, 1889-12-12
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Centennial Celebration of His
Inauguration
DULY OBSERVED BY CONGRESS.
A Eulogistic Address Before the
Joint Session by Chief
Justice Fuller.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 11,--In pur-
suance to the resolution adopted by con-
gress in February, both houses met in
the hall of representatives to-day to hold
centennial exercises in commemoration
of the Inauguration of the first president.
1t was literally gathering Of the nations
through the foreign legations present in
Washington. All were officially repre-
sented. Added to these, were the dele
gates from the Central and South Amer
lean republics to the Pan-American Con-
gress and the members of the Marine
Conference. There were also present the
governors oftwenty states, drawn hither
for consultation with regard to memorial
izing congress for the erection of CEN
tcnnial memorial building at Phiiadel-
phia. The galleries were packed.
Shortly before o'clock the house o
representatives notified the senate that
it was IN session. A few minutes lator
the senate, preceded by tho president
and vice president, members of the dip
lomatic corps ana justices of the supreme
court of the United States, entered the
hall of the house, and we're escorted to
seats in front of the speakers desk.
Vice President Morton took the speak
ers chair, and at o'clock called the two
houses to order In joint session.
J. q. Butler, tho senate chaplain,
opened the services with prayer. Chief
Justice Fuller of the supreme court of
the United States then delivered an ora
ton on the progress of America. Wash
ington, the orator said, had become first
in war, not so much by victories over
tha Ia, In, n a
by trumphs of constancy, which no re-
verse no hardship, no inconpctency, no
treachery Gould shake or overcome. He
had become first in the hearts of his
countrymen, because the people Colnprc-
hended the greatness of their leader and
recognized IN him the entire absence of
personal ambition, and absolute love of
country, of themselves and of mankind.
He had become first in peace by bring
| ing to the charge of the practical work
ing of the system he had participated in
independence he had achieved, the
same serene judgment, the same sagaci-
| ty the same patience, the same sense Of
duty, the same farsighted comprehen-
sion of the end to be attained that
marked his career from the beginning.
Referring to the fear of arbitrary
power r. respect to the presidential
jealousy could be entertained of him
who had Indignantly repclied the sug-
gestion of the bcstowal of kingly power,
who had unsheathed his sword with re
| luctance and laid ii down with joy, who
had never sought official position, buth
accepted public office as public trust
| in Difference to so unanimous u demand
for his services as to convince him of its
necessity, whose patriotism embraced
the whole country, the future grandeur
of which his prescience foresaw."
Fuller spoke of the Pan n-American
Congress and the lasting form of our gov
eminent, and closed with brilliant
peroration, predicting the grand future
of the nation.
Rev. W. II. NIilburn, the house chap
lain, delivered the benediction, and
while the Marine band played national
airs, the assembiuge dispersed.