Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18

the wise men of the nation have discussed
and formulated the great measures Of inter-
nal and external policy which have placed
us In the front rank of the nations of the
earth. Here treaties with foreign nations
have been confirmed Here territory has
been annexed, out Of which new states have
been constituted, till, instead of fifteen
states east Of the Mississippi, we have
stretched across the continent, and now
number forty-four states, whose eastern
and western shores are washed by the great
oceans on whose bosoms our commerce is
borne to every quarter Of the globe. Here
our Supreme Court has been seated, the
most important tribunal which has ever ex-
listed, and great jurists have decided grave
questions between the states, and have con-
strued our system Of government defining
and limiting the powers Of each department
and combining II to its appropriate sphere
Here representatives of foreign nations
have watched the working of our free in
situations and have realized the capacity OF
man for self-government
When We remember the great men who
have shed luster on this Capitol during the
past century, as Presidents, legislators and
turists, We can justly claim an eminence
for our republic which has not been ex-
celled II ever equaled, by any other nation
OF this or OF any other age.
A Fitting Capital.
Nor has this city. located by Washington
and bearing his honored name, failed to
realize the expectation OF its founder tina,
1t would become the fitting capital of a
great nation. 1t is now justly claimed to
be one OF the most beautiful and attractive
century the scofiing lines OF the poet have
become a splendid reality. Could he who
In lso4 wrote Of the scattered village,
This embryo capital. where fancy sees
Squares In morasses. obelisks in trees;
Which second-sighted seers even now adorp
With shrines unbuilt and heroes yet un-
born"
look upon this city today, with its $50. ooc
Inhabitants, its beautiful streets and
squares, bordered with costly residences its
public buildings he would realize that the
'fancies of the second-sighted seers'' of his
DAY have been more than fulfilled as real
prophecies.
day two periods in the history of this build
Ing rise prominent to my view-the first at
the beginning Of the century which ends to-
day. behold a country not yet recovered
from the exhaustion of the war which es-
tablfshed its independence. with a new sys-
tenn OF government not sufficiently tried to
overcome the friction OF its machinery nor
to insure its stability and it's capacity to
check the spirit of anarchy which had been
SO strongly manifested in the nation and
had SO seriously threatened the dissolution
OF the Union; with a revenue inadequate to
meet its liabilities; without sufficient
strength to force England to comply with
the terms of her treaty and surrender the
military posts on the great lakes and, as a
consequence, suffering the cruel effects of
an Indian war believed to have been insti-
gated by the British commanders; with
Spain plotting to get foothold in the Mis-
sissippi valley by refusing to the United
states the free navigation of that river
whose mouth she held. and offering it to the
inhabitants of the valley as the price of
their leaving the Union and casting their
lot with her: with open opposition to the
excise law Of Congress assuming the form
OF an fnsurrection in west Pennsylvania;
but above all. with the almost maddening
effect upon the people of the French revo-
luton, followed by war between France and
England, which was threatening to engulf
the newly launched American ship of state
in the maelstrom of European wars. 1 see
the calm figure Of Washington holding
firmly the helm of state as he steers IT
amidst the storm, and, with that unfalter-
ing faith in the future Of his country which
had nerved him to be her deliverer in her
darkest hours Of trial. coming to this spot
to lay the corner stone OF the Capitol of the
nation he had created and which he firmly
believed would be not only the freest but
one of the greatest which the world had
ever known. Behold that majestic form,