Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-09-19


the moss inporssnt greats in the rsso-
i1tionary history Of the Unifcd States
The spezkef thee gave spiendid 70
viex q the proxfess q the U1ited States
and the eity Il Nx<hi1xton.
Ia cloaipg he said Our forefafhsrs
trusted tho psfmansney q the gossrn-
Inanf they foondes1 % the virtue aud IN
tsLlasenes Of tbs people. Virtue snd IN
teligenes. divine attributes given -
man shan hs wss made IN the image q
God As ths tso ehsrubiins with out.
stretched wings covered and guarded
the holy oracle in which vas deposited
the art Of the covenant 30 may thsss
guard and protect our constitution IN
which has been deposited the priesless
lswei of liberty. ss II Is transmitted from
generation 10 generation. till time shall
sad. and nliszi With the patriotic spirit
Of our founders. usy those who admin.
Ster the government come year By year
td' the capitol and BY wisdom In coansel
do eontinued honor 10 their memory in
contributing - the happiness of this
great people. fiiustFions founders. Ages
on ages shall your fate admire. no future
day shall see your names expire. While
stands the capitol. immortal dome.
VICE President speaks.
The next speaker was Vice President
Stevenson. who said In part: History
furnishes no parallel % the century
whose close ne now commemorate.
Among all the centuries IL stands alone.
With hearts filled with gratitude % the
God Of our fathers. il IL well that We re
call something Of the progress II the
young republic since the masterful
hour when Washington laid his hands
upon the foundation stone of yonder
Capitol The ssten years Of colonial
struggle for liberty had terminated 10
glorious victory. Independence had
been achieved The articles Of confed-
eration. binding tho colonies together in
a mere league OF friendship" had
given place o. the constitution OF the
United States that wonderful, instru-
ment. 50 aplly. declared by Mr.. Glad.
stone 20 be the most wonderful work
ever struck OF at given time. by the
brain and purpose of man" Without
dissenting voice in the electoral college
Washington had been chosen president
Speaker Crisp'- speech.
When the cornerstone Of this great
capitol was laid our constitution was
not six years old Our government by
the people had barely reached the ex.
perimental stage. There wore but thir.
teen states in the union Our popula-
ton was less than four million and the
house OF representatives. for which |
speak. was composed of only 100 mem
bers- Today. loo years thereafter. our
constitution still exists unimpaired:
government by the people has been
firmly established. our population ex-
ceeis 61.uO0.ono. and the house IL re
presentatises Is composed OF 556 mem
bers.
During the century which has passed
since Washington stood where we now
stand the world has watched with won
der and anlazement the marvellous
growth and Development OF our country.
When that country began we were
weak i'm res0urcea burlened with debt.
just struggling into political existence
and agitated by the heaving waves
which were oyerturning European
thrones" Its end finds us strong In re-
sources. strong in wealth and credit.
strong in numbers and strong m the AZ
feetion OF m intelligent and united peo-
pie. In all that constitutes real great
ncss the United States - today the fore
most nation of the earth.
la behalf Of ali present | am sure 1
will be permitted 10 say we devoutIy
thank Almighty God for the wisdom and
patriotism of the founders IL our gov
ernment. We thank Him for the peace,
the prosperity. the freedom and the hap
piness Of our people. and we do all most
sincerely and fervently pray that our
constitutional union may endure forever.
Justice browns Address
Following the speaker came the grand
chorus. Tho Heavens Are Telling
from HaydnE oratorio. The Creation"
The associate Justice. Henry Billings
Brown. spoke for the United States
supreme court. lie said:
Thil grand and beautiful building.
whose centennial anniversary We are
met TO celebrate. was designed primarily
"a the official abode of the congress 81
the United States. but from its compile
tiou 10 the present day il has also been
the seat Of the highest court The ju
dietary act of 1889 required the sessions
81 the supreme court TO be held at the
seat of government. which was then the
city Of New York. In that city. in Feb
ruary. 100. the court was organized
Nothing appears q have been done.
however. until the February term. l7yl.
when the court met IN Philadelphia. 20
which place the seat Of government had
bccn removed. and continued its ses
sions here until 1901. when IL was
finally transferred 10 Washington.
The vigorous life of the supreme
court may bo said 10 have be-
gun vith the appointment ~ John
Marshall as chief justice and the con-
tsmporaneous transfer ~ its sessions to
a rooul Ia the basement % this capsol.
beneath the chamber ~ the rc6ate
The court ulct here IN August. ls0l. and
for the next sixty years the most i'm
portant IN the history ~ the court this
vaulted and gloomy crypt continued a.
be its honc. In 1850. after the removal
- the senate g. ifs new chamber ia the
north wing of the capitol. the supreme
court vas Transferred 10 the room 4 now
occupies
The exercises closed with a speech by
Commissioner Myron " Parker. for the
district government. and the rendering
~ America~ by the Marine band. cho-
rus and audience