Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-18
T0-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
The Capitol Centennial.

and buoyant sunshine smiled to-day on
the centennial commemoration of the
LAYING of the corner stone of the Capitol.
The day was ushered in by the ringing
of centennial chimes The procession
was chiefly confined to civic bodies, I'M
der the marshalship of General Ord
way, commanding the District National
Guard. 1t started shortly before one
o'clock, in four divisions, from in front
Of the White House, and moved along
Pennsylvania avenue to the Capitol, the
civic organizations four abreast, and
the military in column of companies,
with much music, and the plaudits OF
mighty concourse Of spectators. The
organizations il line included in the
first division, Odd Fellows, oldest in.
habitants, Knights ofPythias, Elks and
Red Men. The second division COM
prised the Society ofthe Cincinnati, the
G. A. r. and Mexican Veterans, and
the Sons of the American Revolution.
The third division was military and
comprised the District National Guard.
some regulars and visiting militia
from Virginia. The fourth division
was composed of veteran fremen and
visiting fire associations, including COM
panies from Brooklyn and New York,
Virginia and Maryland.
At the head OF the procession: imme-
mediately following Grand Marshal
Ordway aud staff, rode the President
of the United States and his cabinet Of
ficers. The President was attended by
Hon. Beriah Wilkins, chairman of the
reception committee, and escorted by
squadron of United States cavalry. In
the carriage following came the orator
of the day, Hon. VIM. Writ Henry, of
Virginia, grandson of Patrick Henry
attended by Mr.. Lawrence Gardner,
chairman Of the general committee.
| The cabinet rode in order of rank in
the presidential succession bill. After
the cabinet officers came Bishop Paret,
of Maryland, chaplain for the day.
| Then came Associate Justices Brown
and Field, representing the United
States Supreme Court, and after them
the Joint committee of Congress, the
commissioners of the District, the So
ciety of the Cincinnati and the general
committee.
Arrived at the Capitol, shortly after
ter o'clock, the ceremonies of COM
memoration were commenced in the
| presence of an immense concourse of
spectators, including the United
States Senate and House of Rep
resentatives. First the Marine Band
rendered an overture; then after
| Bishop Paret's brief and eloquent
prayer, Dudley Bucks magnificent
"Te Deum in f Flat" was rendered by
chorus of fifteen hundred voices. Mr..
Lawrence Gardner then arose and in
trOduced to the audience President
Cleveland, who spoke as follows:
While l accept with much satisfac-
ton the part assigned to me on this &C.
casion, cannot escape the sober refec-
lions which these ceremonies suggest.
Those who suppose that we are simply
engaged in commemoratlDg the begin
ming of magnificent structure devoted
| to important public uses, have over
looked the most useful and improving
! lesson ofthe hour. We do indeed cele
brate the laying of a corner stone from
which has sprung the splendid edifice
whose grand proportions arouse the
pride of every American citizen but
our celebration is chiefly valuable and
significant because this edifice was de-
signed and planned by great and good
men, as place where the principles of
! free representative government would
be developed in patriotic legislation for
the benefit of a free people, Ifrepre
sentatives who here assemble to make
laws for their fellow countrymen forget
the duty of broad and disinterested
patriotism and legislate in prejudice and
passion or in behalf of sectional
and selfish interests, the time when the
corner stone of our Capitol was laid
and the circumstances surrounding it,
will not be worth concentrating. The
sentiment and the traditions connected
with this structure and its uses belong
to all the people of the land. They are
most valuable as reminders Of patriot
ism in the discharge of public duty and
steadfastness in many struggle for the
public good. They also furnish
standard by which our people may
measure the conduct of those chosen to
serve them. The memorable applica-
ton of this standard will always sup
DIV proof that our countrymen realize
the value of the free institutions which
were designed and built by those
who laid the corner stone of their
Capitol, and that they appreciate the
necessity of constant and jealous watch
fulness as condition indispensable to
the preservation Of these institutions
in their purity and integrity. | be-
lieve our fellow citizens have no great
er nor better cause for rejoicing in this
centennial, than is found in the as
surance that their public servants who
assemble in these halls will watch and
guard the sentiment and traditions that
gather around this celebration, and
that in the days to come those who