The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-04-30

or President WashingtOn's Inauguration.
One hundred years ago, to-day, on the
morning of the Both of April, 1889, at
9 of the clock, he whose fame is only
bounded by earthly limits and the hu-
man minds extent, reluctantly obeyed a
summons from his countrymen and took
the official oath as first President of
those united American colonies which
had dared to break all feaIty to the Brit
ish king. What day was that! And
what a man was Washington! The
young republic kindIed with joy! Flags
made rainbows of the air! Every noun
tain top was afame! And every home an
altar to the living God!
The pathway TO the Federal Hall on
Wall street, New York, where the con-
gress met, was arched with laurel and
velvet with flowers strewn by the hand of
beauty. And as in the presence of all
the gathered fame and goodness of the
land our great, wise Washington kissed
reverently the Sacred Book and swore to
defend the Constitution and the laws,
the psnt-up ardor of the people thrilled
the air. For now they knew that he who
had been to tyranny constant threat,
he who had made the flag forever holy,
was made the protector of American
liberties and of that sweet spirit of
nationality which was to be to them
pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire
by night.
To commemorate this august event
national holiday has been declared, and
a glad Republic halls this morning sun as
it gilds a reverent people, bowling in
unison at their country's altar and thank
ing God for the life and example of such
a man as our George Washington. With
in this centuried splendor of a new world
there lives g history to which the nations
afford no parallel. Let US shatter the
hour-glass, turn back the wheels of time,
and briefly tell this young Republics
story. 10 all the mothers and the fathers
who love the holiness of home, to all the
children who are taught from cradlehood
to say his name, to all the daughters and
the sons of toll, this story that links our
Washington with the birth of constitu-
tional liberty, with the creation of ma
tional life is never too old. From that
Sabbath day on which the little "May-
flower schooner found shelter in the
cold shadow of Plymouth Rock, to the
30th day of April, 1879, is comprised as
within the leaves of a book bound in
purple and gold, what may be strictly
called Americas Heroic Age. To those
grand souls who broke their thralldom to
Britain and in that frail vessel went down
to the untried sea to seek freedom for
conscience, free civic government, free
speech, free air, we trace the conditions
which made immortal in our history the
name of George Washington. Such
spectacle the world had never witnessed.
All behind was home; all ahead was
hope; sense of duty nerved; high resolves
inspired; love of justice controlled; God
guided them.
The MdUfOUer'S deck by day was an
altar. Above her by night and mingled
with its stars were three others, lamping a
way to safety-the star of Liberty, white,
spotless, the star of Justice, "lovely even
in her frown," the star of Equality; no
favor to class or creed before the law.
These heroes and heroines were the
videttes of religious and political liberty.
And the founders of states-the builders
of churches and of schools-they who
with zeal and wisdom and temperance
bring the fullest measure of contentment
to the greatest number, are the achievers
of fadeless fame, not they who lust for
conquest and for gain. With bruised
hearts and bleeding feet-by force of
WILL by faith in God-they builded better
than they knew a temple to liberty,
nationality and the rights of man. Their
descendants multiplied. Farms were
planted. Cities grew. States developed.
At last came trouble. Tyranny stretched
out its arms across the sea. And SO to
sever allegiance to the British crown the
gauntlet of war was thrown at the feet of
the king.
And while the fires of revolution lit
every eye, the question on every tongue
was: "Who shall lead the continental
armies?'' Who should be chosen as the
protector of their liberties, the guardian
and guide of q determined, struggling
people? Whose was the courage, the
skill, the wisdom, the power? Whose
the patriot heart to make the pillars of
the State seem stronger-ihe homes of
American mothers more eadurinG-the
American sailor feel safer on the sea?
And "hope elevated and joy frightened
the crest" of the young republic, as an
harmonious people turned their faces to
his humble home at Mt. Vernon, where
me- MlOoC Sc141uo oaNOO bAO al LAJ
from crushing danger after Braddock' S
defeat, had laid his sword away and was
guiding the plow in the furrow. With
dithdence and doubt he accepted the com
mand of the provincial troops, and these
are the modest and beautiful words he
addressed to the President of the Cont
mental Congress, which had demanded
his services: ''Sir-Although 1 am truly
sensible of the high honor done me in
this appointment, yet l feel great dis
tress from a consciousness that my
abilities and military experience may not
be equal to the extensive and important
trust. However, as the congress desire
it, will enter upon the momentous duty
and exert every power l possess in their
services and for the support of the
glorious cause. l beg they will accept
my most cordial thanks for this distin-
guished testimony of their appreciation.
But lest some unlucky event should
happen, unfayorable to my reputation,
beg it may be remembered by every gen
tleman in this room that this day de-
clare, with the utmost sincerity, do not
think myself equal to the command l am
honored with. As to pay, sir, beg leave
to assure the congress that as no pecuni-
ary consideration could have tempted me
to accept this arduous employment at the
expense of my domestic ease and happi-
ness, do not wish to make any profit
from 1t. will keep an exact account of
my expenses; these, doubt not, they will
discharge, and that is all desire"