Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-05-10
THE STORY OF A CENTURY.

THE STORY OF A CENTURY.
The event which was celebrated on Tues.
day of last week, in the great metropolitan
city of the country, by united and re-
joicing people was not alone nor chiefly the
Inauguration of Washington, imposing and
as that ceremony was. The in
duction Of the first President as the head Of
q new and uniformed government was but
the visible and outward sign Of the begin
ming Of that more perfect union" which the
constitution was framed to establish-t was
the celebration of the centennial anniver.
sary Of the union of the States and the birth
Of new nation under the sun.
This is the thought that fills the imagina-
ton with wonder as the history Of the coun-
try is reviewed. Not at once, nor in mo-
ment, was the rope of sand which encom-
passed the Confederacy welded into an in
dissoluble band Of union. Lightly enough
did the original thirteen States wear the
yoke Of the union, aud more than once did
some of the States resent and refuse to obey
the just demands Of the Federal government.
For it must he borne in mind that after the
war was over and independence established,
great jealeusies arose between the States,
and they were far from being friendly or
concordant They had always been i'm.
patient of the powers assumed by the Con
tinental Congress, and as soon as peace was
declared treated that government with con-
tempt For years the new government was
regarded much as the old had been, and the
right of secession from 1t was specifically
claimed on many occasions both in the
North and Ia the South. The constitution
which received vitality one hundred years
ago contained only the seeds of union-the
possibility of perpetuity. Nor did its friends
understand all It's powers. 1t is safe to say
that had there even been the suggestion of
an indissoluable union made by any of the
trainers Of the constitution, that instrument
would never have been ratified by the re-
quisite niue States. The idea that nation
was being formed, or as we now say, born,
at that time, would have been utterly re-
pudiated, and no phase was more jealousy
regarded than that of Irrational govern.
ment."
Nevertheless, government was formed
one hundred years ago which has Escaped
all the dire predictions both Of its friends and
enemies, and it has escaped them because on
the one hand it has avoided the rock Of ex-
cessive nati0nalism and consolidation, and
on the other the whirlpool Of absolute State
sovereignty. This is its unique strength
and safety. 1t Is federal government with
every power for national protection and
safety, infringing on the people and their
personal rights as lightly as possible Its
hand of iron Is ever covered with the velvet
glove. In the history Of the world 1t has
neither precedent nor parallel. From the
small beginning of that April day when,
amid much misgiving, Washington took the
oath OF Office In the presence of the people,
the Union and the Constitution have grown
in strength and power year after year, tried
by criticism and tried by fire. until at last
they stand intact and indestructible
A hundred years OF American Presidents,
and the country exists fundamentally where
it began, republic then, republic now.
The Office TO which we yield graceful defer
ences has been occupied only once by a
person wholly the country's choice, that
man was George Washington, the first, and
the one who forever will be first In the
minds of the people who think of the presi-
dency of this wonderful republic. This dis.
tincaion belongs TO Washington alone. and
there let it rest. the brightest star in the dia-
dem of his glory, the summit of his achieve
ments, representatives of confidence In his
deeds of valor, his breadth of intellect, his
ability to administer the country as re-
public and not as q pattern after principal.
ties, kingdoms or empires.
There was no politics in the choice of the
first President, though unconsciously. per.
haps, Washington SO selected his cabinet as
to make the evolving of politics the national
sequence of administration. Thomas JEFF.
ferson and Alexander Hamilton were men,
bers Of that distinguished executive council
and they were as radically opposed in their
ideas Of government as any absolute Demo.
crat and any liberal monarchist could be at
the present time. One had faith to believe
that manhood born of pioneer hardihood
and purified by the fire of rebellion against
oppressive rule was capable Of entire self.
government; the other doubted the capacity
Of the people, and squared every suggestion
Of administration by the strong government
rule which honestly guided his own belief.
So, in Washington's first cabinet were sown
the seeds Of politics which have borne fruit
of different names but of only TIVE quail
ties-Demecratic and Federalist.
In the election of John Adams politics
first asserted itself, though Washington was
Federalist, but more of patriot than a
partisan; jefferson and Hamilton were SO
radically apart on government policy that
the former withdrew from Washington's
cabinet. retired to Monticello and there in.
spired the birth OF the great party which
grew and flourished and which gave to the
world the purest fruit ever garnered from
the tree of liberty 1t was baptized Repub-
lican. ia opposition to the Federallst party,
and ia 1896 the first political contest upon
party lines was made. Adams won the
presidency. jefferson second place. and the
battle between the giants waKed warmer
until the 10th century began. when Jeifer.
son defeated Adams and administered the
affairs of government for eight wears.
Partly upon the glory of revolution, es.
poused on the field and in the forum, the ad-
ministrations of Washington, Adams and
jefferson may be designated as the first war
period Madison was a political pupil of
jefferson, bright. quick, able, patriotic and
Of sufficient strength OF character to unite
the discordant elements into support of war
measures in 1919. wise president. con-
ssitutional president There was opposi.
ten to Munroe because he came from Old
U;-rr;pis the aAofhar If praoidapts hat