Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-04-27
THE CENTENNIAL.
The National Glory VIII, Center
in New York April 80.
THREE DAYS or REJOICING.


From Washington to HAsrss8h-why tbs
Constitution Was Adopted-Race Ele-
nnsnts u the New Republic Washing
tons Trinm phal March Reception and
1naagaratidn-A Century's Growth-Out-
Tins Of Evehts Oh Aprii 20 and go and
may 1. 1889.
George Washington WINS the hero of the
most successful and least destructive revolt
ton recorded In history. His Inauguration
was the beginning OF a new era, as well Is
the inception of a new government Indeed,
the chief novelty Of the new government
consisted not so much in its form, for that
Contained little that was new, but the vital
application Of principles admitted down
TO that time, but generally ignored. The
declaration Of radical principles by which
the Dutch Of the Sixteenth century justified
their sanguinary struggle with Spain, and
the system Of political ethics professed by the
English In their revolution OF the Seventeenth
century, received but little addition In the
Declaration Of Independence: but what tho
Dutch and the English could not do by reason
Of their old environment, the Americans,
marvelously favored by sparse population
in an immense country, and the self reliance
Of pioneers. resolutely set themselves to make
practical
The beginning Of the American republic
now stands forth an era far more important
than that Of Magma Charta or the Petition Of
Rights Its centennial will. therefore. be
celebrated in New York city with all the en-
thusiasm Of the first Inauguration added to
the confidence born Of a hundred years sue
CESS President Harrison will arrive by the
same route, and will pass over the Same scenes
in New Jersey as did President Washington.
He will embark In like manner at Elizabeth
port, N. j., and pass thence on a government
dispatch boat to the foot Of Wall street,
among the vessels of all nations, as Washing
ton did: will be formally welcomed by the
mayor and city officials, as Washington was;
will be received with the same salute, and
generally will observe the same routine.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL FATHERS.
The annexed history OF Washington's ina,,-
Kurntion will therefore, be sort Of advance
programme Of the ceremonies on the coming
sOth Of April The preliminary sketch will,
It u hoped. enable young readers to compre-
bend the peculiar difficulties confronting tho
FIRST president, and IN tho discussions which
PRECEDED and the words In which the agree-
inent to the charter Of the national govern
Snent was couched may be found the germs
of our national policy and the Emergencies OF
our political parties.
IL IL conceded by all observers of that time
that the constitution never would have OBJ
tanned the sahcton Of the needed states had
there not bcen certainty In the public mind
that Washington would be the first president
and therefore give to its terms all executive
construction which would be binding for all
time. Washington was therefore in q pecul-
lar Rerae the principal creator Of the new
government But the causes for local jcal-
Ousy which went so near to defeating his object
inay here be briefly and probably reviewed.
1t should he borne IN mind that tho colonies
were founded by men representing at least
four great branches Of the Caucasian
stock and six distinct and somewhat UNI
friendly religious bodies: The Puritan, Dutch
and Swedish Calvinists and Lutherans; the
English Quakers, Catholics and Episcopalians,
and lastly the French Husuenots. The Irish
of the early immigration were nearly all nom
Celtic and Protestant, while the Palatine Ger
mans who located in Pennsylvania and the
valley Of Virginia did not in any sense con-
stitute an alien political party.
Necessity compelled some sort Of union
from the first, but it was self evident that no
one Of the local religious elements could pre-
vail over all the others, and thus by most
fortunate accident there was from the first a
complete divorce of church and state under
the old government, while the anomaly waA
presented Of a union Of the two In some OF
the states till long after the adoption Of tho
present purely secular national constitution
Jealousies inherent in the religions OF tho
original stocks were very slowly eliminated,
and those growing out Of local interests in
trade and navigation were most persistent OF
all Hence the instincts Of the people looked
to man of impartial temper to hold the just
ba!ancv OF the constitution between stats
rights and Capitalization - between the
south, the west and the east-between the in
terests OF manufacturing, commerce and
navigation. There was but enc man in whom
the confidence Of the vast classes and sections
centefed: native Of the south, who had won
his first great laurels in the north, and that
snan was George Washington.
THE FIRST ELECTION.
On the alst Of June. l7ss, New Hampshire,