Show HONORING TION THE proceedings in progress in philadelphia commemorative of the framing and promulgation of the constitution of the american republic are eminently proper the memory of the travail ot of the goddess of liberty and the birth of a new and brilliant era in the science of human government should be perpetuated by suitable national recognition the glorious instrument which proclaims the equality of all citizens before the law forms the basis of our institutions in the roman Rd republic public whose fundamental principles are not to be spoken of in comparison with the basic elements of our government there was au an understood lule iule when A t was in the height of et its pow power e r that it was the duty of each citizen to onder understand der stand its constitution and the lead agg i general laws of the empire it is one that should obtain in this nation that there may be an in intelligent conformation to the require requirements of f the palladium of our oar liberties an and d that all may be in a position to defend its principles wh when enthey they are assailed or infringed upon the constitution is a com compact act entered into by the people who airee agree to be governed by ft it and prescribes pred ribes eribes the relationship between the rulers and those who are subject to them its principal function is to preserve minorities from encroachment on the part of majorities how essential this thie is in view of the natural dishos disposition I 1 of the strong to take advantage of the weak this sacred instrument forbids in its genius and letter the enactment of class legislation or laws that do not bear upon all classes alike and i places the same ban upon unequal ap of laws that are intrinsically proper under the supreme law of the land the people are the source of pow power ir but even they by sacred compact the instrument itself may not overstep the limits which the constitution defines familiarity with the conditions limits prescribed pi described bed by and principles involved in the constitution whose framing and promulgation are being fittingly commemorated mem orated at philadelphia is a guage by which the intelligent citizen possessing fair powers of analysis can measure the heights and depths of great and even small public questions that from time to time agitate the country of this information it is his plain duty to possess himself he should also aim to be a good catiz n not only by refraining refrain inc from infringing upon any wholesome law but by eschewing cli everything incompatible with truth and justice no man who la in selfish immoral or intern erate can be a citizen notwithstanding that many mady who exhibit those tendencies in heir dally daily practice are the loudest craters pr aters about the glory of american citizenship such characters by their example debauch public sentiment and increase evil in the commonwealth A man is a good citizen in proportion to the amount of good he be produces |