Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18
noble structure will stand for ages the ST.
lent witness of the fidelity with which the
important trust was discharged
webstcr's Words.

The corner stone Of the additions was laid
by President Fillmore on the 4th day Of
July. 1851. In honor Of that event. and by
request Of the President, Mr.. Webster pro-
nounced an GRAFTON, and while We have
country and a language his words will
Beneath the corner stone was then deposit
ed a paper in the handwriting of Mr.. Web
ster. containing the following words:
IF 1t shall hereafter be the will Of God
that Its foundation be upturned and this de-
posit brought to the eyes of men, he 1t then
known that on this day the Union of The
r te0 that a's' their S'a st
exists unimpaired with all it's orig
inal usefulness and glory growing every
day stronger and stronger in the affections
Of the great body Of the American people.
and attracting more and more the admira-
ton of the world. And all here assembled.
whether belonging to public life or to pri-
vate life. with hearts devoutly thankful to
Almighty God for the preservation of the
liberty and happiness Of the country, unite
In sincere and fervent prayers that this de-
post. and the walls and arches, the domes
ana towers, the columns and entablatures
now to be erected over 1t. may endure for
ever"
The Old Senate Chamber.
From the 9Th day Of December, 1919. until
January 4, 1859. a period of thirty-nine
years. the sessions Of the Senate were held
In the present Supreme Court room. This
was, indeed. the arena Of high debate.
When, in any age, or in any country. has
there been gathered. within so 5mall COM
even suggest the great questions here dis
cussed and determined would be to write a
history or that eventful period. 1t was in
deed, the coming together Of the master
spirits or the second generation Of Amer
lean statesmen. Here were Macon and
crawford, Benton. Randolph, Cass, Bell,
Houston, Preston. Buchanan. Seward. Chase.
Crittenden. Sumner, Choate, Everett,
Breese. Trumbull, Fessenden Douglas,
Clay Calhoun, Webster and others scarcely
less illustrious. Within the walls of that
little chamber was heard the wondrous de-
bate between Hayne and Webster. There
began the fierce conflict of antagonistic
Ideas touching the respective powers Of the
states and Of the nation-a conflict which.
transferred to a different theater. found
final solution only in the bloody arbitra-
ment of arms.
For little more than a third Of a century
the sessions Of the Senate have been held
wing Of the Capitol. OF the procession of
sixty-two Senators that, preceded by the
Vice President Mr.. Breckenridge, entered
that chamber for the first time on the 4th
day Of January. 1859. but four survive. Not
one remains in public life. 1t is, indeed,
now procession of shadows.
The Nations Growth.
When the foundation stone of this Capt.
tol was laid. our republic was in it's infan-
cy, and self-government yet an untried ex-
pertinent. 1t is a proud reflection today
that time has proved the true arbiter. and
that the capacity Of a free and Intelligent
people to govern themselves by written
Constitution and laws of their own maxim
IS no longer an experiment. The crucial
test OF century Of unparalleled material
prosperity has been safely endured.
In 1898 there was no city west of the Allie
ghanies. Today. single city on Lake
Michigan contains a population Of a little
less than one-half that Of the republic at
the time of the first Inauguration Of Wash
ington States have been carved out of the
wilderness. and our great rivers, whose
silence met no break on their pathway to
the sea, are now the arteries Of our interior
trade and bear upon their bosom a COM
| merce which surpasses a hundred-fold that
OF the entire country a century ago.
From fifteen states and 100000 Of people
we have grown to fifty states and terri
| tories and 100000 people: from an area Of
900 to an area of $500 900 square miles;
from narrow strip along the Atlantic sea-
board to an unbroken possession from
! ocean to ocean. How marvellous the in
crease in our national wealth, In 1888 our
| imports amounted to $31. 900 900 and our ex-
ports to s260o0.OOo. Now our imports are
xS41 100000 and our exports 81, 030, 900 0OO
Thirty-three millions tons of freight are
carried on our great lakes, whose only bur-
den then was the Indians canoe. Then our
national wealth was inconsioorable; now
enormous sum of $24.650. 0O000O Then trade
and travel were dependent upon beasts of
burden and sailing vessels; now steam and
electricity do our bidding. railroads cover
the land, boats burden the waters, the tele-
graph reaches every city and hamlet dis
lance Is annihlated, and
Civilization, on her luminous wings,
Scars, Phoenix-like. to Jove"
In the presence of this wondrous fulfill
ment OF predicted greatness. prophecy looks
out upon the future and stands dumb
When this corner stone was laid, France,
then in the throes Of revolution had lust
declared war against Great Britain-a war
In which all Europe eventually became in
volved Within century of that hour
IN the capital Of France. there convened an
international court, it's presiding officer an
members representatives of sovereign Eu-
ropean states. Its object the peaceable adj
lustment OF controversies between Great
Britain and the United States.
was II Rfchelieu, Mr. President who
said, Take away the sword; states can be
saved without it''
The Mechanism of Government.
In no part Of our mechanism Of govern
ment was the wisdom Of our fathers more
strikingly displayed than In the division of
power into the three great departments
legislative, executive and judicial In an
equal degree was that wisdom manifested
by the division Of the Congress into a SEN
ate and House Of Representatives Upon
the Senate the Constitution has devolved
important functions other than those of a
mere legislative character. Coequal with
the House in matters of legislation, 1t is
In addition, the advisory body Of the Presi-
dent in appointments to Office and in treat
Ing with foreign nations. The mode of cleo
ton, together with the long term of service
unQuestionably fosters a spirit Of conserv-
atism in the Senate. Always organized, 1t
Is the continuing body of our national legis-
lature. Its members change, but the Sen
ate continues the same now as at the first
hour Of the republic. Before no human tri-
bunal come for determination issues Of
weightier moment. 1t were idle to doubt
| that problems yet lie in our pathway as
nation as difficult of solution as any that
| in times past have tried the courage or test
ed the wisdom of our fathers
Yet, may we not confidently abide in the
faith that in the keeping Of those who sue
coed the ilustrious sages 1 have named the
dearest interests of our country will be
faithfully conserved, and in the words Of
an eminent predecessor, though these mar
BILE walls molder into ruin. the Senate, in
another age, may bear into a new and
larger chamber the Constitution, vigorous
and inviolate, and that the last generation
of posterity shall witness the deliberations
| Of the representatives Of American states,
still united prosperous and free"
And may our fathers God, from out
whose hand the centuries fall like grains Of
sand" continue to the American people
throughout all the ages the prosperity and
blessings which He has given to US in the
past.
BASE BALL.