The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-28
TRENTON'S N'SGALADAY
The Corner Stone of the Battle
Monument Laid.
REUNION OF PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

NotcfhoE hcOu ADOett the Seutfat
Figure in the Ccremonies-Speech
by Well Known Orators-Order of
the Exercises-A Description ofthe
Monument.
TRENTON, Dec. 29.-The turning point
In the American revolution was COM
memorated Saturday afternoon by the
laying Of the corner stone of magnifi-
cent monument. 1t is 115 years ago
since Washington's bare footed fighters
compelled the gay British officers to for
sake their cards and tipple as a result Of
the battle of Trenton. The day really
belonged to the Trenton Battle Monu-
ment association, which, besides laying
the corner stone. elaborately celebrated
the anniversary. The Society of the
Cincinnati, the Sons of the Revolution
and the Sons of the American Revolu-
tion also held their annual meetings.
Governor. Albeit Laid the Stone.
Governor Albeit laid the corner stone
with silver trowel amid the booming
Of cannon. Around the platform were
gathered thousands of civil and military
spectators, who listened to st. Mary's
NahhNhi al tblAASo ttilh lliC phbilOliS llluoiS
which preceded the.ceremony. Accom-
panying the governor were Adjutant
General Stryker, Quartermaster Cen
eral Donnelly, Bishop OFarrell, who
pronounced the benediction, and Mayor
Bechtel.
Governor Abbetts address reviewed
the stirring actions Of the fight for indie
pendence in New Jersey.
In the Opera House.
The anniversary of the battle of Tren-
ton was celebrated at D. IN. in the
Opera house. Profuse decorations and
the inspiring presence of an enthusiastic
audience and New Jerseys representa-
tive men combined for its success in
every way. Ex-United States Senator
Sewell presided, paying graceful trib-
ute of the men of '76 as he presented
Senator Mcpherson, who delivered the
opening address. Mr.. Mcpherson paid
an eloquent tribute to the dauntless
courage and self sacrifice of the conti-
mental soldiers, and dwelt upon the
moral and political results Of their VIC
tories. General W. s. Stryker recalled
| wealth of incidents not strictly his
torical. The monument, he said, would
bring to mind that dispair had been
turned to hope and defeat to victory.
1t was a sublime lesson in patriotism for
| posterity. General Horace Porter re-
minded his audience that while it was
certain this republic had never proved
ungrateful, this proved it was not also
forgetfHl The battle of Trenton passed
| into history, not as a single victory, but
because, though crippling England tenn
| porarily it had founded the supremacy
| of the English race. Monuments were
graphing irons which bound one gener-
alton to another.
Ex-Secretary of the Navy Robson de-
hyered the last address.
The Society of the Cincinnati.
The Society of the Cincinnati occu-
/ pied Masonic Hall, over the entrance to
which were draped the national colors.
| The speakers and the responses were as
follows: Governor Albeit on "Our
| Country's Flag, the Symbol of Patriot-
ISM" Colonel Asa Bird Gardner, "Our
French Allies in the War Of the Revolu-
tom" Ex-Governor Joseph d. Bedle,
"The Revolutionary Independence Of
New jersey" the Rev. Austin Scott,
LII. D., president of the Rutgers college,
Trenton and the Wide Extended Con-
tinent;" Samuel H. Grey, "The Com
tinental Soldier in the Early Days OF the
War;
At the annual meeting of the Sons of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS addresses were
delivered by John Whitehead, of Nor
ristown; Paul Revere, Robert s. Green,
General w. s. Stryl1er and J. G. Pum-
pelly, of New York. The Sons of the
Revolution gathered informally at the
Trenton house, where New York and
Philadelphia members of prominence
were welcomed.
The Monument.
The monument begun on Saturday Is
the result of fifty years agitation. In
1843 Garrett d. Wall, in letter to the
Society of the Cincinnati, urged such a
commemoration of the momentous bat
tie. A year later the Monument asso-
citation was formed Not until 1859 were
results tangible, and then the $100 col
lected out of $ll 900 subscribed was
spent in agitation.
The present association succeeded the
old one in 1884 and purchased the
present site. The legislature appro-
priated $4,000 in 1886 and congress
$50, 900 in 1901. For the national grant
Senator Sewell is said to have put him
self into political debt to several sena-
tors. The citizens of New Jersey made
up the remainder of the $64, 900 now
available.
The polished granite column, when
erected will be 1876 feet high, fiuted two
thirds its height and surmounted by a
bronze statute of Washington attired in
Continental uniform in the attitude OF
scanning the field through glass. The
monuments approach will be guarded
by two Continental soldier in bronze, and
receptacle will be provided in the
pedestal for revolutionary relics. A
spiral staircase will lead to the top,
which will be crowned by thirteen cleo.
trio lights.