New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-01
o City sitting BY the Seal
Close Of celebration

o City sitting BY the Seal
How proud the day that dswned on thee,
When the era, long desired. began
And. In Its need. the hour had found the man
Equally proud the day that rounded out the
first century begun by the day thus sung by the
cpuntry's laureate! Who that saw yesterday
celebration will think it unworthy Of the occasion
Who that will read about 1t, not having seen IL,
will be able, even feebly to imagine its glories
The Tribunc's descriptive writer's will do mach,
but whether the record will recall the festival
with becoming vividness and inspire titbe OF the
enthusiasm which kept the great heart Of New
York palpitating with patriotic feeling from sun
rise till long after sunset, and astonished the
millions OF lOokcrs-on, remains to be seen. Word.
Pictures cannot do everything; they can but weak.
" and incomplctely image such elemental emo
tions as were quickcned by yesterdays occurrences
10 an intensity never felt before. Figures and
retrospection may, Perhaps, stir tho fnncy ana
help to vitalize tho record.
One hundred years after George Washington
took the oath OF office as President on the porch
OF old Federal Hail. Benjamin Harrison, great
grandson Of one Of the ilfustrious men who had
helped him to fashion this great free Government,
stood on the same spot on the same stone, and
| rested his hand on the Bible whose cover the
frSt Presidents lips had touched with rerer.
ential kiss, while the blessings OF Heaven were
Invoked on the Nation by o divine whose patriot
| ism, learning and p!ety have made him known
throughout the land. While listening to the elo-
| quence OF one of Americas foremost orators he
| sat In the chair which Washington had used
| At bis Inauguration, just Is On hour before he
hnh sat In the pew OF St. Psurs Chapel where
Washington sat and taken part IN o service OF
| prayer and thanksgiving conducted by the sue
| cessor Of that Bishop Of New-iork whose privi-
| legc it was to ask Divine guidance for the man
| who had obtained liberty for his countrymen by
| the sword, and WAS now called upon TO direct its
dcstinics by the exercise OF his wisdom, patriotism
| aLd forbcnrance. When Washington sat at the
memorable services in St. Psurs, he was attended
| by the Vice President, the Speaker OF tho two
Houses OF Congress, land all who attended the
Inauguration ceremony His successor ycster.
| day accompanied by two ex-
| rrt sidcnts Of tho United States, the
Vice-lresident, the Governors OF several States,
the members Of his Cabinet several eX-Cabinet
| Ministers many high officers Of the Army and
| Navy and host Of dignitaries Of lower orders.
As part OF the Inauguration ceremonies the first
President witnessed parade OF the military; the
marshal and his allies: a troop Of horse and ono
| OF artillery: two companies Of grcnadiers: com.
| pany OF light infantry and the battalion men, !;
| a company In the uniform Of Scotch llIghlanders
| all gallant army OF 500 men. whose appearance
was quite pretty" and who made good figure
as they lined the street after having escorted the
President 70 church
| Yesterday President Harrison also viewed a
| military parade arranged to do glory to his high
| Office and commemorate the first centenary OF its
| establishment In IL were the Governors OF the
! thirteen original States and nine Others ss COM
| nnnding officers Of the National Guard Of twenty
| two commonwealths, the State troops numbering
80 900 at low estimate In other words in
this magnificent celebration Of the fruits OF peace
| n larger army, twice over. was concerned than
the Continental Congress called TO place under the
command Of General Washington in l775. The
military procession which General and President
Harrison reviewed was one hundred times as large
~ that which escorted General and President
Washington to Federal Hall and afterward to St
Pauls Chapel.
| Do not such figures and reflections open q
proud and interesting vista OF Ma
,ional growth and place high the stand
ard OF American patrotsmp But the end Is not
yet. One hundred years ago all the citizens Of
New-York might easily have been accommodated on
| two or three Of the stands erected by the Centen
NAL Committee for the accommodation of those
| who wished TO sec yesterdays parade. Nor need
We stop ut New-York City to find bases Of COM
parison. When Washington took the oath Of office,
| 100 years ago yesterday, he became the Executive
| head Of o Nation OF people scarcely more numerous
| than the host that was in distinct touch with
yrster erday's festivity. Had NewHampshire, Massa-
chuetts Rhode Island, Connecticut New-York,
ew.Jcrsey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
yirginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia century ago marshalled their entire
population on some vast plain the number would
not have been much greater than the multitude that
came directly under the influence of yesterdays .
celebration, that took part in the parade or wit
messed 1t, or at least came for Q time within the
currents that swrhd and rushed and eddied along
| the great avenue through which the thousands OF
gallant aud bravely dressed soldiers marched. Had
such O line Of march been laid out for the 500
who made an appearance that was quite pretty
when Washington was inaugurated, it would have
required more inspiriting music than that OF the
Scotchman's chanter pipes and drone to make the
walk full four miles beyond the city limits some
thing else than WEAKNESS to the fesh. All yes:
such celebration has its uses besides
| the delight Of the eye, which ioVes
the glitter OF gay uniforms and the rhytnmioai
movement of an army in motion. II mas msf-
vellous puissanoe as Q promoter OF p@ss''u'm
and as an object lesson in history.
The elements pve their benedieuon 70 no
festival and the skies smiled oil Gay. betoet
| weather could not be imagined; not coio enough
| .o bring discomfort TO the sghtseers VINO At
| without motion for hours, nor warm enough
| ,o incommode the marohers> THE rains of last
week had washed the pavements free from dirt,
| and thera wa no possibility Of dust The city