The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-29
THE OLD INHABITANTS
Importance of the Capitals Centen-
NAL Pointed Out.
Patriotic Reply Made to the Invita-
ton to Take Part in the Ce:ebra-
sion-SuEgestioI. in Regard to the
Public Library, Whose Founda-
tfons Are Now Being Laid.

Acknowledging the receipt CT your com
munication of September &c, 1900. ex-
pressing the desire of the Citizens Com
mittee that this association should be rep
resented on your committees having in
charge the celebration of the first cen
tenary OF the establishment of the seat of
Government in this city, the association
having previously had the subject under
consideration. have appointed committee
OF five TO draft q reply, which, having been
unanimously adopted is now transmitted
10 you.
Without inordinate national pride or too
excessive and eXuberant patriotism it
may be safely said that no events in the
eighteenth century either rival or surpass
in the Importance and magnitude of their
permanent effects the American Revolution
OF 17T6 and the subsequent adoption of our
Constitution and the successful Inaugural
ton of cur national form of government
under the guiding spirit and directing con-
troll of that great patriot for whom our
city is named and it is impressfvely
worthy Of remark that the Hottest hopes
highest aspirations, and wisest advice OF
our patriotic fathers of the eighteenth cen
tury, four years before its close, found the
noblest and most enduring expression in
the Farev ell Address of the Father of His
Country, and that it was not dated from
any State, city, or place of residence not
from New York, Philadelphia, or Mount
Vernon, in Virginia, but as follows:
United States. 18th September, 1886
Under the inspiring and enn3bIi, in
Huence OF glorious past history cur BE-
loved city and country have, during the
whole of the nineteenth century. inu-
mined the pages of history, and, as if
conscious of our Indebtedness to the pzst
experiences CT mankind, in all nations
have repaid the debt by making all man
KIND our debtors Tor what we have ne
Tor llber&y, justice, humanity, and the
lifting Up, Strengthening. and enncbling
or manhood and womanhood. Withcu. re-
citing our achievements, it may be conf
IDENTIFY asserted that no fact III the his
tory OF civilization in any century is of
mere Worldwide interest and imp rtance
than the wonderful progress and develop
ment Of our country il the srSnd march
OF our people from the Atlantic TO the
Pacific
Our early fathers. conscious that man
at his best is very little, while God is
great, constantly felt and as constantly
and most reverentIy acknowI d & q that
Divine Providence had infu ned AM
guided our destinies, and had been fce-
quentiy manifested in every epoch of our
history. In his inaugural speech to both
houses of Congress, April 80. 1879, our
first President said:
It would be peculiarly improper 10
omit in this first official act my :ervent
supplications TO that Almighty Being wh1
rules over the universe who presides in
the councils Of nations and whose provi-
Dental aid can supply every human de-
feet, that his benediction may COTS acrate
to the liberties and happiness of the peo-
pie OF the United States. Government
instituted by themselves for these essen
tial purposes
And again:
. No people can be bound to aeknowI-
edge and adore the invisible hand which
conducts the affairs of men more than
the people of the United States Every
step by which they have advanced to the
character of an independent nation Gems
to have been distinguished by some token
of Proyidential agency"
President Washington foresaw and
proF"esied in his Farewell Address that S
a free and enlightened nation. We would
at no distant period become "a great ma
ton, and much OF his advice looked for
ward TO that eventuality, and at the close
of the Address he said:
with me predominant motive has
been TO endeayor TO gain time to cur
country to settle and mature its recent
institutions and to progress without in
terruption to that degree of strength and
consistency which is necessary TO give It
humanity speaking the command OF its own
fortunes
Far beyond the widest dreams Of our
fOrefatheTs, the nineteenth century closes
and the twentieth century begins with the
accomplished fact that our country is not
only able to command its own fortunes |
but as a great world power is destined to |
exert a commanding, and, if not controI- |
ing, certainly a wise, directing and be- |
nefcent influence among all nations.
Realizing and fully approaching all |
tat have thus recited this association |
believes that the National Capital Centen-
al oil oil fa31 =,
OF the greatest Importance to all the peo- |
PIE of all the States, Territories. and de- |
tendencies of our beloved country and |
will be a golden milestone IN the history |
OF past and coming centuries.
Permit US to make a suggestion which |
cannot be regarded as of mere local or i
selfish origin or intent, since our city IL !
cosmopolitan in its population, is the Ma |
tional Capital, and is endeared to the peo- i
pie of the entire country as an object of |
their especial care. This century wit /
nesses the foundations now being laid by
private and public munificence, in Mount |
Vernon Park, for a great public library
The early years of the twentieth century |
will behold its completion, when its vast |
influence will be felt not only in this city, |
but throughout the entire country. II |
your committee will call upon all our To- |
cal organizations, historical, scientific. |
artistic, patriotic, professional, and be- |
ncfcent, labor. mechanical and Industrial |
our citizens generally, our schools, col |
Ieges, universities, organizations of noble |
women. social clubs, and churches to hold |
auxiliary meetings with a view to gather |
together and beautifully contribute to the |
new Public Library valuable books. man
uscripts, pictures, autographs, docu |
ments, papers, and relics of historical andJ
contemporaneous value, brief histories of |
all existing organizations, stating their
objects and purposes as set forth in their
charters and bylaws. with lists of their
present membership, and your committee |
add a full record of the Centennial of
1900. and have all such materials and do
nations presented to the library to be |
kept in a separate division or section we
will unitedly, by a thoroughly organized |
effort. give to a comparatively new and J
most important institution the dignity
and sacredness of age and greatly add to
dts future usefulness.
This committee is instructed to confer
with you. and to nominate representatives
of this association for such committee
service as you may designate and make
proper arrangements for the participation
OF cur entire organization in the Centen-
Aial Celebration.
with great respect, yours very truIy
u MADISON QUITS,
JOSEPH T. HOWARD.
MAX LANSBURGH.
JAMES CROGGON.
RUDOLPH EICHHORN.
Committee"