Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-30
At the Sub-Treasury.

turned over to the committee on literary
exercises, who escorted him to the sub
treasury building.
At the Sub-Treasury.
1t is but vain reiteration to state that every
street in the city through which it was
known that the president would pass at any
time was wedged with people. The throngs
were massed so close that movement was
difficult, but in spite of the discomfort the
day had too many great memories for people
TO he quiet. The roars of cheering must have
been heard at Sandy Hook, some people de.
clared Through this great multitude the
president was taken to his seat at the sub
treasury
At this point the view from the steps oil
the building was one to see once in life
time. A sea,of faces was spread out before
the observer, ana as the president assembled
to his seat the uproar was tremendous
At 10 o'clock Rev. DIR. R. S. Storrs ad.
vanced to the front and opened the proceed
ings with an eloquent invocation, while the
great audience stood with uncovered and
bowed heads. A poem by John G. Whittier
was next read and then Chauncey NJ Depew
arose 10 deliver the Grafton of the occasion.
Depew's Address.
1t is needless to say that Mr.. Depew's effort
came near doing justice to the event as il
was possible by the tongue and brain of man,
but space will not allow more than the brief
est outline of his Grafton.
He began with tribute TO the alertness
shown BY the coionists in discovering and re-
sisting any peril to their liberties; showed
how the continental congress partially grasped
and completely expressed the central idea OF
the American republic, and recited the dou bts
and dobat rs Of the year preceding the sublime
declaration of independence made in the name
| and by the authority of the good peop,e OF the
colonies After paying a tribute to Hancock,
Car, o |, Harrison and others, he discussed the
central idea + the declaration of independ-
ence-viz the sovereignty of the Peep 'e-and
defined the position of Thomas jefferson
among the statesmen of the period. He then
discussed the necessity for a permanent
| union and the sovereign powers which
| it was obvious must be placed in the
hands of a central congress. This section OF
| the theme, it can readily be perceived, would
| be temptation TO any orator. and MIR. De-
| pew dealt with il clearly, admirably, eio-
quently, drawing a marked contrast between
those congresses built upon popular sover-
eighty, institutions broad enough TO embrace
continent and elastic enough to tit all con-
ditions OF race and traditions, and other
| great councils. Naturally, in discussing the
statesmen. the orator approached Washington
and the great men about him; paved further
| tribute to the statesmen of the period: showed
that the success of the time was due TO the
confidence in Washington and the genius OF
| Alexander Hamilton, concerning the latter OF
whom he said In no country. in no age, has
| there appeared a more precocious or amazing
| intelligence than Hamilton"
Then came the story of Washington's cleo
| ton and OF his trip to the capital in a memora-
| BILE march of six days, his entry into New
York, his or, citing by the first congress OF the
| fnt nd no xyh
| came him when the multitude in the streets
| III the windows aud on the roofs sent up Q
| rapturous shout Of welcome.
| The remainder of Mr.. Depew's admirable
GRAFTON was devoted to a recognition of tn,
| extraordinary development of the years that
| have passed tn some start ing contrasts in
| the way OF figure, running review of ths
| royal tamil ies which, reigning then, have dis
| appeared, and a peroration of exceeding
| beauty in thought and phrase.
| The Grafton ended in a perfect whirlwind
Of applause As the last words of the splendid
peroration fell from the speakers lips
dead silence ensued Entranced by tn,
matchless oratory men stood for a momen
| spell-bound Then shout arose that mad,
| the very earth tremble; beginning in from
where the speakers words could be heard i
was taken up by those in the rear and swellec
from point to point until all the streets from
1
had were ringing with the tremendous vol
ume of sound. 1t waxed and waned an,
waxed again, and it was some moments be
| fore silence was restored
The President Speaks.
| President Harrison then came to the from
and delivered brief but eloquent and ap
propriate address in which he referred to tn
significance of the occasion, the greatness O
the nation which had inaugurated its frs
president 100 years ago to-day, and its hope
and aspirations for the future.
The address was cheered to the echo an
then the figure of Archbishop Corrigal
claimed attention as he stood waiting to Civ
the closing benediction. Again hush fe
on the multitude, the solemn words were vi
tered and the exercises were over.
The president and his party, consisting c
cabinet and supreme court members, wer
Immediately taken to carriages and driven t
the reviewing stand on Madison square
while the people sought places from whic
they could observe the military march.