The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-21

overlooked the most useful and i'm
proving lesson OF the hour. We do in
deed celebrate the laying of the corner
stone from which sprung the 81 ieDdiC
edifice whose grand proportions arous,
the pride of every American citizen
but our celebration is chiefly valuabl,
and significant because this edifice wa
designed and planned by great anC
good men as place where thu
principles OF free representative
government should be de-
voted in patriotic legisla
ton for the benefit of free peoplt, the
representatives. of whom here assem-
BILE to make laws for their fellowcoun
| trymen to forget the duty OF broad
and disinterested patriotism and legis-
late in prejudice or passion or in be-
! half of sectional and selfish interests.
The time when the cornerstone OF
our capitol was laid and the circum
stances surrounding it will not be
worth concentrating. The senti-
ment and traditions connected with
this structure and its uses to all the
people of the land. They are most
valuable as reminders of patriotism in
the discharge of public duty and stead
fastness in many struggles fer the pub
tic good. They also furnish standard
by which our people may measure the
conduct of those chosen TO serve them.
The memorable application of this stan
dard will always supply proof of our
couhtrymen to realize the value of
free institutions designed ard built by
those who laid the cornerstone of their
capitol and that they appreciate the
necessity of constant and jealous
watchfIlness as a condition indispen-
sible to the preservation OF these instl-
tutions in their purity and integrity.
| believe our fellow citizens have no
greater nor better cause for rejoicing
on this centennial than is found in the
assurance that their public servants
who assemble in these halls will watch
and guard the sentiment and tradi.
tions that gather around this celebra-
ton and that in the days to come
those who shall again commemorate
the laying of the cornerstone of their
nations Capitol will find in the recital
Of our performance OF public duty no
less enthusiasm and cOngratulation
than we find in recalling the wisdom
and virtue of those who preceded us.
AS the president sat down he was
cheered with redoubed vigor. The
United States marine band played q
selection, after which the orator of the
lay, William Writ Henry, a descen.
dent of Patrick Henry, the revolu.
tionary statesman and patriot, was
introduced. He said in part: The
exercises of today are fitting close of
a series of centennial celebrations of
the most important events in our revo.
lutionary history, celebrations which
presented wildly to the present gen.
GRAFTON the courage Of our ancestors in
widning orr liberty and their wisdom
in forming a system of government
Which has proved a safeguard of in.
va liable possession. For more than
century we have demonstrated as no
other people have ever done before
our capacity for self-government. Our
federal system has been tested in
peace and in war and by Violent |
forces from without and from within, |
yet every fibre has stood the strain, |
md its perfect adaptation to our
leeds under all circumstances has |
oeen demonstrated. 1t takes but a
,ursory view of the present condition
Of the people of christendom to recog-
nize the liberalizing effect of our gov
ernment upon their civil institutions. |
1t has been well said by late writer
hat AT the close Of the American
evolution there was in the Old World |
only one free nation and no democra
~. In Europe there now remains but |
Two strong monarchies, those of Rus
'ia and Prussia, while America, scarce.
y excepting Brazil and Canada, are
republican, at least in name.
Since he wrote Brazil has dethroned |
her king and adopted a republican
form of government and there Is a |
strong movement in Canada towards a |
union with the United States, but |
while other nations have followed |
more or less closely in our footsteps, |
to enjoy our freedom, how |
wonderful has been our progress in ali |
that makes a nation great. With the
history Of this progress this capitol |
has been intimately connected. Here
chief executives of the nation have
taken the oath of office and made |
with congress. Here
the wise men of the nation have dis
cussed and formulated great measures
of internal and external policy which |
have placed us in the front rank of |
the nations of the earth. Treaties
with foreign nations have been con-
tirned. Here territory has been an
nexed out of which new states
have been constituted, until in
stead OF fifteen states east of
the Mississippi we have stretched
across the continent ard now number
A states, whose eastern and western
shores are washed by 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 ever
existed, and great jurists have decided
grave questions between states and
have construed our system govern
meMt, defining and limiting the pow
ers Tof each department and combining
it to its appropriate sphere. Repre-
sentatives of foreign nations have
watched the working of our free insti-
tutions and realized the capacity of
man for self government.
Continuing, he reviewed the history
of the city of Washington from the
time it was laid out until the present
day. He also spoke of the building of
ths Capitol and various additions
made to it and went on with a.general
review of the nations history, con-
GLIDING as follows: