The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-04


most interesting features Of the whole parade
They were fine-looking men, as the President
himself remarked, and their sailor dress was
becoming and picturesque. The Army Brigade,
commanded by Major Wallace F. Randolph,
followed the I'd Regiment, National Guard
of New Jersey, and detachment of Massa-
chusetts volunteer militia came next.
The Second Division of the column consisted
Of the First Brigade of the National Guard,
under command of Brig.-Gen. Fitzgerald. es-
corting the French column. As the 7th Regi-
ment band came along playing the Marseillaise,
the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and men
shouted. Every step the popular regiment took
in progress past the President was cheered, and
Mr.. Cleveland raised his hat repeatedly. The
Goth, the Sth, 9th 10Th, list and 18th Regiments
came along In that ORDER each with its band
and Drum Major. That snowy official in the
18th Regiment band was vision Of dignity
and grace. Gilmore's 22d Regiment band won
immense favor by playing Yankee Doodle as it
passed in review, and the enthusiasm which
this inspired was vented in cheers as the regi-
ment filed by with regular step and military
swing. The LIST and I'd Batteries followed,
and then came the French column, made up of
veterans, ROchambeau Grenadiers and French
societies. Many prominent French citizens
rode in carriages.
AT this point veterans of the war of 1912 and
the Mexican war, and retired officers of the
Army and Navy were due on the printed pro-
gram. 1t turned out that the veterans of 1872
had been forgotten. There are only three Of
them left, Gen. Abram Daily, aged 80; Henry
Morris, aged IS, and Gardiner Lillibridge, aged
ST. They waited at Military Hall for their
carriages, but no carriages came. at is the
fourth time" said old Gen. Daily, "that we
have been served this way. The Memorial
Committee Of the Grand Army forgot Us three
times. We will never appear on public occa-
sion again."
The Grand Army Brigade was under escort
of Brig Gen. James McLeer and a detachment
of the Second Brigade Of the National Guard.
In the fife and drum corps attached to the
Grand Army Posts were many interesting lit
tie fellows, sons or grandsons of veterans of the
late war. A model of the original Monitor,
borne on a truck followed. From the gun ports
came the smoke of burned powder, while at the
wheel was little nine-year-old tar in full naval
uniform.
In one of the largest fife and drum corps &C
companying Grand Army Post were three very
pretty little girls dressed as vivandieres and
carrying snare drums. They stepped out of
line and assembled the steps to where the Presi-
dent was standing. Each little girl handed
President Cleveland a basket of flowers, for
which the latter said, Thank YOU" and then
| they handed small gold-fringed silk Ameri-
can flag TO Nj. de Lesseps for NJ. Bartholdi, who
stood back on the crowded stand. The old
SOtCu btns OuSc ONhCu mdo
| the closing feature Of the long line. 1t was
drawn by eight horses and attended by the
Continental Guard, of Washington, and after it
| came certain Sons Of the Revolution in car
| riages.
1t was one o'clock when the last carriage in
| the line passed the stand. The procession had
been two hours and 20 minutes long. Gen.
| Schofeld remarked to Gen. Stone: "This is
/ the best parade have ever seen in New York. !"
| The President bowed and waved his hand in
| Endorsement Of the sentiment, and then en-
| tered his carriage. The crowd which had been
kept back in check so long broke loose and
| spread over the town. For an hour afterward
there was rush for the Battery by horse cars
and elevated-railrOad trains. The Broadway
cars started after the parade, but were blocked
down town, and q line of crowded cars extend
ed back a mile from the rear of the column.
| President Cleveland, Col. Lamont, the men,
bers Of the Cabinet, aud Gems. Sheridan and
| Schofeld were driven TO the foot of West 23d
street and boarded the Dispatch at LOO p. In. to
| 90 to Bedloe's Island.
| A large number of steamers carried thou
sands of people to Bedloe's Island to witness
the ceremonies, 1t was three o'clock
when the music of Gilmore's band was
suddenly smOthered in such an uproar OF
| steam whistles and artillery as the harbor has
rarely heard before. The Presidents boat had
come at last. The crowd cheered as gun after
gun ripped out ofthe sides of the big war ships,
| and with every moment there seemed to como
| reinforcements to the number and fury of the
! steam whistles. The climax was reached when
| the President, with his head barred in the rain
and smiling and bowling in his portly way,
| doomed up out OF the fog and mounted the steps
of the speakers stand with his party. Hon.
Chauncey NJ. Depew, Senator Evarts, DIR. Storrs
and Bishop Henry c. Potter were already on
the stand with the French guests and greetings
1 - 81 o h.
| the cannon which never let up for q moment.
The stand was elaborately decorated with
French and American flags, whose folds fell in
| looped-up drapery around the front. The
| President sat in the middle of the covered
platform, with NJ. BarthOldi on his right and
Count de Lesseps on his left. Gen. Schoield
in full uniform occupied the south corner and
Gen. McMahon the north. In the rear were
grouped the members of the Cabinet and 9TH
ers There was not hint of a let-up in the
uproar of the whistles The artillery had sub
sided and only now and then broke out in iso-
lated spots. Gen. Schoheld waved his hat
frantically, soldiers signaled and waved their
hands and caps from the battlements. the po-
lice rushed around looking for somebody to ar
rest. But il was all in vain. If the signal:
were seen through the fog they were clearly
taken for cheerful signs OF encouragement &c
keep il up.
Rev. Dr. StOrrs offered a prayer, or tried Il
do it, but he could not be heard for the awfu
din that was kept up. Gen. Schofield, whc
acted IS master of ceremonies, then introduced
Count de Lesseps, who in behalf of the people
of France presented the statue to the people o
the United States. President Cleveland &C
cepted the statue in the following words:
The people OF the United States accept with graf
itude from their brethren of the French Republi
the grand and completed work of art we here in
/ augurate. This token OF the affection and consid
} Grafton OF the people of France demonstrates tn
kinship Of republics and conveys To Us the assur
ance that in our efforts TO commend to mankin
, the excellence of government resting upon Popu
lar will we still have, beyond the American cont
nent a steadfnst ally.
D We not here to-day to bow before the repre-
sentation OF fierce and warlilSe god. filed wit
wrath and vengeance, but we joyousy contemplat
, instead our own deity keeping watch and war
all that have been celebrated in ancient song In
stead Of grasping in her hand thunderbolts of tel
: and of death, she holds aloft the light whic
I illumines the way TO mans acknowledgements
We will not forget that liberty has here made he
: home, nor shall her chosen altar be neglectet
Willing votaries will constantly keep alive its fire
and these shall CLEAN upon the shores of our sst,
q republic In the East. Reflected thence and Joine
with answering rays stream OF light shall piert
\ the darkness OF Ignorance and mans oppression
, until liberty enlghtens the world.
0rations were then delivered by Hon. Wi
liam III. Evarts and Hon. Chsuncey NJ. Depey
' The removal Of the vail from the statue W,
; greeted with prodigious chorus of cheer
: brass bands, cannon and steam whistles
!, Our New Minister to Mexico.
Hon. Thomas C.. Manning the new Unit,
- States Minister. Was formally presented