Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-02

~ yashington's Republic, create one of the
Urast grai1aries of The world and open ex-
6anstiess reservoirs of National wealth.
During this generation, civil war Of
| uneouaied magnitude caused the expendi-
t1re and loss Of eight thousand millions of
dollars. and killed six hundred thousand
| and nermanentlv disabled over million
Young men, and yet the impetuous prog
ress of the North and the marvellous in
dustrial development OF the new and free
| struction. and made the war a memory,
| and have stimulated production until our
annual surplus nearly equals that of
England, France and Germany combined
The teeming millions or Asia TILL the patient
! soil and work the shuttle and loom as their
| fathers have done for ages; modern
| Europe has felt the influence and
received the benefit OF the ipcalcu-
| liable multiplication of force by inventive
genius s:nce the NapOleonic wars; and vet,
only two hundred and sixty nine years after
| the little band of pilgrims landed on
| Plymouth Rock, our people, numbering
| less than one fifteenth OF the inhabitants of
| the globe. do one-third Of its mining, one
| fourth of its manufacturing, one-fifth of its
| aOriculture and own One-siXth of its wealth
| Steam and electricity have changed the
commerce not only. they have revolution
! lied also the governments OF the world
| They have given TO the press its power,
| and brought all races and nationalities es into
touch and sympathy. They have tested
| and are irving the strength OF all systems
to stand the strain ana conform to the con-
ditions which follow the terminating
| influences of American Democracy. At
the time of the Inauguration OF Wash
ington, seven royal families ruled as
many kingdoms in Italy, but six of them
have seen their thrones overturned and
their countries disappear from the map
of Europe. Most of the Kings, Princes,
Dukes and margraves OF Germany who
reigned despotically and sold their soldiers
for foreign service, have pas ed into his
tory. and their heirs have neither prerog-
atives nor domain. Spain has gone through
many violent changes and the permanency
of her present government seems to depend
upon the feeble life of an infant Prince.
France, our ancient friend, with repeated
and bloody revolutions, has tried the
vention, of Directory and Consul
late, of Empire and Citizen King,
of hereditary Sovereign and Republic,
of Empire and again Republic The Haps-
burg and the Hohenzollsrn, after convul-
sions which have rocked the foundation OF
their throne, have been compelled to con-
cede constitutions to their people and to
divide with them the arbitrary power
welded 80 automatically and brilliantly by
Maria Theresa and Frederick the Great.
The royal will Of George III could crowd
the American colonies into rebellion and
wage war upon them until they were lost
to his kingdom, but the authority OF the
Crown has devolved upon Ministers who
hold Office subject to the approval OF
the representatives Of the people. and the
equal powers OF the House of Lords have
become vested in the Commons, leaving
to the Peers only the shadow Of their
ancient privileges. But to-day, the Ameri-
can people, after all the dazzling develop
ments Of the century, are still happily liv-
ing under the Government Of Washington
The constitution during all that period has
been amended only upon the lines laid
down In the original instrument, and in
conformity with the recorded opinions of
the, fathers The first great addition
Rights, and the last the embedding
into the constitution Of the immortal
principle OF the Declaration of indie
pendence of the equality of all men before
the law. No crisis has been too perilous for
its powers no evolution too rapid for its
adaptation, and no expansion beyond its
easy grasp and administration. 1t has as |
simulated diverse natiOnalities with warning |
traditions, customs conditions and Ian |
guages imbued them with its spirit and |
won their passionate loyalty and love. = r
The spirit of Washington fills the Execu- |
tive office Presidents may not rise to the |
full measure of his greatness, but they must |
not fall below his standard of public duty |
and obligation. His life and character, |
conscientioGsly studied and thoroughly |
uuucIsGoou Dy COMING generations, Will |
be for them a liberal education for |
private life and public station, for |
citizenship and patriotism. for love and de-
votion to Union and Liberty With their
inspiring past and splendid present, the |
people of these United States. heirs of a
hundred years marvelously rich in all which
adds to the glory and greatness of a nation.
with an abiding trust in the stability and
of their constitution, and an
abounding faith in themselves, hail the
canning century with hone and ioy