Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-01
THE POEM AND THE REGRETS.

NJ, read centennial poem, entitled "Ou
Washington.
The poem, whose author is well-know
in Pittsburg and vicinity, is as follows:
OUR WASHINGTON.
| Roll back the centuries of time,
Unfold the records of the years;
| Recount the lofty deeds sublime
| Wrought out by toll and blood and tears,
| For all that are and are to be!
| Wake Freedoms widest, noblest strains
| IT'LL mountain, valley, sea and plain
Give back the echoing shout again:
The loud, long shout of Liberty!
Go, count the mighty deeds Of men,
| The great-souled leaders of the past;
| Read every scroll again, again,
| From earth's first hero to the last
| All that Gods man has thought and donep
| And over all the wrecks of time,
O'er all the heights men dared TO climb.
One name sounds on, high and sublime,
| OF Washington, our washington!
Beneath oppression, wOful night
| When Freedoms lips were in the dust,
| Like some divinity Of light
| Sent by Almighty God, the Just,
| Our matchless chieftain came.
| He came, true. valiant wise and grand,
| Great Father OF earth freest land,
True-souIed and noblest to command
With sword and voice of flannel
Therefore, to-day, Columbia's hills
| Re-echo back deathless song,
| O'er sixty million hearts it thrills
| And soundeth deep and loud and long
Beneath the golden sun.
| Rings Libertyl Sweet Lfbertyi
| And every patriot, proud and free,
Cries: Washington Our Washington
To-day, earth's nations scattered wide,
| Far as the wave of ocean dips,
| Far as her silvery fountains glide,
| Are murmuring low on reverent lips
| This sacred name of Freedoms son.
The loyllest slave on earth's low sod,
Crouehing beneath the tyrant's rod,
Lifts high his shackled hand to God
And asks Of Him, Washington!
Here, then, upon this holy soil,
Deep-hallowed by our Fathers blood,
Won by their priceless zeal and toll,
Here pledge we civic brotherhood
For years that time has yet to runs-
To hold and keep the rights they gave,
To guard the land they died TO save,
Land of the free and nobly brave,
Land of Our Father, Washington!
ADDRESS OF s. o. TRENT, ESQ.
S. o. Trent, ESQ.,, delivered an address in
which he said:
Majestic and unequaled in human annals is
the career of Washington. Calm in the midst
of conspiracy; inspiring order and spirit into
troops hungry and in rags; stung by ingrati-
tude, but betraying no anger and ever ready to
forgIve strong in council; wise in policy; terri
BILE as a storm in battle; invincible in defeat;
magnanimous in conquest; incorruptible in vir-
tue; and never so sublime as when he laid down
his victorious sword, refused the Protectorate,
and sought the peace of private life. His In
deed is a character to admire and revere a life
without a stain, a fame without a flaw. In
moral grandeur he rises above all others who
sit in our worlds congregation of glory. God
bless the memory of Washington! Glorious
Father and first President of the Republic,
whose hallowed flag now floats over vast con-
tinent of Commonwealths, and pOurs around
us and 60 00O,000 of free people such golden
air as no millions ever breathed before; Re-
public that has been reared by a century of
Taaf iofia loh h0r of
the noblest people of earth for its preservation,
and that now, above all its faults and scars,
surpasses in excellence the sublimest concep-
tions ever cherished of human government.
Nowhere else exists a government that offers
so many blessings and privileges to its chil-
dren-that has so ennobled man, so elevated
woman, so inspired the young men with hero
ism and ambition, so helped them in their aims
In life, so guarded freedom of conscience, so
made citizenship glorious by the expansion of
intelligence; so fostered letters the arts and
sciences; so sheltered every exile, so protected
every creed, SO smoothed the road of life and
given to each and all an equal chance for hap
pinesS and homes.
VICE PRESIDENTS REGRETS.
Hon. Andrew Robertson read the follow
ing letters addressed to G. E. Kepple,
Chairman of the Committee on Invitations:
VICE PRESIDENTS CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON April 26 1889
MY DEAR SIR-A previous engagement to |
attend the Centennial celebration of the in
auguration of George Washington as the first
President of the United States in my own CITY |
of New York will deprive me of the pleasure |
of joining the citizens of Allegheny county in |
celebrating that historic event. In spirit how |
ever all Americans will be together on a day |
which will mark an epoch in the history of |
The great State of Pennsylvania may fairly |
claim large share in the inheritance ofthe fame
of Washington. The nation is a witness to the |
grand achievements of her enterprising sons |
during the century that has passed since his |
memorable event which |
marks the beginning of the United States un- |
der the Constitution. beg you will accept my |
sincere thanks for your cordial invitation as |
well as for the excellent portraits of the Presi.
dents from Washington to Harrison. Believe |
LEVI P. MORTON,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE)
COMMONWEALTH,
HARRISBURG, April 25, 1885,
MY DEAR SIR desire to express nv thanks |
for your kind invitation to be present at Pitts
burg on the Both OF this month at your exer-
cises commemorative of the Centennial of /
Washington's Inauguration. had already ac-
cepted previous invitation to lie in New York |
on that date and hence am precluded from the |
pleasure of being with you on that important
occasion. Very respectfully yours,
CHARLES W. STONE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., April q, 1889.
DEAR SIR-I find to my great regret that 1
will not be able to be with you on the 3Oth.
The continued illness of Mrs. Mckinley. which
las detained me here, has forced me to aban-
lon number of engagements yours among
he rest 1t is deep disappointment to me as
had counted much on being present at your
Centennial celebration.
Truly yours,
WILLIAM MCKINLEY, JR.
FROM THE SOUTH.