Show THE VALUE OF A constitution september 17 marked the anniversary of the signing of the con ution of the united states and through various methods effort was made to call attention to the great document writing recently in colliers weekly W i ast n s t 0 n churchill english sta statesman tesmar made the following comments about the value of a constitution no one can think clearly or sensibly about this vast and burning topic without in the first instance making up his mind upon the fundamental issue does docs he be value the state above the citizen or the citizen above the state does a government exist for the individual or do individuals exist for the government 1 I hold that governments are meant to be and must remain I 1 the servants of the citizens that states and federations only come into existence and can only be justified by preserving the life liberty and the pursuit of happl happi ness in the homes and families oi of I 1 individuals 11 1 I J judge the civilization of any community by simple tests what is the degree of freedom possessed by the citizen can he speak think and act freely under well established well known laws can he criticize the executive government can he sue the state if it has infringed his rights are arc there also great processes for changing the law to meet new conditions dit ions judging by these standards great britain and the united states can claim to be in the forefront of civilized communities the founders of the united states were as well acquainted quain ted with the follies and intolerance of parliaments as with the oppression of princes to control the powers and conduct of the legislature said a leading member of the convention of 1787 by an overruling constitution was an improvement in the science and practice of government reserved to the american states all the great names of american history can be invoked behind this principle why should it be considered obsolete in the shelter of the constitution nature has been conquered a mighty continent has been brought under the sway of man and an economic entity established unrivaled in the whole history of the globe |