PRESIDENT PETER A. DEY (introducing Hon. Albert B. Cummins, Governor of Iowa, as President of the meeting): - In looking over the large audience which has assembled to greet the Governor of the State of Iowa, it seems to me that in this place and on this occasion he needs no formal introduction. Governor Cummins will take the chair. THE AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION I esteem it a very great privilege to join in the celebration of the event now uppermost in all our minds. It is worth while to recall from time to time what has been done in the past, not so much that we may kneel at the shrine of antiquity as to equip ourselves to follow worthily in the paths so well marked out by the wisdom, the patriotism, and the righteousness of the men of former days. The pleasure I feel is increased immeasurably when I remember that at this moment we are standing in the presence of the three venerable survivors of the three conventions which formulated and presented to the people the several Constitutions of this Commonwealth. This day should impress a little more deeply on every heart the resolution to be strong enough to direct and to preserve the inheritances which these old men bequeathed to us when they did their work so well fifty, sixty-one, and sixty-three years ago. I do not intend, however, to speak of the Constitution of Iowa. That will be better done by the speaker of the morning who follows. The Constitution of Iowa is distinguished chiefly for the character of the men who framed it. On this occasion I want to say a word in regard to another Constitution. Indeed, while engaged in celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Iowa of 1857 it is a good time to think a little about Constitutions in general and about the part they play in the development as well as in the protection of a mighty people. If, therefore, I am allowed to take a little of the hour devoted by The State Historical Society to the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Constitution of Iowa, I would like to call your attention to another Constitution. Somehow it seems impossible for me to speak on any historic occasion without thinking of the things that are being done as well as of the things that have been done. The State University, with which many of you are connected, has no other object than that of training young men and young women so that they may fight successfully the battles which will inevitably follow. Of such occasions it seems to me that their chief importance or paramount importance lies in the future rather than in the past. The Constitution of Iowa is not materially unlike the Constitutions of our sister States; but we have a Constitution that is unique among all the instruments of the world - the Constitution which Gladstone declared to be "the most wonderful instrument ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man:" the Constitution which directs and governs the mightiest nation upon the face of the earth. It is a Constitution which had no predecessors; and, although it may seem to you that I am not accurate when I declare it, I unhesitatingly say that it is a Constitution which has had no successor. There is nothing like it in all the world when applied to the actual affairs of men. You all know that I refer to the Constitution of the United States. No man can excel or surpass me in veneration for the wonderful effort which gave purpose to that magnificent evidence of the truth of righteous patriotism, the Constitution of our country. Nevertheless, I believe that the Constitution of the United States, though faultless as the supreme instrument of the time, ought now to be amended. And as I am always advocating what I believe to be necessary, I want a minute of time to enroll you in the demand for modification and change or enlargement of the Constitution of the United States. This organic law of our Nation has among its provisions, a sentence which runs like this: The Congress shall have power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the |