Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-05-01
ELOQUENT WORDS
Speeches Made at the Centennial
Celebration.
REV. MR.. PoTTER'S ADDRESS
The Present Situation Compared with
That Of 100 Years Ago-Dr. storrs'
Invocation and ChauDcey n. De-
pcw'a Mastery Grafton.


In its history, this nation is indebted. An
Englishman by race and lineage, he incar-
mated In his own person and character every
best trait and attribute that have made the
Anglo Saxon name a glory TO its children
and terror TO its enemies throughout the
world But be was not SO much an English
man that, when the time came for him to be
%, be was not even more an American; and
In all that he was and did, patriot so ex-
alted and a leader great and wise, that what
men called him, when he came here 10 be in
augurated as the first president of the United
States, the civilized world has not since then
ceased to call him-the Father Of his Country.
We are here this morning TO thank God for
50 great gift to his people, 10 commemorate
tho incidents OF which this day IS the one
hundredth anniversary, and to recognize the
responsibilities which century so eventful
has laid upon us
/ know not how 1t may be with those to
whom oil sacred things and places are matters
Of equal indifference, but surely TO those Of
MS with whom it is otherwise 1t cannot be
without profound and pathetic import that
when the first president of the republic had
taken upon him, by virtue of his solemn oath,
pronounced in the sight of the people, the
heavy burden Of its chief magistracy, he
turned straightway 10 these walls, and kneel-
ing In yonder pew, asked God for strength TO
keep his promise to the nation and his oath to
him.
What Is Celebrated.
And SO, with inexpressible tenderness and
reverences, we find ourselves thinking of him
here, kneeling to ask such gifts, and then ris-
ing 60 go forth TO his great tasks with mien
30 august and majestic that Fisher Ames,
who sat beside him in this chapel, wrote, 81
was present in the pew with the president,
and must assure you that, after making ali
deductions for the decisions OF our fancy in
regard to characters / still think Of him with
more generation than for any other person.
So we think of him, say; and indeed it Is
impossible 10 think otherwise.
Il has been suggested that we may wisely
see IN the event which we celebrate today an
illustration of those great principles upon
which all governments rest, of the continuity
Of the chief magistracy, of the corporate life
OF the nation as embodied in its executive, Of
the transmission, by due succession, Of author
ity, and the like; of all of which, doubtless,
IN the history of the last 100 years we have
on interesting and on the whole inspiring ex-
ample
Il has been felt with an unerring intuition
which has once and again and again in hui
man history been the attribute OF the people
as distinguished from the doctrinaires, the
theorists, the system makers, that that which
makes it worth while TO commemorate the
Inauguration of George Washington is not
merely that it is the contamination Of the
nations struggle towards organic life, not
merely that by the initiation of its chief ex-
ecutive it set in operation that constitution
which Mr.. Gladstone has declared is 1.-THE
most perfect instrument which the wit of
man has devised" but that it celebrates the
beginning Of an administration which, by its
lofty and stainless integrity, by its absolute
superiority TO selfish or secondary motives,
by the rectitude Of its daily conduct in the
face Of whatsoever threats, Establishments.
or combinations, rather than by the ostenta-
tious phariseeism of its professions, has
taught this nation and the world forever
what the Christian ruler Of a Christian peo-
pie ought to be.
Not the Machine. but the Man.
yield to no man in my yeneration for the
men who framed the compact under which
these states are bound together No one can
easily exa ggerate Their services or the value
Of TINT which they wrought out But, after
eli, W. may not forget today that the thing
which they made was dead and not living
thing 'sThe ship Of state" we say. Yes:
but it's the cool and competent mastery at
the helm Of that, rs Of every other ship.
which shall, under God, determine the glory
Or the ignominy of the voyage
Never was there q truth which more surely
needed 70 BE- spokenl A generation which
vaunts its descent from the founders Of the
republic seems largely to be in danger Of for
getting their pre-eminent distinction They
were few IN numbers, they were poor in
worldly possessions the sum of the fortune
Of thttrichest among them would afford fine
theme for tue scorn of the plutocrat Of today;
but they had an invincible confidence in the
truth OF those principles IN which the founda-
tions Of the republic had been laid, and they
had an unselilsh purpose to maintain them
Il would b. interesting 60 imagine the flrst
president OF the United States confronted
with some one who had ventUred to approach
him upcn the basis of what are now com
monty known as practical politics" But
the conception il impossible. The loathing,
The outraged majesty with which he would
have hidden such creature 10 be gone Is
foreshadowed by the gentle dignity with
which, just before his inauguration, replying
ia one who had The strongest q aims upon his
friendshp. aua who had applied 70 him dur
inv the progress Of the presidential cam
raian as We should say, for the promise Of
an appointment to Office, he wrote:
In touching upon the more delicate part
g your letter, the communication of which
hls me withreas concern, / VIII d al with
yon with all that frankness which j. due to
friendship ard which wish should be
characteristic feature Of my conduct through
life Should il be my fate to ad-
minister the governments win 60 to the
chair under 10 preenga - anent 81 any kind
or nature whatever And when Ii il. win.
* ~. f,,.Ae ~ ny, s,s,l.<ss,s,.k 7-s.s.s. efs