Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-27

greater than Moses, to stretch forth his
hand and raise the dead frame of national
union to life.
With what manly humility and modest
simplicity which always invested his great
ness, like the rosy hue that suffuses the
awful summit of Mont Blanc, Washington
writes in his dairy on the 10th OF April,
1889: About ten O'Clock bade adieu to
Mount Vernon, to private life. and to do
mestic felicity, and with a mind oppressed
with more anxious and painful sensations
than ] have words to express, set out for
New York, with the best disposition to
render service to my country in obedience
to its call, but with less hope of answering
its expectation" From State to State, from
town to town, along that triumphal way
from Mount Vernon, the air murmurei
with benedictions as he passed. Under
laureled arches and walking upon flowers,
amid the music OF bells, the thunder OF
cannon. the acclamations of the people, the
singing of hymns, ana the eloquence of
yotiye addresses, Washington came at last
10 New York, and landed at the foot of this
street,
Amid Such Joyous Exultation
as New York had never known. After a
week had passed, the great object of his
coming was to be accomplished, and on
the 30th of April, 1889, the procession at
tending the President moved from his
house on franklin Square, through Pearl
street to Broad, and through Broad street
TO the spot upon which We are now as
sembled.
But the majesty OF the event was not its
circumstance il was its import. a people
whose courage and endurance in the field,
and whose capacity of local selt-government
had been amply tested, was here to take
its place as united republic beside the
ancient and powerful mOnarchies Of Chris
tendon. 1t was to do this amid the scorn
full distrust of the world, and involved in
domestic jealousies, and vast and obscure
internal perils. The hope OF success lay
apparently in one man, reVered and be-
loved as no other man had ever been, anu
upon the successful issue of the trust to
which he was here solemnly devoted.
Wnat scene in human history transcends
the grandeur and significance OF that con-
secratiOn?
Near Washington stood John Adams,
Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman,
Chancellor Livingston, General Knox,
General Sinclair, Baron Steuben and other
famous men. The Chancellor, in his robes,
solemnly recited the words of the oath.
The Secretary of the Senate raised the
Bible, Washington bent low, and audibly
saying, 81 swear, so help me God" rever:
entity kissed the book. 1T is done," cried
the Chancellor, Long live George Wash
ington, President of the United States"
Long live George Washington" shouted
the people in one resounding cry OF exul.
tation. Long live George Washington" 4"
rang all the bells and roared all the canron
of a continent. Long live George Wash.
ington," echoed every heart and voice in
the world that pleaded and beat for liberty.
Almost hundred years have passed, but
more reyerently, more universally, more
gratefully now than ever, in all civilized
lands in which the greatness OF his exam
pie has exalted the estimate OF human
character and the standard of human con-
duct, every people fervently prolong the
PRAYER, Long live George Washington
Fellow citizens, the solemn dedication OF
Washington to
This August and Triumphant Task
is the event which this statue will COM
memorate to unborn generations. Else
where, in bronze and marble, and upon
glowing canvas, genius has delighted to in
vest with the Immortality OF art the best
beloved and most familiar OF American Zig
uIes. The engineer of the Virginia wilder
ntsS the leader Of the revelation, the pres
idrnt, The msn, are known to all men; they
are everywhere beh-id and revered. But
here, at last, upon the scene OF the crown
ing event of his life, and OF his country's
iiie-here, in the tbrO5Ding heart OF the
great city, where il will be daily seen by
countless thousands, here in the presence
of the President of the United States, Of
the Governor OF New York, Of the othcia,
authorities Oi other States ne tL- % '9AhI%eu
body OF New York merchants who, as In
other years, they have led the city in so
many patriotic deeds upon this spot, lead
now in this COmmemOration OF the greatest,
and finally, OF this vast and approving con-
conrse of American citizens, We raise this
calm and admonishing form. Its malesuc
repose shall charm and subdue the II u IT,
tudinous life that heaves and murmurs
around it, and as the moon draws the
swsying tides of ocean, its lofty serenity
shall lift the hurryiug crowd to unseihsh
thoughts, to generous latflotlsm, 10
nObler life.
Here Descended Upon Our Fathers
the benediction of the personal presence OF
Washington. Here may the moral grand
eur of his character and his life inspire
our children's children forever!
AT the close of Mr.. Curtis Grafton the
vast assemblage united in singing Praise
GCd from whom all blessings tlow." AS
sistant Bishop Potter pronounced the bene'
ediction aud the people went OFT to look al
the procession. Thousands OF persons wit
messed the proceedings from the adjacent
windows OF buildings. In the evening
there were many social gatherings. The
Seventh Regiment held a grand reception
i'm honor of the visiting Governors and
their stats. At the theatres national airs
we're given by the orchestra. The tact IS
the celebration of the one hundred aunl-
versary of the evacuation OF this city by
the British
viii Long be Remembered
by all who took part in it, either officially
or as spectators. What dimensions the
affair would have assumed had the weather
been propiticus, it is impossible to even
guess. As It was, with all its disadvsu.
ts@es Of lowering clouds and rain. cold
winds early in the morning, followed first
by heavy mist and then by pitiless rain as
the morning grew older, the public out
pouring was marvellous in its dimensions.
Trains, cars and ferry bosts which carry
workers to their places of business every
morning are generally lightly laden on
holiday occasions, but this morning they
were tested TO their fullest capacity. The
ferry boats in the East river were crowded
as if the great bridge had never been heard
of. and the bridge itself was thoroughfare
for thousands of pedestrians, while the
grip cars were filled with passengers
Pack ed ia Like Sardines in Box.
In Brooklyn there was no life anywhere
early this morning, except in those streets
Which led to the bridge or ferries, and IN
them the streams of travel all flowed in one
direction. A similar phenomenon was OBJ
se1yable on the New Jersey side OF North
river, and it was commonly remarked that
the ferry boats set apart for the naval pro-
cession could i'll be spared from the per
formance of their everyday duties. Moth
ing was needed to crown the occasion with
the completest triumph except the one
blessing Of fine day, which was denied
But even the rain was powerless 70 rob the
celebration of more than a small portion OF
its significance and impressiveness. The
vast crowds which lined the streets along the
route OF the procession would have presented
a gayer and more varied spectacle If they
had not been rooted in with umbrellas,
but more bulk and more solidity OF the
assemblage were things to be remembered
The effect of the wster parade was greatly
diminished by the thick and rainy weather.
but The display of steam vessels was never
tbelsss most striking proof OF the