The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-25
OUR CIVIC CELEBRATIONS.
WHAT NEW YORK CAN DO IN THE
war or A mo SNOW.


The manner IN which New York pro-
poses to celebrate the Centennial OF American
Indr pendence recalls by contrast the great civic
celebrations OF the past century. II Is long
time since the trades and societies have made
s1ch a demonstration as they propose to mako
on the eve Of the Fourth, but 1t will be difficult
to surpass the pageants that nave gone before.
Even the 300 butchers who will ride In the caval-
cade viii Ind that their ancestors in the craft
made "a gallant a turnout before this century
had CONNIE ced.
The nrst great parade that took place In this
city after the evacuation OF the British forces
was known as the Great Federal Procession In
honor Of the Federal Constitution. On the 18th
OF September, 17SS the adoption OF the Consu-
tuition was publicly announced, and New York
chosen ne the seat Of Government. This ao-
ton of the Convention was peculiarly gratifying
to our citizens, as they had the satisfaction of
knowing that they had contributed largely to
the result The anti-Federalsts. led by Gov.
Clinton, bitterly opposed the adoption OF the
Constitution by New York. though ten States
had already ratified It. Alexander Hamilton
and John Jay, on the other hand, headed
a formidable minority. The State was decidedly
with Clinton. while the city favored the FEEDER /
ists. On the nth Of June, 1888. the State Con-
ventIon met at Poughk eepsie to settle the mat
ador ton Of the Constitution, public demon
stration was made In this city 10y the Federal
lists, which, though II was the first procession OF
the Kind ever seen here. has remained uneur-
passed to this day IN the ardor OF its enthusiasm
The procession was organized "in the Fields"
that Is, In the present city Hall park then quite
out OF town. II moved Gown Bro dway to
Pearl. thence M to II nnvcr square, and across
~ the grounds surrounding the country seat OF
Nicholas Bavard. no T the present Junction II
urOud AMI (tr md street where "A grand bar
h que in n pavilion set with pla 90 for six thou
sand people closed he ceremonies.
| Five thousand persons were In the proce ssion.
! After brilliant military escort came \ band OF
fnresters with axes. headed 10y Captain Moore as
second division In which Nichols CruRer drove
six.Ox team, J'bn Watts held plough aud
! llaron Poelnitz attended thrcshing machine.
| The tailorS followed in brilliant display. and
! these were SUI 'ceeded by the bakers. with the
| ten feet long and three wide. The brewers
| turned Out IN large numbers, with hOgsheads
s snJ 'uns, and With i'ynsS by BssSnp h Of
each thirteen years old, dressed IN white. a keg
undei the lett arm and oougn OF white oak IA
| their tight hand. headed the delegation Of coop
ers. Upon "A large ear their jOurneymen were at
work. broken cask represented the old con-
FEEDER ,cv; u ine, tight, ron-bound key. bearing
the name Of the new Constitution, prengured the
United States.
! The butchers turned ont IN large nun hers md
made a nne display. A lag OF nne linen display
| ed on the standard the coat Of arms. VIZ: three
bullocks' heads. two axes crcssway, boar's
]
lamb, with the motto,
sSn me well dress me neat.
And send me aboard the Federal nect.
A stage with stalls followed. and IN the rear
rode one hundred butchers, ON fine horses. with
! clean white aprons and ~teeis attached to theft
sides. A car IN their part OF the procession held
roasted OK Weighing 1000 pounds. The butcn-
ers were succeeded by the sons OF 81. Cri.pin,
! tanners curriers'. peruke makers, furriers, m a
sous painters, brick LAYERS. cauin I makers, u =
hostererS, Nc.. &c. preceding the Federal chalr
Of s. ate, gorgeous affair II baroaric pearl and
kRl Pa all - 10 nj a. IA we'd
then the Federal shin Hamilton came into view.
ana afterwards the printers. noOAOinder,, and
Game and Samuel Lsndon. They Nd car on
which the compostors were at work with a
hand press. printing patriotic ode winch was
| distributed TO the multitude. rWenty-one SUD
divisions ~ trades came after them. and then
the lawyers, tine learned prote ssOns, literary So
ceties, the Chamber ~ Commerce, members Of
congress, then In session in New York, and dis
tingusnen citizens closed the choice pageant.
1he Federal snid Hamilton was the most strik-
ins TEA ure OF all. Ii was a per. Getty cOnstru /
keel. ana ten feet beam. she was commanded
b, the Revolutionary nero. Commodore NtcnOl.
s'n, ana W ws,,, n'anned 9E ,h M, seateh ana
oi-war greeted her with a salute Of thirteen
guns, which wer' returned hy the Hamilton,
with great prpmptuess. lhe arches, decora-
uons. and notices on this occasion were IN
Keeping with the maenncence n the rest ~ the
pageant a favorite device WAS he thirteen
stItes represented 10y thirteen stars, ten Of
half Illuminated, and two Rhode Island and
North Carohn0 "e.e obscured.
LAFAYErTr's WELCOME
The next August celebration In this CITY took
place IN the summer OF 1874. on tue occasion of
the visit OF Laiu,ettr. The Sencr bic noblemau,
then In his sixty-scveuth year. arriy a in the
hsrbOr on the 18th ~ August accompanied hy
| MS son George Washington Latayetle 10 the
great SUNRISE 81 the modest Frenchman,
grand pubic reception was EXTENDED 10 tim,
ana naval as well - civic pIge mi was arranged
u d. HIN honor. Landing n Castle Garden ON
cirpetcd STAIRS prepared for the occasion, ana
under AN Gu, richly decorated with hags and
laurel, the ola hero was ~. eted 10y the huzzas
Of thousands. aud at once found himself hold
lug the place OF honor In trocession such ~
The city had not seen since the DAYS when the
Federal Constitution was adopted. In the even
ing the old CITY Hotel I'm Broad way near CEDAR
where the Marquis had his quarters was DIil-
hantly ilumin ted, Us were also tue City Hall
aud other pIblic buildings; the theatres and
gardens Displayed iranspafencies. and fireworks
biazcd everywhere. 1t 10 noteworthy that
Enocn Crosby-better known to Us through
feoimore Copper as hd'r'p Birch the spy 4
tho carriage on tins OCCASION there are old
New Nuikers who watched the procession ~
that v, as Il passed up Broadwty and through
Canal street Uhen the practical boundary Of the
city), VINO remember the faces OF these two mer
tnus hr"ugh. once more toset or on he d
cidence Lifayette and me SPY" deed In the
same ear, le5i, having liyod 10 see tue United
islence.
ERIE CANAL CELEBRATION.
On the AN Of November ls.j, the waters o.
Lake Erie aud the Atlantic were publicly weudel
at New York, and grand cele bratlun took place
/ IN honor Of the com l-tion OF the Erie canal. A
great fleet OF steamboats, and otncr vessel,
sailed down the narDor. and tho ceremony ul
cpmmingng the wat rs OF the lake with the
ocean were performed by GOV. Clinton. IN,
naval fete was superb and contemporar,
writer's say that II Tar exceeded IN splendur the
feie gwen 10y the Prince Regent Of England
upon the Thames during the visit of tue allied
sOVeregns Of Europe to London after the de
thronement OF ipoleon.
Inc civic procession WAS composed Of the
trades, benevolent, ma mechanic societies, and
was the largest ~ the KIND ever witnessed II
America" All the societies engaged in tn,
laudable strife OF trying to excel each other ~
the richness OF their banners and the ho iu,y and
taste exhibited IN their badges and decoration
Most OF them had cars OF gigantic structure. OF
whlch their respective artisans were h isih IN
gagged IN their several OCCUPATIONS Rich Turkey
and brussels carpets, costly gliding, an cufiOu.
ornaments helped al ne tie Hi,t fn-sctnc
Tue whole line marched six abreast. except tht
butcners whd roue 10y fDurs. headed hy I nom ,
Gibbons IA marshal. rney mad two cans. twenty
boys in white carrying tho implements Of the
or n. aud my butchers IA gray horses escOr.tu.
IL paisaded and so .ded pl tfurn, on whch
sheep and oxen we're grazing. one hundred md
MY Of the profession on blAcA horses followed
/ The Butchers BeneNulent Sncie closed the
division The military. Ere Department, nier
ch,n's, members Of literary ana scientific insti-
tut ons. prole -sonal men, state and cty officers
and invited guests swelled the ranks in an IN
II tatnA lhA l..l tatfN "a