The Washington critic., 1888-04-16
wAsHINGToN, APRIL 10, lsss.
ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CEN
TENNIAI. CELEBRATION,


TENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The principal features of the cele-
bration Of the one hundredth ami
versary of President Washington's
Inauguration, to be held in New York
next spring, will be a grand military
and industrial parade, the cost of
which is estimated by the committee
in charge at $40, 900, a Centennial ball
OIL the night Of April 20 and BAN
quet on the night of April so, for
which, in addition to the proceeds of
the ball, the committee want $4,000.
These affairs will, of course, be of
an elaborate character, befitting the
occasion and the distinguished guests
whose presence is expected, but it
will be seen that the programme is
not likely to materially interfere with
the more extended observances of the
anniversary at Washington, unless it
may be with the attendance Of the
President and other dignitaries at the
banquet. But the Congressional Com
mittee Of Arrangementsw will doubtless
be able to devise a plan by which
both celebrations may be participated
in without marring the completeness
of either.
The Centennial at Washington
should be made if possible to cover
not less than week. A National ju-
bilee of this character is no common
affair. 1t is something the country
has never had before, and to those
who take part in it can never come
again. 1t is therefore to be hoped
that the people will be permitted to
make the most of an epoch at once so
memorable and auspicious--the hun
dredth birth-year Of Constitutional
Government in America.
Attention is once more called to this
matter in the hope that the necessary
legislation may be delayed no longer
than possible. There is much to be
done in the way of preliminary con-
sultation and preparation, and if the
celebration is to be in all respects
worthy of a great Government, there
is no time TO be lost. As will be seen,
the New York committees are already
in the field and hard at work.
In the mean time would it not be
well for the citizens of Washington to
be considering what they may do on
their own account or in conjunction
with the representatives of the Gov
ernment, to add eclat and interest to
the festivities?
One feature that would no doubt
be thoroughly appreciated and en-
joyed by our many thousands Of for
eign guests would be military and
civic display, to which Maryland and
Virginia = especially the cities of
Richmond and Baltimore would
readily contribute, if invited to CO.
operate with the citizens of the Dis
trict.
A carnival parade at night would
also prove an immense attraction if
carried out upon scale commensu-
rate with the general scope and char
acteristics Of the celebration. 1t will
require considerable time and trouble
and involve no small expenditure to
successfully materializs these sug-
gestions, but if it can be done, 1t will
rebound largely to the credit of the
National Capital and its progressive
citizens, and be the means of en-
hancing beyond computation the at
tendance of visitors from all parts OF
the United States.
1t will do no harm to agitate the
matter, though nothing can be def
nitely accomplished or settled upon
until Congress gets through with its
part of the work. The bill passed,
the appropriation made and the com,
nittee appointed, our citizens can
then see their way more clearly as tc
what shall be their share or part in
the Centennial Commemoration. That
they are ambitious and eager to bt
something more than mere lookers-or
in the show, we feel well assured,