The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-09-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
TTHE DOUGLAS MONUMENT.
The CerelnonIen YcaterdAy.
CnIcAoo, September Q.


The great event Of to- day was the laying
Of the cornerstone of the monumental 20 the
memory of Stephen A. Douglas. The Pres
itlential party were this morning escorted
to Fairview, or Douglas place, about three
miles from Chicago. The procession was
imposing, and Included the Masonic frater-
nifty, together with force Of police, and
the Chief Marshals aud Aides preceding
the President of the United States and
General Dix. the orator Of the day.
Then came Mayor Rice and Hon. w. II.
Seward the Cabinet and other distinguish
ed guests; United States Army officers
General Grant, General Rawlins, General
Meade and staff, General Steedman, Gener-
al Rousseau, General Custar and other
prominent officers; United States Navy
officers Admiral Farragut Admiral Rad
ford, Lieutenant Mckinley Trustees of the
Douglas Monument Association, &c, sc.
The procession moved In the vicinity of
the base Of the monument. The grave was
beautifully decorated. The scene of the
ceremony was on the shore Of Lake Mich
igan, within ten feet of the water. The
stands completely surrounded the tomb.
The audience was massod In solid ranks.
The entire spectacle presented an amphi-
theatcr. Of which the Inclined seats formed
the sides, and the open lake the back
ground.
The entry of the Presidential procession
was the first impressive point of the pro-
ceedings. A band of music preceded the
cortege. A fine battalion Of knight Tenn
plars succeeded, and the representatives OF
the Masonic fraternity followed. The lat
ter ascended the stand erected Immediately
around the base Of the monument, where
they prepared to perform the appointed
rites.
| At this point Just before the appearance
of the President, the vast crowd broke the
ropes placed around the reserved grounds,
and rushed to nearly all parts of the field,
Order wis finally restored by the exertions
of the Templars and Ellsworth Zouaves.
a light shower also fell, but finished up
soon enough to avoid any marring of the
scene. The President and party. with
heads uncovered, now entered the grounds
Seward had the Presidents arm; Welles
and Randall walked together; Grant ac-
companied Romero.
The first In the course of the proceedings
was II brief but appropriate address by
Mayor Rice. The Masonic Grand Master
of Illinois, j. II. Gavin, appeared In front
of the stand and delivered u short touch
ing and eloquent address, IN which he paid
la glowing tribute to the memory of the IL
lustriolis deceased, both MS u friend and Ma
son, and referred TO the fAct that a statue will
be placed on the monument, visible to the
voyager of this inland sea.
The Grand Chaplain then invoked the
Idivine blessings on the ceremony, when the
ceremony of laying the cornerstone tooL
place according To the Masonic ritual. Az.
ter blessing with bread, wine aud oil, the
stone was lowered In Its place, while min
ute guns were fired and the band played .
ldirgc. The Grand Master congratulated
those present on the fAct that there wa,
present no less parsonage than the Presi-
dent of the United States, with distinguish.
ctl heads of the departments, and who was
as he had heard aud believed, member o
the Masonic fraternity.
This remark was applauded by the clap
ping of hands.
prayer was then delivered by the Rev
Mr.. III. Milburn, of the Protestant Episco
pil Church. when the orator of the day
Major-general Dix, addressed the assem-
blage.
The lorator was repeatedly interrupte,
by applause, and when he concluded th,
President OF the United States was callet
, for.
He appeared at the front of the platform
and delivered brief address.
General Grant WAS next introduced ant
received tremendous greetings, as he ha
: through all the places passed.
| Admiral Farragut was also, rs usual
warmly greeted. The other distinguished
eXcursionists were introduced and applaud.
ed. The ceremonies closed us rain begal
to fall.
We leave to morrow morning for Spring
field, Illinois. on Saturday for. st Louis. re-
mnining there over Sunday, and according
To the present programme, we will reacl
Indiana polls on Monday and stay there un
til Tuesday, aud thence to Cincinnati di
rect, aud Wednesday leave for Columbus
Ohio, aud thence TO Pittsburg aud Harris
buTg