will observe today as Constitution day, this being the one hundred and fortythird anniversary of the completion . of the drafting of the Federal constitution. How fitting, how necessary in these times, how worthwhile it is for us to think of its sublime greatness and to pledge anew our devotion, to this most beneficent of human documents, which has guided a mighty people to prosperity, contentment and just relations. From the earliest times until the adoption of our constitution, the world had experienced only experimental failures in government I do not herald our constitution as a perfect instrument, but I do proclaim it to be the standard of governmental efficiency. The constitution is the very corner stone of the republic, warding off the evils of autocracy and the dangers of pure democracy. The stout-hearted and clear-eyed men who wrote it knew the history of oligarchies and of pure democracies that have risen and fallen before and with the help of God they builded a republic which has been the wonder of the civilized world. “It is the greatest piece of work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man,” said

the great Gladstone, of the constitution. 'And of it William Pitt exclaimed, “It will be the wonder and admiration of all future generations and the model of all future constitutions.” Our Federal constitution is as verile today as it was one hundred and forty years ago today. It has met every emergency. In these days of socialistic and international thought it is well for sober, libertyloving Americans everywhere to reflect upon the one hundred and forty-three years of successful government and, in the wisdom of the satisfactory experiences of the past, find their inspiration for the days ahead. A solace is to be found in the wise caution of the constitution which heralds “steady America” and assures us all that America will go on. Let liberty-loving men and women devoted to orderly government think well on this Constitution day of the richness of their heritage as it has been given to them under the Federal constitution. May we honor it as its beneficent guidance so richly deserves! May we live under it with just relations among men and when our hour is spent, God grant that we may pass it on to the next generation of ca, whole, untarnished, strong »n its nationality and ’ pure in its Americanism.