The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-04
A GRAND CENTENNIAL.
Celebration of the Founding
Of the United States Su-
preme COurt----The
Exercises Today.

Today at the Metropolitan Opera House,
New York, the centennial anniversary of
the establishment of the United States
Supreme Court is being celebrated by APP
propriate literary exercises. The hall
was thronged at the opening hour, and
the elaborate decorations told of
the Importance and significance of the
celebration. just one hundred years ago
today Chief Justice John jaw presided at
the first session of the Supp eme Court OF
the United State in the Royal Exchange,
which stood at the foot of Broad street.
The court appointed by President Wash
ington consisted of himself and five asso-
ciates.
Portraits of the present and past Chief
Justices adorned the proscenium. The
sad death of Mrs. Secretary Tracy caused
the boxes that were reserved for Mrs.
Harrison, Mrs. Tracy and other ladies to
remain vacant, while all the rest were
fully occupied by distinguished auditors.
The Grand Symphony Orchestra, of
fifty pieces, directed by S. Bernstein and
Victor Herbert, inspired the audience
with patriotic airs as a prelude to the
celebration.
At half past ten, Chief Marshal How
ard 0. Taylor and his aides led into the
building distinguished procession. 1t
included ex-Judge Arnoux, chairman of
hdO OOiiAitAtOCc VI OliC nluQICu VI Vic
State Bar Association, arm in
arm with ex President Cleve-
land, and followed by Matthew
Hall, president of the State Bar Associa-
tion; Frederic r. Coudert, president of
the County Bar Association, land the
Reys. Morgan J. Dix and Talbot Cham
bers.
Then came Chief Justice Fuller, of the
Supreme Court of the United States, and
his associates, Justices Lamar. Brewer,
Miller, Field, Blatchford, and ex-Judge
Strong, in their black robes of office.
Frederic Il. Courdert introduced ex-
President Cleveland who was cordially
greeted. After describing the institution
and progress of the Supreme Court, he
safd:-"Our fathers had sacrificed much
to be free Above all things they desired
freedom to be absolutely secured to them
selves and their posterity. And yet with all
their enthusiasm for that sentiment they
were willing to refer to the tribunal
which they devised all questions arising
under their newly formed constitution
affecting the freedom and the protection
and safety of the citizen. Though bit
ter experiences had taught them that
the instrumentalities of government
might trespass upon freedom, and though
they had learned in a hard school the
cost of the struggle to wrest liberty from
the grasp of power. they refused, in the
solemn work they had in hand,
to take coudsel of undue
fear or distracting perturbation: and
they calmly and deliberately established
as q function OF their government check
upon unauthorized freedom and re-
straint upon dangerous liberty. Their
attachment and allegiance to the
sovereignty of their States were
warm and unfaltering; but these did
not prevent them from contributing
fraction of that sovereignty to the crea-
| finr1 nj q yUh chnn1d eyf1o nd
protect their new nation and save and
Derpetuate q government which should
in all time to come bless an independent
people,"
After prayer by the Rev. Morgan j.
Dix, William Arnoux delivered an adj
dress OF welcome. He WAS followed BY
William Allen Butler in an address on
the Origin of The Supreme Court and it's
place in the constitution. The historical
incidents were replete with interest, and
his address an eloquent tribute to the
Court, its powers and responsibilities. In
concluding said:-
During the cantury of its existence the
court has, in the main, been singularly
fortunate in exemption from accident.
casualty or premature death, and the
year just closed has been marked by a
signal deliverance from the hand of vio-
lence.
As me 8 bers of the Bar and as citizens
this State and of the United States, we
bring TO it and bespeak for it the homage
of national gratitude and of universal
respect, not SO much because il has added
illustrious names to the roll of the worlds
great jurists and magistrates, or even
because it has SO well upheld, in
its own sphere, the honor and
dignity eff the nation as
because through all these hundred years
of time it has, with strict fidelity, with
out fear and without favor, with clean
hands and a pure purpose, served the
people in the wise and patient execution
of its high trust to maintain inviolate the
absolute supremacy of justice"