The Washington critic., 1886-11-01
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER /, 1886.
"ruE K1NsuIp OF REPUBLICS"

sluerallOn OF lnc people OF rranCe as
demonstrating "the kinship of repub-
lics"-a relation which in the nature of
things is impossible between the
United States and any Of the other
great nations of Europe.
1t is a happy and significant thought,
in which is touched the keynote of that
sentiment of brotherhood by which all
men who have wrought out for them
selves the problem Of political and
civil liberty are inscparably allied.
a kindred sentiment forms the In.
spiration of the movement which mas
been so auspiciously inOugurated to
strengthen the bonds of friendship be.
tween the United States and the free
nations of the Westcru Hemisphere.
The Bartholli statue is a noble work
of art, eloquent even in the muteness
of its lips but while It so impressively
typiGes the sympathetic friendship OF
France, II will be no less constant re.
minder of the mission with which
America seems TO have been proyi-
dentially invested, to point the way Of
mankind TO the blessings OF free and
equal citizenship and illustrate the cX-
cellence of institutions founded on the
popular will.
Hence the peculiar appropriateness
of the proposed centennial commemora-
ton of the Federal Constitution. 1t
is to show what only a hundred years
have done for freedom on the Ameri-
can Continent, under the potent and
broadening influence Of that great
instrument.
Never will such an occasion have
been presented before to eXemplify the
kinship of nations living under similar
forms of government 1t will witness
the gathering at our National Capital
of the representatives, not of France
alone, but of not less than fifteen diff
ferent Republics, to celebrate the an
niversary of Constitution, which hav-
ing been originally adopted by the
United States, became in due course of
time, by force of example and process
of revolution, the basis of popular gov
ernment in Mexico and most of the
countries of Central and South
America.
The convention which framed this
Constitution, now nearly a hundred
years ago, did not do its immortal
work for the United States alone, but
for the Continent, and its influence has
extended throughout the Continents
length and breath, In favor of liberty
curtailed by law, of law enacted by the
people, OF religious tolerance and uni
versal education. II is making of diff
ferent races people politically homo
despotisms and autocracies are being
conquered.
The centennial of the Constitution
will be more, however, than the cele-
bration of mere sentiment. 1t is in
tended as the Inauguration, with Il
view to their continued maintenance, Of
community of interests founded on q
community of politica! sympathies aud
the natural ad0plation--one nation to
another-of the principles ofreciprocal
commerce.
To this great end, and to Perma.
nent Exposition of the Three Americas
as the machinery of its execution, has
been extended the Endorsement of the
Governors of all the States and Terri.
tories, with but one exception, and of
many of the important commercial or
ganizations of the country. The peo-
pie at large are heartily in sympathy
with the project. They are not slow to
perceive its historical fitness, its polit'
ical significance, its commercial wis
DOM and we have abundant assurance
that there will be no lack of guests at
this jubilee Of nations. All who have
followed the American model, in the
building up of their constitutional
governments, will be here to join In
the jubilation, and then it will devolve
upon the President of the United
States to proclaim anew and with the
force of mightler revelation 'tht
kinship of republics" that having beer
born into the household Of liberty are
now making common cause with til
parent Government for its glory an,
honor and multiplied benefac,ions.
CHAPLAIS MILBURN has written al
open letter to Mrs. Prentiss, widow oi
the late Sergeant l., Prentiss in whicl
ba oSenroc har th Of iuetnnI nf oa1up, "a I
ating her husband lie has simply en-
deayorCd "to treat his character in
spirit Of the utmost admiration and ten
derncss, and has said nothing abou
him which the world does not know tC
be true" But this is not the point. |
il gentlemanly or commcndable in Dr.
Milburn TO persist in delivering thii
lecture when he knows that it is griey
ously wounding the feelings of an olJ
lady, who may be over.sensitive on tn,
subject, but who Is certainly enttle
TO kindly and chiyalric forbcarance?
IT THE report which comes from
Chicago is true, 1t is not to be won
dered at that Miss Cleveland has with
drawn from connection with LHolar
LiJe, so-called, aud severed all rela
tions with the delectable Mr.. Elder
On the contrary, 1t is rather strang
that Miss Cleveland ever had any
thing to do with either the publ
cation or the man. Elder is reporto
to have said recently that he himsel
was the author of the letters whic
purported to be written to him by Mis-
Cleveland and that he gave them [