Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30

ring OF confederates to find the basis for Union.
| 1t is clear to me as b c. said Washington.
that an extension of federal powers would
| make us one of the most happy, wealthy, re-
spectacle and powerful nations that ever in
hsbited the terrestrial globe. Without them
! we shall soon be everything which is the direct
| reverse. / predict the worst consequences
from half-starved. limping government, al
ways moving upon clutches. and tottering at
every step
THE FRAMING OF THE CONSTITUTION.
"The response of the country was the conven-
| ton of 1857. at Philadelphia. The Declaration
of Independence was but the vestibule of the
temple which this illustrious assembly erected
! With no successful precedents to guide. 1t au-
spiciously worked out the problem OF constitu-
tlonal government. and of imperial power and
home rule. supplementing each other in pro-
noting the grandeur of the nation. and pre-
serving the liberty of the individual The de-
/ alterations of great councils have vitality at
| fected, at different periods, the history of the
world and the fate OF empires; but this Con-
| gress builded. upon popular sovereignty, in
situations broad enough to embrace the CONT
! nent. and elastic enough to ut all conditions OF
race and traditions. The experience of hun
| bred wears has demonstrated for us the perfec-
i ton of the work. for defense against foreign
| foes and for sels-preseTvation against domestic
| instruction. for limitless expansion i'll popula-
| ton and material development, and for steady
| growth in intellectual freedom and force. Its
1 continuing influence upon tile ana ues-
I tiny of the human race can only be measured
| by the capacity of man to cultivate and enjoy
| the boundless opportunities OF liberty and law.
FOUNDED UPON THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE.
Mr.. Depew, after an able and comprehensive
review OF the framing of the Constitution by
the convention of 1857, and an eloquent tribute
to its illustrious makers, quoted Washington's
| immortal speech in which he propounded the
fundamental principle of the purity and per-
| at,1frN Of itTrtInn he
orator, in concluding this part of his address,
| said:
Freed from the limitations of its environ
| ment, and the question of the adoption of its
| work. the convention erected its government
| upon the eternal foundations of the power of
| the people. 1t dismissed the delusiye theory
| of compact between Independent states and
| derived national power from the people of the
| United States. 1t broke up the machinery of
| the confederation and put in practical opera
| ton the glittering generalities of the Declara-
| ton of Independence. From chaos came or
/ der, from insecurity came safety, from dsinte-
| grafton and civil war came law and liberty.
| The government of the states, under
| the articles of confederation, became bank
| rUpt because it could not raise $4,000 900; the
| government of the union. under the Constitu-
| ton of the United States. raised $1,000 600 0OO
its credit growing tirmer its power and re-
| sources were demonstrated. The Congress of
| the COME deration fled from a regiment which
4
| viewed the comrades of a million of its vcto-
riOus soldiers. saluting as they marched the
| flag of the nation. whose supremacy they had
| sustained. The promises OF the confederacy
| were the scott of its states: the pledge of the
| republic was the honor of its people"
| TIE PEOPLES CONFIDENCE IN WASHINGTON.
| Mr.. De2ew next forcibly depicted the oppo-
sition to the adoption of the Constitution and
! said: Success was due to confidence in Wash
! OFT md no pf Alay1n1ar Hap
| EnlarglnS on this theme he said the multitudes
/ arrayed against the Constitution were satisfied
! only with the assurance, Washington will be
/ President" Describing at length the almost
! unanimous call of the people for their leader.
| who after presiding over theconvention. had re-
tired to his estate at Mount Vernon. the orator
! described the reluctance with which Washing
! ton responded to the appeal and left his home
! for New DIRK. But. said Mr.. Depew, no
/ COuquerOr was ever accorded such a triumpl
/ no ruler ever received such a welcome In this
| memorable march Of SIX days to the capital. it
| was the pride Of states to accompany him with
| the masses OF their people to their borders.
| that the citizens of the next commonwealth
might escort him through its territory. 1t was
| the glory of cities to receive him with every
/ civic honor at their gates, and entertain him
| as the savior of their liberties He rode un-
der triumphal arches from which children
| lowered laurel wreaths upon his brow. The
/ roadways were strewn with flowers and as they
were crushed beneath his horses hoofs their
! sweet insense waited TO Heaven the ever-as-
| cending prayers of his loving countrymen for
! his life and safety"
THE NATIONS FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE
After brief reference to the brilliant scenes
| attending the entry of the first President into
New York. Mr.. Depew eloquently sketched the
crowding memories of the past which must
! have been suggested to the hero by his approach
| to that city. Then the orator gave a pictIr-
! DESCRIPTION rat nf tba
| first President. and said:
| with the first attempt to exercise national
1 power began the duel to the death between
state sovereignty, claiming the right to nulIify
/ Federal laws or secede from the Union and
| the power of the republic to command the
| resources of the country; to enforce its au-
thorlty and protect its life. 1t was the begin
| nIng OF the sixty years war for the Constitu-
ton and the nation. Ii scared consciences. de-
! graded politics, destroyed parties, ruined
statesmen. and retarded the advance and de-
veiOpment OF the country: it sacrificed hun
dreds of thousands of precious lives and
squandered thousands of millions of money: it
desOated the fairest portion of the land and
! carried mourning into every home north and
south; but II ended at AppOmattox in the abso-
! lutte triumph OF the republic. Posterity owes
. Washington's administration the policy and
| measures. the force and direction. which mad c
possible this glorious result"
| After reference to Washingtons cabinet and
| policy. ms opposition to aiding the French
! revolution, which ''defied God and derided the
| law" the speaker came down to the demand of
the people that Washington should serve a
second term, voiced in the appeal of Thomas
Jefferson: North and south will hang together
! while they have you to hang to-"
WHERE WASHINGTON WAS GREAT
NO man, said Mr.. Depew, sever stood for
so much to his country and to mankind az
George Washington. Hamilton, Jefferson and
Adams. Madison and jaw. each represented
some of the elements which formed the Union
| Washington embodied them all. They fell al
times under popular disapproval were burned
III etfgy. were stoned. but he with unerrina
judgment was always the leader of the people
Milton said of Cromwell. that war made him
great. peace greater. The superiority OF
Washington's character and genius were more
conspicuous in the formation of our govern.
ment and in putting Il on indestructible founda
tlOns than in leading armies to victory anC
conquering the Independence of his country
The union In any event. is the central thought
of his farewell address. and all the years of hi.
grand life were devoted to its formation anC
preservation"
Next quoting the eloquent tributes to Wash
ingtOn paid by Guizot. the historian; LORD
Erskine. the famous English advocate: Charlie.
James Fox, the great parliamentary orator
Lord BrOugham. and others. Mr. Depew said
Blot out from the page of history the names
OF all the great actors of his time in the drama
of nations. and preserve the name of Washing
ton, and the century would be renowned
THE NATIONS PROGRESS IN HUNDRED YEARS