The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-23
The WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Its Dedication Ceremoais- Performed 10
an Atmosphere of Almost arctic
ChIttineas.

WAsENGToN, Feb. 2l.-with the mercury dowa
almost 70 zero and win northeriy breeze which
bore suggestion OF is Arctic origin, the sprink-
ling OF ticket bearer Who began Ill up tue
of tie grand stand az the base OF tie Washington
Monument al Il O'Clock ihis morning. did not sp-
pear TO DC Dent Upon pleasure. but vita their up
turned collars. nualad Gains, AID quick nervous
movements seemed as Il Inspired Oy stern sense
OF duty alOnc.
The first distinguished arrived was an old
gentleman with white hair whose drn. CIT
features be|rsyed possible relationship 70 the
father Of his country. Tickets I an one OF
Wsshingtons kindIej, but | will snow my
ticket" 1t was Ebenezsr Burgess Bal, % London
County, Virginia. Ny grandmother" h said,
"was George Washington niece
The military arrived betimes the brass bands
were marshalled 10 their places, the troops come
rest, and Senator Sherman, Chairman of the Joint
Congressional Commission, from the center OF the
stand at II O'Clock called about so people to
order, and said something about the people keep.
ing their hats on. These remarks were greeted
VITA lively stamps for the opportunity was good
restore circulation TO chilled lim os aud ex-
lremiiies. senator Sherman then proceeded 10
speak as follows:
The commission authorized by the two Houses
of Congress 10 provide suitable ceremonies for the
dedication OF the WASHINGTON Monument direct
me to preside and to announce tue order of cers-
monies dt emed roper on this occasion. l need
Dot say anything 10 impress upon you the dignity
o. the event you have met TO celebrate. The
nlrsble il proportion, composed of enduring
u 0ible and granite, resting upon foundations
~ oau Az o a. Tue tb eigS
posing. costly and appropriate monument ever
erected IN honor OF man. II has Its origin in tne
p ofOtnd conviction OF the people, irrespective IF
party, creed or race not only ia this country bit
ia all civilized countries, that tie name aud fame
OF Washington should be perpetuated by the
testimonial
tude 70 its hero, states and father. This uui-
verssl sentin ent took form in . movement of pri-
Washington National $ .ument Association,
who on the 3lst OF Janus45 1885, secured from
Congress an act authorizing them TO erect the
proposed monument this ground, selected as
the most appropriate site By the President Cf the
United States Its corner stone was laid on toe
attn OF ofJuly 1915. by the Masonic fraternity With
i'm posing ceremonies IN the presence of the calef Of
ficers OF the Government and a multitude o.
CltZenS III was partially erected by the National
Monument Association with the means furnished
by voluntary contributions o. the the people of
the United States. On the 5th of lly 1876 one
hundred years after the declaration Of American
Independence, Congress, in the name of the peO-
pie 81 the United States formally assumed aud III
tben the foundation has been strengthened. the
shaft has been steadily advanced and the now
completed structure stands before you. Ii is & ct
history. It looks down upon the see les
nest lovea by. him on earth, the most
full of objects deeply interesting 70
the American people aud al eyes turn to 1t; all
hearts feel To inspiration Of its beauty, symme-
iry and grandeur Strong ii is, 1t will not en-
0ure long the memory OF him in whose
hOpoF il was built. But while it stands Il will be
en evidence to many succeeding generations of
the 'Oye and reverence o. this generation Tor the
meme end fame OF George Washington, first IN
NaI. first in peace and irst in the hearts of MS
oountrymen. More even than this, the prototype
OF purity In manhood and pa riOtism for all lands
and all time. Without further prei0c proceed
10 discharge the duty assigned me
W. W CorcoIsD Inen described at length
the part taken 10 the initiation Of the
project and construction oil the monument
by the Washington National Monument
s0ciety,s and IN conclusion said: ct Is glory
enough lor the Washington Monument SOCIETY
that its pi0us abOrs put TO the proof OF ii ne.
have issued III tie majestic structure which
sisnds before MS to-day, and IL was glory enough
Tor the legislative and executive departm II OF
tie GOVERNED thai IN assuming aud directing
the completion o. tie monument on foundation
lpi6 By the people, they have At once redeemed
sacred national pledge, snc nave fulfilled sacred
national duty, by giving to this great o0eliS the
{ lminstiun and crown VITA which il towers
ahCYe the earth. aud soaTs heaV onward ike the
fame it commentaries -
Tbe Marine Band then PLAYED a short piece If
m usc, which was rendered almost lnau1iOe by
tie continued stamping Of the shivering open air
OF Christ Church, Alexandra, Va
The remarks oil the various speakers we've inau.
dibe, but puffs OF steam IRON their mouths was
evidence that the proceedings were being carried
on according TO prOgIamme, and at every little in
remission the auditors stamped approYingy
COLONEL cAsEY's PRESENTATION.
To Colonel Thomas L. Casey, OF the United
States engineers, was assigned the duty OF pre-
seutlng the part taken by the general government
in the construction of the monument and Of de-
hveTing IL to the President Of the United states
h gave an account o. the hTst proceedings in
emit and described each successful step IN the
construction Of tho work until the setting OF the
ssd finished the great undertaking De 'aen
Although the dimensions OF the foundation
base were originally planned without due regard
q
II building SO large an O0elisk, the resources OF
modern engineering science have supplied the
rental column ever erected in any age OF tue
world. In It's proportions the ratios OF dimen-
SONS OF the several parts OF the ancient Egyptian
cpeAsks nave Deen careIClIy ioIIoWed. me nelght
has been made slightly greater than ten
times the breadth OF the base producing an ODE.
DSn that Tor grace and dellcaey OF outline is not
exceled by any OF the larger Egyptian monoliths
While in dignity and grandeur 1t sarpasses any
mat can DC menl0neo. ana. Mr.. President Tor
ard in behalf of the joint com mission for the
completion of the Washington Monument, de-
liver 10 you this column.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR RECEIVES TIE MoEUsIEST.
President Arthur. in accepting the monument,
sald
Fellow Counuymen-Befor the dawn OF the
century whose eventful years will soon have faded
into the past, when death had but lately robbed
this Republic OF It's most beloved and illustriOus
citizen, the Congress OF the United states pledged
faith OF the Nation that in this CITY, barring
| las bCnoTeo name and then, as now, the seat OF
/ The General Government monument should be
! il ilitaTy and political life The stately column
that stretches heaven ward IRON the plain wnereon
we sand bears witness all who behold it. that
/ tie covenant which our fathers made their cntl-
/ dren have fulfilled. In the compile
| ton O. this great work OF patriotic en-
i oeayCr there is abundant cause Tor
1 tiOnsl rejoicing, for while this structure
enduTes Il shall be 20 al mankind Strong token
Of the ahect'onate and fervent regard in wni ehhis
i people continue 10 hold the memory or Was L
! 'ngton. Well may he ever keep the fore most
] psCe in the hearts Of bis countrymen. The faith
/
| - DEF per than any leaning taught III schools,
/ the courage thar sbrank from no peril and was
! srnayed by no defeat the loyalty that kept all
( &c fsh purpose subOsdinated 10 the demands OF
/ PATRIOTISM and honor. the s8gacity that displayed
iuelf N camp snd Cabinet alike, and, sb we all,
| = at harmonious union Of moral and intellectual
| qualities which has never found its PARALLEL