The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18
THE FIRST INAUGURAL.
CONGRESS CELEBRATES THE EVENT.
The Centennial of George washington's
Inauguration Appropriately Observed
Chief Justice Fuller's Fine Grafton
Awakens Great Enthusiasm.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE congressional
ceremonies commemorative of the centennial
of George Washington's inaugural were held
in the house OF representatives to-day. In the
private gallery were seated Mrs. Fuller, wife of
the chief justice, and her daughters; Mrs.
Morton, wife Of the vice president, and the
families of the delegates to the pan-American
conference. Mrs. Blaine, Miss Blaine, Miss
Letter, Mrs. and Miss Halford and Mrs. Wana-
maker occupied seats in the diplomatic gallery,
aud Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Carlisle we're accommo-
dated in the seats set apart for the friends of
the speaker.
AT 2:5O D. m. the distinguished procession
in the senate wing formed in line and marched
across to the house, President Harrison, arm in
arm with Secy. Blaine, leading the way.
The hum of conversation was hushed in the
house, when, at precisely o'clock. the presi-
dent OF the United States and his cabinet were
announced, and filed down the main AISLE
while the representatives stood in respectful
silence. Hardly had they been seated when
the chief justice and associate justices of the
United States were ushered in, headed by the
officers of the court.
Chief Justice Fuller took chair on the left
OF Secy Blaine, who, himself, sat on the left of
the president
The vice-president and the members of the
senate were then announced, and as the sena-
tors were escorted to their seats Mr.. Morton
assembled to the speakers chair and assumed
the gavel, Mr.. Reed standing on his left.
zen. SchOheld, commanding the army, and
escorted by Gen. RosecranZ, (retiredl having
taken their seats, the diplomatic corps, headed
by MIR. Walker Blaine, and attired in gorgeous
costumes, filed down to the rows assigned to
them. They were followed by the members of
the pan-American conference and the members
OF the international marine conference, headed
by Admiral Franklin and Lieut.. Cottman, the
president and secretary, respectively, of the
marine conference.
At 1:10 all were seated, and the vice-presi-
dent called the vast assemblage to order. After
prayer, the Marine band, stationed in the south
lobby, broke into the national air of Hail
Columbia" As the strain ended, the chief
justice was escorted to the clerks desk by Sem
ator Hiscock and Representative Baine, the
chairmen OF the committees in charge of the
arrangements. Chief Justice Fuller read his
Grafton in q powerful voice and with clear
enunciaton; and he was listened to with the
greatest attention.
In beginning it he said that by the terms of that
section OF the act of congress under which have
assembled in further concentration of the historic
Inauguration OF the first president of the United
States, George Washington, the 30th day of April,
A d. 1889, was declared national holiday, and in
the noble city where that event took place its Gen.
tennial anniversary has been celebrated with mag
nihcence Of speech and song. of multitudinous
sembly, and OF naval, military and civic display
cOmpanied By every manif station of love of coun-
try, OF profound devotion to its institutions and of
intense appreciation of the virtues and the services
OF that nlustrious man whose assumption of the
chief magstraey gave the of the successful
setting in motion of the new government.
Washington" the orator continued, chad be-
come first In war; not so much by victories over the
enemy or by success in strategy as by the trumphs
OF a constaDcy which no reverse, nor hardship. no
ineompetency, no treachery could shake over
come, He had become first in the hearts OF his
countrymen because the people comprehended the
greatness of their leader and recognized in him an
absence Of al To l0va
OF country, OF themselves and OF mankind. He had
become first in peace by bringing to thu charge of
the practical working OF the system he had particle
pated in creating behalf OF the people, whose in
dependence he had achieved. the same serene judg-
Ihent, the same sagaeity, the same patence, the
same sense OF duty the same far sighted comprehen
sion of the end to be attained that had marked his
career from the beginning"
The orator alluded but briefly to the brilliant war
record OF Gen. Washington, but in cleo uent words
portrayed the growth and value Of REPUBLICAN insti-
buttons under the administration OF President
Washington. Referring to the fear of arbitrary
power in respect TO the presidential Office, Justice
Fuller said: "But no fear, no jealousy could be
entertained of him who Indignantly repealed the
suggestion OF the bestowa of kingiy power who had
unsheathed the sword with reluctance and laid it
down with joy; who had sou ght official
position, but accepted public Office a public trust
In Difference TO unanimous demand for his services
to convince him of the necessity; whose patriot
ism embraced the whole country the future grandeur
of which his rrssciarc 90 foresa,r Of ths f,tura
greatness Of the new nation Washington had
doubts. He saw If face 10 face, that continental
II
glass darby"
The chief justice referred to the friendly inter-
national relations between the United States and
foreign nations. In brilliant peroration he said:
And so the new century may be en- tered upon in
the spirit of optimism, the natural result perhaps.
of self-confdence which has lost nothing in the
substance by experience though il has gained in the
moderation OF its impetuosity; yet an optimism
essential 10 the accomplishment of great ends
blind TO perils but bold in the earlessness of faith
whose every consciousness of the limitations of the
present asserts the atainabiity OF the untraveled
world of a still grander future. No ship can sail
forever over summer seas. The storms ii has
weathered test and demonstrate its ability to sur
vive the storms to come, but storms there must be
until there shall be no more But amid the
tempests in which ship of state launched
and in the times succeeding in the times TO come
With every exigeney consultations OF ilustrious
men will rise upon the angry skies to control the
whirwind and dispel the clouds bv their in
huences, while from the clear upper sky the steady
light OF the great planet marks out the the
vessel must and sits shining the sails IL
comes grandly into the haven where it would be.
The orator completed his grafton at 2:30,
having consumed an hour and quarter in its
delivery. AS his voice died away the last
word OF the eloquent peroration, a storm of APP
plause swept through the audience, which con-
tinued for some minutes. The benedietion was
then pronounced by the chaplain of the house,
after which Washington's grand march was
rendered by the Marine band. The martial
strains having ceased, the vice president de-
clared the joint assembly dissolved, and to the
stirring air Of the "Star Spangled Banner" the
invited guests slowly left the chamber.
Variation On An Old Theme.