Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-30

low citizens. laid his hand upon the bible
and took the solemn oath:
Il do solemnly swear that I will faith.
fully execute the office of President of
the United States, and will to the best of
my ability, protect and defend and pre-
serve the constitution of the United
States"
Then STOPPING. said Mr.. Marquis. he
reverently kissed the sacred book and
fervently exclaimed $50 help me God. :"
Chancellor Livingston turning to the peo.
pie proclaimed 'long live George Wash.
ington the president of the United
States" while the people responded
GOD BLESS OUR WARRINGTON"
long live our beloved president. Thus
did this nation conceived by the declara.
tion Of independence amid the throes of
the revolution. schooled in the troubu-
lous times Of the continental congress
and constitutional convention. step forth
at last and take Its place among the
nations Of the earth. This thirtieth day
of April is therefore one of the most i'm.
portant anniversaries in our history. 1t
was a day of great JOY one hundred years
ago, yet joy commingled with fear; for
that civil government which was at that
time set in operation was then unique,
untried. Mr.. Marquis then mentioned
some of the dangers and obstacles that
beset the way Of the founders and pro-
moters Of the new republic. some OF
which were no money, no credit, no
national spirit, savages and wilderness
to the west, the ridicule and powerful
nations of the old world on the east, but,
worse than eli. enemies to the constitution
in every one of the states, ready to criti.
cize and obstruct every measure looking
toward the least Capitalization of power
or the upbuilding OF a national spirit.
No one realized these obstacles in a
keener sense than did the brave man who
that day took the oath of Office and
shouldered the responsibility of putting
this new government to the test
We are assembled today to give thanks
to the God in whom our fathers trusted
for the success of the experiment they set
in operation. to rejoice in the continued
possession of the liberties and institu-
tons they secured for US, and to renew
our vows TO be loval TO the nation and to
the God who gave us the goodly heritage.
The reasons Mr.. Marquis assigned for
the government being such glorious
success were: 1. The richness of our
and the natural advantage of
our position. 2. The sterling worth of
the people and their leaders. 8. The
noble charter of our governmental
4. The hand of a merci-
full God 80 manifest In our history.
Finally. said Mr.. Marquis. if we are to
retain this goodly heritage we must be
Pure and patriotic in character.
Courageous in facing the problems Of
the hour.
Loyal to our constitution and our dag,
and trust in God.
Then came the rendition of the pat
riotic hymn Hail Columbia" by Bleuer's
band and the audience. followed by the
presentation of souvenirs to the children
badges and flags. Columbia, the &c m
of the Ocean" was rendered. as was an
anthem by the chorus choir of the
Broadway church The benediction
closed the exercises.
AT THE NJ E CHURCH
Impressive and patriotic services were
held in the First NJ E. church which we're
attended by large congregation. The
pastor. Rev. G. W: Cue. chose his text
from Prov. 14;34:
Righteousness exalteth nation, but sin Is
reproach to any people.
This thirtieth day of April. 1889. said
Mr.. Cue. will be forever memorable in
our national history and in the annals of
the human race, marking as 1t does, the
greatest achievement ever made in the
science of civil government and demon.
strating the capacity Of mankind to
govern themselves.
For century we have lived aud pros.
pered under these Institutions and today
we are the happiest, the freest and most
people in the world.
No nation ever had greater cause for
rejoicing and for thanksgiving than our
own, and none ever held a more sacred
trust than the American people. We
stand today in the midst OF grand historic
the inheritors of a goodly land
and glorious history; the progeny Of
race of heroes famed in every land and
honored wherever known.
Looking back through all the hundred
years of our national life. calling to mind
the heroism, the 10y atty. the unselfsh de-
votion to country Of Washington and
a host of others. may we not catch q
lofty inspiration which shall increase the
fervor of our zeal for our countrys well
fare.
Our fathers, when they laid the founda-
ton OF this republic set themselves to the
establishment of the ideal republic of
history. The first foundation stones
were laid while the crack of the musketry
still tarried in the air and the blood Of
patriots was still wet upon the sod. One
of the first foundation stones was religious
liberty; boon most precious to every
freeman. America was the fulflllment
of prophecy. "A land where every men
could sit under his own vine and fig tree
with none to make him afraid" Not
only does our federal constitution provide
that every man shall have liberty to wor.
ship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, but also that no religious
test shall ever be required as qualifica>
ton to office or public trust. The first
amendment to the constitution prohibits