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-
Reconsideration in Regard TO the
Public Library, Whose Found;a-
tions Are Now Being Laid.

Inhabitants Association of this city:
Acknowledging the receipt CT your com
municatioa of September IS, 1850, 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 . reply, which, having been
unanimously adopted, is now transmitted
TO you.
Without inordinate national pride or too
excessive and exuberant patriotism, II
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
CT 1916 and the subsequent adoption of our
Constitution and the successful Inaugural
ton of our national form of government
under the guiding spirit and directing con-
troll of that great patriot for whom our
city is named, and il is impressiveIy
worthy Of remark that the Hottest hopes
highest aspirations, and wisest advice OF
our patriotic fathers of the eighteenth cen
fury, four years before its close found the
Doblest and most enduring expression in
the Farewell 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. 1896.
Under the inspiring and ennobIi. & in
huence OF a glorious past history, cus be
loved city and country have during the
whole of the nineteenth century, iIIu-
mined the pages of history and, as if
conscious of our Indebtedness to the past
experiences CT mankind, in all nations
have repaid the debt by making all man
kind our debtors Tor what we have done
for liberty, justice, humanity, and he
lifting up, strengthening, and enncbling
of manhood and womanhood. Withcu u re-
citing our achievements it may be conf
IDENTIFY asserted that no fact il the his
tory OF civilization in any century is of
mere worldwide interest and Importance
than the wonderful progress and develop
nent OF our country in the grand 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 Teyerently acknowl d ged that
Divine Providence had infiuz nc AMI
guided our destinies. and had been f-e-
quentiy manifested in every epoch of our
history In his inaugural speech to both
houses of Congress, April 80, 1889, our
first President said:
1t would be peculiarly improper 10
omit IN this first official act my fervent
applications 10 that Almighty Being wh9
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 cor acrate
10 the liber -'ss and happiness of the peo-
PIE OF the United States. a Government
Instituted by themselves for these essen
tial purposes
And again:
ueop1a ran ha 70
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 seems
TO have been distinguished by some token
of ProyideRtial agency
President Washington foresaw and
progressed in his Farewell Address that as
a free and enlightened naticn.' 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 endeavor 10 gain time TO cur
country TO settle and mature its recent
institutions and to progress without in
terrupti0n to that degree of strength and
consistency which is necessary to give t
humanity speaking the command of its own
fortunes.
fOrefathers, 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 great world power is destined to
exert commanding, and. if not controll-
ing, certainly a wise, directing and be-
nefcent influence among all nations.
Realizing and fully approaching all
that we have thus recited this association
believes that the National Capital Centen-
NAL Celebration, 1900 cannot fail to be
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 OF
selfish origin or intent, since our city f.
cosmopolitan in its population, is the Ma
tional Capital, and is endeared to the peo-
pie of the entire country as object OF
their especial care. This century wit
nesses the foundations now being laid by
private and public munihcence, 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 ali our To-
cal organizations, historical, scientific
artistic. patriotic. professional, and be
neficeat, labor. mechanical and industrial.
our citizens generally. our schools. col
1eges, universities. organizations of noble
women. social clubs. and churches to hold
auxiliary meetings with a view TO gather
together and bountifully contribute to the
new Public Library valuable books. man
uscripts, pictures, autographs, docu-
ments, papers, and relics of historical and !
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 null 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 ulitedly. by a thoroughly organized
effort. give to a comparatively new and
most important institution the dignity
and sacredness Of age and greatly add TO
Its 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 our entire organization in the Centen-
aial Celebration.
with great respect, yours very truly,
-. MADISON QUITS,
JOSEPH T. HOWARD
MAX LANSBURGH,
JAMES CROGGON,
RUDOLPH EICHHORN.
Committee