Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30

men, and vet the impetuous progress of the
| north and the marvellous industrial develop
ment of the new and free south have oblit-
Grated the evidences of destruction, and made
the war a memory, and have stimulated pro-
duction until our annual surplus nearly equals
that of England France and Germany COM
bined. The teeming millions of Asia till the
the patient soil. and work the shuttle and
loom as their fathers have done for ages; mod
ern Europe has felt the influence and received
the benefit of the incalculable multiplication
of force by inventive genius since the Napole-
onic wars and yet, only two hundred and
sixty-nine years after the little band of Pill
grims landed at Plymouth Rock, our people
numbering less than one-ffteenth of the in
habitants of the globe, do one-third of its
mining, one-fourth of its manufacturing one
EDUCATION AND RELIGION.
Twenty millions, vast majority of our peo-
pie of intelligent age, acknowledging the au-
thority of their several churches, IL, 900, 900 of
children in the common schools, 345 UNIVERSE
ties and colleges for the higher education of
men and 200 for women, $50 institutions of
learning for science. law, medicine and the
ology, are the despair of the scoffer and the
demagogue. and the firm support of civiliza-
ton and liberty. Steam and electricity have
changed the commerce not only, they have
revolutionized also the governments of the
world. They have given to the press its power,
and brought all races and nationalities into
touch and sympathy. They have tested and
are trying the strength of all systems to stand
the strain and conform to the conditions which
follow the terminating influences of American
democracy"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTs.
After review of the changes in European
governments in the hundred years, Mr.. Depew
said "But to-day the American people after
all the dazzling developments of the century.
are still happily living under the government of
Washington. The Constitution during all that
period has been amended only upon the lines
laid down in the original instrument, and in
conformity with the recorded opinions of the
fathers. The first great addition was the incor-
poration of bill of rights. and the last the
embedding into the Constitution of the immor-
tai principle of the Declaration of indie
pendence-o the equality of all men before the
law. No crisis has been too perilous for its
powers. no evolution too rapid for its adapta-
ton, and no expansion beyond its easy grasp
and administration. 1t has assimilated diverse
nationalities with warning traditions. customs,
conditions and languages. imbued them with
its spirit, and won their passionate loyalty and
love-"
CONCLUDING WORDS.
After reference to the uneasiness in Europe
and the great standing armies, Mr.. Depew closed
as follows:
g But for US no army exhausts our resources
nor consumes our youth. Our navy must needs
increase in order that the protecting flag may
follow the expanding commerce. which is to
successfully compete in all the markets of the
world. The sun of our destiny is still rising,
and its rays illumne vast territories vet UNI
occupied and undeveloped. and which are to be
the happy homes of millions of people. The
questions which affect the powers of govern
ment and the expansion or limitation Of the au-
thority of the federal Constitution are so COM
pletely settled, and so unanimously approved,
that our political divisions produce only the
healthy antagonsm of parties which is neces-
sary for the preservation of liberty. Our in
stitutions furnish the full equipment of shield
and spear for the battles of freedom. and abb
soute protection against every danger which
threatens the welfare of the people will
always be found i'll the intelligence which
appreciates their value, and the courage
and morality with which their powers are ex-
ercised. The spirit of Washington fills the ex-
ecutiye Office Presidents may not rise to the
full measure of his greatness. but they must
not fall below his standard of public duty and
obligation. His life and character cOnscien-
tiously studied and thoroughly understood by
coming generations. will be for them liberal
education for private life and public station,
for citizenship and patriotism for love and de-
voton to Union and liberty. With their in
spring past and splendid present the people
of these United States, heirs of a hundred
years marvelously rich in all which adds to the
glory and greatness of a nation. with an
abiding trust in the stability and elasticity of
their Constitution. and an Astounding faith in
themselves. hail the coming century with hope
| and low