Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-30
CENTENNIAL.
The Inaugural of President
Washington.
OUR EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY
The Progress of The Father OF Hii
Country-His Arrival at New
York and Ina. ..uratien.

ia divided into three periods, that of the
Revolutionary Government, the Con-
federation and that of the Federal Con-
stitution. which still controls, after hav-
inc been successfully tried for one hum
dred years. To-day will be the centen"
nial anniversary of the inauguration OF
George Washington as the first Constitu-
tion President of the United States. The
great event took place in the city OF New
York, and the celebration OF this one
hundreth year will be observed in that
c;tv. with pageants and ceremonies that
will be in keeping with the immense
Importance of the event commem-
Grated,
The weakness of the Confederation OF
the original States, which preceded the
adoption Of the Constitution. was patent
ia all. The power OF the Contederacy
was not acknowledged by the States, It's
Congress was not respected by the peo-
ple: it's acquisitions were dis
regarded, foreign trade could not
he successfully regulated foreign nations
refused to bind themselves by CONNER,
cial treaties, and there was rapid
growth OF very dangerous business rival,
RES and jealousies between the several
States. Instead Of general respect Tor
the law, there was almost general dlsre-
gard of it on the part of the different
Legislative bodies, and the people we're
not slow in initiating their representa-
tives. Civil strife became imminent,
and Shay's rebellion in Massachusett It's
was a manifestation of the spirit OF in
subordination which was abroad In the
land. =.
Under these circumstances the constl-
tuition convention met in Philadelphia In
NAV, 1887. That body formulated the
present Constitution, sent it to Congress,
and it was then submitted to the several
State Legislatures for approval. The act
submitting 1t provided that if it should
be ratified by nine OF the thirteen States,
it should be binding on those ratifying
the same. Here originated the custom
which has since passed into law, that
amendments to the Federal Constitution,
if approved by three-fourths OF the States,
shall be binding upon all. The instrument
was ratified by eleven OF the thirteen
States prior to Washington's inaugura-
ton as President, the two others-North
Carolina and Rhode lsiand-approvlng
Of it afterwards. The Electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President were voted for
in the winter of 1889, by order OF the
Continental Congress, ana 1t was ar.
ranged that the new Government should
be inaugurated on March 4th, 1883; but
a delay in assembling the requisite num-
ber of members of the new Congress
caused the Inauguration OF Washington
who had been chosen by the Electors
to be deferred until the 30th OF April,
1889.
In the course of Washington's progress
from his home in Virginia to New ORR
to be inaugurated the first President OF
the Republic, he was greeted by the
people everywhere with the most extra
ordinary demonstrations OF respect. In
those days the only means OF locomotion
was by carriage or on horseback, over
poor roads, and the progress was neces-
earily slow. 1t took Washington and his
party ten days to travel over the
road to New York which Harrison
accomplished yesterday in few
hours. Some of the incidents in
the itinerary of the first President are
striking and interesting. We shall re-
late the most striking one. When he
reached Trenton, historical ground in the
revolution, the ladies of that town had
arranged most beautiful and touching
reception. In those daye, as now, moth
ing could be complete success IN which
they did not share. They selected the
bridge over the AssuDpink creek as the
place to make a grand demonstration in
honor of the President elect, thus to
show their appreciation OF his noble
deeds and the love which the whole
country felt for its great deliverer. At
this bridge Washington had captured a
body OF Hessian mercenaries under Col
Rail, who had done all that bold, bad
men could do to injure the good people
of New Jersey. On this very spot he had
withstood for hours the advance OF the
British and afterwards had performed
one OF the mastery movements OF the
war. During these even t1i two weeks,
he had nearly freed the entire State OF
an insolent foe. In grateful memory OF
the successful issue of the Revolutionary
struggle the ladies prepared for Wash
ington q reception which was peculiar In
the good taste displayed, and which GER
tainly was intensely gratifying to him.
As General Washington came to the
nl8n RrOulu db HILL Illlly bOu1C bWO IuH-
dred yards below the creek, beautiful
tIiumphial arch appeared. But as he
passed through the archway still mere
lovely sight greeted him. On one side OF
the arch stood Elk beautiful little girls,
dressed in white, each carrying basket
of fresh flowers. Just opposite were
thirteen blushing maidens, the bellies of
Trenton, also bearing baskets Of flowers.
They represented the thirteen States,
and when George looked at them he was
glad he had come. Those young ladies
were the Misses Eleanor Armstrong,
Elizabeth Borden, Elizabeth Cadwalader,
Catharine Calhoun, Esther Cox, Mary
Cox, Mary Dickinson, Maria Furman,
Mary Keen, Mary Lowrey, Maria Mer-
edith, Sarah Moore and Margaret TATE.
The six sweet little girls have also a
place in history. They were Sarah Aairy,
Jsmima Broadhurst, Sarah Collins, Sarah
How, Sarah B. Howell and Elizabeth
Milnor. Behind all these stood many
matrons of the town of Trenton and
villages.
As Washington entered the arch, the
six little girls began to sing beautiful
ode, which had been written by Major
Richard Howell, and which, it is re-
corded, tunder the instruction Of the
Rev. James f. Armstrong, they per-
ormed with exquisite sweetness."
Washington paused while the singing |
Tas 1ing on, and as the young ladies' be- |
Fan the last two lines they strewed bis
n. ~. .@kr1k 1kraIwr