The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-01
THE PEOPLES DAY
Great outpouring of the Masses at
New York in Honor Of the
Centennial
The Services at St. Paufs Church
Attended by Many Distinguished
Citizens.
A Monster Parade. which Took Nine
Hours to Pass a Given Point-Incidsnt.
of the Day.

OF the
NEW YORK. April S0.-The day broke
bright end beautiful. More perfect weather
for the celebration could not have been
wished for The air was q little sharp, but
exhilarating. and just right for those who
were preparing to take part in the process
sion. The earliest streaks of dawn found
many people in the streets, and as the day
wora-on the numbers increased till the
lower half of Manhattan island was filed
with greater thrOng than was ever before
there at one time. A brisk breeze set the
myriads of flags rspping in jubilation on
this memorable anniversary, and rustled
among the vast quantities OF decoration
which blazed in profusion from every house
front, making a bewidering kaleidoscope
of national coIors. Martial strains were
borne upon the breezes from the battery
and elsewhere; horsemen in brilliant uni
forms dashed here and there; troops a1d
other bodies moved 10 their appointed posi-
tions TO take part in the parade. Then the
chimes of old Trinity church rang out the
solemn strains of 'Old Hundred" followed
by .sHail Columbia" Yankee Doodle"
Centennial March," columbia, the Gem
of the Ocean, America" "The Starry
Flag" ssOur Flag is There" "Auld Lang
Syne," "My Country's Flag of Stars"
Then the sound of bells calling people To
Thanksgiving services in the various
Churches awakened the people anew TO the
true solemnity of the occasion.
Services were held in all the churches of
the city of every denomination, vOtive
masses being offered upon in the Catholic
hirh
held. As matter of course the principal
services were at st. PauFs church on
Broadway, where Washington attended on
the morning of his INAUGURATION. Ihe ex-
ercises were conducted by Right Rev.
Henry c. Potter, ID. ID, l.. l.. ID bishop OF
New York, as the services on the day of
Washington's inauguration were conduct
ed by the bishop OF New York, the Right
Rev. Samuel Provost
Thanksgiving services at st. Paurs were
carried out strictly according to the pro-
gramme. Vast crowds occupied the neigh
bOrhood and at $50 the president arrived
at the Vesey street gate As the president
stepped from his carriage followed by the
vice e-president and Mr.. Hamilton. the com
mittee of Trinity yesty stepped from the
gateway and escorted the party TO the west
entrance. where the rector Of Trinity,
escort c the president TO the old
Washington pew. In the next carriage
were Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Morton and
Clarence Bowen. A few minutes later
carriage containing Gov; Hill, Mayor
master General Wanamaker hurried
through the crowd on foot. At 9:l2 an
open carriage containing ex-President
Cleveland, ex President Hayes, Lieutenant
Governor Jones aud Senator VIM. Evarts
drew up. Cleveland was the first to slight,
missed his footing and almost fell. During
the service the new British minister oc-
cupied q seat in the pew allotted TO the
diplomatic corps. The Spanish minister
sat near him. The president and vice
president occupied large pew midway up
on a side alS:e, under the south gallery.
The edifice was filled with the wealthiest
and most prominent people IN the country:
Bishop POtter's address was an eloquent
one. After dwelling on the exalted char
acter of Washington, especially on the
deep religious feeling which governed him,
as shown on the day of his inauguration,
when he came to worship in this very
church. the speaker touched upon the
constitution of the United States and the
vast work which had brought its members
into one body. The bishop then said III
part: "But il is a somewhat significant
that the enthusiasm which has famed out
during these recent days and weeks as
this anniversary approached, seemed TO
move. One thing that has. imagine,
amazed a good many cynical and pessimis-
tic people among US, is the way in which
the ardOr of a great peoples love and hom-
age and gratitude have kindled, not before
an image of mechanism, but of the man
of the administration, which by its lofty
and stainless integrity, by its absolute i'm
pregnancy 10 selfish OF secondary motives,
by the rectitude of its daily conduct in the
face of whatsoever threats, Establishments
or combinations, rather than by the osten-
tatious Phariseeism of its professions, had
taught this nation and the world forever
what Christian ruler of Christian peo-
pie ought to be- The conception of ma
fional government as huge machine,
mainly for the purpose of rewardiDg par
tisan service, was a conception so alien To
the character and conduct OF Washington
and his associates that il seems grotesque
even to speak of il. Ii would be interest
ing To imagine the first president of the
United States confronted with some one
who had ventered TO approach him upon
basis of what are now commonly known
as practical politics.; but the conception Is
impossible"
fhe bishop quoted from the letter Of
Washington to a friend who sought a
pledge of an Office during compaign, re-
fusing any such pledge, declaring that mel
ther the ties of blood nor friendship, when
in office, should sway his judgment. The
speaker then Proceeded to contrast such
political methods with those of to- day, and
in scathing language declared I'VE have
exchanged Washingtonian dignity foI JET
fersoLian simplicity, which was in truth
only another name for Jacksonian vulgar
ity." The speaker closed With prayer
that the nation be led to follow Washing
toms noble Christian example.
After the ceremonies in the church were
concluded. the presidential party, escorted
by the committee, were driven To the SUB
treasury building where the literary exer-
cises of the day began. The crowd at the
sub treasury dehed computation, and the
cheers which greeted the president upon
his appearance on the platform under the
heroic statue of Washington fairly shook
the foundations of the building.
Hamilton Fish, ST., opened the exercises
by introducing Elbridge I. Gerry as chair
man. Gerry. with g few appropriate re-
marks, called upon Rev. Richard Storrs,
who delivered an eloquent invocation. clos
ing with the Lords prayer Clarence W.
Bowen, secretary of the centennial com
miLtee, was next introduced. he read J.
G. Whittier's poem, composed for the oc
casioD.
At the conclusion of the reading the as
semDly gave Whittier three cheers ana
tiger. Hon. Chauncey NJ Depew, orator
OF the day, was next introduced and re-
ceived q hearty greeting
At the conclusion of Depew's ad-
dress (which will be found elsewhere
Gerry introduced President Hsrrl
son. who arose from his seat and advanced
10 the front of the platform This was the
signal for a grand outburst OF cheering.
Dozens of cameras were pointed at him
from surrounding housefops. He stood
still for a moment, uuconsciously giving
the photographers an excellent opportun-
ity. He spoke as follows:
These proceedings are of q very exacting
character, and make Il quite impossible
shouId deliver an address on this occasion.
AZ an early date | notified your com
mittee that their programme must not con-
taiu any address by me- The selection OF
AR. Depew as orator on this occasion
makes further speech not only diftcult
but SUPERB uous. He had met the demand
ef the occasion and on his own high level
de has so brought before us incidents OF
the ceremonies of the great Inauguration
of Wasbfngtou, We seem 10 be part of the
sdmiring and almost adoring crowd thst
fhsd these streets hundred
years ago to greet the always
inspiring presence of Washington
He Was the incarnation OF duty and he
teaches us to-day this great lesson, that
those who would associate their name with
the events that specially outiive q century
can only do so by tue highest conservation
to duty. He was Ike . captain who goes
Go sea ant throws overheard his cargo OF
rzxsL tbnf he may gain safety and deliver
nnce for his imperilied fellowmen- Wash
ington seemed to come 60 the discharge Of
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