Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-18

nent Citizens.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. lin pur-
suance of resolution adopted by Con-
gress in February last, the two houses
met in the hall of Representatives to-
day to hold centennial exercises in
commemoration of the Inauguration OF
ture Of a supplemental proceeding
to the great ee ntennial cele-
bration held on the 30th OF
April in thereby OF New York, where
President Washington first took the oath
of his high Office. 1t was literally d
gathering of the. nations. Through the
foreign legations, resident in Washing
ton, all were officially represented.
Added to these were the delegates
from the Central and South Ameri-
can republics, accredited to the
Pan-Amerlcan Congress, now IN SESSION,
and the members Of the marine confer
ence. There were also present the
governors of about twenty states, drawn
hither for consultation in regard
to memorializing Congress for
the erection Of a centennial memorial
building at Philadelphia, a matter that
was first suggested at the meeting OF the
governors OF the original thirteen states
in 1887. The galleries were packed.
Shortly before ! o'clock the House Of
Representatives notified the Senate
that it was in session. Within few
minutes the Senate, preceded by the
President and vice President, the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, in their
brilliant uniforms, and justices of the
supreme court OF the United States, i'll
their official robes. entered the House.
They were escorted to the seats re-
served for them in front of the Speak
er's desk. Vice President Morton took
the Speakers chair and gavel, and at ]
o'clock called tile two houses to
order in joint session. The Ma
rine Band, which was stationed
in the south corridor, rendered
appropriate music. Rev. J. &. Butler.
the Senate chaplain, opened the SER
vices with PRAYER. Chief Justice Full er,
of the supreme court of the United
States. then delivered his Grafton Or
the progress Of America. He said:
BY the terms of that section of the act of Con-
gress under which we have assembled, I'm fur
Their commemoration of the historic Inaugural
ton of the first President of the United States,
George Washington. the 10th day of April, A.
y. 1883, was declared a national holiday, and in
the noble city where that event took place It's
centennial anniversary has been celebrated with
q magniiclnce of 81 czech and song, of multi
tudlnous assembly, and Of naval, military and
civic display, accompanied by every manifesto
ton OF deep love of country, Of profound devo-
ton TO its institutions and OF intense upprecia-
ton of the virtues and services of that illuSrious
man whose assumption of the chief magistracy
gave the assurance OF the successful setting in
motion of the new government
Washington had become first in war, not SO
much by victories over the enemy or by success
In strategy as by the triumphs of cOnstancy
which no reverse. no hardship. no incompe-
tency, no trcachery could Shake or overcome
He had become first III the hearts of his country
men because the people comprehended the
greatness oftheir leader and recognized in him
an entire absence of personal ambition, an alb
solute love of country, OF themselves and of
mankind. He had become first in peace by
bringing to the charge--thc practical working
of the system he had participated in creating
on behalf of the people whose independence he
had achievcd-the same serene Judgment, the
of duty, the same far sighted comprehension of
the end to be attained that had marked his
career from its beginning.
The orator alluded but briefly to the
brilliant war record of Gen. Washing
ten, but in eloquent words portrayed
the growth and value of republican in
stitutions under the administration of
President Washington. Referring 10
the fear Of arbitrary power In respect 10
the presidential office, Justice Fuller
said:
But no fear, no jealousy. could be enter
tanned of him who had Indignantly repealed
the suggestion of the bestoWal of kngly power;
who had unsheathed the sword with reluctance
and laid it down with Joy who had never
sought official position, but accepted public OF
flee as a public trust, in Difference TO unani-
nous demand for his services as TO con-
vince him of the necessity; whose patriotism
embraced the whole country, the future grand
eur of which his prescience foresaw
OF the future greatness of the new nation,
Washington had no doubts. He saw, as if ia e
to face that continental domain which glm-
mered to others through glass darkly.
In referring TO the International rela-
tions existing between the United States
and foreign nations, Justice Fuller said
1t is matter of congratulation that the first
year of our second century witnesses the repre-
sentatiyes of the three Americas engaged in the
effort to increase the facilities of commercial in
tercourSe-consulting the natural course of
things, difusing and diversifying by gentle
means the streams of intercourse, but forcing
nothing-success in which must knit closer tho
ties of fraternal friendship, and bring the peo-
pies of the two American continents i'll harmo-
NOUS control of the hemisphere.
The orator then went into all exhaus-
tive review of the constitution and the
amendments thereto, and cited the civ
il war as searching test of the wisdom
and lasting quality of our form of gov
Chief Justice said:
And SO the new century may be entered upon
in the spirit of optimism, the natural result
perhaps of a self confidence which has lost
nothing in substance by experience, though it
has gained in the moderation of its impetuosity;
yet optimism essential to the accomplish.
ment of great ends; not blind to perils but bold
in the fcarlessness of faith whose very con-
seriousness of the limitations of the present as
serts the attainability Of the untraveled world
of !, still grander future. No ship
can sail forever over summer seas The
storms it has weathered test and demonstrate it's
ability to survive the storms to come, but storms
there must be until there shall be no more sea.
But as amid the tempests in which our ship Of
state was launched, and in the times succeed
ing, so in the times to come, with every exi gency
consultations of illustrious will rise upon
the angry skies to control the whirlwind and
dispel the clouds by their potent influences,
while from the clear upper sky the steady
light OF the great planet marks out the course
the vessel must pursue and sits shining on the
sails as II comes grandly into the haven where
1t would be.
Rev. W. II. Milburn, the House chap
lain, delivered benediction. and, while