The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-20
TREIuAuGnUATIoN CENTENNIAL,

Which took place In washington on
Wednesday llth inst, says the AShc-
vWe CHi&en, to commemorate the Cen
tcnnial of the inauguration Of Gcorge
Washington, the 6rst president of tho
United States, by a sin. ular coincidence
took place on the day OF the bu,i"I ser
vices Of Jefferson Davis. One event re-
minded the couutry Of the honors that
flowed upon the succcssiul rebel: the
other stood in solemn Contrast, the dill
ference between success and failure,
between the one rcvcrcd as the
father and savior OF his country, the
other by au unthinkiug multitude re-
viled as its eremy aud traitor. Hap
PLY for the fame Of Jefferson Davis.
and honorably to the feeling, the judge
men. aud the fidelity of hi. compatriots,
he is not so regarded. Not that the
people of the South now wish or hope
that the results Of the war could ever be
reversed not that they do regret that
the decision of the arbitrator OF the
sword' was adverse TO their effort nj
independent nationality, for we believe
that the vast majority arc not only con
tent with the decision, but sincerely sat
isticd that it WITS wisely made against
theuI, always provided tha: the vicioH1
Gus side always keep in view the iunda-
mental idea upon which tho hate WAS
fought. the faithful Interpretation and
observance Of the cDustiiu'i II. This,
as the underlying principle, is as vital
as ever, and did not perish when the
cause of the South went down in disas-
ter or when Jefferson Davis went down
10 the grave.
The Wilmington Messenger well says
"No great prluciple is ever cntombed
with man that is mortal. Principle
is immortal-'the same yesterday, and
to-day, and forever The great, price
less, precious principles for which MIR
Davis pcrilcd SO much, FOR which h'
was bounded and persecurcd, and be
cause on which accumulated hatred an'
dcnuuciatious fall upon his grave, vii
live on through the centuries 50 long "a
civil liberty has a foothold or folDwc'
in this land.'
1t is vital at the North AS it is at th'
South it is as inscparablo from th'
political health aud ihhc' cnt rights o
one scc,iUu as of the other. and -itrus
have Development again when th'
purpose Of ccntraljza,iOn SHALL tax,
such path as to ov,rshado" th" grc'
fundamental principle uI Sat" '"Tr
rcisrty, no light thing to lN'-.n''y Snr
rendered ty the mighty SIT {! th'
North, swept along for tin" in th
wild current of dominant hC'crol'':
ideas, but sure to oppose WIN l., i'r", r q
| dahl. 49,. - 80. HF.n 'iF' '"tl u u
| determined purpose to cx'ingu;sa thci
individuality and rclcsatc them to ia;
hualbl, relation of dependent provinces
The cousen. Of the States, as distinc
sovereign powers, was the foundation
stone upon which the government wa
built. Thorc was NJ absorption Of then
into the great central power which they
erected for their grcatcr convenience
and to which they gave delegated "nl
defined powers ouly. Beyond thc>
delegated powers, the right of sci
government remained. and s'ili rciH:.in,
aud to this extent the doctrine q
States rights sands unimraircd
On the subjrc; Of the centennial a
Washington, the N",cS nd Co"r;r
drawing parallel between Davis al,
Washington, says:
The government established b,
Washington was based upon the doc
trine that the people have the right
and that it is their duty, to c0ntr"
their own affrirs in their own way
| Washington led the rebellion OF tbs
colonies against their king; Davis Ice
the revolution Of thirteen sovercic!
States against the usurpations Of {
government which derived its only
powers from the consent Of the States.
Could Washington and Davis have cx
changed places and times, the people Of
the South would hold memorial meet;
iDgs to-day in honor Of Washington
and the national capitol 4: " ash!ngtor
would ring with tie praises Of Davis
Representing the same principles, striy
ing for the rights Of the people, con
sciCus Of their own rcci.udc anl De
voted to the supremacy of the consti'u
ton and the laws, Washington and
Davis are equally and alike entitled t.
the reverence of the American people -