y I shall acquiesce
with satisfaction, confiding that the good sense of our country
will correct the evil of construction when it shall produce ill
effects."

A recent writer on American diplomacy, who is not suspected of
partiality for Jeffersonian political doctrine, gave in strong
and graceful terms a good reason for our gratitude to-day, when,
in referring to this subject, he wrote: "It was fortunate for
the future of America that we had at the head of affairs a man
of such broad views of our country's future. A less able
President, with the same views as entertained by Jefferson as to
the constitutionality of the measure would have put aside the
opportunity. Jefferson put aside his preconceived views as to
the fundamental law; or subordinated them to the will of the
nation and welcomed the opportunity to open up the continent to
the expansion of American democracy and free institutions."

We are glad at this hour that Jefferson was wrong in his adverse
construction of the Constitution and glad that he was liberal
minded enough to see that he might be wrong. And yet may we not
profitably pause here long enough to contrast in our thoughts
the careful and reverent manner in which the restrictions of our
fundamental law were scrutinized a hundred years ago with the
tendency often seen in later times to flippantly attempt the
adjustment of our Constitution to the purposes of interest and
convenience?

In conclusion, I hope I may be permitted to suggest that our
thoughts and surroundings on this occasion should lead us to
humble recognition of the providence of God in all that has made
us a great nation. From our beginning as a people our course has
been marked by concurrences and incidents so striking, so
significant and so constant, that only superstitious dullness or
intellectual blindness will place them to the credit of luck or
chance.

In the midst of our rejoicing to-day it is peculiarly fitting
that we recall with soberness and meekness some of the happiness
in connection with the great event we celebrate, which
impressively illustrate the interposition of Divine Providence
in our behalf. We sought from a nation ruled by one whose
ambition was boundless and whose scheme for aggrandizement knew
neither the obligations of public morality nor the restraints