The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-02-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular CORRESPONDENCE

Washington, Feb. 20 1885.
President-elect Cleveland's Cabinet
the dedication OF the Washington Monu
ment, which took place to-day, and the
near approaching inauguration are thu
prevailing topics here. AS the date TO
the dedicatory ceremonies Of the monu
ment drew near, interest centeret
around the imposing shaft erected to thu
memory of the Father of his Country
But little was done in preparation TO
the occasion at the monument itself
The stand from which the speeches
were delivered, and which was blown
down a few days since, was rebuilt
| The little shops around the base of the
monument were removed, electric lights
were placed inside the structure, the
elevator was was provided with seats
and some other temporary touches were
added for the convenience Of the pub
| lie. The city awoke that morning Ill O
hutter of excitement over the event
Many visitors had come to participate
| in the celebration. Citizens, men
woman, nurses and children turned Out
upon the streets TO see the procession
march from the monument to the capi-
| tai. 1t was department holiday, and
thousands of department clerks swelled
The throngs on the sidewalks. The pro
cession was the only part OF the didica'
ton with the exception oi the pyrotech-
mic display, that the general public was
permitted 10 enjoy. The oratory prayers,
some special music, anu other iornall'
ties were reserved for the Hall OF Rep
resentatives, and were necessarily ex-
elusive. Congress, the Supreme Court,
the Diplomatic Corps, and other special.
ly invited guests monopolized the toor
hs, Ln,,oa. nhila 0aIIariAa
giyen I'D to the sisters and the cousins
and the aunts of members OF congress,
and to their specially invited friends.
Still, the people did not care much for
that. They could read the oratory and
prayers next day, amid comfortable sur
roundings, and the procession was the
most attractive part of it all. The nod
ding plumes and brilliant uniforms OF
the military. the bright regalia OF civic
organizations moving about preparatory
to forming in line, floating streamers
and the tumult of brass bands i'll every
direction presented striking scene.
About fifteen hundred persons had
tickets to the grand stand at the Monu-
ment to hear the speeches there. The
stand was decorated with flags, banners
and bunting which tapped noisily in
the crisp, wintry air. The pageant was
marshalled by General Sheriden, and
during its march from the Monument
to the Capitol, a battery of artillery near
by, simultaneously with batteries sta
toned at Fort Myer and the Navy
Yard, fred q salute OF one hundred
minute guns. The President, Justices
of the Supreme court, Senator'S and Rep
resentatiyes rode to the Capitol in car
riages of uniform pattern and decora-
tons, and all the aids, representing
States and Territories, were furnished
with horses. About five hundred men,
bers of the Presidents mounted guard
were in line, and the Grand Army of
the Republic was also largely represent
ed. But the leading feature Of the par
AIDE was the part taken by the order Of
Free Masons, notwithstanding the recent
petition to Congress, protesting against
any Masonic observance at the dedica-
ton, on the ground that Washington
was not in sympathy with the order
during his latter years. AS early as last
Thursday the Masons began TO arrive In
the city in large numbers. The grand
lodges of the various states were repre-
sented, in addition to which the grand
chapels and grand encampments OF the
order of Knight Templars were in at
tendance. These bodies with their rich
regalia added greatly to the appearance
of the procession. Throughout the day
a collection was served to which all Wis
ting masons were invited. At night q
banquet was given to the brotherhood
at which the most distinguished masons
In the United States were present in
Guiding number of Senators and Rep
resentstives, who have held high posi-
tons in Masonry. Only nine members
are now living, who were members Of
the senate In 1913, whom that hsdy 1T