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

spangled Banner" the silk flag
IL building this morning.
are willing to make sacrifice with the
best of our lives"
In introducing Secretary of the Treasury
George B. Cortelyou, Chairman Edison
said:
He is a man the citizens of Washington
claim as one of them. and in whom they
always have taken the greatest interest
and pride
Mr. Cortelyou bowed acknowledgment to
this reference. saying he was proud to be
resident of Washington for SO many
years. Complimenting the Commissioners
for their successful administration of local
affairs and upon their new home. he said:
+ Remarks by Secretary Cortelyou.
"It is fitting that this beautiful and
stately edifice should become the home
of this District government on the day
we honor as that Of the nations birth.
ION this day. one hundred and fifteen
years ago. President Washington laid the
cornerstone of our nations Capitol. On
the seventy-fifth anniversary OF inde-
pendence President Fillmore laid the
ing. and Daniel Webster. Secretary Of
State. delivered the grafton. On that &C.
casion that great orator said:
""rhis anniversary animates and
gladdens and unites all American
hearts. On. other days of the year we
may be party man, INDUCING In con-
troversies more or less important to
the public good We may have likes
and dislikes. and we may maintain our
political differences, often with warm
and sometimes with angry feelings:
but today we are Americans all: and
all nothing but Americans. AS the
great luminary over our heads. dissi-
pating mists and fogs, now cheers the
whole hemisphere. so do the assOcia-
tions connected with this day dispense
all cloudy and sullen weather in the
minds and hearts of true Americans.
Every mans heart swells within him:
every mans port and bearing become
somewhat more proud and lofty as he
remembers that seventy-fve years
have rolled away. and the great in
heritance OF liberty Is still his: his.
his. undiminished: his In all its origi-
nal glory; his to enjoy. his to protect,
and his to transmit to future genera
tons.
Progress Still Making.
1.-The years that have elapsed since that
speech was made have not diminished our
reasons for qualification at the return Of
the anniversary. On the contrary, events
that have transpired. indicating as they
have the onward march Of human liberty,
have given us a yet richer inheritance
to transmit to posterity. May the time
never come when we as people shall
have cause to feel that the heritage Of
liberty which we have received from the
fathers has suffered any impairment from
either foes without or foes within
LAS we contemplate the noble avenue of
which this building Is now one Of the
chief adornments 1t is difficult to realize
the momentous changes that have taken
place in the physical aspects OF the ma
TONS capital since the early days when
Capitol building revealed an almost unin-
terrupted stretch of swamp lands. which
in the opinion of many could never be
built upon; when members of Congress
complained that it was impossible to Sc
cure comfortable living quarters; and
when. on account of the scarcity Of labor,
even the occupant Of the White House
could not obtain sufficient firewood to
heat the building.
Nevertheless, in spite of natural OBJ
stacles and the gloomy forebodings Of the
pessimist who saw nothing but disaster
ahead. the city has risen to a splendor
and magnificence rivaled by but few of
the worlds capitals; 1t has. in fact, rep
resented in miniature the progress of the
nation at large. which from small begin
nings and in the face of stupendous OBJ
stacles has carved out one Of the fairest
and mightiest empires OF earth.
Building Worthy Of Capital.
"As the capital is worthy Of the nation,
SO is this building worthy Of the capital.
1t is thoroughly in keeping with the high
est artistic standards, and when the ada
cent squares, whose acquisition by the
government has already been authorized,
have been occupied by appropriate struc-
lures for the departments of State
Justice and Commerce and Labor, much
will have been done in the direction Of
the architectural adornment of Washing
ton and an important step taken toward
the desirable end of having the govern
ment erect and own the buildings it occu-
pies. The contamination of such prof.
ect will result not only in further beauti-
flying the city of Washington. but will be
distinctly In the line Of commercial econ
omy.
"The anomalous form of the Districts
government has often been the subject of
comment by the student and the historian.
and yet 1t has been generally recognized
that no city in the country enjoys better
ton. 1t now has home worthy of its
history, and as 1t takes up It's quarers
here in this beautiful building may Its
conduct of affairs. under whatever form
its administration may assume. equal the
best traditions of the past and the Just
expectations Of the future"
Adds B. Browne Speaks.
Chairman Edison next introduced Adds
B. Browne as distinguished citizen of
Washington who served on the code COM
mission that brought about the new code
for the District of Columbia. He said Mr..
Browne appeared as a representative of
the Washington board of Trade.
In beginning his address Mr.. Browne
said:
THE day we celebrate and the occasion
we celebrate bear happy relation to each
other. When the bell of liberty was
sounded 132 years ago at Philadelphia and
proclaimed the liberty of the people the
foundation Of this building was laid
He spoke of the magnificent progress at
the National capital since. the civil war
and said it had been the wonder Of lie
world. Mr.. Browne traced the history of
the United States and spoke of the crea-
ton of the Board of Trade which he rep
resented
He said the board is unique In it's pur-
poses, its organization and it's personnel
He described 1t as organized effort to pre-
sent to the general government the needs
of the people of the District of Columbia.