The Short Constitution Part 1

The Short Const.i.tution.

by Martin J. Wade and William F. Russell.

What Has America Done For Me And For My Children?

This question may not be spoken, but it is in the hearts of millions of Americans to-day.

All those who attempt to teach Americanism to foreigners, _and to Americans_, must be prepared _to answer this question_. _It can only be answered_ by teaching the individual guaranties of the Const.i.tution of the United States, and of the States, which protect life and liberty and property.

_It can only be answered_ by convincing the people that this is a land of justice and of opportunity for all; that if there be abuses, they are due not to our form of government, but that the people are themselves to blame, because of their ignorance of their rights, their failure to realize their power, and their neglect of those duties which citizenship imposes.

All over the land earnest men and women are endeavoring to teach the great truths of Americanism, and with substantial success; but those who understand human nature realize that the faith of our fathers can only be firmly established by lighting the fires of patriotism and loyalty in the hearts of our children. Through them the great truths of our National life can be brought into the homes of the land.

And the Nation will never be safe until the Const.i.tution is carried into the homes, until at every fireside young and old shall feel a new sense of security in the guaranties which are found in this great charter of human liberty, and a new feeling of grat.i.tude for the blessings which it a.s.sures to this, and to all future generations.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

For a work designed to promote education in the spirit of American citizenship it would be difficult to imagine a more competent authorship than that which has been provided for "The Short Const.i.tution". Either of the writers alone would have produced a book of high standing in this field; the collaboration of the two makes it a remarkable production in its adaptation to the subject for home reading, the study club, and the school curriculum. It is unique, and has justly been termed "the first real attempt to popularize Const.i.tutional law."

Federal Judge Martin J. Wade has had a varied contact with people in his long experience as practicing attorney, district judge, member of Congress, and Judge of the United States Court. A well known Iowa publicist, he has gained nation wide fame as a public speaker and writer on Americanization and citizenship topics, basing his themes on first-hand experiences with conditions which have produced much unrest throughout the Nation. As a member of the State Council of National Defense during the World War, and as presiding judge at the trial of many obstructionists in that period, he conceived the idea of the need for a school of Americanism, to teach what our country has done for its citizens.

Clearness and eloquence mark his public addresses, and have enriched the arguments and ill.u.s.trations of this first book of the "Elementary Americanism Series".

Dean William F. Russell was the educational adviser sent with a group of experts by appointment of the President of the United States to advise disorganized Russia during the latter part of the World War; and also one of the five members of the China Educational Commission of North America, sent to China in 1921. His course of study in American citizenship, written at the request of the National Masonic Research Society for use throughout the United States, was inspired by the observation that the government in Russia, in contrast with our own, was an agency that took money for its coffers and boys for its armies and gave nothing in return.

In addition to his work as Dean of the College of Education of the State University of Iowa, and his record as a widely-known lecturer on educational topics, he has found time to write school texts notable for accurate and concise statement, adapted to arousing and sustaining interest in the student mind.

The authors have done more than present the facts about the Const.i.tution of the United States, with particular emphasis on its personal guaranties.

They have vitalized a topic generally thought to be dry and technical.

They have succeeded in making the Const.i.tution seem to be what it is, a factor of first importance in the daily life of the average citizen. It is not too much to say that the seed of this book should be planted in every home in America.

The admirable work of annotation by Professor Chas. H. Meyerholz, Professor of Social Science in the Iowa State Teachers College, gives much additional material for elementary and advanced study. Professor Meyerholz is well known as an authoritative teacher, writer, and lecturer on subjects pertaining to government, and has done much valuable Americanization work.

The elementary and advanced questions at the end of each chapter will serve as a guide to all teachers and leaders of study cla.s.ses. The text of the Declaration of Independence and the Const.i.tution of the United States, with the original capitalization and punctuation preserved, and an abridgement of a State Const.i.tution, printed at the end of the book, are valuable for reference.

THE PUBLISHER

PREFACE

"The Short Const.i.tution" is one of a series of volumes ent.i.tled "Elementary Americanism", intended for use in the home, the club, the school, and in general Americanization work.

It is our hope that regular courses in "Americanism" will soon be established in all schools, colleges, and universities.

We use the term "Americanism" because we feel that it signifies something broader, deeper, and more appealing than any t.i.tle now used in the schools in the teaching of American government, or citizenship, or the rights and duties of the citizens of the United States.

We like the term "America" better than "the United States". "The United States" suggests boundaries, codes, and const.i.tutions. "America" suggests all these and then it suggests _spirit_. There _is_ such a thing as "Americanism". It includes all there is of information relating to our country; but it also has a soul "Americanism" relates to democracy, into which enter all the ideals, all the impulses and emotions of men, women, and children. "Americanism" teaches not only the relation of the States to the National government, and the relation of citizens to both the State and the National government, but it also teaches the relation of men, women, and children to each other.

This is a government by the people, and therefore we must understand the people in order that we, the people, may govern.

To arouse patriotism and loyalty we must do more than develop the powers of the mind, do more than expand the field of knowledge. We must inspire in the heart faith, confidence, and love. Men must not only learn how to govern, but they must learn how to be governed. We must not only learn to command, but also to obey. Our spirits must be so molded that we can submit to duly const.i.tuted authority, submission to which is the most lofty expression of American patriotism.

Submission to authority in America is submission to law, for no man in this country has any authority to command or direct a fellowman, except as the law made by the people vests him with such authority.

To inspire devotion to our country we must arouse in the hearts of our people a sense of grat.i.tude for the blessings which come to us because we live in free America, grat.i.tude for the rights and liberties which we possess, which are protected by the guaranties of a written Const.i.tution adopted by the people themselves.

There is only one way in which the average person may be brought to see what America has done for him, and that is by contrasting the rights, privileges, and opportunities which he has with those possessed by others in the same walk of life before the Const.i.tution became the bulwark of the people against injustice and wrong.

The aim of "The Short Const.i.tution" is to present, in a form as simple as possible, a definite knowledge of all the personal guaranties of the Const.i.tution, with an explanation of what they mean, and what they have done in the advancement of human happiness; and a brief explanation of the machinery of government provided by the Const.i.tution.

Everyone who understands human nature will admit that to mold the spirit, to inspire faith, and to excite grat.i.tude training must begin in childhood. The child must learn:

(a) What authority means.

(b) The source of authority.

(c) In whom authority rests: in the parent, in the teacher, and in public officers selected by the people to enforce the authority of the community, the State, and of the Nation.

(d) How the authority of the people, the community, the State, and the Nation is expressed through laws which are nothing but rules of human conduct.

(e) How we should respect authority and submit to authority.

(f) How and by whom those who will not yield obedience to authority out of respect will be compelled to obey by punishment.

We have adopted a new method of presenting this subject. In this country authority is largely administered through the courts. Judges of the courts construe the Const.i.tution and the laws; and, generally with the aid of a jury, determine rights and wrongs, and enforce justice through their judgments and decrees.

We therefore feel that the subject "Americanism", presented through the spoken word of a judge, will better gain and hold the attention of the pupil than in any other way. We have the teacher invite Judge Garland to deliver a series of "Talks" to the pupils, which are herein presented. By this direct method greater freedom of expression is permitted and with the aid of notes greater brevity is possible. In these "Talks" considerable apparent repet.i.tion will appear. This is essential to thorough understanding. Without reiteration it is impossible to accomplish our purpose which is not only to enlighten, but to inspire.

Our endeavor is to present the subject not from the standpoint of the government, but from the standpoint of the people. The _rights of the people_ are of first importance in a Nation where men, women, and children are free. The State and the Nation have no rights except those given them by the people. Strictly speaking the Nation and the States have no "rights" but only the duty to exercise certain powers in the protection of the liberties of the people.

In America the rights of the people are supreme. The state exists for man, not man for the state.

To gain substantial results we must rely largely upon the industry and enthusiasm of the instructors. We are sure they will realize that in the "upbuilding of the spirit" a proper atmosphere must be created and maintained. Doctor Steiner wisely said, "Religion cannot be taught, it must be caught". In other words religion is of the spirit; so is patriotism. _Always bear in mind that in presenting the Const.i.tution we are teaching human rights under the Const.i.tution._

It is more than a century since the Const.i.tution was ratified, and, so far as we have knowledge, this is the first direct attempt to translate its guaranties into the language of the ordinary man, woman, and child. We demand respect for, and loyalty to the Const.i.tution, but the truth is that the ordinary citizen has no knowledge of the relation of the Const.i.tution to his life or to the life of his children.

THE AUTHORS