New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-27
NETWORK AND THE UNION.
A CENTURY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL AT PoUGHKEKP-
SIZE WHERE THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION WAS

! CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL AT PoUGHKEEP
SIZE WHERE THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION WAS
AGREED To-MAyY THOUSANDS OF VISITORS.
Poughkeepsie, July 80 (specaD.-Thcre were 10000
strangers in town today participate in the centenary
of the entry of NewYork State into the Union The
programme included parade at p H., exercises al
the Opera House at p. m and fireworks at
80 p. m. The procession composed Of four
divisions headed BY the Academic Band Of West
Point and the corps Of cadets, by permission OF the
Secretary Of War; The cadets were commanded by
FirstLeutenant James Allen, Of the Sd Cavalry, and
Lieutenants Edward E. Harden, Henry L. Kirby and
William W. Gabraith. Tho balance Of the procession
consisted of the 4th Separate Company of Yonkers,
the 10Th and 18th Separate Companies Of Poughkeepse
the independent Veteran Volunteers Grand Army
Posts Sons of Veterans, all the Poughkeepsie fire de-
partment, and fremen from Kingston. Hyde Park Red
Hook, and other places. Then came civic organiza-
tions Odd Fellows knights of St. George, Knights of
Pythas, members Of the Retail Merchants Association
In carriages In tho procession also centennial
vehicles. One was Chancellor Lvfngston's family
carriage, and another was one-horse chase over a
hundred years old. The exercises at the Opera House
began at p. m. and It packed with people
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jones presided, making ad-
dress appropriate to the occasion. Prayer offered
by the Rev. DR.. Francis d. heller after which The
star Spangled Banner was sung, the solo being by
Miss Juda Alexander The chorus seventy-fve strong
was accompanied by the 21st Regiment band. Joel
Benton read poem composed for the occasion, the
concluding stanzas Of which we're:
hundred years. They pass to night
Where the soft paints the west
And now another eenturys flight, II
Dawns with its wonders all Unique
The fathers sleep. TITS ours to do IN
And cherish well their sacred trust
And pass It on to centuries
When we, as they, are given to dusa
o, bind II to the future, FAR
As times long scroll before
Fast as your bridge with bolt and bar
Shall span the Hudson, shore to SHORE
The historical address was delivered by John l.
Patt of The Poughkeepsie Eagle7 who said in part
The vast Importance the whole country and especi
ally to ourselves Of the events have been considering
must be manifest At this time, when all parties regard
the Constitution with almost supersttlous reverence
and when any proposition change its essential pro-
visions would be regarded little short OF treason is
difficult for TO understand how bitterly lt opposed
At many points It seemed though would be impossible
for its friends TO the hostile arrayed
against It. and that tho whole
wisely planned would be cast aside and in its stead
Wild and impracticable scheme like that which
tempted by the late Confederate States would be subs
tuted. 1t was not in accordance with the
Divine plan by which tho the world are governed
that the Union should fail The fathers builied wiser
than they knew. . Though they did not compre-
bend what would be full action, wis
dom and conscentousness and the caution too, with
which they were inspired commands admiration and
The exercises closed by all singing America with
full band accompaniment. At D. n. there a
PoEeeps Bdg ais e above the Hadsoa
River The river was full Of excursion boats and at
least 10000 people witnessed the display from both
list Armoty at the expense OF the Centennial
Committee TT The weather. day and evening was
we're the finest ever seen here.