Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-13
THE SUPREME COURT.

THE SUPREME COURT.
Centennial Celebration Of the Estahlfsh-
ment Of Thus Great acknowledgements
BY Ex-President Cleveland and Justice
Field.
New YORK, Feb. 5.-The sad events
of the last few days. at Washington
dimmed considerably tie celebration Of
the centennial Of the Federal Judiciary
that was begun hero 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 in the Union. The interior Of
the building was otherwise elaborately
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. J. Semmes, of New
Orleans; General William T. Sherman,
Noah Davis, Chauncey M. Depew, w.
w. Astor, Charles P. Davis and David
Dudley Field.
Ex-President Cleveland presided, and
after a 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 At
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-
tutions. 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 Governments, 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 Gle
ments of a free Cover nment were supplied,
der of accustomed rights and by the inspira-
ton of pure and disinterested 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 solidity and
strength; but it would have been only a
semblance; and the completed edif1ce would
have within its foundations the inf1rmity of
decay and ruin.
It must be admitted that 1t 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 1t 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
tion 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-
braccd In the language OF the Constitution
the Union o; States and the life of the Amer
lean Nation must have been precariOus and
disappointing. Indeed, there could hardly
have been a well 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-
tions.
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
metry of strength, and the darkness of hope
lessness brooded over the aspirat ions of our
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
of strength and light. and for the inspiration
of disinterested patriotism and consecrated
devotion which established the tribunal
which we to- day commemorate.
Mr.. Cleveland closed by paying a 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 war
for battles won on land and on sea-and for
triumphs OF peace, such as the opening OF
new avenues of commerce, the discovery OF
new fields of industry and prosperity, the
construction of stately temples and mOnu
ments grand edi1ices for the arts and
sciences and for the still nobler institutions
of charity. But never until now has there
been in any country a celebration like this,
to commemorate the establishment of q ju-
nent branch of its government. The unob-
trusve labors of such a department. the sim
plicity of its proceedings, unaccompanied by
pomp retinr1e, and the small number OF
peso composing it have caused it to es.
cape rather than to attract popular attention
and applause.
This celebration had it's inspiration in q
profound reverence for the Constitution of
the United States, the sure and only means
of preserving the Union, with its inestimable
blessings, and the conviction that this tri-
bunal has materially contributed to its just
appreciation and to a ready obedience
to It's authority For that Constitution
the deepest reverence may well be en-
tertained.
The Justices already do all In their power.
for each one examines every case and passes
his individual judgment upon it. No case in
the Supreme Court is ever referred to any
one Justice or to several of the Justices to
decide and report to the others.
Every sutton, however humble, IL en-
titled to and receives the Judgment of
every Justice upon his case.
I,,cf;co Eio1d,c o1Ooiuo a hriof h Ia.