Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-13
THE SUPREME COURT.


of the last few days at Washington
dimmed considerably the celebration Of
the centennial of the Federal Judiciary
that was begun here yesterday.
The attendance at the literary ex-
ercises in the Metropolitan Opera House
was the most notable that ever filed the
magnificent building. Distributed about
the galleries were banners and shields
! bearing the coats of arms of the various
States N the Union. The interior Of
the building was otherwise deliberately
decorated.
On the right of the stage, in the front
row, were seated the members of the
United States Supreme Court, Chief
Justice Fuller being directly beside ex-
President Grover Cleveland, who pre-
sided. Others seated on the stage in
cluded ex-Justice William Strong, SEN
ator Evarts, T. ]. J. Semmes, of New
Orleans; General William T. Sherman,
Noah Davis, Chauncey NJ. Depew, w.
W. Aston, Charles P. Davis and David
Dudley Field.
Ex-President Cleveland presided, and
after number of National airs by the
orchestra he stepped forward and was
received with applause. Mr.. Cleveland
began his address as follows:
We are accustomed to express on every fit
occasion our reverence for the virtue and
patriotism in which the foundations of our
Republic were laid, and to rejoice in the
blessings vouchsafed to US under free insti-
buttons. Thus we have lately celebrated
with becoming enthusiasm, the centennials
of the completion OF our Constitution and
the Inauguration of our first President
To-day we have assembled to commemo-
rate an event connected with our beginning
as a people, which more than any other gave
safety and the promise of perpetuity to the
American plan of Government, and which
more than other happily illustrated the wis
dom and enlightened foresight of those WHO
, designed our National structure.
In the work of creating our Nation the ele-
ments of a free GoveI nment were supplied,
concessions of sovereign States, by surren-
der of accustomed rights and by the inspira-
ton of pure and dsinterested patriotism.
If from these elements there had not been
evolved that feature of our Federal system
which Is our theme to-day, the structure
might have been fair to look upon and might
have presented a semblance of soldity and
strength; but it would have been only a
semblance; and the completed edifice would
J. decay and ruin.
lie must be admitted that it is hardly within
the power of human language so to compass
diverse interests and claims within the lines
of a written Constitution as to free IL entirely
from disputes of construction; and certainly
diverse constructions are apt to lurk in the
diction of a constitution declared by the
president of the convention which formu-
/ lated it to be "the result of a spirit of amity
and of that mutual Difference and concession
! which the popularity of our political situa-
! ton rendered indispensable.
1t is fairly plain and palpable, both from
! reason and a review of events in our history,
that without an arbiter to determine finally
! and conclusively the rights and duties EN-
braced in the language of the Constitution,
| the Union OF States and the life of the Amer
| lean Nation must have been precarious and
! disappointing. Indeed, there could hardly
! have been a we'll grounded hope that they
| would long survive the Interpretation of the
| national compact by every party upon whom
| it rested, and the insistance of each to the
| last extremity upon such an Interpretation
| as would secure coveted rights and benefits
and absolve from irksome duties and obliga'
tons.
| In the creation of the world the earth was
without form and void and darkness was
upon the face of the deep, until God said
LET there be light" and there was light.
| institutions were without form and sym
metry of strength, and the darkness of hope
| lessness brooded over the aspirat ions of oul
! people, until light in the Temple of Justice
| and Law, gathered from the Divine Fountain
of Light, Illuminated the work of the fathers
/ of the Republic.
On this centennial day we will devoutly
thank Heaven for the revelation to those
! who formed our Government of this source
J of strength and light, and for the inspiration
/ of disinterested patriotism and consecrate6
I devotion which established the tribunal
which we o-day commemorate.
Mr.. Cleveland closed by paying high
tribute to the dignity and great services
of the august tribunal, and the respect
with which it's decisions have been re-
ceived by the country.
Addresses were also made by Mr.. Jus
tice Field and others.
Among other things, Mr.. Justice Field
said:
In every age and with every people there
= have been celebrations for triumphs in wal
! for battles won on land and on sea-and fol
triumphs of peace, such as the opening O
/ new avenues of commerce, the discovery o
new fields of industry and prosperity, the
| construction of stately temples and monu
| ments or grand edifices for the arts anc
| sciences and for the still nobler institution:
| of charity. But never until now has there
| been In any country celebration like this
to commemorate the establishment of tu
dicial tribunal as a Coordinate and perma
I nent branch of its government. The unob
trusive labors of such department, the sim
plicity of its proceedings, unaccompanied by
pomp or retinue, and the small number o.
/ bec sons composing it have caused il to es
cape rather than to attract popular attention
and applause.
This celebration had its inspiration in
profound reverence for the Constitution o
the United States, the sure and only mean:
| of preserving the Union. with its inestimabl'
blessings, and the conviction that this tri
bunal has materially contributed to its JUS
| appreciation and to a ready obedience
to its authority. For that Constitution
the deepest reverence may wei be en-
tertained.
The Justices already do all in their power
for each one examines every case and passe
his individual judgment upon it. No case il
the Supreme Court is ever referred to an!
one Justice or to several of the Justices t
decide and report to the others
Every sutton, however humble, is en-
titled to AMI receives the judgment o
every Justice upon his case.
Justice Fields closing was brief his
tory of the Constitution and the larg
amount of work which of late hat
crowded the calendar of the Suprem
Court, and the necessity of some relic
to insure speedy justice to all partie
coming before it -"
Secretary Tracy's Recovery.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-About clever
o'clock yesterday morning Secretar,
Tracy surprised his physicians by get
ting out of bed and dressing himself