Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-05
4 NOTABLE ANrrvgasARY.

Perhaps what will prove the last of our
centennial celebrations In commemoratior
OF events OF the long struggle chat resulted
in giving liberty to this people, and re.
public of unexampled grandeur TO the
world, Is about 60 be observed with impos.
ing denominations at Newburgh, N. Y.
It was here that Washington in the latter
days Of the revolution bad his headqusr.
tiers. The quaint old stone house still
stands on bluff overlooking She majestic
Hudson, and up which five Of our ships
of war sre now making their way TO take
part in the ceremonies appointed to mark
the passage of the last of the great ami
vorsaries Of tina var Of the revolution,
which are measured b. the sweep of hun
dTed years Of historic time. The heavy
walls of masonry. the sge-bGopzed cedar
rafters, the low, narrow windows, the
beetling caves, the generous, open fire.
places, the steep and bending roof, al re-
main to-day as in the time when Washing
ton trod the heavy oaken floors and pom
dered OF the fate OF the possible nation to
whick he had given the best Of life and the
whole Of his heart. It was in this old
house that Washington entertained foreign
guests, and held councils with the states.
men of the country. Here, on the 22d
dag Of May, 1882, Colonel Nicola pre-.
scented to the Commsnder-in- Chief a paper,
signed by the leading officers of his army,
urging him 60 assume ihe crown
and rule as dictator over the
States for which he had suffered 80
much. The document recited the dangers
of the period, the faint hopes entertained
of stable republic being established, the
necessity fer a strong Government, and
the advisability Of constitutional mon
archy, which might prove equal to the task
of securing TO the victOrs the fruits of their
long struggle. He refused the crown with
scorn, and reprehended the men who had
so mistaken the grain and fiber of his pa.
triotie devotion to the cause OF liberty. Il
was al Newhurgh, on the 18Th of March,
1888. that Washington met his diaafected
officers, who had been called together by an
inAammatory appeal to meet in antagoniam
TO the struggling republic, and oppose it by
arms. At that meeting he lifted his voice
in solemn warning, and coniured the men
who had fought with him SO
long for liberty and were then at
the very gate of victory not to turn
backward from the cause of humanity.
His sincere eloqusuoe, his unselfsh ex-
ample and bis pathetic appeal saved the
army to the nation and snatched it from
the very brink of despair. Il was on the
18th day of April, 1888, at Nswburgh,
that Washington proclaimed TO the army
that peace had been declared and hoatili-
ties wonld be known no more. On the ISth
of October, 1888, the army was diabanded
by order of Congress, and on the 81 of No.
vember occurred the parting scenes between
the worn, ragged, moneyless soldiers o
the patriot army, Washington havinef
called them up for the last time to hear his
farewell words. These events, and the
host of attendant ones that clustered about
them, are to be oommemorated on the 18th
instant at Newburgh. It is fitting that
such celebration should take place, and
there. The ground is rich in patriotic
recollections. Every foot of the soil sug.
gesss thoughts that should stir the most
apathetic with patriotic resolves. Every
feature of the landscape, the well pre-
served relics, the memory of the sorrows
snd suffsringa of the soldiers Of the revo-
.utiou at Newhurgh, the sweep of memory
down the hundred years of the nations
history that lie behind the cid stone house
upon the nights whence Washington anx-
icusly watched tho ships of the enemy