The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-27
THE NEW S.
One Hundred Years Ago-Geiebraiisn of t
yorktown Centennial.

: Lafayette and Sieu5eB. the governors 81
the states and congressman. began to 5r
rive NJ Lafayette hail ai5ont II O'Clock
! Gen Hancock arrived at noon and paid
his respects 10 the governor Of Virginia
! The Two passed some time in pleasant
senied to the General and he warmly
shook each by the haad. About 1880
President Arthur, accompanied b. Sec
: retaries Hunt, james and Lincoln, was
driven to the entrance oil Lafayette Hall,
and were received by master OF ceremo-
MES Cerbin. The president shook hands
Il with the distinguished persons present
q A line was then formed and the party
8 marched to the grand stand, where the
ceremony OF laying the cornerstone of
the monument was 30 take place, under
the auspices of the Masonic fraternity.
The Masonic procession looked impos-
ing with Tiers aud drawn swords, the
stewards bearing white rods. Master
Masons, deacons, secretaries aud treas
urers, six abreast, followed by the visit
ing brethren and the grand comnlan-
derles of Virginia and other siates-all
these were an escort to the president OF
the United States, cabinet officers, CON
gEEssmea, naiianaI guests aud the army
app navy officers, who were attended
also by all the troops Of all arms of the
| oNANASS III tEiC LfNSlGGDt- AfltlUr
~sas loudly checrttt By me crowd during
his march 10 the grand stand.
When all had taken the places assign
ed them, the ceremonies were opened
| with prayer by Rev. Robert Nelson, The
grandson Of Governor Nelson, who COM
mandsd the Virginia militia ct York
| town. He thanked God for the one
hundred years blessing vouchsafed the
country, for Washington, fer our, allies
and fpr our victory; and prayed that
the people of this land might not pride
| themselves too much upon their own
achievements aud prosperity, but that
they might thank and trust the Lord
He prayed for peace among all nations
| and for fraternal concord among the
sections of our common country He
| prayed for The rulers Of the land, that
| they might be pure, and for the peoule
| that they might learn 10 love and serve
| the Lord. At The conclusion of his.
prayer, the bsnd pIayei the "Star Span
| gled Banner" with ;ln nrtillrry accom-
| paniment.
| Gov. Holiday, of Virginia, then de-
| livered the address of welcome The
governor has fine presence, a clear
| voice, and earnest manner, and was
! frequently asplauded, especially by the
| distinguished gentlemen who sat around
him His allusion TO the unity of senti.
nent, purpose and destiny of all sections
of our common country, were greeted
| with enthusiastic applause.
The United States senator, J. w
johnson, of Virginia, chairman of the
congressional commission, then made an
few appropriate remarks, in which he
sketched the history of the surrender;
read from original documents an ac-
count of the action of congress at the
time; exhibited the sword voted to tue
messenger who bore the news of the sur
render, and alluded to the fact that w. w
Henry, grandson of Patrick Henry, and
Rev. DR.. Nelson, Il grandson of Gov. Mel
son, were on the stand. In conclusion,
he said, that the column now, to be
erected was to commemorate, not only
the victory of the colonies, but the part
taken in that victory by France, as Il
recognition and acknowledgement of the
aid given by France to this country, in
the hour of it's need, was solemn duty
left by the continental congress 10 its
successors: and now after the lapse of
100 years, the congress of thirty-cight
states and 50,000,000 Of people, the con-
gress of Il nation which stretches from
the Atlantic to the Pacific is fulfilling
that duty. Three millions OF people
and thirteen colonies accomplished a
great work and now 50,e00,000 of
BSOplC anu JhA1 SlSstCS aES (Ct(-
brating it. Participating in this eelebra-
ton are representatives of the French
nation here, at the invitation OF this gov
ernment Again the French soldiers
tread on American soil and French yes
sells ride the waters Of the York river.
The model of the monument 10 be erect
ed Is here before nss@Ti1irteen female
figures, representing the thirteen colo
MES, support upon their shoulders col
ia,
ty-eight states, and are crowned by 4
idea that from thirteen colonies grew
thirty eight states, and sprung the tru-
est and most thorough aud genuine lib
erty ever enjoyed by any people. On
the four sides of the base and carry
ing out the original design of
the continental congress, are emblems
of alliance between the United States
and his most Christian majesty, and
succinct narrative of the surrender of
Earl Cornwallis. And now, as an appro-
pirate opening of our celebration, the
corner stone of the monument will be
laid with all the grand and solemn cere-
monies BETTING so great an occasion, by
the order of the Ancient, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, of which Washington
himself was chief member.
The workmen, under the direction of
the grand master of Virginia, then laid
the corner stone according TO the ancient
and honorable rite. The chair was oc-
cupied by the grand master on the coca
sion, which was the one which Lord
Bottcntourt, the loyal governor of the
Old Dominion, presented the grand
lodge Of Virginia, and IN which George
Washington sat when grand master of
Virginia. The MaSon'S sash and apron
was worn by Grand Master Peyton The
| scales OF Virginia were worked by Mrs
Lafayette and presented Washington in
| 1874 at Mount Vernon, afterward in
1912 they were given TO Washington
lodge at Alexandria, Va, by Maj. Law
renee Lewis. The grael was made
from a portion of thequarter deck of the
| United States frigate Lawrence, the flag
ship of Commodore Perry at the battle
and victory ON Lake Erie September 10Th,
| 1918, and was presented to- the Masonic
| Veterans association by the venerable
brother N. w. Rev. Marshall B. Smith,
| June I'd, 1880.
| Judge w. B.Welford, of Virginia. Ma
sonic orator, then made an eloquent adj
| dress, at the conclusion of which the
| ceremonies ended.
| Immediately afterward Pre- stdent Ar
thur and party left Yorktown on the
steamer Dispatch. The steamer bearing
| the French commission, Secretary
/ Blaine and others was in the stream
| some two hours and a half before they
were discovered from the shore, and
while the corner stone was being laid.
| Secretary Blaine came TO the govern
ment dock and sent word to the author
/ tiles in charge, but it was too late, as
| the ceremonies were completed, and the
party returned to Talapoosa. The scene
| on the river front was an inspiring one.
| Men-Ofwar, steamers, tugs, sailing YES
/ sells, yachts, all decked with flags and
| steamers, saluted the arriving dignItar-
| les, gay uniforms, military, knights
| templar, etc, music OF the bands, and
| drums and flies as the troops landed and
marched to their quarters, and crowds
| of people of all nationalities and condi-
| tions, who gathered on the batteries or
wandered over the grounds, all combin-
| ed to make a scene of deep interest.
| There were the usual drills at the camps
to-day, and they were witnessed by
| thousands of spectators. Nearly all
the troops have arrived The
/ Delaware battalion, the first and
only national guard organiza
| tion that Delaware has had since the
late war, is here. The ninth Massa-
chusetts regiment reached Yorktown
| from Richmond about 4 80 this morn
| ing Their behavior on entering camp
| was such as TO cause Gen. Hancock TO
make official complaint to General
Grubb, officer of the day, who has the
matter under consideration.
| Many distinguished persons in the
camp were senenaded III the camp at
nightfali.
The first Virginia regiment and Rich
mond light infantry blues did not ar
rive until late this afternoon, having
been detained en- route.
Three hundred vocalIsts, who were 10
sing national songs at the laying of the
corner stone. were likewise delayed and
were necessarily omitted on The pro