The Indianapolis journal., 1890-02-05
Organization of Americas Highest
Tribunal Appropriately Celebrated.
Commemorative Literary Exercises at New
York, Participated in by Supreme Court
Justices and Prominent Lawyers.
Banquet in the Evening. to the Nations
Arbiters, by the Bar Association.
Addresses by Ex-President Cleveland, William
Allen Butler, LIZ d., Justice Field,
Justice Harlan and Other Orators.
Large Attendance of Noted People, and Sc
eral Addresses nv LaWYers and Guests.


Large Attendance of Noted People, and Sew
erai Addresses by Lawyers and Guests.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4-The sorrowful events
of the last few days at Washington, includ-
ing the sad loss of the Blaine family and
the more tragic affiiction 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 designed to
cast an additional gloom over the affair.
for, as the morning passed away, dis
agreeable rain set in, growing heavier as
the hour for the exercises approached. The
attendance at the literary exercises. in the
Metropolitan Opera-house, was the most
noted that ever filled the magnifcentbuild-
ing. Distributed about the galleries were
banners and shields bearing the coats of
arms of the various States of 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 presided. Others seated
on the stage included ex-Justice William
Strong, Senator Evarts, T. j. ]. Semmes. of
New Orleans; Gen. VIM. L. Sherman. Noah
Davis, Chauncey NJ. Depew. w. w. Astor,
Charles p. DAILY and David Dudley Field.
While the distinguished gathering were
= leaving their carriages at the door and fill
ing the seats, until there was standing
room only the Grand Symphony orchestra
played the Coronation march. the overture
from Tampa" and the American fantasia.
Grover CisveIand's Introductory Remarks.
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.. CleYeland began his ad-
dress. He said:
We are accustomed TO express on every fit occa-
sion our reverence for the virtue and patriotism
in which the foundations Of our Republic were
TO us under free institutions. 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 commemorate
event connected with our beginning people,
promise OF perpetuity to the American plan of
government, and which, more than any other,
happily illustrated the wisdom and enlightened
foresight or those who designed our national
structure.
In the work of creating our Nation, the ele-
ments of a free government Were supplied by
concessions OF sovereign States, by surrender Of
accustomed rights, and by the inspiration OF pure
and disinterested patriotism. IL from these ele-
ments there had not been evolved that feature In
our federal system which is our theme to-day,
the structure might have been fair to look upon
and might have presented a asemblance OF sOlidity
and strength, but IL would have been only
semblance, and the completed edifice would have
had within its foundations the infrmity of decay
and ruin.
1t 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 it entirely from disputes
of construction; and certainly diverse construc-
tions were apt 10 lurk in the direction of q con-
stituti0n declared by the President OF the c0n-
vention which formulated it to be ''the result of
spirit of anity and or that mutual Difference
aud concession which the popularity Of our po-
litical situation rendered Indispensable"
IL is fairly plain and palpable, both from
reason and q review OF events in our history,
that without an arbiter to determine finally and
the language of the Constitution, the union of
states and the life of the American Nation must
deed, 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 insist
ence OF each 10 the last extremity upon such an
Interpretation as would secure coveted rights
and benefits and ebsolve from irksOme duties
and obligations.
In the creation OF the world, the earth was
e see Deep Until God said let their be
hight and there was light.
In the creation of the new Nation, our free in
stitutions without the form and symmetry
of strength, and the darkness OF hOpelossness
brooded over the aspirations of our people until
light in the temple of justice and law, gathered
from the divine fountain of light illumined 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 es-
tablished the tribunal which We to-day commem-
crate.
our fathers had sacrificed much to be free.
solutely secured to themselves and their poster
ity. And yet with all their enthusiasm for that
sentiment they were were willing TO refer TO the
tribunal which they 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 insfrumentslities of government
might trespass upon freedom, and though they
had learned In hard school, the cost
the grasp OF power. they refused, in the
solemn work they had In hand. to take counsel
OF undue fear or distracting perturbation, and
they calmly and deliberately established as a
function OF their government a check upon nm
authorized freedom and q restraint upon danger
Gus liberty. Their attachment and allegiance To
the sovereignty of their states were warm and
unfa.tering; but these did not prevent them from
contributing fraction OF that Sovereignty to the
tect their new Nation and save and perpetuate q
government which should in all time to come
bless an independent people.
deem myself highly honored by the part as
signed 20 me in these commemorative exercises.
As in eloquent and htting terms we shall be led
by those chosen 10 address ms. to the contempla-
ton of the history OF that august tribunal organ
lied one hundred years ago; as the lives and SER
vices OF those who in the past have presided
over its cOunsels are rehearsed TO as our love
and veneration for our fellow countrymen who
now fll its high and sacred places are auickened.
md ram nd n no ma Tn
national court has at all times illustrated the
strength and beneficence OF free institutions let
US be glad in the possession OF this rich heritage
OF American citizenship, and gratefully appreci-
ate the wisdom and patriotism of those who
gave TO Us the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
The 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 the in
vocation. he prayed that the federal
bench would be given grace and divine as
sistance TO carry on the second century of
its existence as Justly as its first had been,
rendering Judgment that is ever Just
In closing. Mr. Dix made allusion to the af-
Fiction that had been met by Secretaries
Tracy and Blaine. and prayed that they
might be aided TO bear their loss.
Ex-Judge VIM. III. Arnoux, chairman of
the Judiciary centennial committee of the
New York State Bar Association, next de-
Hvered n brief address of welcome To the
court, whose members sat in their black
robes and paid strict attention.
Address of William Allen Butler, IL. ID.