Iron County register., 1890-02-13

Err President CIereldnd. Other gave safety and
the promise of perpetuity 80 the American
plan of government, and which more than
any other happily illustrated the wisdom
and enlightened foresight OG those who de-
signed our National structure
I'm the work of creating Oglr Nation tie
elements of a free government were sup
piled by concessions of sovereign States, by
the surrender of accustomed rights and by
the inspiration of pure and disintercSted
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 nave presented Il semblance
of soldity and strength; but it would have
been only It semblance; and the completed
edif;ce would have had within its foundation
the :nfirmity of decay and ruin.
1t must be admitted that it is hardly with
in the power of human language so to com
pass diverse interests and claims within the
lines of written constitution as to free it
entirely from disputes of construction; and
certainly diverse constructions were apt to
lurk in the dictiOn of 4 constitution declared
by the president of the convention which
formulated It to he "the result OF spirit of
amity and of that mutual Difference and
concession which the peculiarity of our pO-
litical situation rendered Indispensable"
1t is fairly plain and palpable, both from
reason and review of events in our history,
that without an arDiter 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 Ameri
can Nation must have been precariOus and
disappointing. Indeed. there could hardly
have been we'll grounded hope that they
would long survive the Interpretation of the
National Compact by every party upon
whom it rested, and the insstcnce of each
to the last extremity, upon such an inter
probation as would secure coveted rights and
benefits, and absolve from irksome duties
and obligations.
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"
In the creation of the new Nation, our free
institutions were without the form and SYM
metry of strength and the darkness of hope
lcssnesS brOOded over the aspirations of our
pcople, until light in the Temple of JUS
tice and Law, gathered from the Divine
Fountain of light, illumned the work of the
fathers of the Republic.
On this centennial day will devoutly
thank Heaven for the revelation to those
who formed our Government of this source
! of strength and light, and for the inspiration
I of disntcrested patriotism and consecrated
! devotion which established the tribunal
! which we o-day commemorate.
Our fathers had sacrificed much to be
| free. Above all things they des ircd freedom
| to be absolutely secured to themselves and
| their posterty. And yet with all their en-
| thusiasm for that sentiment they were
! Wiling 10 TelSE 10 lhc liluullil " men tilcS
! devised all questions arising under their
newly formed constitution affecting the
/ freedom and the protection and safety of the
! citizen. Though bitter experience had taught
them that the instrumentalities of govern
| mcnt might treSpaSS upon freedom, anu
though they hal 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 counsel OF
| undue fear or diStractinS perturbation; and
they calmly and deliberately established as
! Il function of their government Il check
/ upon unauthorized freedom and a restraint
( upon dangerous liberty. Their attachmen
for and allegiance to the sovereignty o
/ their States were warm and unfalter
/ ing; bat these did not prevent then
| from contributing a fraction of that sover
/ eighty to the creation OF court which
! should guard and protect their new Natior
and save and perpetuate a Government
/ which should in all time to come bless an
| independent people.
deem myself highly honored by the par
assigned TO me in these commemorative eX-
crciscs. As in eloquent and fitting terms W.
shall be lei by those chosen to address IL
to the contemplation of the history o
that august tribunal organized on
hundred years ago; the live
and services of those who in tn
past have presided over its councils are re
/ hcarsed to US; our love and veneratio'
for our fellow -countrymcn who now fill it
| high and sacred places are quiclened; ant
as we are reminded of the manner in which
| our National court has at all times illus
trated the strength and beneficence of fre
| institutions, let us be glad in the possesSo
| of this rich heritage of American citizen
ship, and gratefully appreciate the wisdor
aud patriotism OF those who gave to us tn
| Supreme Court of the United States.
When Mr.. Clefeland, who had bee
most enthusiastically received through
out, had finished speaking, Rev. ]. MOI
gan Dix offered a prayer invoking tn
Divine blessing on the vast assemblag
and their doings throughout the meer