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

shall this harbor of Yankee democracy
be burnedT' was the question put by the
British Admiral Cockburn from the Speak
er's chair in the old hall of Representatives
to the reckless soldiers. flushed with recent
victory. who had followed him into the Cap
itol. and the answer was the torch. That
was four score years ago, but the building
on Capitol Hill continued to harbor and
still continues to harbor the democracy,
then offensive to the subjects of the
British king. As the nation has risen in
glory. and the building has grown in
grandeur. the democracy Ii has harbored
has spread far beyond the limits of this
land. until under it's influence people whose
law was the word Of their rnonarchs have
come to enjoy a large measure of political
freedom. and even In England itself there
Is democracy quite as radical as that
Yankee brand" which so excited the ire of
Admiral Cockburn- The stately building.
whose hundredth year is celebrated today.
stands with the Stars and Stripes as
symbol of American liberty. Its peerless
dome is fifty crowned with the statue of
Freedom. for in every land where the
blessings OF liberty are enjoyed the impos-
ing pile, the very center OF the freest and
best Of governments. Is taken as typifyius
free Institutions. Freedom from her lofty
heights holds out hope to people still en-
thralled and lights the way to liberty. So
the centennial celebration today Is not of
local significance only. nor Is the event 1t
commentaries Of Consequence to the Amer
lean nation only: 1t has an import In every
land where people love freedom. The Cap
itol stands for the advancement of the Zap
piness not OF Americans only, but Of all
mankind 1t Is not strange. then. that men
venerate il. 1t has an imposing beauty
given IL by the genius of Its architects thar
makes IL rank as one of the great buildings
Of the world, but In the eyes of the patri-
otto American 1t has an unrivaled splendor.
derived from its associations: 1t reflects the
grandeur of the nation. and Is sublime.
The history 1t represents is the gran.lest
the world has known; the century 1t stands
for Is without a parallel. When its corner
stone was laid the nation was so weak and
poor as to excite derision: today as Speaker
Crisp declared in his address, IN all thar
constitutes real greatness it is the foremost
nation of the earth. These anniversaries
have their uses. They are the points whore
men and nations pause to take account Of
the past The record which is unrolled to-
day Is one Of marvellous achievement 1t
brings to the youth of the land lessons Of
loyalty and patriotic devotion. and inspires
all men to new and high endeayor 1t
makes OF US all better Americans, TO stop on
so suggestive an occasion. even at the risk
OF being accused of INDUCING in sentiment,
to review the events of the century and fix
again well in our minds and hearts the
great principles that have made America
the American people and the American
government what they are. The corner
stone of the government is the patriotism
OF the people. and an anniversary which
brings to memory afresh such an inspiring
history cannot but add fervor to every
Americans love OF his country. and thus
strengthen the foundations of American in
stitutions symbolized in the temple of Free
dom, whose white dome glistens today in
the sunlight on Capitol Hill.