important document by an individual who, with one stroke of the pen, came closest to fulfilling the mandated democratic idealism of the Preamble. With the ratification of the Articles above, America came even closer. Yet, neither the heart of Lincoln nor the wisdom of the Legislature were enough to cut across human bias and racism, and it is doubtful that bias and racism will ever disappear. These human attributes of negativity in the form of skin colors or body shapes or gender are the driving force at many levels of society, equally practiced within and between the races. We are all guilty of it.
The attainment of our Constitution's mandate, therefore, remains elusive, in spite of individuals like Beccaria, John Adams, James Wilson, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, to name a few. They represent the spark and the hope that one day, we may all realize our mandated democratic idealism in "We, the People...", to the extent that labels of religion, race, gender, and adult age will not be considered for employment in the private or public sector, or for participation in any organization emanating from the Constitution. The Emancipation Proclamation, therefore, has yet to be implemented. When that happens, the Constitution's mandate will have been fulfilled.
10. PROMISSORY NOTE
America came close to our Constitution's fulfillment in the 1960 decade when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his Promissory Note "I have a dream speech" of August 28, 1963 in which he gave meaning and direction to his Ghandian revolution of non-violence:
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skins, but by the conduct of their character.
His words and his actions served to awaken some Americans to the original rights expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution. Yet, though much legislation passed on behalf of Civil Rights, progress was made at legal and theoretical levels; little progress has been made in achieving equitable, practical and wholesome coverage for a great number of Americans living as they do–whites, blacks, native Americans, and Hispanics alike. In view of the little substantive progress, one has to conclude that the changes, having benefited few, have exacerbated the lot of many. Considering the opportunities that America offers, one has to ask why this is happening in view of America's wealth, the basic goodness of its people, and the guiding force inherent in the documents that make America's Democracy possible–why is racism so rampant!
Citing the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Dr. King claims for himself, for his "four little children" and for all of us the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed by our documents.
Having created a revolution with his words and deeds, there followed a counter-revolution that has not yet abated. Dr King's supposed followers have created power blocks based on physical attributes rather than on "the conduct of...[one's] character." The counter revolution may have achieved some short-range goals. Surely, for the long range results, power blocks–be they of color, ethnicity, religion or gender, are doomed to failure. Rage should never replace vision. As for Dr. King, his revolution was based on vision; as for his followers, their counter revolution is based on rage and they are, unfortunately, insuring that those rights inherent in "We, the People" remain unattainable. Yet, the potentials are there, both for Dr. King's "four little children" and for all other children, because when equal rights are denied to one, they are denied to all, and the "dream" un-necessarily remains a dream.
DOCUMENTS
MAYFLOWER COMPACT
November 11, 1620
In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereigne Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland king, defender of the faith, having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe, by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cap-Cod the llth of November, in the reign of our sovereigne lord, King James of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth. Anno. Domini, 1620.
| Mr. John Carver | Mr. Stephen Hopkins |
| Mr. William Bradford | Digery Priest |
| Mr. Edward Winslow | Thomas Williams |
| Mr. William Brewster | Gilbert Winslow |
| Isaac Allerton | Edmund Margesson |
| Miles Standish | Peter Brown |
| John Alden | Richard Bitteridge |
| John Turner | George Soule |
| Francis Eaton | Edward Tilly |
| James Chilton | John Tilly |
| John Craxton | Francis Cooke |
| John Billington | Thomas Rogers |
| Joses Fletcher | Thomas Tinker |
| John Goodman | John Ridgate |
| Mr. Samuel Fuller | Edward Fuller |
| Mr. Christopher Martin | Richard Clark |
| Mr. William Mullins | Richard Gardiner |
| Mr. William White | Mr. John Allerton |
| Mr. Richard Warren | Thomas English |
| John Howland | Edward Doten |
| Edward Liester |
An Essay
ON CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
Translated from the Italian;
Translated from the French.
Fourth Edition
In all things, and especially in the most difficult ones, we cannot expect one to concomitantly sow and reap the harvest; but we must first make preparations, and allow that things reach maturity little by little. (Bacon)
LONDON
Printed for F. Newberry, at the Corner of
St. Paul's Church-Yard.
M DCC LXXV.
The Reader
The
