Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30
WASHINGTON, THE HERO.
A NOBLE TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
MR.. DEPEw's SPLENDID GRAFTON.
Worthy of the Great Occasion which
Called it Forth.


hvered from the steps of the Treasury building
in New York to-day. was an able and brilliant
one, eminently worthy of the great occasion
which called il forth. He began by saving:
We celebrate to-day the centenary of our
nationality. One hundred years ago the Uni
ted States began their existence. The powers
of government were assumed by the people of
the republic, and they became the sole source
of authority. The solemn ceremonial of the
first Inauguration, the reverent oath of Wash
ington. the acclaim of the multitude greeting
their President, marked the most unique event
OF modern times in the development OF free
institutions. The occasion was not an accident,
but result Ii was the elimination OF the
working out by mighty forces through many
centuries of the problem of self-government.
1t was not the triumph of system. the apph-
cation OF theory. or the reduction to practice
OF the distractions of philosophy. The time,
the country. the heredity and environment of
the people. the folly OF its enemies and the
noble courage of its friends, gave to liberty
after ages of defeat of trial. of experiment, of
partial success and substantial gains, this I'M
mortal victory. HencefOrth IL had a refuge
and recruiting station. The oppressed found
free homes in this favored land, and invisible
armies marched from 1t by mail and telegraph,
by speech and song, by precept and example.
TO REGESRRATE THE WORLD.
''Puritans in New England. Dutchmen in New
IOlh. NdhhOACs III ldLlt' mug ituOts III
South Carolina had felt the fires of persecution
and were welded to religious liberty. They
had been purified in the furnace. and in high
debate and on bloody battle fields had learned
to sacrifice all material interests and to peril
their lives for human rights The principles
of constitutional government had been i'm
pressed upon them by hundreds of years of
struggle. and for each principle they could
point to the grave of an ancestor whose death
attested the ferocity OF the fight and the value
OF the concession wrung from arbitrary power.
They knew the limitations of authority they
could pledge their lives and fortunes to resist
encrOachments upon their rights, but it re-
quired the lesson OF Indian massacre, the inva-
sion of the armies of France from Canada. the
tyranny of the British crown. the seven wears
war OF the Revolution. and the five years of
chaos OF the confederation to evolve the idea.
upon which rest the power and permanency of
the republic. that
LIBERTY AND UNION ARE ONE AND rxsEPARABLE
The farmers shot at Lexington
echoed around the world the spirit which it
awakened from its slumbers could do and dare
and die, but it had not yet discovered the
secret of the permanence and progress of free
institutions. Patrick Henry Numbered in the
virginia convention, James Otis spoke with
trumpet tongue and fervid eloquence for
united action in Massachusetts,. Hamilton jaw
and Clinton pledged New York to respond
with men and money for the common Cause
but their vision only saw league of independ-
ent colonies. The vail not vet drawn
from before the VISTA of population and power
OF empire and liberty, which would open with
national union"
BEGINNING OF THE STATES RIGHTS CONTEST.
After an eloquent reference to the members
of the Continental Congress, and graphic de-
scription Of the scenes at the signing of the
Declaration of Independence. the grand CEN
tral idea. of which document Mr.. Depew said
was the sovereignty of the people" he paid an
eloquent tribute to Thomas jefferson. but
added: In his passionate love of liberty he
became intensely jealous of authority. He de-
stroyed the substance of rOval prerogative but
never emerged from its shadow. He would
have the states the guardians of popular
rights and the barriers against contradictions
and he saw in the growing power of the ma
ton FREDERICKSBURG encrOachments upon the
rights OF the people. For the success OF the
pure democracy which must precede Presidents
and cabinets and Congresses. il Was perhaps
provIdential that its apostle never believed a
great people could grant and still RETAIN could
give and at will reclaim. could delegate and vet
firmly hold the authority which ultimately
created the power OF their republic and en-
larged the scope of their own liberty Where
this master-mind halted all stood still
THE NECESSITY FOR A PERMANENT UNION
was apparent, but each state must have hold
upon the bowstring which encircled its throat
1t was admitted that union gave the machinery
10 successfully 0Sht the common enc
my. but Vet there was fear that it might become
afrankensteln and destroy its creators Thus
patriotism and fear, difficulties OF communica-
ton between distant communities, and the in
tense growth of provincial pride and Interests
led this Congress to frame the articles of con-
federation. happily termed the league of
friendship. The result was not Il government
but a ghost. This paralvZed govern
ment, without strength. because it could not
enforce its DEGREES: without credit because il
COQId ne0pe nothing for he +og;+
debts; without respect. because without inner
ent authority, would, by its feeble life and early
death, have added another to the historic TRACE
dies which have in many lands marked the sup-
preston of freedom, had il not been saved bv
the Intelligent, inherited and invincible un-
derstanding of liberty by the people. and the
genius and patriotism of their leaders.
THREATENED ANARCHY.
'But while the perils Of war had given tenn
porary strength to the confederation. peace
developed It's fatal weakness. 1t derived no
authority from the people, and could not ap-
peal 10 them Anarchy threatened its exist
ence at home. and contempt met It's represent
atiyes abroad Can YOU fulfill or enforce the
Obligations of the treaty on YOUR part if we
sign one with you?' was the sneer of the courts
of the old world to our ambassadors Some
states gave "A half-hearted support 10 its de-
mands; Others deied them. The loss of pub
lie credit was speedily followed by universal
bankruptcy. The widest Dhantasies assumed
the force of serious measures for the relief of
'the general distress. States passed exclusive
and hostile laws against each other and riot
and disorder threatened the disintegration of
society.
WASHINGTON IN DESPAIR.
Even Washington exclaimed in despair: Il
see one head gradually changing into thirteen:
see one army gradually branching into thir-
teen; which, instead of looking up to Congress
AS the supreme controlling power. are consid-
ering themselves as depending on their re-
sPective states
But even through this Zimmerman dark
ness said 9lr. Depew, shot flame which H.
lunlned the coming century. and kept bright
the beacon fires OF liberty" Going on 10
speak OF the insertion in the ordinance erect
ing the northwest territories OF the immortal
proyiso prohibiting slavery or involuntary
seryitude" within all that broad domain he
said: The states carved out of this sr,,endid
concession were not soyereignties which ba
successfully rebelled but they were the chill.
dren OF the Union, born of the covenant and
thrilled with its life and liberty. They became
the bulvarks of nationality and the buttresse,
of freedom. Their prepOnderating strength
FIRST checked and then broke the slave power
their fervid loyalty halted and held at bay
THE SPIRIT OF STATE RIGHTS AND SECESSION
for generations; and when the crisis came. il
was with their overwhelming assistance thai
the nation killed and buried its enemy Tn.
M he edifice Srbc