Gonzaga High School - Aetonian Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 69 text:

, - I , U l N Q ' .fights ,. Tj, . Hg f ', 356 YA' ' zm llll 3. 'T ' I -gg t ,.- u J N X X 5 Albrolhotn Lincoln ond the Constitution By William Codd WE AMERICANS of the twentieth century are inclined to accept as a matter of course all the marvelous privileges accorded us by the Con- stitution of our great nation. Little do We appreciate the enormous strug- gles that were enacted before that great document became a workable in- strument of government. Reveling in the privileges of the present, secure in the solidity and power of twentieth century America, we frequently fail to realize that there were times when our very existence as a nation was severely tried. Ours was a new departure in government, and the interpretation of the principles of our Constitution aroused the storm of bitter controversy be- tween the state and federal government which threatened to destroy the life of our nation in its infancy. This was the paramount, the most vital question in our early history, the establishing of a proper balance between state and federal power. Suchcfarseeing statesmen as Alex. Hamilton real- ized that to preserve our newly won liberties, and to gain recognition among the nations of the world, a strong central government was neces- sary. Yet, to the colonies just freed from the yoke of Great Britain, strong central power was synonymous with tyranny and oppression. Under the leadership of such great advocates of democracy as Thos. Jer- ferson they bitterly opposed every measure that tended to strengthen or give prestige to the central government. In theory, those champions of democracy and state rights were correct, but in practice, they were ex- treme: and their extreme views finally led to the greatest crisis that has ever faced the nation. The climax was reached in 1861, when the states of the South, incensed over the question of slavery, declared themselves free from the union, free from the Constitution, an independent confederacy. My friends, think of what that meant to the young struggling nation: Think of what it might have meant to you and to me: We might have had between the broad borders of these United States today, not one mighty and flourishing na- tion, but a group of small, surely hostile independent nations. Had that act of secession passed unchallenged, where would be our nation of today? I65l

Page 68 text:

A 'IME' pg-Q ,, ,gy w , ' , W L L . 1 g f . if. , ' J 'KA if- V L ,., ,l -4: ,1x V -I ' f'-'ff-,1', 1 , . J 1' I 'i gzglrn w i 1 : sky ?:'? 17 fs - 31 , A Dig' -5'-e.: ' . .fp un I -g .1 --L-4. ' - .E lg ,X - , .Lv L - ' qilllf' ' , , , rw I i 94 tis b Xi A :' N , 4, I , ' , - - . , ' ' . . . 5, Q, , AK., ,gf xml. my f .J A A -, V um., -. , N N Athlelic managers--Bro. Buskins, S. J., C. Mady, C. Gorman, A. Rowles Property mam1gvfsfM. Costello, J. Rickenbach, L. Draggoo, J. Gaffney Yell kings--Fred Harrison, Art Albi, Joe Lavin l64l

Page 70 text:

I .a?.Ql :I'.Eg. art: '-img: T: 't.-nfs-r.. Q. M.. T ,mb figs-:Q - -71,1721 .r viii-2? 'Q - -f tP1'H'wu!lI'f'lHallf: X? W S-'lmglwli 2 .. . , ...M ...-.lW5H,1'i H 'I l I : .1 ,' ' ' 'ffl , 4 n .., , Aw ' lwlwld - - Where? Lying forever among the shattered dreams and unrealized ideals of humanity. At this critical period in our history, Providence placed at the helm of the nation, the immortal Lincoln, whose name shall live in the hearts of our people as long as America is America. Abraham Lincoln was faced with a most perplexing dilemma. He could recognize the right of the states to secede from the union and preserve peace: but at what price: The sacrifice of the United States as a nation. Or he could deny the right of secession, and hurtle his fellowmen into the maelstrom of Civil War. My friends, the rest of the story need not be told. The intensely human heart of the Great Emancipator plumbed the very depths of sorrow. His beloved country was drenched in fraternal blood, the sacrifice was not complete until his own life blood was poured out on the altar of national unity for which he died. From that day, these United States began their steady ascent up the rugged incline of national greatness, until today, they stand supreme at the very summit-the pinnacle of nations. Today the very thought of division, disunion, secession, seems to us a myth, an impossibility. From a group of belligerent and discordant states, we have become a nation strong and great. One nation, one now, one forever. And we are the citizens of that nation enjoying privileges hereto- fore unheard of in the history of the world. Privileges and blessings that are ours today because of Abraham Lincoln: because he had the vision to see the only possible course that would save the struggling nation from utter destruction: and the courage to act in accordance with his convictions. Oh, we truly owe a debt of undying gratitude to that great man who has written the story of our union, the story of our greatness, in the blood of patriots, and signed it with his own. The Constitution made us a nation in l78 7. Abraham Lincoln, fight- ing for union under the Constitution preserved us a nation in 1861. 5 yv Q - . f wg.: i661