Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-04

OF the District and bring about needed and
desired improvements
Inc Board of Trade. Mr. Blown SAID.
has stood steadfastly for all that makes
TOT the happiness and prosperity of the
people of the District of Columbia. II
mas stood as one united voice and effort
to bring about such accomplishments. 1t
comprises in its membership men in all
the walks of life. Eligibility for member
snip Is good name and the desire for the
upbuilding of the National capital.
The Board Of Trade has done its parOin
the creation of this beautiful building
winch Mr. Browne described as com.
piete IN architecture and a perfect poem.
He lauded Mr.. Parsons. the builder
whose name. he said. was the synonym
Tor honesty and integrity. He added that
Mr. Parsons is an honored member OF
the Board of Trade.
me speaker. in conclusion. drew a word
picture of the great avenue-the nation s
hlghWay-on which the structure Is To-
Gated.
He said other great buildings will be
l1ned up In the future on the magnificent
boulevard. adding that the Capital city Is
set upon hill which sends its light all
over the world.
Charles B. Hanford. the noted actor
next recited THE Star Spangled Banner. "
pIause
Chairman Edison next introduced Chaplin
lngton Chamber of Commerce.
Chaplin Browns Remarks.
Mr.. Brown said:
The privilege has been accorded me
on this occasion Of speaking on behalf OF
the Chamber OF Commerce. one of the
great organizations of the business and
professional men of Washington. formed
by the amalgamation of those two other
great organizations. the Business Mems
and the Jobbers and Shippers associa-
tions.
THE existence of the Chamber Of Com
merce is so intimately connected with
the legislative branch of the national
government. as we'll as with our own
local government Of the District Of Co
lumbia, that 1t is most appropriate that
this body Of citizens should be invited
and should desire to participate in the
housewarming Of the first home of their
local government given and granted to
them by a most gracious act of our ma
tional legislature -
1t may perhaps at first appear boast
full to say that the Chamber of Com
merce, as we'll as our elder brother as
ISOLATION, the Board of Trade, which has
been so eloquently represented here to-
day, exist and have their being by virtue
and authority of that same immorta
document which created and Established
branches of the federal government. But
when the people of the United States
declared by the first amendment to the
Constitution that Congress shall make
no law abrdging the freedom of
speech or the right Of the people
peaceably to assemble and the right of
the people to petition the Sovernmen nj
for redress Of grievances they reserved
TO themselves and proclaimed to all fu-
ture citizens of the republic. and especial
ly to those in the District of Columbia
certain rights and powers that are as Sc
cure to the people as are those by which
the executive, legislative and judicial
branches Of the government exist.
Rights Of the People.
'In this day and in this country Of
popular government the right of the peo
pie to assemble and publicly discuss mat
tiers of government and to petition fol
their rights and redress of grievance.
is so freely exercised that we are apt t.
forget that it did not always exist un
trammeled in this land of liberty But
not sentence or a line was added to OIL
was retained In the Constitution that wal
not necessary to the preservation of thu
rights of the people and of the govern
ment respectively; and when that first
amendment was framed and adopted the
makers OF our organic laws had indelibly
such as the attempted suppression of Pat
rick Henrys immortal speech In the as
sembly of Virginia by cries of 'trea son
from the enemies of liberty and freedom
They had in their minds the station
ing Of troops In 1.-THE streets of Boston In
times Of peace to prevent the, assembling
of the people in protest of the unjust
acts OF the government of. the mother
country and the refusal Of parliament Il
allow even the reading Of the petition Of
delegates from the colonies who met ir
Philadelphia in 1774. and which petition
was framed by such men as Washington
Richard Henry Lee. Samue! and Johr
Adams. John Jay and Patrick Henry
And. having these and similar incident!
fresh in their memories, they determined
then and there to write into the yer,
charter Of their new government these
provisions, so that 1t could only exercis,
its powers. subject always to these right.
reserved to the people.
And thus we have the right of thu
people to boldly assemble. to discuss free
and to petition the government for a re
dress of their grievances. SO firmly es
tabished in this age and in this country
that we are almost apt to forget tina
these natural and inalenable rights wer,
once infringed. But let any one In au
thority deny them, let any one try to in
fringe them in this day and generation
and we will find the same spirit of resist
ance and aggression displayed by the
patriots Of this day. that was displayed
by our forefathers. who. as a result o.
their sacrifices. have handed down to u.
these rights and these powers and priv
leges embodied in this first amendment t
the Constitution of the United States.
Exercise Of Rights.
THE Chamber of Commerce has exer-
cised to the fullest extent these rights sc
sacredly preserved to us. We have as
sembled from time to time. we have ex.
ercised fully the freedom Of speech in the
discussion Of matters of public interes,
and concern and we have petitioned the
government. both federal and local. and
/ am happy to say, not in vain. And we
have petitioned 1t. not only for redress
Of grievances. for they have been few. but
we have petitioned it also for a share OF
those privileges. and Of those bounteOus
gifts, which the unprecedented CONNER
cial prosperity Of this golden age Of our
country warrants us in demanding and
enjoying.
''In the latter class may be included
this magnificent structure which We are
today dedicating and admirfng. AS : a
business home for our local government
its dimensions ara ample, and the plan OF
the building is practical and we'll adapted
to the important work of our honored
Commissioners and the efficient force OF
employees who will have to occupy it; but
beyond all this practical aspect of the
structure. the cultivated: the refined and
esthetic taste of the citizens OF the Ma,
tiona1 capital also demands that II should
be planned. constructed and completed In
such pleasing form and outline as the
architects have so happily conceived and
our own worthy citizen, the contractor