The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-05-16
HENDERSON. n. G..
(cONCIJvDED F2eN FIRST PAGE.

hopeful promise march upon sure
ground towards the future. The sim
ple facts of these hundred years para
I'VE the imagination, and we contem-
plate the vast accumulatiOns of the
century with - 4 pride. Our pop
uIation has -~,, ;. four to sixty
five millions. -. -...of. moving West
ward five hundred mile; since 1889, is
elOuuent with tile founding of cities and
the birth of States. New settlements.
clearing the forests and subduing the
prairies. and e14;-e four millions to
the few thous ans which were
the support OF )n's Republic,
create one c. - 1T grainarles OF
the world and crer exn.,ustless reser-
vOirs of NatiOlInl r-aith.
During this generation. a civil war
of unequaled magnitude caused the ex-
penditure and loss of eight thousand
millions of dollars. and killed six hum
bred thousand and permanently dis
abled over a million young men, and
vet the impetuOus progress of the North
and the marvellous industrial develop
ment of the new and free South have
Obliterated the evidences of destruction,
and made the war a memory, and have
stimulated production until our annual
surplus nearly equals that of England,
France and Germany combined. The
tseming millions Of Asia till the pa
tient soil, and work the shuttle and
looms as their fathers have done for
ages; modern Europe has felt the in
fuence and received the benefit of the
incalculable multiplication of force by
inventive genius since the NapOleOnic
wars; and yet, only two hundred and
.ixtv-nine years after the little band of
pilgrims landed OH Plymouth Rock. our
people, numbering less than One-fif-
teenth of the inhabitants of the globe,
do one-third of the mining. One-fourth
of its manufacturing. One-fifth of its az
riculture, and own One-sixth Of its
wealth.
Steam and electricity have changed
the commerce not only, they have rev.
Olutionized also the governments of the
world. They have given to the press
its power, and brought all races and
natiOnalities into touch and sympathy.
They have tested and are trying the
strength of all systems to stand the
strain and conform to the conditions
which follow the terminating influences
of American Democracy. At the time
of the inauguration of Washington
seven royal families ruled as many
kingdoms in Italy, but six of them
have seen their thrones overturned anC
their countries disappear from the MAJ
of Europe. Most of the Kings, Princes
Dukes and margraves of Germany who
reigned despOtically and sold their sol
diers for foreign service, have passeC
into history, and their heirs have
neither prerOgatives nor domain. SpaiI
has gone through many violent changes
and the permanency of her present gov
eminent seems to depend upon the fee
BILE life of an infant Prince. France
our ancient friend, with repeated anC
bloody revolutions. has tried the gov.
eminent of Bourbon and Convention
of Directory and Consulate, of Empire
and Citizen King, of hereditary Sow
ereign and Republic, of Empire anG
again Republic. The Hapsburg anC
the Hohenzollern, after commissions
which have rocked the foundation o
their throne, have been compelled tt
cOncede constitutions to their people
and to divide with them the arbitrary
power welded so automatically anC
brilliantly by Maria Theresa and Fred
erick the Great. The royal will o
roo,-o III .n,,lI ,.rcuI fho
colonies into rebellion and wage wal
upon them until they were lost to his
kingdom. but the authority of thu
Crown has devolved upon Ministers
who hold Office subject to the apprOva
of the representatives of the people
and the equal powers :of the House o
Lords have become vested i'll the Com
mons. leaving to the Peers only thu
shadow of their ancient privileges. Blu
to-day the American people, after al
the dazzling developments of the cen
fury, are still happily living under thu
Government of Washington. The con
stitution during all that period has beer
amended only upon the lines laid down
in the original instrument, and in con
formity with the recorded opinions o
the fathers. The first great addition
was the incorporation of Bill o
Rights, and the last the embedding into
the constitution of the immortal prin
ciple of the Declaration of Indepen
dence of the equality of all men before
the law. No crisis has been too peril
GUS for it's powers, no evolution too
rapid for its adoption. and no eXpan
sion beyond it's easy grasp and admin
istratiOn. 1t has assimilated diverse
natiOnalities with warning traditions
customs, conditions and languages. i'm
bued them with its spirit, and won Their
passionate loyalty and love.
The spirit of Washington fills the
Executive office. Presidents may moi
rise to the full measure of his greatness
but they must not fall below his stan.
dard of public duty and obligation. His
life and character. conscientiOusly
studied and thoroughly understood by
coming generations, will be for them q
liberal education for private life and
public station, for citizenship and pa.
triotism, for love and devotion to Union
and Liberty. With their inspiring past
and splendid present, the people o.
these United States. heirs of a hundred
years marvelously rich in all which
adds to the glory and greatness of q
nation. with an abiding trust in the
stability and elasticity of their consti.
ton. and an Astounding faith in them