, 1890-02-05
FEDERAL JUDICIARY.
Centennial Celebration Inaug-
urated at New York.
Ex-President Grover Cleveland
in the Chair.
Justice Field Speaks in Behalf
of the Supreme Court.

~ w 6ohAuklOh uAIu
med considerably the celebration of the
centennial of federal judiciary ~inaugurated
this morning. The weather, too. was
very unfaVorable, a heavy rain falling.
The attendance at the exercises in the
Metropolitan opera house was the most
noted that ever filed that magnificent
building. Distributed about the galleries
were banners and shields bearing the
interior of the building was otherwise
deliberately decorated. On the right of
the stage, in the front row, were seated
members of the United States supreme
court. Ex-President Grover Cleveland
presided. Others seated on the stage
included ex-Ju stice William Strong. Sen
ator Evarts, T. j. Semmes of New
Orleans, Gen. VIM. 7. Sherman.
C~hauncey NJ. Depew and David Dudley
Field.
While the distinguished gathering was
leaving their carriages at the door and
filling the seats until their was standing
room only the grand symphony orches-
ira played the coronation march, an over
aoiS pa II AL <hhCIiCdu ldu-
tasia. 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 acknowledgements and expressing
his appreciation OF the generous vel
come acceded him Mr.. Cleveland began
an address.
Among other things he said: I'm the
work of creating our nation the elements
OF a free government were supplied by
concessions of the several states, and by
the surrender of accustomed rights, and
by the inspiration of true and d~isinter.
ested patriotism. If from these elements
there had not been resolved that feature
in our federal system which is our theme
to-day, the structure might have been
fair to look upon and might have pre-
sented the semblauce of solidity and
strength; but it would have been only a
semblance, and the completed ediice
would have had within its foundation
the infirmity of decay and ruin"
Rev. Morgan DIX hen led in prayer.
Ex-J Judge Arnoux OF the New York
State Bar Association next delivered a
brief address of welcome.
The e address.was on the "Origin of
the supreme court of the United States
and its place in the constitution" by the
veteran lawyer William Allen Butler.
Hon. Henry Hitchcock then spoke on
the the pioneers of the supreme court and
those of the constitution.
Hitchcock was followed by Hon.
Thomas Semmes of Louisiana, who spoke
on the "Per-onal Characters of Chief
Justices Then Hon. Edward j. Phelps
of Vermont, deltyeIcd an address on the
lN-
People" Chief Justice Fuller then in
troduced Justice Field who responded in
behalf of the supreme court.
In every age with every people, there
have been celebrations for triumphs in
war. for battles won on land and on sea,
and for triumphs of peace. but never un-
til now has there been in any country a
celebration like this to commemorate the
establishment of a judicial tribunal as a
co ordinate and permanent branch of its
government. This celebration had its in
SEPARATION in the profound reverence for
the constitution of the United States as
the sure and only means of preserving the
Union with its inestimable blessings, and
the conviction that this tribunal has ma
terially contributed to Its just appreciation
and to the ready obedience to authority.
Experience has shown that in a great
country of great territorial extent and va
ned Industries. peace and lasting pros
peritv can exist with civilized people only
when local affairs are controlled by local
authorities and at the same time there
are lodged In. the general government of
the country such sovereign powers as will
enable 1t to regulate the intercourse of its
people with foreign nations, and between
communities, protect them in all their
rights in such intercourse. and defend the
country against invasion and domestic vi
olencc and maintain the supremacy of
laws throughout its whole domain.
This principle the trainers of the con
stitution acted upon in establishing a
government of union by leaving unlm-
paired the power of states to control all
matters of local interest and creating a
new government OF sovereign powers for
matters OF general and national concern.
They thus succeeded in reconciling local
self government-or home rule, as it is
termed-with the exercise of national
sovereignty for national purposes. Under
this dual government each state may
pursue a policy best suited to Its people
and resources, though unlike that of an.
other state; and now, with its history in
q century past, what is needed that
Tue supicuao cOuib VI tnt OulIeu DLaL6S
should sustain its character and be as use.
full in the century to come?
81 answer, as a matter of first consider.
alton, that it should not be overborne
with work. and by that | mean it should
have some relief from the immense bur
den now cast Upon it. This can only be
done BY legislative action and in deter
mining what measures shall be adopted
for that purpose congress will undoubt-
eddy receive with favor suggestions from
the bar associations of the country. In
view of the condition of the court, its
crowded docket, the multitude of ques-
tons constantly brought before it. of the
greatest and most extended influence.
surely it has a right to call upon the
country to give it assistance and relief.
Something must be done in that direc-
ton and should be done speedily to pre-.
vent delays to dockets o existing. To
delay justice is as prenicious as to defy
it. One of the most precious articles of
magma cbarta was that in which a king
declared he would not deny or delay any