National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-17


eral welfare has boes promoted, or whether
the blessings Of liberty have been secured, are
questions to which reference may be made in
present refer ' o this S grand Starting pont .p IN
the nations history for another purpose. |
wish simply to remind you OF the Hight OF
time, that we arc now drawing near the close
OF the first century Of our national existence,
and the notice that should be taken of that
TACT. Without going into the general ques.
tions raised moment ago, as to tho fulhlnent
Of what was promised in tine constitution, we
may, in passing, affirm what must be admitted
by nll that under this form Of government so
happily described, and 30 faithfully upheld by
the great aud lamented Abraham Lincoln,
people, and for the people," this ma
tion has become u., rich great, pro
gtessye and strong Lhls Isrhh ises f. enGefny r n
temporaneous nations. From thirteen com
paratlvely weak and sparsely populated states,
sklrting and lowering along the line OF our
Atlantic coast, constituting mere string OF
Isolated communities, we now haYe thirty
eight states covering our broad continent OK
tending nom east TO west and from sea to sea.
Under our constitution the desert anu solitary
places have been reclaimed and made to
blossom as the rose. From q population OF
seven millions We have reached the enormous
number Of fifty millions; and In less than half
II century we shall have double that number.
such an augmentation of wealth, power, and
population has no example In the experience
of any nation in ancient or modern times. The
Of n country so great and so Increasing In
greatness, and to whose greatness there seems
TO be no limit. The question naturally arises,
what Is TO bel the effect of such accumulated
wealth. such vast increase of population, such
expanded domain, and such augmentation of
national power. Plainly enough either one OF
two very opposite conditions may arise. IL
may either blast or bless, III may Lift US to Hea.
ven, or sink us 70 perdition.
five shall become proud, selfish, imperi-
Gus, oppressive, and rapnclousi II we shall
la MI hN
the strong, worshiping the rich and despislng
shadowcd.
form or another by all Thoughtful men; that
Almighty Power which controls every atom
of the earth. and governs the universe; that
Almighty Power which stood and measured
the globe, which behold aud drove asuuder
the nations will surely deal with us In the
future, as that power has dealt In the past
with other wicked nations-it will bring us to
dust and ashes. The rule of life for individ-
uals and for nations Is the same. Neither can
escape the consequences of transgression. As
they SOW, so shall they reap. There IL no sal.
walton for either outside of q life Of truth and
justice. Contradiction to this in theory for
either individuals or nations Is q damniny
hercsy; and contradiction TO this in practice is
certain destruction.
Large and imposing plans are lust now pro
posed, and arc maturing, for the appropriate
celebration OF this first centennial year OF our
national life. If these plans should be per.
and rs they certainly should be, Washington
will witness q demonstration in this line far
trnnsCending In grandeur aud subllmity the
centennial exposition in the city OF Philadel-
These celebrations, like our own, have large
usCs They serve as lofty pedostals or plat
forms from which the national patriotism and
intelligence may survey the past and, In soma
sense, penetrate and divine the national future.
IL Is also iit and proper that our young and
beautiful city OF Washington should be the
hon q II. .,NN ~
demonstration. II Is the capital of the nation,
and Is, in some sense, the shining sun Of our
national system, around which our thirty.eight
states, linked and interlinked In one unbroken
national interest, revolYe in union. Upon this
spot no one citizen has moro rights than an
other. The right TO be here Is vested In oil
alike. Distance does not diminish or ALLEVIATE,
contiguity does not increase any mans right
on this soil. In this capital Of the nation Cali.
iornia Is equal 70 Virginia, aud, rs Webster
taid OF Bunker Hill, Wherever else we may be
As part Of the people Of this great country,
VIC may feel ourselves included. We represent
the class which has enriched our soil with its
blood, watered 1t with its tears, and defended
II with its strong arms, but have hitherto been
excluded from all part in our national glory.
Now, however, Oll is changed. We may look
forward with pleasure 10 the promised National
Centennial Exposition, and take some credit to
ourselves for helping to make the District of
Columbia a suitable place for such display
We have at least done large proportion Of the
The wisdom Of the trainers Of the constitti-
tion of the United States in granting to the na-
tlon through its Congress, exclusive legislative
Jurisdiction over the District OF Columbia, has
in nothing been more abundanty aud happily
vindicated than in the abolition of slavery,
and in making II the frnest territory OF this
country. The benefits of this act are, however,
not confined TO the colored people, They are
shared by oil the people of this District; not
more by the colored than by the white people.
Washington owes nothing to Maryland or
Virginia Though born Of those paTents) in
comparison TO Its debt to the nation. Through
the national government II has become the
elegant and beautiful city that it's. It Is the
nation that has graded and paved its broad
and fnr-rcachlng streets and avenues II is the
nation that has fenced and bcautlfed its mum.
erous parks and reservations and made them
the Joy OF our children, and the admiration of
our VISITORS y Is the nation that has adorned
It's ample public sqCqres and circles with
choice flowers, flowing fountains, and impos-
ing statuary; II Is the nation that has erected
enduring monuments OF bronze and marble in
honor OF our statesmen, warriors, patriots and
heroes; 1t is the nation that has built here
those vast structures the different departments,
and crowned yonder hill with a capitol, one OF
the proudest architectural wonders of the
world; 1t is the nation that has built Washing
ton monument, the pride of the city, the tall
est structure that ever rose from the ground
toward heaven at the bidding of human pride,
patriotism, or piety; standing there In full
view of all cOmers, whether approaching land
or water, with its base deep down in the earth,
and Its capstone against the sky, receiving and
rejecting every light and shadow of the pass
ing hour steady alike in sunshine and storm,
defying lightning, whirlwind, and earthquake,
its grandeur and sublimity, like Niagara, i'm
press us more and more the longer we hold IL
But the nation, as have already said, has
done more for the District of COlu unba than to
clothe 1t with material greatness and splendor.
II has by the act of emancipation impaired to
II moral beauty. II has not only made 1t q
pleasure to the eye, but q 10y to the heart No
material adornment or addition has ever done
or could do for this District what the abolition
of slavery has DONE The nation did q great
and good thing fifteen years ago by giving us
local government and Shepherd that lifted
The City out Of its deep mud and above its
present greatness, but 1t did greater and
better thing when 1t lifted It out Of the mire of
barbarism coincident with slavery.
Justly proud, Of the prosperity and the increas-
ing liberality of Washington. With ali our
fellow-citizens we behold 1t with pride aud
Preana Peas1aIe rising % qnd Ee Pp shS d
without the sound OF n hammer. New faces
meet us at the corners OF the streets and greet
us in the market places, Convenieuces and
We walk in the shade Of It's beautiful trees by
day and in tho rays of its soft electric lights
by night. We make 1t warm where 1t Is COOL
and cool where 1t Is warm, aud healthy where
II Is noXlous Our magnltcence fills the
stranger and soJourner with admiration and
wonder. The contrast between the old time
ofslavery and the new dispensatlon of liberty
looms upon us on every hand. We feel II In
the very air we breathe, and in the friendly
aspect of all around us. But time would fail
to tell of the vast and wonderful advancement
In civilization made in this city by the aboli-
tion OF slavery.
Perhaps better idea could be formed OF
what has been done for Washington and for us,
by imagining what would be the case in re-
turn TO the old condition OF things. Imagine
the wheels of progress reversed; imagine that
by some strange and mysterious freak of for
tune, slavery with all It's horrld concomitants
was revived; imagine that under the dome of
yonder capitol legislation was carried on, as
Ior5mferiy, 5f, py men WIN pistols IN thelr 5eits
Of speech denied, the right ofpetition stamped
out, the press of the District muzzled, and
word in the streets against slavery the Sign
for mob; imngine lone woman like Miss
MyTtllla Miner having to defend her right to
innnh cnlnrnd Girls 10 road and write with n