Wichita eagle., 1889-05-01

about u.s. But the value of these thing,
is measured by the fullness witt
which our people have preserved theil
patriotism, their integrity and their de-
! votion to free institutions If engrosseC
| in material advancement or disturb d by
thu turmoil of business and activity they
| have not held fast to that love of country
and that simple faith in virtue and en-.
| lightenment which constituted the hops
and trust of our fathers; all that we have
built upon are foundations in firm and
weak. Meeting this test we point to the
scattered graves of many thousands of our
| people who have bravely died in defense OF
our national safety and perDetuity, mutely
bearing testimony to their love of country
| and to an invincible living host standing
| ready to enforce our national rights and
| protect our land. Our churches, our
| schools and universities and our benevo-
| lent institutions which beautify every
town and hamlet and look out from every
hillside, testify to how much our people
place upon religious teachings upon ad-
vanced education and on deeds of charity.
That the people are still jealous of their
Individual rights and freedom is proved
by the fact that no one in place or power
has dared openly TO assail them.
The enthusiasm which marks the cele-
bration of the centennial of the Inaugural
ton of their first chief magistrate shows
the popular appreciation of the value of
the office which in our plan of government
stands above all others for the sovereignty
of the people and is the repository of their
trust. Surely such a people can
be safely trusted with their
free government and there need be
no fear that they have lost the qualities
which fit them TO be its custodians If
they should wander they will return to
duty in good time; if they should be mis-
led they will discover the true landmarks
none too late for safety, and if they should
ever be corrupted they will speedily be
found seeking with peace offerings their
country's holy altar Let US then have an
abiding faith in ''our people," let petu-
lance and discomfort with popular action
disappear before the truth that in any and
all circumstances the will of the people,
however it may be exercised, is the law Of
our natural existence, the arbiter abso-
Lutte and Interchangeable by which we must
abide. Other than existing situations
or policies can only justify themselves
when they may be reached bY the spread
of political intelligence and the revival
public affairs. Ill natured complaints
of popular incomDetency and self-right-
eous assertion of superiority over the body
of the people are impotent and useless.
But there is danger, | fear. that the
scope of the words "Our people," and all
they import are not always fully appre-
hended 1t is only natural that those in
the various walks of life should see ''our
people" within the range Of their own WIS.,
ion and find just above them the in
terests most important and most worthy
the care of the government. The rich
merchant or capitalist in the center of
wealth and enterprise hardly has glimpse
of the country blacksmith at his forge or
the farmer in his field. and these in their
ha laI tnC,
crowd our manufactures and lnhabit their
own world of toll or of the thousands who
labor in our mines. Ii representatives of
every element of our population and iu-
dustries should be gathered together they
would find buv little of purely selfish anu
personal interest in common; and upon a
superficial glance but little would
be seen to denote that only
one people was represented. Yet
in the spirit of our institutions, all
these SO separated in station and personal
interest are a common brotherhood and
are ''our people," all of equal value before
the law, all having by their suffrage the
same voice in governmental affairs, all
with equal force protection
and defense, and all in their persons and
equally entitled to their govern
ment's scrupulous care.
The diversity of our interests, though
the source of our boundless wealth and
has tendency to press our
people apart. This condition demands Of
US counter force of liberality and tolera-
ton toward each other and an enlightened
regard for the condition of every lndivid-
ual who contributes to the aggregate
Of our national greatness. This aggre-
gate, fostered and increased by united, |
earnest and unselfiSh efforts, will yield a |
full return for individual enterprise and |
abor without drying up the fountains of |
kindness and forbearance upon
which the political health of our people |
depends
This centennial time which stirs our |
pride by leading us to contemplation of |
our greatness also recalls to our minds |
he virtues and the unseltish devotion to |
he principal of those who saw the first |
lays of the republic Let there now be !
revival of our love for the principles |
which our country represents, let there |
;ration to the cause of mans freedom |
and equality, and a quickened /
sense of solemn responsibility assumed be |
ore the world by every man who wears |
he badge of "our people" The future |
)eckons us on: let us follow with an exalt-
ID and ennobling love of country and with
courage. Though clouds may /
darken the heavens they shall
De dispelled and we shall see the bow of
5od's promise set clearly in the sky and
hall read beneath it blazing in radiant
characters the words our people"
Mr. Cleveland was warmly greeted and
gave way to Governor Fitzhugh Lee of
who responded to The toast,
The States"
When the applause had subsidized Chief
Justice Fuller was called to speak to
The Federal Constitution" He said:
Our federal constitution; the cOnsum-
nation of all former political wisdom, the
rust of the present, the guide for all COM
ng nations. GEORGE Bancroft.
1t was indeed consumation, the result
lot simply of the particular exigency, but
# that gradual growth which, having its
cots in the past, developed into the pro-
.uct that endures. The men Of the con-
ention knew that the realization of ideals
; the work Of time and whatever specula-
i've views of government or of freedom
hey entertained they did not attempt to
AIRY them in expression to their logical
onclusion. They had confidence that the
eneral principles they accepted as funda-
mental, being declared, might safely be
elied on to work out the practical ends
esired. They were familiar with the
eagues, the confederacies and the coun-
communities of more modern times,
he great steps in the progress
f English liberty from the Magma Charta
o the act Of settlement and still more
with the experience Of the COL
mics and of tn states of the New Eng
and confederation, the various congresses
nd the confederation of the United States
part of which they had been while years
f keen discussion of the science of gov
rnment and of ardent devotion to the
ause of liberty had stored their minds
Eith doctrines and fitted them Tor their
reaJ task.
A union already existed based on com