The Portland daily press., 1875-06-22
The Centennial,
Meaning Of the Pageaut.-Peace and Good
WilI.-Boston Hospitality.

WiIl.-Boston Hospitality.
PORTLAND, June 81, 1875.
was among the fortunate participants in
the Bunker Hill centennial, the grandest civic
pageant that has ever been witnessed on this
continent. The projectors of it have abundant
reason to be satisfied with every incident con-
nected with it, from its inception to its conclu-
sion. The authorities and the citizens of Bos-
ton cordially united in making it effective and
brilliant in point of numbers, appointments
Marshals and thdgaids perfected the arrange
ments with SO much system and good taste,
that nothing was omitted that could give eclat
to the occasion. The numerous guests from
every section of the country were made to feel
happy consciousness of welcome from the
moment Of their arrival, till the termination OF
the august spectacle. The soldiers of Mary
land and South Carolina received fraternal
greetings from their comrades of Massachusetts,
and the men who had crossed swords in war,
now clasped hands in peace, with heartiness
which left no room for doubt that they were
not whit more earnest in the strife of the
past, tQdu III lu6 TtCOuCllldtiUu VI pICoCuu.
The reception given by Mayor Cobb at Music
Hall on the evening of the 10th was felicitous
prelude to the parade of the succeeding day.
1t gave the desired opportunity for the inter-
change of courtesies between gallant men from
various sections of the Union, for mutual
pledges of good WILL and for assurances on all
hands that the pacifcation between vic
tors and vanquished was complete and perfect.
There was no offensive affectation of magma
nimity on the one side, no humiliating assump-
ton of repentance on the other. The blues
and grays intermingled on common terms, con-
tent to consign the past to history and re-
solved to maintain amity in the future. The
scene was inspiriting. The very atmosphere
was redolent with kindness and good feeling.
The place and the time were opportune for
restoration of harmony and the messengers of
concord were fifty chosen. South Carolina be-
gan the rebellion, and Massachusetts was fore
most in the mastering of armies to suppress
it. There was an especial appropriateness in
selecting the soil of the latter on which to
erect the altar wherein was to be laid the vo-
tive offering of fealty to the Republic, and in
numbering the sons of the former among the
priests who were to assist in performing the
sacred rites. And certainly no spot in all
the broad land could be better adapted to the
purpose than the hallowed ground of Bunker
Hill; nor any date more seemly than the hum
dredth anniversary of the first struggle fer colo
NAL independence
The century has marked growth in ma
terial things and in ideas of government that
is equally remarkable and healthful The alb
surd doctrine of divine right to rule is ex-
ploded and the predatory theory that one man
may own another has been swept out in a
crimson tide of blood. Boston does not de-
scend now to the mercenary role of shop keep
er, and submissively send fugitive from
bonds and wrong back to the lash and auction
block to propitate exactng customers. The
grand thing about this magnificent festival,
is that SO far from making any draft upon
the honor or manhood of the participants
1t vitalizes both. 1t is a frank and graceful
recognition of issues settled and principles es-
tablished by the stern arbitrament of musketry
and cannon.
The demonstration was worthy in all respects
of the event it common grated. The procession
embraced nine divisions, and was six miles in
length. Its triumphal march through the
principal streets of Boston and Charlestown
was made through dense crowds of applauding
people of both sexes and all ages The houses
in the route were tastefully decorated, and
everv door and window was filled with SYM
pathetic spectators thoroughly imbued with
the patriotic spirit of the occasion. 1t is esti-
mated that not less than half a million per-
SONS took part in the gltterilg show as actors
or as lockers on. Columbus Avenue cleaned
with supernal splendors. Every vacant lot
had been converted into a gallery, and every
seat was occupied. Some of them were throng
ed with Sunday School children beautifully
dressed and their bright eyes and eager faces
produced the enchanting effect of a fairy
scene. Every house on Chester Square gave
hearty welcome to the mighty cavalcade with
smiles, waving of handkerchiefs and soul stirring
cheers. All the way down Washington Street
to Union Park thence to fremont and Boylston
Streets through Washington Street again, and
from there through devious ways to the old
classic ground about Faneuil Hall, there was
an equal density of 'upturned faces,'' and an
equally cordial round of reclamation.
1t was the most decorous as well as the
largest multitude that was ever gathered to.
gether in America. There was no disorder
inebriety nor rudeness The enthusiasm was as
spontaneous and genuine as it was ami mated
and unfagging. Indeed no words of panegyric
can exaggerate the matchless excellence with
which the rulers and people of New England's
metropolis conducted themselves on the men,
orable day. No expense was spared, no civil
ity omitted. Visitors from far and near we're
recipients Of a hospitality as elegant as it was
generous, and the imposing holiday will be
forever cherished in the recollections of those
who shared in it as exceeding all others in
significance, grandeur and glory