The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-05-02

w SGO NOACldD ISSluCnt lSdVlCH. Oh
Princeton College, as, ''that heroic
youth Colonel Washington. whom I
cannot but hope Providence has hith-
erto preserved in so signal a manner
for some important service to the
country" 1t was fair daughter of
our state whose smiles allured him
here, and whose coy confession that
her heart was another's recorded his
only failure. and saddened his depart
ure. Twenty years passed, and he
stood before the New York congress.
on this very spot, the UNANIMOUSLY
chosen commander-in-chie of the con-
army, urging the people to
more vigorous measures, and made
painfully aware of the increased des-
peratIon of the struggle, from the aid
to be given to the enemy by domestic
sympathiZerS. when he knew that the
same local military company which es-
cOrted them was to perform the like
service for the British Governor Tryon
on the morrow. Returning for the de-
fence of the city the next summer, he
executed the retreat from Long Island.
which secured from Frederick the
Great the opinion. that a great COM
mander had appeared. and at Harlem
Heights he won the first American
victory of the Revolution, which gave
that confidence to our raw recruits
against the famous veterans of Europe
which carried our army triumphantly
through the war. Six years more of
untold sufferings, of freezing and starry
ing camps, of marches over the snow
by bare-footed soldiers to heroic attack
and splendid victory, of despair with
an unpaid army. and of hope from the
generous assistance of France, and
peace had come and independence tri-
umphed. AS the last soldier of the in
vading enemy embarks, Washington
at the head of the patriotic host enters
the city, receives the welcome and graf
iJude of its people, and in the tavern
which faces us across the way, in 81
lence more eloquent than speech, and
with tears which choke the words. he
bids farewell forever to his companions
in arms. Such were the crowding
memories of the past suggested to
Washington in 1889 by his approach to
New York. But the future had none
of tie splendor of precedent and bril-
lance of promise which have since at
tended the Inauguration of our presl-
dents. An untried scheme. adopted
mainly because its administration was
to be confided TO him, was to be put in
practice. He knew that he was to be
met at every step of constitutional
progress by factions temporarily hushed
the tidal wave which was bearing him
to the presidents seat, but iercely hos
tile upon questions affecting every
power of nationality and the existence
of the federal government.
Washington was never dramatic, but
on great occasions he not only rose to
the full ideal of the event, he became
himself the event. One hundred years
ago to-day, the procession of foreign
ambassadors, of statesmen and gener-
ais, of civic societies and mill
tary companies, which escorted
him. marched from Franklin Square
to Pearl street, through Pearl to Broad
and up Broad to this spot but the peo-
pie saw only Washington. As he stood
upon the steps of the old government
building here, the thought must have
occurred to him that it was cradle OF
liberty. and as such giving a bright
omen for the future, In these halls in
1875, in the trial of John Zenger. had
been established, for the first time in
its history, the liberty of the press.
Here the New York assembly, in 1854
made the protest against the stamp
act, and proposed the general confer
ence, which was the beginning of united
colonial action. In this old state house
in 1865 the stamp act congress. the
first aud the father of American con-
crosses, assembled and presented tC
the English government that vigorous
protest which caused the repeal of the
| act, and checked the first step towards
the usurpation which lost the Amerl-
can colonies 20 the British Empire.
| Within these walls the congress of the
confederation had commissioned its
ambassadors abroad, and in Intellectual
efforts at government had created the
necessity for the concentration of fed
eraI authority, now to be consum
| mated.
| The first congress of the United
! States gathered in this ancient temple
of liberty. greeted Washington and &C
companied him to the balcony. The
| famous men visible about him were
Chancellor Livingston, Vice President
John Adams, Alexander Hamilton
Governor Clinton, Roger sherman
Baron Steuben. But we believe that
among the invisible host above him, al
this supreme moment of the culmina
ton in permanent triumph of the thou
sands of years of struggle for self gov
eminent. were the spirits of the sol
diers of the revolution who had dice
that their countrymen might enjoy thl:
blessed day. and the BarOns of Runny
mede and William the Silent, and Sid
ney and Russell. and Cromwell anC
Hampden, and the heroes and martyrI
of liberty of every race and age
AS he came forward, the multi
ltude in the streets, in the windows
and on the roofs sent up such ;
rapturous shout that Washington
sat down, overcome with emo
ton. AS he slowly arose and his tai
and majestic form again appeared
the people, deeply affected, in awed 81
lence viewed the scene. The chancel
lor solemnly read to him the oath o
office, and Washington, repeatin1
said, Il do solemnly swear that 1 vii
faithfully execute the Office OF presi
dent of the United States, and will. t
the best of my ability, preserve, pro
tect and defend the constitution of tn
j United States.' Then he reVerentl
bent low and kissed the Bible. utterin
with profound emotion, $50 help me
, Cod The chancellor waived mis- lIv
robes and shouted, 1T is done; Ion
, George Washington. president of tn
United States!" Long live Georg
. Washington. our first PRESIDENT; wa
the answering cheer of the people, an
J from the belfries rang the bells, an
from forts and ships Numbered th
!, cannon, echoing and repeating the CT
with responding acclaim all over tn
land, Long live George Washington
president of the United StatesI''
The simple and imposing ceremon
over, the inaugural read. the blessin
! of God prayerfully petitioned in old S
/ Paul's. the festivities passed; an
: Washington stood alone. No one els
/ could take the helm OF state, and el
: thusiast and doubteF alike trusted onl
t him. The teachings and habits of ii
! past had educated the people to fat
7 in the Independence of their state
2 and for the supreme authority of Il
I new government there stood again
3 the precedent of century and the pa
sions of the hour, little besides the a
d guments of Hamilton. Madison and ia
4 in the federalist. and the judgment
1 Washington. With the first attem]
t to exercise national power began Il
= duel to the death between state soYe
: eighty claiming the right to nullify fe
e eral laws or secede from the union, al
: the power of the republic to commaI
2 the resources of the country. TO enfor
e its authority and protect its life.
g was the beginning of the sixty year