Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1887 — THAT CONSTITUTION. [ARTICLE]

THAT CONSTITUTION.

Centennial Celebration of Its Signing at Philadelphia. Two Hundred Thousand Visitor* Present Including the President and Other Di»tipgutshed I-avlnllTy £ Decorated— Illustrations of a Century’s Progress. The Centenial celebration in honor of the Constitution of the United States commenced at Philadelphia Thursday, and continued through Friday and Saturday. The streets were packed with masses of people, it being estimated that fully 200,000 visitors were in the city. The weather was beautiful. The streets presented an appearence that was lively in the extreme. In all directions, as far as the eye could reach it was one mass of bunting and decoration. Many of the displays were lavish. The monster civic and industrial parade started at ten o’clock and marched five miles and then countermarclved, passing ‘through one continuous line of observation stands, gaily decorated with flags of all nations. On North Broad street there was scarcely a house, public or private, That -was not covered with bunting or in other ways suitably deco rated. The dec irttors strived for novel effects, and in this they were highly succe sful. Some houses were almost covered with heroic statues of Columbia, surrounded by the flags of all nations, while other fronts were completely concealed with burning. The Odd Fellows’ hall exhibited a banner announcing that place as “the spot where Franklin drew •lightning from the clouds in 1752,” and another points busts of Washington were mounted in front of the houses and profusely decorated. Amid the gay holiday attire of the streets there was nothing more conspicuous or artistic than-the three triumphal arches that spanned Broad and Chestnut streets. The Broad street arch; the principal one, was almost opposite the main reviewing stand, which was occupied by the President and his party, upon their arrival. It was erected by the centennial commission, and is sixty feethigh, springing from gseh curb; is of plain semi-circular form and seg-. mented on the South with illuminated shields of the thirty-eight States forming the Union, and on the North with the names of the Stares, the shield and name of each being back to back. The thirteen original States occupy the middle position of the group, and the others are placed alongside in- the order in which they came into the Union. Surmounting the arch is a mammoth device consisting of an American eagle and a stand of national colors. The scene at the grand reviewing stand, ..situated opposite the Union League Clut> house, on Broad street, -fust below Sanoom,—was^a— grand--oner-The stands on either aide, of Broad street were filled with people, and the gay colors of the ladies’ and children’s raiment lent beauty to the magnificent and elaborate decorations of the various stands themselves, f Section A, the central portion of the stand, was reserved for the Governors of the States with their staffs. On this stand also were Senators and Representatives in Congress, many of whom were present, the Commissioners of the various States and Territories, thirtythree of whom were present, the diplomatic corps, tiie foreign consuls and specially invited guests of the commission. Governor Beaver road by in his carriage and was greeted with* a hearty round applause. . By 11 o’clock the distinguished gueßts,the Governors,foreign ministers, and others, and others began to pour into their assigned places thick and fast. As the different Governors passed up or down Broad atiaqfc and were recognized, they received round after round of cheers, and the ladies and children joined in the greeting by waving their hats handkerchiefs and parasols. The monster civic and industrial parade, illustrating the advancement of industrial arts and sciences during the past century, it is believed fairly eclipsed anything of the kind ever known. There were in line 300 floats, each bearing a representation of some particular branch of industry, 12,000 men, 3,000 homeland 160 bands of music. At the head of the column rode Colonel A. Louden Snowden, Chief Marshal, and his staff of fifty-aidsand standard-bearers and two trumpeters. Directly behind them and leading the column itself was the United States marine band, followed by a grand banner representing Columbia pointing to the past with ' one hand, and with the other to t*he present, the former being represented by old implements and condition, the latter by those of to-day, indicating progress. The banner typified the demonstration and was drawn on a car by six horses. The display from this point was divided into twen-ty-three divisions, each bemg under charge and supervision of an assistant marshal and several aids. The honor of heading the first division was given to th 6 Patriotic Sons of America, who presented a beautiful display, •ft was headed by a gaily decorated wagon bearing banners with mottoes emblematic of the order. Following this float came a band and several tableaux cA floats, typical of events during the revolution and representing the different nations which make up America’s population, in navy costumes, a beauti- ' f ... v- ■' :

ful temple, handsomely decorated with thirty-eight ladies at the portal, representing the States of the Union; “Uncle Sam” and the Goddess of Liberty in costume, and a float upon which s'ood representatives of the sphool-houses of a century »vn and fbose of to day, sur rounded by school children. The second division was made up by the Carpenters’ Company, of Philadelphia, which antedates all other industrial associations, | having been incorporated in 1724, and which is the only industrial organization inexistence which participated in the procession of 1787. The third division was an agricultural exhibit, displaying ali the old as well as the new implements, and was complete in every detail. - Following this* came a representation of flouring mills built in 1760 and 1814, and an illustration of the present manner of making flour. Division No. 4 was made up of a display by the typographical fraternity, and was an interesting feature. Illustrations of the different phases of printing were given. •Next came a display made by the paper trade, the art of lithographing and blank book manufacture. Other trades followed. President Cleveland arrived at 8:30 p. m.,Thursday. TntheeveningGov. Beaver gave a reception at night and fully 15,000 people shook hands with him. among whom was the President himself. The President entered the recep-tion-room arm in arm with’ Chairman Thompson, by whom he was presented to the Governor. The meeting was a very cordial one. The usual compliments were exchanged, the President speaking in an almost inaudible voice. When the handshaking had ceased, Governor Beaver waved his hand to an elevation behind him on which-were grouped several Governors and other distinguished guests. “Go up on the platform, Mr. Cleveland,” he said, “you will find some old ftiends there, and make some new T ones, I hope ” President Cleveland at once found himself the center of an admiring throng, and at the same time the recipient of a warm greeting from those in the Governor’s line. Cardinal Gibbons also held a "reception and it was the most brilliant ever accorded a Catholic prelate in this country. „ On Friday 30.000 uniformed soldiers under comm and of Gen. PhfbSheridan, passed in review before the President. The streets were crowded even more than on Thursday,-and some estimates of the people present are placed as high as 500,000. - „■ President Cleveland made the following speech at the Commercial Exchange, where he was given a reception: lam glad I have an opportunity to meet no lartte a representation of the business men of Philadelphia. It is well that we should not entirely forget in the midst of our centennial jubilee that the atm and purpose of good Government fend, after all. to the advancement of the of their trade and commerce. The thought has sometimes occurred to me that in the hurry and rush of business there might as well be infused a little more patriotism than we are wont to see. an I a little more recognition of the fact that a wholesome political sentiment iselosely related not only to the general good, hut to the general success of business. Of course, our citizens engaged in business are quick to sea the bearing of any policy which the Government mav adopt, as it affects their persona] success and their aecnnuilatioii. But 1 would like to see that broad and patriotic Sentiment among them which calf see beyond their particular personal interests. and which, can recognize that the advancement of the entire country is an object for which they may well strive, even sometimes to the diminution of their constantly increasing profits. Must we always lock for the political opinions of our business ii’en. precisely where thev suppose their immediate pecuniary advantage is found'' I know how vain it is to hope for the eradication of a selfish motive in ail affairs of life: but I am reminded that we celebrate to-dav the triumph of patriotism over selfishness. Will anv one say the concessions of the constitutions 'were not well made,’or that we r are not to-dav in the full enjoyment of the blessings resulting from a due regard for all the conflicting interests represented bv the different States which were united a hundred years-ago? I believe the complete benefits promised to the people bvour form of government can only be.secured by an exercise of the same spirit of toleration for one another's rights and interest in which it has its birth. This spirit will prevail when the business men of the country cultivate political thought: when they cease to eschew participation in political action, and when such thought and action are guided by better motiyesthan purely selfish and exclusive benefit. I am of the opinion that there is noplace in the country where such a condition can he so properly and success! ullv maintained aa here among the enlightened anil enterprising business men of Philadelphia. _ Saturday was the closing day. During all this time there have been suppers, meetings and receptions innumerable. The memorial day ceremonies proper were held in Independence Square, Saturday. President Cleveland and Supreme Justice .'.'Samuel F. Miller made addresses. The President, spoke as folio we: I deem it a very great honor and pleasure to participate in these iinpres-ive exercises. Every American citizen shonld, on this centennial dav. rejoice in his citizenship. He will not find the cause of his rejoicing in the antiquity of his country, for among the nations of the earth his stands w ith the youngest. He will not find it in the glitter and the pomp that bedeck a monarch and dazzle abject and servile subjects, for in Ids country the people themselves are rulers. He will not find It in the story of oloodv foreign conquests, for his government has been content to care for its own domain and people. He should rejoice because the work of framing our constitution was completed one hundred years ago to-day. and, also, because when completed it established a free government. He should rejoice because this constitution and government nave survived so long, and also because they have survived with so many blessings and have demonstrated so fully the strength and value of popular rule. He should rejoice in the wondrous growth and achievements of the past one bun dred years, att-1 also of the glorious promise of the constitution through centuries to come. We shall fail to tie duly thankful for all that was done ft*us one hundred vears ago unless we realize tfie difficulties of the work then in hand and the dangers avoided in the task of forming a more perfect union .between disjointed States with interests and radically .diverse and stubbornly maintained. The perplexities of the convention which undertook the labor of preparing our constitution are apparent in these eamestj words of one of tlie most illustrious of itrmembers: "The small progress we have made after four or five weeks of close atK-ndanee.and eorpinued reasonings with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question—several of the last producingas many naya as yeas Is, methinks. amel anchoiy proof oi the imperfection of the humanunderstanding. We, indeed, seem to feel our own want of political wisdotq, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the differeut -form* of THOSlTrepublics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. In this situation of this assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark to find political truth, aud scarce able to distinguish It when presented to us how happened.it glr.that wehave aot heretofore once thought of humbly applyin-

to the father of light to illuminate onr under standing ," and this wise man, proposing to hi* fellows that the aid and blessing of God should he invoked in the extremity, declared: “I have lived, sir. a longtime, and the fpnger I live the more convincing proofs I see of the truth tha God governs In the affairs of men. Arid If a sparrow can not fall to the ground without His notipe, it it probable that an empire ran raise wlthunt Uis aid? We have .been assured: sir, in the sacred writings, that 'exeept the I.ord build the house, they labor in vain that build It.’ I firmly believe this: and I also believe that without His concurring and we shall succeed in this polilica) building no better than the bnildera of Babel. We shall tie divided by ouir llttje partial,* local InterestSrOur projects will be cun founded, and «o ourselves snail become a reproach and byword down to future ages; and. what, Is worse, mankind may herenflef. from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and Conquest.” In the face of all discouragements, the fathers of the republic labored on for four long, weary months in alternate hope end fear, bnt niwavs with rugged resolve, never faultering in a sturdy endeavor sanctified by a prophetic sense of the value to posterity of their success, and always with unflinching faith in the principles which make the foundation of a Government by the people. At last their task wnk done. It Is related that upon the buck of the chair occupied by Washington as the president of the convention, a sun was painted, and that as the delegates were signing the complete constitution one of them said: "I have often aud often,in' tjio eourseof the session, ind in the solitude of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that son behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now, at length, I know that it is a rising and not a settingsUn.” We stand to-day on the spot where this rating sun emerged from political night and darkness, ami in its own bright meridian light we mark its glorious way. Clouds have sometimes obscured its rays, atid drtadful storms have made us b ar: but God has •held it inTfs fourse, and through bs life-giving warmth has performed his latest miracle in the creation of this wondrous land and people. As we look down the past century to the origin of onr constitution, ns we contemplate its trials and its triumphs, as we realize how completely the principles upon which it is based have met every national peril and every national need, how devoutly should we confess with Franklin, ‘‘God governs in the affairs of iren,’ and how solemn should be the reflection that to our hands is committed this ark oi the people’s covenant, and that ours is the duty to shield if from impious bands. We received it, sealed it with the tests of a century. It has been found suffie'ent. in the past, and in all the future years it will be found sufficient. If the American people are true to their sacredtrust, another centennial day will corae and millions yet unborn will inquire con-' eernfng our stewardship and the safety of their constitution. God grant that they may find it unimpaired: and as we rejoice in the patriotism and devotion of those who-lived a hundred years ago, so may others who follow us rejoice in our fidelity and in our jealous lover for constitutional liberty.