The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-05

ihE ADDhh5ss
FELLOW CITIzENs-W stand TODAY unon
an eminence which overlooks hundreds of
years of national life--a century crowded
with perils, but crowded with ,riumpbs of
liberty and law. Before continuing our on
ward march, lot mo pause a. this height tor
moment to strengthen our faith and renew
our hope by glance at the pathway along
which our people have Travelled. II ID now
thrt days more than hundred yesrs since
the adoption of tho frs. written constitution
of the United States. the articles of confed.
GRAFTON and perpetual union. Tho now ra.
public was ihen beseL with danger on every
hand, II hsd not conquered place in
the family of nations, The decisive battle
Tor Independence, whose certennivl ami
versary will soon be gratefully celebrated at
Yorktown, had not yet been fought; the
coonlsts were struggling not only against
the arms OF great nations but rIainst the
settled opinions of mankind, for the world
dld not then believe that the supreme
authority of government could be safely
entrusted to the guardianship of tho people
themselves. We cannot over estimate Inc
ierveDt love of liberty, intelligent COURAGE
and loving common sense with which orr
fathers made the great experiment of self.
goN ornmeht. When they found, after a
short trial, that the confederation of states
was too weak to meet the necessities of a vi,o.
rous and expanding republic, they boldly sat Il
aside, and IN It's stead they established n ma.
tiooal union, founded directly upon tho will
of the people, endow | with lt powers of
selt-p 'eservatlon and with ample authority
for the accomplishment OF its great objects
under this constitulio The boundaries of
freedom have b. on enlarged, tho foundations
OF order end of peace have been strength.
ened, and the growth of our peop,e
IN all the better elemen'' of national life. has
indicated wisdom of tho founders, given new
nope to their 1 pendants. Under this con.
sttution our people long ago made them.
selyes safe against danger from without and
secured for them marines and gao of
equality ofrighis on all the seas. Under tbis
constitution twenty-five states hsyebeen added
to tho union. With tho constitution and Tho
laws framed snd enforced by their own cili-
zens TO secure manifold blessings of )onsl
the Jurisdiction Of this con
sllutlon now covers an area fifty FIN g
greater than that OF the original III stn,es
npd population twenty times greater thar
taat OF lISO. Tho supreme trial of the
camo ut last undor Tho
tremendous pressure o civil war. We our.
selves are witnesses that the union enorrsl
from tho blood and ,hs FIRE of that copiIIct |
purlned and m do stronger for all.
AND now, u. tho cllsN Of the irst century |
o! its growth, with the inspiration OF i,s hi3- |
tory in their hearts, our people have totally |
revived tho condition Of Tho nation. nessed !
ludgment upon The conduc. aud the opinion |
Of political parlies, a0d have registered their
Will concerning tho future administration Of
4o,xeFhmens 10 interpret aud to execute that
WIZ IN accordance with thu |
which ia tho psram m,unt
iu'y OF The executive. Esen from ,hia brief
foviowr u menitest thai the nation IL reso-
Iul9ly iAting Tho front, resolved {, cnpov Il.
best energies N tho developing of The srea,
possibilities of thu future, sacredly ores.ry.
ng whatever has been gsincd 10 liberty and
good government. During tho son,ury our
people have determined 10 losyo bebiod
hem all these bitter controversies
those things which have been
rrrovocsbly settled, and the further discus
'lon OF which Can OILY stir up strife and DELAY
he onward march. Th, supremacy of Tho
nation and its laws should be no lonrer the
subject of detail. That discussion, which f,r
, half century threatened the existence of
The union, was closed a. last In tho birh
,ou't of war BY decree from which
hero isno appeal. That tho constitution
',d laws made In purausnce thereof are and
'hall continue 10 be- hosuprcma law of ,hc
and, bindiog alike upon all ,he states. Thi.
iccree docsn disturb the autonomy ofs,s,e,
nor Interfere with any OF tho necessary riubts
'f local government, bu, It docs Ak ana
establish the pot,nsnept supremacy ofl
he union, tho will Of the nation Of
pc king with the vehemence Of ba,tlo. md
through tho American constitution has ful.
illed tho great promise of l770 nv nro.