The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-06
JUDICIARY CENTENNIAL.
The Supreme Court Present in New York
Address by President Cleveland.

Address by President Cleveland.
New YORK, February 4.-The sad events
of the last few days at Washington, includ-
ing the sad loss to the Blaine family and
the more tragic atfliction to the home of
Secretary Tracy, dimmed considerably the
celebration of the centennial of the Federal
Judiciary that was inaugurated this morn
ing. The weather, too, seemed inclined to
cast an additional gloom over this great af-
fair, for as the morning passed away, disa-
greeable rain set in, growing heavier as the
hour for the exercises approached. The at
tendance at the literary exercises in the
Metropolitan opera house was the most
noted that ever filled the magnificent
building.
Distributed about the galleries were ban
ners and shields bearing the coats of arms
of the various states in the Union. The in
terror of the building was otherwise elab-
orately decorated. On the right of the stage
in the front row were seated members OF the
United States supreme court, Chief Justice
Fuller being directly beside eX-President
Grover Cleveland who presided. The
Justice William Strong, Senator Evarts,
L. J. Semms, of New Orleans, Gen. VIM.
T. Sherman, Noah Davis, Chauncy Depew,
w. w. Astor Chas. p. DAILY and David
Dudley Field. While the distinguished
gathering were leaving their carriages at
the door and filling the seats until there
was standing room only, the Grand SYM
phony orchestra played the Coronation
march, the overture from "Zampa" and an
American fantase.
When the last air had been played eX
President Cleveland stepped forward. He
was cheered to the echo and it was some
| minutes before he could speak. Bowling
his acknowledgements and expressing his
| appreciation of the generous welcome ac-
| corded him, Mr.. Cleveland then made a
brief address appropriate to the occasion.
Ex-President Cleveland closed as fol-
lows:
"On this centennial day we devoutly
thank heaven for the revelation to those
who formed our government, of this source
of strength and light, and for the inspira-
ton of disinterested patriotism and conse-
| Grated devotion which established the tri-
bunal which we today commemorate.
"Our fathers had sacrificed much to be
flee. Above all things they desired
freedom to be absolutely secure 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 un-
der their newly formed constitution affecting
| the freedom and protection and safety of
| the citizen. Though bitter experience had
| taught them that the instrumentalities of
1
and though they had learned in a hard
school the cost of the struggle to
of G'''r power they refused in the
solemn work they had in hand, to take
counsel of undue fear or distracting per-
turbation: and they calmly and deliber-
ately established, as function of their
government, a check upon unauthorized
freedom and a restraint 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 creation OF q
court which should guard and protect their
new nation and save and perpetuate a
government which should in all time to
come bless an independent people.
81 deem myself highly honored by the
part assigned to me in these commemora-
| tive exercises. AS in eloquent and fitting
terms we shall be led by those chosen to
| address us, to the contemplation OF the III; =
tory of that august tribunal organized one
hundred years ago; as the lives and serv-
ices of those who in the past have presided
| over its councils are rehearsed to us; as our
love and veneratlon Tor our fellow country,
men who now fill its high and sacred
places is quickened; and as we are re-
minded of the manner i'll which our ma
tional court has at all times illustrated the
strength and beneiicenCe of free lnstltu-
tions, let us be glad i'll the possession OF this
rich heritage of American citizenship, and
gratefully appreciate the wisdom and patrl'
otism of those who gave to us the supreme
court of the United States"
Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix, of Trinity church
followed the ex-president, and the audience
rose and stood with bowed heads while the
reverend gentleman made invocations. He
prayed that the Federal bench would be
given grace and divine assistance to carry
on the second century of its existence as
Justly as it first had been, even in render
ing Judgment that isever just n closing
Mr.. Dix made allusion 10 the aihictlon ina
had been met by Secretaries Tracy and
Blaine, and prayed that they might be
aided to bear their loss.
| Ex-Judge William ArnouX, chairman o1
the judiciary centennial committee OF New
| York State association, next delivered a
brief address of welcome to the court
whose members sat in their black robes
and paid strict attention.
| The principal address of the day fol-
lowed. 1t was on "The Origin of the Su.
preme Court of the United States and its
Place in the Constitution" and the deliv-
ery was by the veteran lawyer, William
| Allen Butler, LII. ID. His remarks were
frequently interrupted by generous ap'
plause.
| Selections from ADA by tne OrcneStra
followed the address of Mr.. Butler.
Mr.. Hitchcock made an address and was
followed by Hon. Thos. ]. Semmes, o.
Louisiana, who spoke on the personal
charactery of the chief justice.
At the conclusion of this address brle
respite was taken, after which there wa!
more music, and then Hon. E. W. Phelps
, of Vermont, delivered lay address on th'
/ supreme court and the sovereignty of th'
Chief Justice Fuller then introduced Jus
tice Field who responded in behalf of TIN
supreme court. After Justice Fields ad
dress there was more music and Rev. Tai
2 bott w. Chambers pronounced the bene
, diction and ended the literary exercises.