Evening star., 1937-09-19
BY Edmund A. Walsh,
S. j., Lift. d.
Vice President, Georgetown Uni
Dersity, Chairman, Sesqui-
centennial Committee.

Vice President, Georgetown Uni
Derslty, Chairman, Sesqui-
centennial Committee.
q EPTEMBER, 1887, was a decisive
month in the history of the
- United States, marking as it did
the submission by the Philadel-
phia convention of national Consti-
utition under which the American
form Of Government has weathered
the shocks, the storms, and the vicis-
situdes OF $50 years The Sesquicenten-
nial celebration now being inaugurated
will serve the valuable purpose of re-
viewing and consolidating the lessons
Of that century and half of steady
growth and maturing political sta
bility. We are now the oldest republic
OF the Western Hemisphere and may
soon be the last stronghold of de-
mocracy anywhere. Indiscriminate
slaughter of defenseless civilians in
the Far East, the threat to world
peace now lowering over Europe, civil
war In Spain and submarine warfare
In the Mediterranean all conspire to
emphasize the decentralization that has
attacked Western civilization.
September, 1887, is equally historic
In the annals of Georgetown Univer-
sity. In that year plans for the erec-
ton Of college on Georgetown
Heights were completed and the mod
est academy that had been founded as
far back as 1884 at old st. Mary's for
the children of the newly arrived Col
onists and for the Piscataway Indians
found final habitation on the banks
OF the Potomac From 1884 to 1897
1t had been migrating from st. Mary's
TO Newtown, to Calverton and to b.
hemia Manor. Eventually an acre and
. half of land was secured on George
town Heights and the first building
was erected in 1888 At that time the
Federal Capital was still in New York
and the Constitution itself was under
going the high debate recorded in the
'Federalist" of Hamilton, Jay and
Madison. Before the deciding vote of
New Hampshire ratified the docu-
ment as organic law for the future
Government, the new building at
Georgetown was ready for the un-
charted future upon which America
was entering.
THUS the founder John Carroll had
given a hostage to fortune as an
act Of confidence in the Union, even
before the Constitution was universally
adopted. With the formal adoption
In 1893 he gave further pledge of the
cooperation of the Catholics of Amer
lea by simultaneously opening the
first college in the future Federal ter
ritory. Government and University,
therefore, bear on their constitution
the same date of birth, 1889.
The first student was William Gas
ton Of North Carolina, later a member
of Congress and supreme justice OF
his native State. He arrived at George
town. not directly from his home. but
from Philadelphia. The journey by
stage coach took three days. A frai
youth of 13, he conceived an abiding
affection for Georgetown and repaic
his debt Of gratitude on the floor o.
the House of Representatives in 181.
by moving bill for the granting of {
Federal charter by which Georgetown
Is authorized to grant academic honor
and collegiate degrees. Both Hous.
and Senate accepted his masterl,
presentation without amendment ant
the act was signed by President Madi
son.
The early traditions of Georgetown
were animated by the same pioneering
spirit that inspired the drafters of tn
Federal Constitution. It's founder wa
q member of the same Carroll famil
that contributed so daringly and s
aoundantly to the great adventure o
independence. Charles Carroll, on
OF the wealthiest men in the Colonies
dspsd the Declaration in q manner s
clear that George III Of England coul