The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

Nr. Chairman, The President Of the
United States. and you, my feIlow-oiti-
zens:
y pledge you in a sentiment that is
almost prayer:
May this prove a fortunate day for
the District OF Columbia
Without doubt the people Of the Dis
trict look upon the occasion that has
drawn Is here as z most happy augury.
The Chief Magistrate OF the nation,
not more respected than beloved. has
sIgrifed his willingness 20 sit at their
board, TO break their bread and taste
their salt Il is a proof Of interest and
kindness that has touched all hearts
We who are seated around these ia
bles are only q handful out Of many
thousands who in thought and sym
pathy are with Us al this feast Presi-
dents have come and gone, doing their
duty BIZ the District as they saw #. but
in the press and throng Of larger duties
TOO often prevented from giving 10 local
matters the attention they deserved
Points TO Precedent.
Never before has a President at the
beginning Of his term thus held out the
hand OF friendship 70 our people. Our
President has seen much Of Washing
ton. But more than that, he has trav-
eled far and wide. he has studied the
capttais Of other countries. their insti-
tutions and their laws And thus he
adds 10 the true promptings Of a generous
heart the wisdom Of a ripe experience.
Those are the qualities that are needed
here and now II Is the hour for a
statesman The population Of the Dis
Trict has increased so rapidly. Il IS grow
ing 50 IN wealth aad beauty. the great
ness OF IT'S future is already 50 assured.
thst tae time has come when the true re-
lstions between the District and the IA
ton must be clearly conceived and ac-
curately defined. and when an ideal must
be formed ior the District OF Columbia
an ideal to be worked for through gen
eratons. true enough and grand enough
10 clair7 the attention and the devotion
OF al the land
Need OF Home.
The men who made the Constitution
we're absolutely certain Of one thing. and
that was that this Federal government
must have home Of its own. over such
a district the Constitution IN so many
words declares. the Congress shall 'exer-
else exclusive legislation IN AL cases
Whatsoever So far as general IegisIa-
ton is concerned. there is no power in
Congress 10 delegate this authority Il
mus legislate itself When it attempted
once 10 best0W upon a Territorial legis-
lature for the District the authority 10
make general laws, the court declared
the attempt unconstitutional and vain
The utmost It can do in this direction Is
70 authorize the enactment CT local regu-
lations. No attempt 70 iegislate for Wash
inston viii be worth the making unless
Il is made in the same spirit in which
the founders worked
II was said Of an Eastern temple. II
was designed by Titaas and finished by
jewelers. The tribute is capable OF q
double meaning. A great work should be
grardly conceived and then executed
with the minutest pains.
we wish as much for Washington. |
But the jeweler must not NEEDLE with the
architects design If he does men may
say: It was planned by Titans; II was
finished by pygmies-
Less than half century had elapsed |
from the founding Of the Capital before a /
congress was found pusillanimous enough /
20 surrender and cede back thirty square 1
miles OF Federal soil. and the noble patri- !
mony the nation had received from the \
Father OF his Country was broken IN two. i
and the Virginia portion cast away
Our task tonight Is 20 put the Wash /
ingtOn OF our day t0 the test Of the great 1
principles that controlled the founders Of i
our government. 10 view the work they
left Us in the light Of all that has de-
veloped since. and to plan for the future 4
as men Of their vision would have +
planned in our surroundings
Sees Three Meanings.
What do We mean when we say the /
District Of Columbia? There are at least
three meanings IN which the expression /
rs:sx be accurately used It may mean
the mere territory, the seventy square
miles OF land and water. It may near
the municipal corporation which has been i
created BY the act OF Congress. II nav
mean the political community, which may
be called. and by the Supreme Court has
been repeatedly called. for certain pur-
poses, State N this third sense Il is
not q mere municipal corporation. but is
filed with the sovereignty OF the United
states OF America
1T Is Of the utmost Importance 10 dis
tnguish between these meanings, espe-
,saliy between the second and the third. /
Z We would keep our thinking clear. Let
Is take a moment 10 trace this distinc-
ion Il the transactions Of q oenturv.
when the United States. IN 1870. took
possession OF this territory II found local
self-goTernment here. For two genera
tons 4 left II undisturbed. Prior 70
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