Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-01
Prose and Poetry Bring Their
FaireSt Flowers
AND XEAYE THEIR WREATHS
OF Love and Praise for the Nations Proudsst
Name.
THE DAY is MADE MEMORABLE
By an Grafton from the Greatest American
Orator, and Verses from the Hand
Of the Greatest American
POet-Depew and
Whittier.

Following are the address delivered by
Hon. Chauncey M Depew, ON the sub
treasury steps yesterday, and tbs poem
composed by John Greenlesf Whittier for
the occasion. Both are memorable pro-
ductions, and will be cherished smorg the
nohlest specimens of American patriotic
literature. Mr.. Depew said:
We ce.ebrata to-day the centenary of cur
nationality O-e bundled years sgO the
United State began heir existence. The
powers of government were assumed by the
people Of The R public. and they became
the sole source Of authority. The solemn
ceremonial Of the fist inauguration, the
reverent cath of Washington, the acclaim
of the multitude greeting tier President,
marked the mcst unique event Of mc6ern
times in the development OF free iDstltu-
tions The occasion was not an ac-
cident, but result. /. was The
elimination OF the working our by
mighty forces through many CEN
suIies Of The problem Of self government.
II wss lot triumph of a system, the ap-
pica,ion OF theory, or tee rsduc ion TO
practice OF the abs:ract.ors OF philosophy.
The time, The country, the heredity and
environment o. the people the folly of
its esemies, and the noble courage Ci its
friends, gave 70 liberty after ages o. defeat,
Of trial, OF experiment, OF partial success
and substantial gains. this immortal vic
tory. H.ncsiorth it had refuge ard re-
c-uiting station. The oppressed found
fee homes IN this favored land and Ia
visible armies marched from /. BY mail
and telegraph, by speech and sogg, by pre-
cept and example, TO regenerats t world.
Pu'itacs in New England, Dltchmen in
New York, Catholics in Marylend, HUI
guenots IN South Carolina had felt the fires
of uelsecution and were welded TO reig
ious liberty. They had been purified 10
the furnace, and in high debate and on
bloody battle fields had learned 10 sscrifCe
all material interests and t) peril their
lives for human rights. The principles of
constitutional government b-d been i'm
pressed upon them by luDdreds Of
years OF struggle, and for each prin-
c'pe they could point to the. grave
n an ancestor whose death attested the
terociy of the fight and the value Of the
concession wIupg from arbitrary power.
They knew the limitations Of authority,
hey could pledge their lives and fortunes
to resist encroschments upon their Tighte,
bat it required the lesson Of lndian mas
sscres, the invasion Of the armies Of France
from Canadl, the tyranny OF the British
Crown, the seven years war Of the R9volu-
tiop, and the five years of chaos Of the
Confede Grafton TO evolve the idea, upon
which res. the power and permancy OF the
K public, that liberty and union are one
and insepaTabie.
THE PEOPLES RULE
The grand central idea OF the Declsra-
lion of Independence was the sovereignty
Of the people. IL relied for original pow
.r not upon States, or Colonies, VI their
ci;izans a such, but recognized as the au-
thorit, fJr nationality and revolutionary
lights of the people of the United States.
It stated with marvellous ciearness tne en-
croachments upon Liberties which threat
sned their sup PRESTON ald justified revolt,
hut il wss inspired by the very genius OF
freedom. aud the prophetic possibilities OF
nnited comuOnwea.tds covering the Con
tjnent in one harmonious Republic, when
IT n.ads the people If the thirteen Col
onie1 all Americans and deyolyed
upon thsm TO administer by them
jyes. and for themselves, the pTeroga-
ives and bowers wrested from Grown and
Parliament. 1t condensed Magma Chartar,
he Petition OF Rights, the great body Of
English Liberties embodied in the common
laW and accumulated in the decisions OF
the Courts, the statutes OF the r-almi and
an undisputed though unwritten Constitu-
ton; but this original principle and dy-
manic force of the peoples power sprang
from these old seeds planted in the virgin
soil of the New World.
Where this maeter- ind halted, al stood
still. The necessity for o permanent
Union was apparent, but each S-ate must
bava hold of the bOwstrng which encir-
cjed its throet. Il was admitted that
Union gave the machinery required 70 sue
cgssfuliy fight the Common enemy, but
vet there was fear that it might become
and destroy its creators.
Thus patriotism aud fear, difficulties Of
between distant commun-
itiee, and the intense growth OF provincial
pride and interests, led this Congress to
frame the Articles OF Confederation, hap
piIy termed the League Of Friendship
THE RESULT WAS NOT A GOVERNMENT,
BUT A GHOST.
Bv this scheme the American people were
ignored and the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence reversed. The States, by their legis-
latures. elected delegates to Congress, and
the delegate represented the sovereignty OF
his Commonwealth. All the States had an
equal voice without regard TO their size OF
population. It required the vote Of nine
s ates to pass any bill, and fivecould block
he wheels of Government. Congress had
Zone of the powers essential to SOW
sreignty. 1t could neither levy
taxes nor impose duties nor CO.
iect excise. For the support OF the army
and navy, for the purposes of war, for toe
Continued on Second PdQe