Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-19
THE LAST OF THE cENrENNIALs.


Washington as President of the United
States is not now very far distant. New
York will take the foremost place in the
ceremonies of the day to be observed in
the memory of the event which signalized
the seating of the first President of the
newborn Republic 1t will be the last of
the centennial anniversaries, and the great
metropolis is moving to make it one of the
most brilliant of celebrations
The new government went into opera
tion March 4, Its, but the members of
Congress were dilatory and the House did
not secure quorum until the lst Of April,
and on the 9th the Senate was able to an
nounce that it was ready for business and
the first electoral vote was then opened
and counted and Washington was declared
elected to the Presidency. Vice-President
John Adams entered New York supported
by body of cavalry and was received with
loud acclaim and many manifestations of
rejoicing. On the Dist he took his seat as
the first President of the United States
Senate.
General Washington received his letter
of notification April 18th at Mount
Vernon, and under date of the 10th this
entry appears in his diary "About 10
o'clock / bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to
private life, and to domestic felicity; with
mind oppressed with more anxious and
painful sensations than | have words to
express, set out for New York with the
best disposition to render service to my
country in obedience to It's call, but with
less hope of answering its expectations"
At Alexandria public dinner was
rendered him, but it was a solemn
affair, so mournful were the feel
ings of the participants over the
departure of the brightest orna-
ment of their community. Washing
ton was deeply affected and tears mingled
with the parting cups. His progress, says
Irving was a continual ovation, the roar
ing of cannon and the ringing of bells an
nounced his arrival and departure in
cities and towns, and from all sides came
deputations of the people to lovingly
greet him. His entrance into Philadel-
phia was in the midst of grand process
sion led by the gallant st. Clair and with
Washington mounted on superb white
charger. Triumphal arches, the strewing
of flowers, the shouts of the people, the
rattle Of drums, the thunder of cannons,
the tramp of thousands of militiamen were
but few of the manifestations of admira-
tion for Washington. At night there were
displays of fireworks, civic banquet and
public speaking.
At Trenton, where twelve years before
he crossed the Delaware in darkness and
storm and midst snow and ice to strike a
decisive blow at an unsubdued enemy, he
received a testimonial welcome that pro-
foundly affected him, the ladies having
at the mouth of the bridge placed a tri-
umphal arch, with floral motto "The
defender of the mothers will be the pro-
tector of the daughters" At this arch the
women of the city assembled to do him
reverence and young girls strewed flowers
in his path as they sang songs of love and
gratitude.
He desired his entry into New York to
be quiet, but on the 23d it took the form of
a national procession of gaily dressed Loats
with bands and glee clubs, and as he
landed artillery thundered a welcome
ships of war were suddenly dressed with
flags and multitude received him with
continued shouts of joy. Many of his old
Revolutionary comrades were first to greet
him at the landing, and as he took his car
riage long civic and military train fol-
lowed through streets hung with garlands
and banners and ornaments emblazoned
with his name.
The Inauguration did not take place for
some days. for Congress had to decide upon
the title by which the President should be
addressed. On the 3Oth of April, between
noon and o'clock, the Inauguration took
place with a solemnity of procedure that
more than anything else spoke of the tre-
mendous responsibility the statesmen of
the hour felt in launching the new Gov
ernment upon the untried waters of an
American republic.
1t is this event, of such consequence in
our history, that New York is now making
ready to appropriately commemorate upon
the recurrence Gifts hundredth anniversary.
The great city should certainly do it every
honor. The Government of the United
States will take part in the ceremonies,
one of the features of which will be re-
production, as nearly as may be, of the
nautical procession from Elizabethtown
Point, n. J., TO the New York landing.
1t is the intention TO insist that President
Harrison shall lead that procession in a
barge similar to that in which the first
President was rowed across thewaters, and
that the Governor of New York, as did
Clinton hundred years ago, shall receive
him as he steps upon the landing.
The hall in which the Congress then sat
is supplanted now by the Sub-Treasury
building and there the exercises in 1889 will
be held. As in 1889 services were held in all
the churches on the mezning of Inaugural
ton day, SO it will be asked that in 1889
the church doors be thrown open and
memorial services held. A hundred years
ago when the inauguration was over,
Washington, accompanied by the Senate
and the House and as many of the assem-
blage as could be accommodated, proceeded
on foot to St. Paul's Church where prayers
were offered to Heaven for blessings upon
the newborn Government, the first Chap
lain of the Senate leading in the devotional
exercises. The old church still stands,
and within its walls will be conducted
similar exercises on the centennial ami
versary OF the Government
Let US hope that New York and the
nation will observe the anniversary in a
manner to re- kindle the fires of patriotism