Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-01

government Were assumed by the people of the
hepuollc. and they became the sole source of
authority. The solemn ceremonial of the first
..hhauguratlon,Ethe reyerent oath OF Washington,
the acclaim OF the multitude greeting their
fresident, marked the most UNIQUE event of
modern times in the development of free insti-
| lutsons. The occasion was not an accident. but
result y was the elimination of the working
Out oy mighty forces through many centuries OF
tne problem OF selfgoyernment. Il was not the
triuhmpn OF system. the application of a theory.
OF the reduction TO practice of the distractions
OF philosophy. The time the country the
neredity and environment of the people the
loiiy OF us enemies, and the noble courage of its
irlends gave to liberty. after ages of defeat of
trial, OF experiment Of partial success and sub
stantlal gains, this immortal victory. Hence
10rtn II mad a refuge and recruiting station.
me oppressed found free homes in this favored
| land and invisible armies marched from it by
mail ana telegraph, by speech and song, by
precspt and example. TO regenerate the world
turltans IN New England, Dutchmen in New
lork. Catholics in Maryland, Hugrenots in
south Carolina had felt the fires of persecution
ana We're welded to religious liberty. They
had been purified in the furnace, and in high
ueoale ana on bloody battle-fields had learned
10 sacrlnee all material interests and TO peril
tneir ilves for human rights.p The principles of
CONSTITUTIONAL government had been impressed
upon taem by hundreds of years of struggle. and
Tor each principle they could point 70 the grave
OF an ancestor whose death attes.ed the feroclty
OF the hight and the value of the concession
wrung from arbitrary power. They knew the
limitations of authority, they cou a pledge their
lives and fortunes TO resist encroaehments upon
their rights but il required the lesson OF Indian
massacres. the invasion of the armies of France
from canada, the tyranny of the British Crown
the seyen-year war of the revolution, and the
hve years of chaos of the Confederation TO evolve
the idea upon which rest the power and per-
manency of the republic that liberty and union
are one and inseparable
THE traditions and experience of the Colo
| nlsts had made them alert 10 discover and
quick TO resist any peril to their liberties Above
all things they feared and distrusted power
The town meeting and the Colonial Legislature
gave them confidence in themselves, and cour-
age age 70 cheek the ROYAL Governors. Their inter
estS, hopes and affections were in their several
Commonwealths, and each blow by the British
Ministry at their freedom. each attack upon
their rights as Englishmen, weakened their love
for the mother-and and intensified their hostil-
lty to the Crown. But the same causes which
broke down their allegiance to the Central
Government increased their confidence in
their respective Colonies and their faith
in liberty was largely dependent
upon the maintenance of the soyer
eighty of their several States. The farmers
shot at Lex ington echoed round the world the
spirit which it awakened from its slumbers
could do and dare and die, but it had not vet
discovered the secret of the permanence and
progress of free institutions. Patrick Henry
thundered in the Virginia Convention James
Otis spoke with trumpet tongue and fervid elo-
quence for united action in Massachusetts
Hamilton, Jay and Clinton pledged New York
to pond with men and money for the COM
mon cause, but their vision only saw league of
independent colonies. The vail was not vet
drawn from before the vista of population and
power, of empire and liberty, which would open
with National Union.
The Continental Congress partially grasped
but completely expressed, the central idea of
the American Republic. More fully than snv
other body whichever assembled did it repre-
sent the victories won from arbitrary power for
human rights, In the New World it was the
| uries of struggle in the Old. Among the dele
gates were the descendants of the men who had
stood in that brilliant array upon the field of
Runnymede, which wrested from King John
Magma Charta, that great charter Of liberty to
which Hallam, in the nineteenth century,
bears witness that all of which had been since
obtained is little more than as confirmation or
commentary There were the grandchildren
OF the statesmen who had summoned
Charles before Parliament and compelled his
assent assent transtetlea to the Petition Of Rights
| sentative Government to the English. speaking
race. And there were those who had sprung
| from the iron soldiers who had fought and
| charged with Cromwell at Naseby and Dunbar
and Marston Moor. Among its members were
Huguenots, who's fathers had followed the
white plume OF Henry OF Navarro, and in an
| age OF bIgotry, intolerance and the dedication
OF absoutism, had secured the great edict of re-
| Ii. ious liberty from French despotism; and
who had become a people without country
| forswear their consciences In this Congress
were those whose ancestors were the country
men OF William of Orange, the Beggars of the
sea, WHO had survived the cruelties of Alva
and broken the yoke OF proud Philip of Spaiu
and who had TWO centuries before made a
Declaration of Independence, and formed a
and strength.
After reviewing the history Of the republic for
! century the brilliant orator concluded by
saying:
"The flower of the youth of the nations of con-
tinental Europe are conscripted from productive
| industries and drilling in camps Vast armies
stand IN battle array along the frontiers and
kalsers whim or Minister'S mistake NAV pre-
| cipitate the most destructive war of modern
times. Both monaTchial and republican gov
ernments are seeking safety in the repression
and suppression OF opposition and criticism
The volcanic forces of democratic aspiration
aud sociallstc revolt are rapidly increasing and
threaten peace and security. We turn from
these gathering storms to the British Isles and
find their people in the throes OF g political
crisis involving the form and substance of their
| Government. and their statesmen far from con
| hdent that the enfranchised and unprepared
masses will wisely use their power.
" But for US, no army exhausts our resources
nor consumes our youth. Our navy must needs
/ increase. in order that the protecting flag NAV
| follow the expanding commerce, which is to
successfully compete in all the markets OF the
world. The sun of cur destiny is still rising
and its rays illuminate vast territories as vet
unoccupied and undeveloped, and which are to
be the happy homes of millions of people. The
questions which affect the powers of gov
ernment and the expansion or limitation
of the authority of the Federal Constitution
are so completely settled, aud so unanimously
approved, that our political divisions produce
only the healthy antagonism of parties which is
necessary for the preservation of liberty. Our
institutions furnish the tul equipment of shield
and spear for the battles of freedom. and abso.
lutte protection against every danger which
threatens the welfare of the people will always
be found in the intelligence which appreciates
their value, and the courage and morality with
which their powers are exercised. The spirit of
Washington fills the executive Office Presidents
may not rise TO the full measure of his grea.-
ness, but they must not fall below his standard
of pubic duty and obligation. His life and
character, conscientiously studied and thor
oughly understood by coming generations, will
be for them liberal education for private life
and public station, for citizenship and patriot
ism, for love and devotion to Union and Lib
erty. With their inspiring past and splendid
present. the people or these United States heirs
of hundred years marvelously rich in all
which adds to the glory and greatness of ma
tlon, with an abiding trust in the stability and
elasticity of their Constitution, and an abound
ing faith in themselves hail the coming CEN
tury with hope and joy''