New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-27
THE CENTENNIAL HOLIDAY.

The elements do not discriminate between
centennial anniversaries of supreme hlstollcai
Importance and the ordinary calendar days OF
human labor. Fair weather was all that was
needed to render yesterdays celebration OF the
British evacuation of New-GOrk splendid
fetc. This single gap in the arrangements OF
fine efficient committees of organization was not
filed. The elements apparently were chan-
tably disposed toward the mother country, and
aimed to mitigate the pangs of historical rem
iniscence, even a hundred years after the orig
inal discontinue. by REFRESHING the cXubcrance
of American patriotism. 1t was not the pro-
verbal Queens weather, which is reserved for
all State occasions in England, but a genuine
London day of drizzle and fog The rain began
at the very hour when the procession had been
ordered to form, and cnvclOpcd with wet
blanket the festivities of the entire day.
While the ardor of s0ldicry and societies was
dampcncd and the interest of the public was
IMPAIRED. the town show was enacted precisely
as it had been planned, and Notwithstanding
the unfavorablc conditions was an imposing
spectacle. Forty Thousand men were III line
The ranks of regiments, fire companies ana as
soCiationS were full, and the men did not desert
their posts 1t was an exhibition OF rcS0lutc
determination and answering pcrtlnaclty that
recalled some of the sterling qualities OF the
long suffering but uncOnquerablc Conincnt&lS,
who had entered New-YOrk a century before
when the scarlet line disappeared. The parade
was one of remarkable magnitude and variety,
the passage at any single point occupying over
four hours. The naval review was also a most
crcditable display the fog tending to make the
g ipYcpIlap 1f fines.
but not interfering seriously with this novel
and admirable feature of the day entertain
ment American energy and grit on land and
water were equal to the emergency caused by
the hostile elements. The vast cOnc0urSe OF
spectators filling the windows, lining the side
walks and occupying every colgn OF vantage
along the line of procession and on the
water front displayed the same traits of char
acter Delays were inevitable owing to the
mourning rain and dense fog, but the people
waited with admirable patience for the appear
ance of the slowly moving column and the dill
atory feet, enduring all the discomiOrts and
disappointmcnts of the day with fortltudc and
chcerfuncss and afOrding conspicuous proof
of the truthfulncss of the tritc saying that an
American crowd is the jollicst and best-tcm
pered of all crowds.
Mr.. Curtiss Grafton was the GROWING literary
event of the day 1t was delivered in the open
air under the most unfavorablc conditions for
the display of Oratory. Even Mr.. Webster
would have been listlcss in manner and in
cincd to slur the best portions of his historical
orations, if his piercing eye had roamed over
a drcnched expanse of umbrellas and water
proofs. The audience in front of the Sub
Treasury was good -naturcd and attentive in
spite of its own discomfort If it was not posi-
lively electrified by Mr.. Curtis's finished
periods and OratOrical graces, it was because
drcnching rain is an Indifferent conductor of
clOqucncc As for the address itself, it was Gle
waited in tone, original in conception and com
prehensiye i'll treatment, and was in every
sense worthy Of the time and place. 1t was not
a recital of the hackncycd details of the evac-
uatiOn itself, but series of reflections upon the
historical significance of the day as marking the
end of the old colonial order and the beginning
of the new Republic with its contingencies of
constitution making and national organization.
The responsibilities with which the first Presi-
dent was charged in experimenting the build
ing of a State that was destined to become a
vast industrial empire, progressive in its tend
encics and pacific and conservative in its meth
DDS of administration, formed the orators clos
ing theme. This mastery Grafton was dCliv-
cred from the stone on which Washington
stood when he took his first oath of Office as
President. The culogy appropriately accompan-
led the unveiingof Mr.. Wards admirable statue,
which President Arthur had accepted on behalf
of the Government. 1t is fortunate that the
festivities of the -hundrcdth Evacuation
Day have not passed without a permanent
memorial, not to the military genius but to the
constitutional services of the first President of
the Republic.
At the Chamber of Commerce banquet,
which fifty closed the celebration, after the
graceful speech of Mr.. ChOate, and the credit
able appearance and sturdy sentiments of our
Governor, the notable features were ram
bling, and in part a laundering speech by Gen
eral Butler, and an eloquent response from Mr..
Beecher. General Butler had some excellent
things to say, but did not appear at his best in
any part of his slip-shOd remarks; and he was
especially unfortunate in his characteristic fling
at the men of culture and position during tho
Revolution. The State which gave Hancock
and Adams and Quincy to that struggle-not 10