Wichita eagle., 1889-05-01


J without impairing the efficiency of tn
central authority, this demanded unequal
: iy patient sagacity, moderation and wis
dom. That patience, that sagacity, tina
moderation, that wisdom signaliy ex
hiDlted In general. was especial,
Illustrated in the character and conduct O
him whose Inauguration we celebrate to
day, the swelling theme of the LAUNCHING
OF the great republic being we'll nigh los
in recollection and contemplation of the
virtues of the first and grandest leader
To Washington's prophetic eye the glories
OF the future had been long unveiled, de-
pendent for realization upon the success Of
craftsmanship in the work OF construction
entered on at his suggestion and carried
to completion under his direction. Hi:
full anticipations he was not called on co
disclose. The equable and steadfast tenor
OF his mind was exemplihed in his well
| known exclamation: Let US raise q
standard to which the wise and honest
can repair; the event is in the hand OF
God"
Under such guidance, in that temper.
with that reliance, the work went forward
to Its elimination in this masterpiece OF
political science. The great English states
men declared it "the most wonderful work
ever struck off at given time by brain and
purpose of man." but its main features it,
as made, proceeded from progressive histo-
| ~ as any governmental organism man
| kind has ever seen. Like the action of ma
ture the forces had been long accumulat-
ing before they burst into expression. The
careful division of powers, checks and
balances, the representation Of states and
people, the safe guards against the exercise
of arbitrary will the, immense power to
protect and the powerless-
ness to Cypress were but the
concentrated results of prior
experience, while the PLAZA of a govern
! ment absolutely sovereign IN its own
| sphere, leaving the states without par
| tlcle superior in their own was the nat
ural outcome of the necessity of reconcil-
! ing imperial sway over vast extent of
country to be peopled by coming myriads
with republican rule resting on the rep
resentatiYe system, and the principle of
local government for domestic purposes.
No Rubicon needed TO be or was defined
to cross which was revolution, for a su
preme tribunal was part of the noble
scheme to which was committed the duty
of determining when federal or state &C
ton exceeded the boundaries by which
each was circumscribed.
For t1eXibility of unwritten constitu-
tions there was substituted here not mere
ly mode of alteration when sanctioned
as prescribed, but through the simple
generality of the terms employed, an elias
ITCHY enabling the fundamental
law TO develop with the progress of the
people as the memorable logic of events in
fuenced its provisions or Judicial interpre-
tation expanded them SO as impair vital
rule, but to permit its adoption to new
conditions
Thus keeping pace with the onward
sweep of the empire which it rendered pos
sible this matchleSS instrument vindicates
its title to immortality. The conservative
evolution that characterizes it has enabled
1t TO pass the century since its birth with
its machinery, no cog or wheel displaced,
still noiSelessly and easily working, to re
celye direct amendments, to accept and
absorb the results OF frequent construc-
tions, to emerge from the civil war draw
ing new vigor from the strain to which it
had been subjected
Per damna per caedes alb ipso DUCT
opes animumque ferro" Well may the
venerable historian whose years nearly
equal the life Of the nation describe the
constitution as not only the contamination
of political wisdom in the past, but the
trust of the present; and we'll may we
hope with him that coming nations will
avail themselves of the teaching that its
century of successful operation affords as
will, we trust, succeeding centuries Of
progress, and in recognition of mans Ca
pacity to observe self imposed limitations
accelerate the time when the whole world
shall be wrapped in the peace of one
After the chief Justices address Presi-
dent Harrison was introduced AS the
chief executive arose to speak he appeared
tired out and even paler than usual. He
stood with his hands on the back of his
chair and spoke clearly and distinctly.
Be spoke to The United States of
America" as follows:
Mr. president and fellow citizens-I
should be unjust to myself and, what is
more serious, | should be unjust to you if
| did not take this first and last Opportun-
ity to express to you the deep sense of obi
CATION and thankfulness which 1 feel for
those many personal and official courtesies
which have been extended to me since [
came to take part in this great celebration
lapplausel. The official representatives of
the state of New York and OF this great
city [applausel have attended me with the
most courteous kindness, emitting no at
tention that could make my stay among
you pleasant and gratifying. From you
and at the hands of those who have
the streets of the city today | |
have received the most cordial expressions
of good will / would not understand, !
however, that the loud acclaims have
been in any sense appropriated as a per- |
s0nal tribute to myself L have realized I
that there was that in this occasion and /
in all these interesting incidents which !
have made it so profoundly impressive TO
x
any living man. [Applausel. | have real |
lied that that tribute of cordial interest
which you have manifested was rendered |
to that great Office which by favor of |
greater people now exercise rather than /
to me. The occasion and all its incidents |
will be memorable not only in the history |
of your own city but in the history of our |
country.
| congratulate you today as one of the |
occasion, that these great thoroughfares |
dedicated to trade have closed their doors /
and have covered the insignia of commerce |
with the stars and stripes loud cheersl: /
that your great exchanges have closed; /
that in the very heart of Wall street the |
flag has been carried and upon the old /
historic spot men who give their time |
and energies to trade have given /
these days TO their country, to thoughts
of her glory and to associations OF her
honor. These flags must come down and /
the ways OF commerce and trade be re-
sumed again here, but may l not ask you
to carry these banners that now hang on 1
the walls into your homes, into the pub
lie schools of your city and into all your
great institutions where children are
gathered to drape them there, that
the eyes of young and OF old
may look upon that flag as one
Of the familiar addornm7nt of every
American home. lAppiauseI. Have You
not learned that not stocks or bonds, or
stately houses, or lands, or mill, or field is
our country? 1t is a spiritual thought that
is in our minds. [Applausel. 1t is the
flag and what ir stands for: it is its
glorious history: it is Preside and the
home, it is high thoughts that are in the
heart born of the inspiration which comes
Of the story of the fathers, the martyrs to
liberty: it is the grave yard into which our
grateful country has gathered the uncon-
scious dust of those who died. There IN