Wichita eagle., 1889-05-01
CENTENNIAL GRAFTON
DELIVERED BY CHAUNCEY II. DE
PEW, OF NEW YORK, APRIL
80. 1889.
Also Address Of Governor Fitzhugh Lee
Of Virginia, on Same Occasion,
in New York City.

United States began their existence. HI
powers of government were assumed d.
the people of the republic and they became
the sole source of authority. The solemn
ceremonial of the first Inauguration, thu
reverent oath of Washington, the acclaim
of the multitude greeting their preslden
marked the most unique event OF moderI
times in the development of free instltu
tons. The occasion was not an accident
but result. 1t was the elimination o
the working out by mighty forces through
many centuries of the problem OF se,f-gov-
eminent. 1t was not the TRIUMPH
of system. the application 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, anc
the noble courage of its friends, gave tC
pertinent, of partial success and substan-
tial gains this immortal victory. Hence
forth it had a refuge and recruiting station.
The oppressed found free homes In this
favored lands, and invisible armies march
ed from it by mail and telegraph, by
speech and song, by precept and example
to regenerate the world.
Puritaas in New England, Dutchmen in
New York, Catholics in Maryland, Hugue-
nots in South & rOlina 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
battlefelds had learned to sacrifice all ma
terial interests and to peril their lives for
human rights The principles of constitu-
tional government had been impressed up
on them by hundreds of years of struggle,
and for each principle they could point to
tic grave of an ancestor whose death at
tested the feroCity of the fight and the val
lie of the concession wrun from arbitrary
power. They knew the limitations of au-
H., H., Id how nj
fortunes to resist Entertainments upon
their rights, but it requir I'd
the lesson of Indian mas
sacres, the invasion of the armies of France
from Canada, the tyranny OF the British
crown, the seven years war OF the reVolu-
ton, and the five years of chaos of the con-
federation to evolve the idea, upon which
rest the power and permanency of the re-
public, that liberty and union are one and
inseperable.
The traditions and experience of the
colonists had made them alert to discover
and quick to resist any peril to their Eber-
ties. Above all things, they feared and
distrusted power. The town meeting and
the colonial legislate gave them confidence
In themselves and courage to check the
coyal governors. Their interests, hopes
and affections were in their several COM
monwealths, and each blow by the British
ministry at their freedom, each attack
upon their rights as Englishmen, weaken
ed their love for the mother-land and in
tensified their hostility to the crown.
But the same causes which broke down
sheir allegiance to the central government
increased their confidence in their respec-
live colonies and their faith in liberty
was largely dependent upon the malnten-
ance of the sovereignty of their several
states. The farmers shot at Lexington
echoed round the world, the spirit which it
81, Il Il
dare and die. but it had not yet discovered
the secret of the permanence and progress
Of free institutions. Patrick Henry thun-
nered in the Virginia convention, James
Otis spoke with trumpet tongue and
servid eloquence for united action in Mas
sachusetts, Hamilton, Jay and Clinton
pledged New York to respond with men
and money for the common cause, but
their vision only saw league of indie
pendent colonies. The vail was not yet
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 cen
trail idea of the American republic More
fully than any other body which ever
assembled did it represent the victories
won from arbitrary power for human
rights. In the New World it was the con-
servator of liberties secured through
centuries of struggle in the old. Among
the delegates were the descendants of the
men who 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 nine
teenth century bears witness that all
which had been since obtained Is little
more than as confirmation or commen-
tary." There were the grandchildren OF
ho ctn sact
before parliament and compelled his as
sent to the Petition of Rights, which
transferred power from the crown to the
commons, and gave representative govern
ment to the English-speahing 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, whose fathers had followed
the white plume of Henry of Navarro and
in an age of bigotry, intolerance and the
deihcation OF apsolutism, had Sc
cured the great edict of re-
lgious liberty from French des-
potism; and who had become a
people without q country, rather than sur
render their convictions and forswear their
consclences. IN this congress were those
whose ancestors were the countrymen of
William of Grange, the Beggars of the sea,
who had survived the cruelties of Alva,
and broken the yoke Of proud Philip of
Spain, ana who had two centuries before
made declaration of independence and
formed a federal union which were models
of freedom and strength.
These men were not revolutionists. they
were the heirs and guardians of the price
less treasures of mankind. The British king
and his ministers were the revolution
lists. They were reactionaries, seeking
arbitrarily TO turn back the hands upon
he al of 4 NF * nd Il
bate, the baptism Of blood upon battle
helds where soldiers from every colony
fought under a common standard and con-
sohdated the continental army. gradually
lifted the soul and understanding of this
immortal congress TO the sublime declara-
ton: We, therefore, the representatives
or the United states of America in gen
eral congress assembled, appealing TO the
Supreme Judge of the world for the recti-
tude OF our intentions, do, in the name and
by the authority of the good people of
these colonies, solemnly publish and de-
clare that these united colonies are and of
right ought to be, free and independent
States
Tn this declaration John Hancock. pro-
scribed and Threatened with death, affixed
a signature which has stood for a century
like the pointers of the north star in the
armament Of freedom, and Charles Car
roll, tainted that among many
CAROLS. be, the richest man in America,
. might escape. added description and iden-
LITIGATION with "of Carrollton." Benjamin
Harrison, a delegate from Virginia, the
ancestor of the distinguished statesman
and soldier who today so worthliy fills the
chair OF Washington. voiced the uualter-
able determination and defiance of con-
gress He seized John Hancock, upon
whose head price was set, in his arms.
and placing him in the presidential
chair, said: We will show Mother Brit
ain how little we care for her by making