Southwest High School - Roundup Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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Ambassador. In fact, about the only oflices not as yet held by women in the United States are the Presidency, Vice-Presidency, and the Supreme Court. The third of the three fundamental principles of democracy is liberty, the most precious birthright of Anglo-Saxon peoples since Magna Charta was wrested from King John, When the Constitution was referred to the States for ratification in 1787, it contained no specific guarantees against governmental abridgement of personal rights. Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which had experienced the despotism of the intolerant Puritans during the colonial period, insisted upon the inclusion of such guarantees before they would ratify the document. The result was the first ten Amendments, usually referred to as the American Bill of Rights, which were adopted in l79l. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and petition, freedom of religious worship-truly these are the very cornerstones of democracy. But, even with these rights listed in the National Constitution, they were not as yet completely guaranteed. The Supreme Court, in the case of Twining Us. New Jersey, stated that under the federal form of government the national Bill of Rights limits only the national government. lt became necessary, there- fore, for every state constitution to include also a list of rights similar to those in the supreme law of the land. The speed with which these provisions were added to such state constitutions as did not have them was conclusive proof that our people still prize these sacred rights as of old. Our task now is to preserve these liberties and to be watchful lest they be curtailed by those in our midst who now cry most loudly for their protection. Let us, then, appreciate the advances that have been made toward the ultimate goal-democracy. Let us realize that much remains to be done, for as yet we fall far short of the ideal. Let us, Hnally, rededicate our most strenuous service to pushing onward the frontiers a little farther, that We may have our part in the irresistible march of democracy. Laverne Km-bel Seventeen

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adopted it, qualified voters may petition their state legislature or city council to refer a law to the people for their approval before it goes into effect. By the recall a certain percentage of the voters may demand a special election to determine Whether an elected officer shall be removed from office before the expiration of his term. The recall has been aptly termed.a sort of popular impeachment. In city government the coming of the Commission and City Manager plans have been notable advances. In both systems authority is concentrated in a few responsible heads which makes for much greater efficiency and much less corruption. In the light of these many evidences, who can say that no progress has been made toward the realization of the popular sovereignty? Even more remarkable than popular sovereignty in America is the spirit of equality. We have an equality of races and economic classes approached in few other places on the earth. The colonists were determined that no class distinction should exist here. Article One of the Constitution reads that no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States. And thus a start was made. Perhaps the greatest influence toward the development of equality was th-at of the frontier, where birth counted for little, and a man was judged by what he could do. Even so, legal equality was slow in coming for the negro and for the Indian, our two largest racial minorities. As late as 1857 Chief Justice Taney of the United States Supreme Court said in the famous Dred Scott decision that negroes were so far inferior that they have no rights which the white man is bound to respect. Not until 1865 did the Thirteenth Amendment abolish human slavery, and not until 1868 did the Fourteenth Amendment grant citizenship equally to the negro. The rise of the negroes to positions of importance in society has been very slow, but the climb from barbarism to civilization in two centuries is a considerable achievement. The American Indian we had always considered, rather ironically, a foreigner -a foreigner to be conquered and pushed back to make room for the westward expansion of our people. Now that he is completely conquered we force him into the close confines of reservations. The final chapter was not written until 1924 when by law of Congress the Indian was finally granted citizenship. When we think of economic groups, we generally consider the farmer and the industrial worker or laborer, who are often called the backbone of the nation. There was little equality among the economic classes during colonial times and during the first 50 or 60 years of our history under the Constitution. However, with the advent of big business after the Civil War labor began to organize on a national scale. In recent years the farmers have gained in strength by forming co-operatives. Both groups have entered the political field, neither as yet having any great success. A word must be added concerning the remarkable evolution of woman's status from that of household drudge to almost complete political, economic, and social equality. Not only are women found today in virtually every trade and profession, but also in such high offices as Mayor, Governor, United States Representative, Judge in National Courts, Cabinet Member, and United States S ixreen

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PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS By JOE DUBA ' The United States were molded by a freedom-loving people. Since most of the settlers in the colonial period came from the British Isles, they brought with them the traditional English love of liberty, Magna Charta started the system of representative government in England and established the principle of limited monarchy. In 1265, Simon de Montfort introduced into Parlia- ment representation of the great middle class, which later developed into the House of Commons, making Parliament a truly national body. One of the Stuart kings, Charles I, took much power away from Parliament, but later the King needed money, and before granting him any, Parliament made him sign the Petition of Rights, which, unfortunately, was often violated by Charles. During the War with Scotland, Parliament received more power, and provided that Parliament could be dissolved only at its own consent. Many, however, weary of these abuses by the crown, and, hearing of America as the land of freedom, came here to form the original thirteen colonies. Through many hardships they finally reached these objectives: they drew up a document to protect all people at all times, the Constitution: they established the first great modern republic: they wrote the Declaration of Independence, the gospel of all liberty-loving people. The struggle was hard, but the prize was great. They were now guaranteed their inalienable rights in a sovereign state. In the Fourteenth Amendment citizenship is defined, and two kinds of citizenship are mentioned. The statement is: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. This is termed the duality of citizenship. We are granted special privileges and bound to perform certain duties to the national government and likewise to the state government. The combined rights and duties of both governments form our federal system. Both national and state constitutional provisions will be dealt with as one in this paper because of their similarity. The privileges we are offered are seldom refused. The difficulty arises when the citizens are asked to perform their duties. Whenever the government attempts to take away a privilege from the people the government receives vigorous protests. Riotous demonstrations followed the passage of the Eigh- teenth Amendment in 1919, and eventually led to its repeal by the Twenty- first Amendment. The first group of amendments to the Constitution was the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all people. In the more modern state constitutions, the Bill of Rights is longer and more elaborate because the people want a stronger guarantee of their rights, especially against the possible encroachments of state legislatures. We seldom get something for nothing. When we are given a privilege, we are automatically obliged to perform its corresponding duty. One writer states: Duties are as sacred as privileges. By doing our duties, we protect our privileges. It is unfortunate that many people think first of what they can get, and very seldom, if ever, of what they can give to the community as citizens. The most precious privilege and duty that citizens of the United States have is that of electing their representatives to carry out their will and to express their opinions. This is the greatest means by which citizens share in the Federal system of government. A century and a half ago a large majority of citizens were denied the right to use the ballot, because of some political, social or property disqualification. As late as 1860, many could not vote. Finally, after the Civil War, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified, denying to no one the right to vote because of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude. Not until 1920 was the word sex added to this list by the Nineteenth Amendment. After the many hardships and difliculties to acquire popular suffrage, it is unfortunate that a great percentage of voters still are not adequately Eighteen '