The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-28

act of Congress to commemorate his taking
the oath of Office on this spot as the first
President.
President Arthur, replying. said:
Mr. President AND FELLOW CTTiENs-It is ft-
ting that other lips than mine should give voice TO
the sentiments OF pride and pleasure which tEis
occasion not fail TO inspire in every breast
To myself has been assigned but a slight part in
the Gays services, and shall not exceed It's be-
coming limits. nave come 10 this historic spot,
where the first President OF the Republic took the
oath 10 preserve protect and defend IT'S Constitu-
ment this tribute TO his memory. Long may the
noble statue you have here set mp stand where you
have placed IL, monument alike To your own
generosity and public spirit and TO the wisdom
and virtue and genius of the immortal Washing
ton.
The Chairman then introduced Geo. VIM.
Curtis as orator OF the day.
MB. CURTIS GRAFTON.
The great series OF revolutionary centennial eel
ebratiOns ends fitly upon this day and upon this
spot The mOmentous events tnat marked the
opening the culminRtion and the close OF tue con-
hIct have been duly commemorated and for eight
years the iull-stTetched memory oil the country a
harp of thousand strings swept by patriotic emo
revolutionary story, To-day the revolutionary
story ends At this hour q hundred years ago,
lhe lasI Briusn sentry was Wlthurawn. me in
over which it had Boated for 40 years, and in its
place the Stars aud Stripes OF American lnde-
pendence flashed in the sun. Fleet ana
and ribbon, every sign and symbol o! ioreixn au-
thority, which from Concord TO Saratoga and from
Saratoga 10 Yorktown. had sought 10 subdue the
Colonies, vanished from these shores. Colonial
and provincial America had ended; National
America had begun; and after the lapse OF a hun
dTed years the cradle song OF the hope and promise
of our national nativity isstll the pan of our ma
Sae pS%et and assured m PTS'Psr6y glory to God in
Yet more S0Tr0wiul departure history does not
record. In that humiliating moment, the fruit OF
the victories of the elder Pitt which had girdled
the globe with British glory and had
supplied the pretext for taxing America.
crumbled TO ashes The catastrophe was
that England was wounded. IL was not a field
lost, twas an Empire rent asunder. IL was not
blunder OF military strategy. IL was a moral mis-
calculation; As her wiscst statesmen had predict
ed, England had fallen upon her own sword; and
she mad drawn II against herself. In striking AT
her kindred IN America she struck al the political
traditions, the immemorial rights. the jealous lib
erty, which the hereditary pride OF the English
name. But none the less the political separation
of the two countries was complete. England had
declined the greatest opportunity that was ever
offered TO great Nation. and America panoplied
the sturdy self reliance OF indomitable conviction
and of conscious power, turned 10 carry forward
as new Nation, under other conditions
and through other institutions, the eSrdi-
nal principles OF constitutional liberty.
This day, therefore, commentaries the end of
new. With the evacuation OF New York monarchy
ended: with the Inauguration OF Washington the
National Republic began. The result indeed. had
been ioretold by the course OF events through all
the colonial period, which eliminated in the total
overthrow OF British power and surely and resist
lessly as the revolution OF the globe through the
darkness Of the night turns the continent 20 the
morning. the progressive DEVELOPMENT OF the Colo
mics brought the great consumatOn of American
National Union. which consecrates this spot .
The times that tried mems souls in this country
were rather in 80 than in lI76, for the colonial
ability TO win Independence involved neither the
righteousness OF the cause the character of the
people. The Revolution had proved their valor
the new situation tested their wisdom and with
n " 10 had haQn vafF
But what American does not know. ana proudly
own, that the perpetual and inspiring assurance OF
that event, the cheer OF the weary march, the JOY
Of the victory, the confidence of Congress- the
pride and hope OF America, was the Character OF
Washington
No voice for powerful Union was earlier
stronger, or more constant than his. The fervor
OF his conviction kudled the faith OF the country.
Samuel Adams might hesitate and Patrick Henry
doubt, but Washington was sure. Union alone
had won independence union alone could secure
it, without union there was no common revenue.
no common regulation OF commerce, no settle
ment OF common territory. DO common bond be-
tween adjacent States Devotion 70 liberty and
loyalty 10 law, proceeding with equal Step. have
consummate flower from the gloom of the ancient
Germon forest TO the imperial spendor OF England
From the balcony Of lie hall bat stooa S' ssTc the
Declaration OF Independence was first read 10 tho
citizens OF New York, and, although the enemy's
fleet had entered the harbor, the people, as they
listened, tore down the roval arms from the walls
OF the hall and burned them in the street. as their
neI! paulOtlsm was about 70 consume the royal
power in the province Here sat the Continental
Congress in its closing days Here John Jaw nre-
pared the instructions OF John Adams, the first
American Minister TO Great Britain and here the
Congress received Sir John Temple the first British
COnsul-General TO the United States Here Jeffers
son was selected hv Con~~"ss as Minister TO France
and kts Secretary Jay with lie same equsSle ui..ld
aud clear comprehension and unhendlnS .egIty
that hfterwaru illustrated the first Exercise OF the
judicial power of the linton, directed the foreign
affairs Of the Confederation. Here, also when the
Id tl.a Er1f Qf
the Union assembled. Indeed, we are envsloped
by inspiring memories and kindling local associa-
tons. Honder, almost within sound OF my voice,
still stands the ancient and famous inn where the
Commander in Chief tenderly parted with his Of
hcers, and there, over the way, where once
modest mansion stood, the Federalist was chiefly
written. The very air about this hallowed spot is
the air OF American patriotism.
Almost q hundred years have passed, but more
than ever in all civilized lands in which the great
ness Of bis example has exalted the estimate OF
human character ana me stanoard Oh nnman con-
Long live George WaShingt0np"
The task upon which he entered here was inf
nitely greater than that which he undertook when,
fourteen years before, he drew his sword under
the elm at Cambridge as Commander-in Chief OF
the Continental Army. To lead people In revo-
and without a crime, demands, indeed lofty gen
ius and unbending virtue, The power OF his
personal character MS peneirapng iofsgns snG
the myriad elements that threatened to
Overwhelm the mighty undertaking, are all un-
paralleled Nothing but harmony, honesty in
dustry and frugality," he said to Lafayette, 'are
necessary to make Us great and happy peoples"
pose that Government could be established or
maintained by lofty professions OF virtue No
mans perception OF the indispensability OF great
principles TO the successful conduct of great affairs
was ever more unclouded than his. but no man had
ever learned by more prolonged or arduous ex-
perence that infinite patience, sagacity, torbear-
ance and wise concession must attend infiexible
principle II great affairs are 10 be greatly admin
istered.
Fillow citizens, the solemn dedication Of Wash
ington 10 this august and triumphant task Is the
event which this statue will commemorate 10 un-
born generations. Elsewhere, in bronze and mar
bic aud upon glowing can vas, genius has delighted
10 invest with the Immortality OF art the best
beloved and most familiar OF American figures.
of the Revolution, the President. the man, are
known 10 all men, they ara everywhere beheld
and revered. But here, at las, upon the scene of
the crownng event OF his life, and of his countrys
lnehere, in the throbbing heart of the great city
where ii will be daily seen by countless thousands,
here in the presence OF the President OF th9 United
States of the Governor of New York. OF the ofical
lied 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 cornmemo-
ration of the greatest and finally of this vast and
approving concourse OF American citzens, We
raise this calm and admonishing form. It's males
tic repose shall char and subdue the multitude
nous life that heav and murmurs around IL, and
as the moon draws the swaying udes OF ocean. us
lofty serenity shall lift the hurrying crowd TO un-
nober life. Here descended uron our fathers the
benedictiOn of the personal pr1sence of Washing