Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-06
The yoDloIAnr CENTENNIAL.


the lh5t ItW uhyb ht WhsuAnkeShi -
Guiding the sad loss OF the Blaine family
and the more tragic Stflction to tn home
OF Secretary Tracy dimmed considerably
the celebration of the centennial or the
Federal judiciary that was inaugurated
this morning.
The weather, too, seemed designed TO
cast an additional gloom over the great
affair for ss the morning passed dis
agreeable rain set in, growing heavier as
the hour for the exercises approached.
Nhe attendance at the literary exercises
ia the Metropolitan Opera House was the
mos. noted that ever filled the msgnih-
cent building. Distributed about the
galleries were banners and shields bear
ing the coat of arms OF the various
states in the union. The interior Of the
building was Otherwise deliberately decor
ated. On the right Of the stage IN the
front row were seated the members OF the
United States supreme Oourt bench,
Chief Justice Fuller being directly beside
ex-Presdent Cleveland, who presided.
Others seated on the stage included ex-
Justice William Strong, senator Evatts,
w. b. Hill OF Macon, Ga, Il. j. Semmes
Of New Orleans, Cen. Will am t. Sher-
mau, Nobh Davis ChRnnoey M. Dspew,
W. W. Aston and David Dudley Field.
While the distinguished gatheri x were
leaving carriages Ut the door and hliing
the sests until there was 'HtRnding room
only" the grand symphony orchestra
played the Coronation March, tho over
tnre from Tampa" and the American
Fant0sis. Wnep the last cir had been
played. OK President Cleveland stepped
forward Ia WAS chaeTed TO the echo
and it was Rome minutes before he could
speak. Bowiog his acknowledgements
and expressing his appreciation Of the
generous welcome accorded him, Mr..
Cleveland began his Introductory address.
He sAid
We are nccustome! TO express on every
fit occasion our revGrercs for the Virtne
and patriotism In which the foundations OF
our republic Were laid, aud to reiolch in the
bessluEs vOucEsafed 10 Us under free insi-
tutlous. Thus we have lately celebrated
with becoming enthusiasm, The eentennials
Of the mpletion Of 0ur constitution and
tho Inauguration OF our dist President.
To-day we hava assembled to common.
orqte an 6veut connected With our begin
Ming as people, which more han any
other gave taiety and the PROMISE OF per-
| pe,uIty TO thl American plan 0! govern
4 Mslllh IlO-b Ahdl 'AI9 bNhNhy
happily illustrated tue wisdom ana en-
! liRh.euei foresight OF those who designed
our national structure.
In tho work OF creating our nation, the
elements OF free government were sup
piled, by concessions OF sovereign states,
by surrender OF accustomed rights and by
the inspiration OF pure and disintereSed
patriotism, II from these elemeuts there
had not been evolved that feature III our
Federal system, which Is our theme to-day,
the ntrncture might hlvi been fair TO loOK
upon and might have presented sem
bHnce OF sOlidltynnd strength butt would
have bepn only semDlHnce; Hni the COM
pleted edtilca would have had within Its
foundations the inhrmlty OF decay and
ruin.
Il must be admitted that It ia hardly
within tho power OF human language, SO
TO compass diverse Interests and claims
| within the lines OF written constitution
rs to fires II entirely from disputes OF con.
structiou; and certainty diverse coDstruc.
tlous wers apr to luck In the dictipn OF q
constitution declared by the president OIL
tho convention which formulated IL, be
"lhc result OF spirit OF amity and Of thai
mutual deference and concession which
the popularity Of our political situation
rendered Indispensable"
Il Is fairly plain and palpable, both from
reason aud u review OF events III our history
tina. without an arhiter to determine lin1tlI
and conCius.Veiy. the rights and duties ON
braced ~ the language O! tue constitution
tho union OF states and the life OF the Amer
lean nation mast have been precarlOus and
disappointing. lude0i, there could hardly
have been u well grounded hope that they
would long survive this Interpretation OF
tha national compact by every party upon
whom It rested, End the ius!steucn Of eact
TO tho last extremity upon such an intcr
probation ns would secure coveted right!
aud banciit and pbsUlve IRON lrks0mt
duties and obligations.
In the creation OF the world the eartl
was without form and void, and darkness
wHs upon tina face or the deep, until q q
said Lst tbere be light, AID there was light
Ia the creation OF tho new nation, on
free Institutions were without the form aEt
symmetry Of strength, ant the darkness o
bppeibssuess brOu te1 over the aspirations
justice and law, gathered FROM the divln
fouutAiu OF ltghr, illumined the work OF tn
the ia hers OF the republic.
On this centennial day wa VIII dayoutll
thAuk heaven for the revelation to thOs
who formed our government, Of thiesourc
Of strength and lt.ht ami for the in1plra
tton OF iistntarPsted patriotism and cunAe
Grated devotion which established tho tri
bunHl which We to-day commemorate.
Our fathers had pHcfiilcDd much tc b
frees. ABOVE sii tbnga they desired fcfa
dom % he absolutely secuted 70 tnemselvp
: ard their posteGi.y. Aud get wlti an thei
enhusiatm for mot sentiment, they wor
, willing 10 refer 10 the tribunal whica IA
, devised. all questions arising nndsr the
newly iormai constitution, affecting III
freedom aud the protection and safety {
The citi2eGs. Though tsreSperisnce bR
lHugnt them that the Observation-Disclosures {
R2varnment might trespusa upon freedom
and though they had learned IN hNr
s school the cost OF the struggle I
5 wrest liberty from the CrHs
! OF power, they refused, In "a
I solemn work they ha In hAnd, to tad
counsel II undue fear or distrncrtDR pertl
baton; ard they calmty and dBltbrrttGl
!, Established "a 4 function ri tbeir cover,
menf, a check upon unauthorized tFfcdl
j aud restraint upon dangerous libsEt
. Their attachment and allegiance TO Il
n sQvesslSntY Of ihnif states we're warm m
. uufelt1ripR; hut there lid not prevent the
= from cunttlDntlng fraction III that Ao
2 ers,shtY 10 Tie cresluu o. Il court WhlC
should guard gLd prJtet their new nat
ara save and perpetnate cover ma
q which should in al time 10 coma BLISS t
Il in1apsn ent peopla
a deem mysef highly houored by II
4 pGtt assigned u me IN these commrmOr
y tiyh s1stgl-es AZ Ia eloquent aud NJ
~ term wa shall b. Id by those chosen
l. address us, 70 The contemplation o. THE hi
Z tory nt that nrrust tribunal organized 1
years ago; Rq tho avsalnd services Of tho
wac In tue last have presided over
councils are TeheHgsed to US; ~ our To-
mud yenDrAtion Tor our fellow countryInt
/" who now I'll tts nigh and sacred places Il
/. qu!ckenNi; ard it5 We arG TOmlEdad ot Il
Ia ia8Gncr IN which our national court has
l. glltimes Illustrated tho stIenRth and bene
:, Clenea OI fsee Institutions. lot US be glnd
I rna possession OF tns rich heritage
L American citizenship, and gratefully u
y pleclate the wisdom ava patriotism OF tho
u who gav8 TO Us the Supreme Court OF I
Is Uulted States,