Wichita eagle., 1889-05-01

or modern times have had more far reach
ing and beneficent influence. 1t is one o
the sublimest paradoXes of history tina
this weak confederation of states shoulC
have welded the chain against which, afte
| seventy-four years of fretful efforts for re
lease, its own spirit frantically dashed anC
died.
The government Of the republic by
congress of states a diplomatic convention
of the ambassadors of petty common
wealths, after seven years trial was fall
ing asunder. Threatened with civil wal
among its members, instruction and law
lessness rife within the states, foreign
commerce ruined and internal trade par
alyzed its currency worthless, its mer
chants bankrupt, its farms mortgaged, it:
markets closed, its labor unemployed
| it was like a helpless wreck upor
| the ocean, tossed about by the
tides and ready to be engulfed in TIT
storm. Washington gave the warning anc
called for action. 1t was a voice ac-
| ing. The veterans of the war and the
statesmen of the revolution stepped to the
| front. The patriotism which hid beer
misled but had never faltered, rose above
the inJererts of states and the jealousies o.
| Earring confederates to find the basis fol
union. 1T is clear to me a.
A. B. c. said Washington
|
would make us one of the most happy
wealthy, respectable and powerful nations
| that ever inhabitated the terrestrial globe
| Without them we shall soon be every thing
which is the direct reverse. predict The
! worst consequences from Il half-starved
| limping government, always moving upon
crutches, and tottering at every step" The
response of the country was the con
vention of 1877, at Philadelphia. The de-
| claration of independence was but
the vestibule of the temple which this
| illustrious assembly erected. With nc
| successful precedents to guide, it auspi-
| ciously worked out the problem of consti-
tutional government, and OF imperial
power and home rale, experimenting each
other in promoting the grandeur of the
nation, and preserving the liberty of the
individual.
The deliberations of great councils have
vitality affected, at different periods, the
history of the world and the fate of en-
pires; but this congress builded, upon pop
ular sovereignty, institutions broad
enough to embrace the continent, and
elastic enough to fit all conditions
of race and traditions. The experience of
a hundred years has demonstrated
for us the perfection of the work, for the
defense against foreign foes, and for self
preservation against domestic insurrec-
ton, for limitess expansion in population
and material development and for steady
growth in intellectual freedom and force.
Its continuing influence upon the welfare
and destiny of the human race can only be
measured by the capacity of man to cult
vate and enjoy the boundless oppOrtuni-
ties of liberty and law. The eloquent
characterization of Mr.. Gladstone con-
denses its merits 1.-The American consti-
tuition is the most wonderful work ever
struck off at given time by the brain
and purpose of man."
The statesmen who composed this great
senate were equal to their trust. Their
conclusions were the result of calm debate
and wise concession. Their character
and abilities were so pure and great as to
command the confidence of the country for
the reversal of the policy of the indepen-
dence of the state of the power of the gen
eral government, which had hitherto been
the invariable practice and almost uni
verSal opinion, and for the adoption of tie
idea of the nation and its supremacy.
Towering in majesty andintiuence above
them all stood Washington, their presi-
dent Beside him was the venerable
Franklin, who, though 81 years of age,
brought to the deliberations of the conven-
ton the unimpaired vigor and resources
of the wisest brain, the most hopeful
philosophy, and the largest experience of
the times. Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards
chief justice of the United States, and the
profoundest jurist in the country; Robert
Morris, the wonderful financier of the
revolution, and Gouverneur Morris. the
most versatile genius of his period; Roger
Shermon, one of the most eminent of the
SignerS of the declaration of independence,
and John Rutledge. Rufus King.
Elbridge Gerry, EDMUND Randolph and
the Pinckneys were leaders Of the I'M
equaled patriotism, courage, ability and
learning: while Alexander Hamilton and
James Madison, as original thinkers and
constructive statesmen, rank among the
immortal few whose opinions have for
ages guided ministers of state, and deter
mined the destinieS OF nations.
This great convention keenly felt, and
with devout and serene intelligence met
its tremendous responsibilities. 1t had
the moral support of the few whose aspira-
tons for liberty had been inspired or re-
newed by the triumph of the American
revolution, aud the active hostility OF every
government in the world.
There were no examples to follow, and
the experience of its members led part of
them to lean toward absolute centraliza-
ton as the only refuge from the anarchy
of the confederation, while the rest chung
to the sovereignty of the states, for fear
that the concentration of power would
end in the absorption of liberty. The
large states did not want to surrender the
smaller states saw the danger to their ex-
istence The leagues of the Greek cities
had ended in loss of freedom, tyranny
conquest and destruction. Roman con-
quest and assimilation had strewn the
shores of time with the wrecks of en-
pires, and plunged civilization into the
perils and horrors of the dark ages The
government of Cromwell was the isolated
power of the mightiest man of his age,
without popular authority to fill his place
or the hereditary principal to protect his
successor. The past furnished no light for
our state builders, the present was full of
doubt and despair. The future, the eXper-
iment of self-government, the perpetuity
and development of freedom, almost the
destiny of mankind was in their hands.
At this crisis the courage and confidence
needed to originate a system weakened.
The tempo iZing spirit of compromise
seized the convention with the alluring
proposition of not proceeding faster than
the people could be educated to
follow The cry: Let us not waste our
labor upon conclusions which will not
be adopted, but amend and
adjourn" was assuming startling unami-
". But the supreme force and majestic
sense of Washington brought the assem-
blage to the lofty plane of its duty and OPP
portunity He said: sit is too probable
that no plan we propose will be adopted
Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be
sustained. If to please the people we offer
what we ourselves disapproye, how can we
afterwaIdsdefend our work? Let US raise
a standard to which the wise and honest
can repair; the event is in the hands of
God" II am the state said
Louis the Fourteenth. but his
line ended in rhe graveof absolu-
tlsm. Forty centuries look down upon
YOU" was Napoleon's address TO his army
in the shadow OF the Pyramids, but his
soldiers saw only the dream OF eastern en-
pire vanish in blood. Statesmen and par