Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1893-09-20
= HUNDRED YEARS.
CENTENNIAL Or 'ga:1 LAYING OF
THE CONVERSIONS

Thousands OF People = Patriots
Speeches by President Cleyelan,
and Others.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16,-The centen
NAL celebration of the anniversary 0
the laying of the cornerstone of th
Capitol was.sssrnn ead impressive.
One hundred years ago to the day ant
hour Washington, the first president o
the republic, as grand master of tht
Free and Accepted Order OF Masons
wearing an apron AID sash woven by
the wife Of Lafayette. laid the founda
tion stone o; the great marble pile tha
is now the admiration OF the world
This city was then Il avillage, its broad
sweeping avenues, magnificent build
ings and beautiful parks as yet un
marked upon the map.
Escorted by small band of patriotic
citizens and troop of cavalry, Wash
ington, accompanied by his cabinet and
many of the illustrious men of the day,
rode to the fort-crowned hill on which
the Capitol now stands, to lay the cor
nerstone of that giant structure. Over
the same route President Cleveland was
escorted by dashiAg cavalry, marching
infantry, blaring bands and vast
multitude of people, to add his presence
and words to the celebration of the an
niversary of the event.
Exercises at, the Capitol
Arriving at the Capitol the parade
was disbanded and the ceremonies of
the dag were begun on the stand
erected at the east front of the Capitol.
The Rt. Rev. William Paret, bishop of
Maryland, invoked the blessing of God,
after which Lawrence Gardner, the
chairman, made some eloquent re-
marks. AS he concluded DR.. Gardner
turned towards President Cleveland
and introduced him as the next
speaker. The president, who had been
greeted with warm applause all the way
en- route to the Capitol, received still
more enthusiastic welcome now. He
spoke as follows:
The PPeSldeHt'S speech.
While I accept with much satisfac-
tion the part assigned to me on this oc-
casion, cannot escape the sober re-
hections which these ceremonies sug-
gest. Those who suppose that we are
simply engaged in commemorating the
beginning of magnificent structure
devoted to important public uses, have
overlooked the most useful and i'm
proving lesson of the hour. We do in
deed celebrate the laying of corner
stone from which has sprung the splen-
did edifce whose grand proportions
arouse the pride Of American citizens;
but our celebration is chiefly valuable
and significant because this edifice was
designed and planned by great and
good men, as place where the princi-
pies of free representative govern
ment should be developed in patriotic
legislation for the benefit of free
people.
If representatives. who here assemble
to make laws for their fellow country
men forget the duty of broad and dis
interested patriotism and legislate in
prejudice and passion or in behalf of
sectional and selfish interests, the time
when the cornerstone of our Capitol
was laid and the circumstances sur
roundingit
VIII Not Be Worth Commemorating
The sentiment and the traditions con-
nected with this structure and its uses
belong to all the people of the land.
They are most valuable as reminders of
patriotism in the discharge of public
duty and steadfas tness in many strug-
gle for the public good. They also
furnish standard by which our peo-
pie measure tie conduct of those chosen
to serve them. The inexorable appli-
cation of this standard will always sup
ply proof that our countrymen realize
the value of the free institutions which
were designed and built by those who
laid the cornerstone of the Capitol and
that they appreciate the necessity of
Constant and Jealous WatcbfuIness
as condition indispensable to the pres
ervation of institutions in their purity
and integrity. I believe our fellow
citizens have no greater nor better
cause for rejoicing on this centennial
than IS found in the assurance that their
public servants who assemble in these
halls will watch AMI guard the senti-
ment and traditions that gather around
this celebration, and that in the days to
come those who shall again commemo-
rate the laying of the cornerstone of
their nations Capitol will find in the re-
cital of our performance of public duty
no less reason for enthusiasm and con-
gratulations than we find in recalling
the wisdom and virtue of those who
have preceded us.
The other Exercises.
After the presidents brief address
the orator of the day, William Writ
Henry of Virginia, delivered an grafton
which was both lengthy, refined and
ornate. The 'S.ar Spangled Banner"
sung by the grand chorus, followed,
after which Vice President Stevenson
was introduced and made an historical
and interesting address. The presiding
officer of the senate with brief inter-
lude OF music was followed by the
speaker of the house Of representatives,
Mr.. Crisp, whose remarks were brevity
itself.
The exercises were SO prolonged that
only an enumeration can be made of
the closing observan ces. They con-
sisted of the rendering of the grand
chorus, 1.-THE Heavens are Telling"
from Hayden's oratorio Coronation"
a Judicial address by Associate Justice
Henry Billings Brown of the United
States supreme court; a closing speech
by Commissioner Marion Parker for
the district government, and the
rendering of America" by the Marine
band chorus and audience.