Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-09-21
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Of the Laying of the Cornerstone of the
National Capitol.

National capitol.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 15.-The
weather could not possibly have
been more pleasant than that which
favored the celebration to-day of
the centennial of the laying of the
cornerstone of the National Capt..
tol. The day was ushered in by
the ringing of centennial chimes.
Following as closely as possible the
programme of the original cere-
monies, the procession was chiefly
confined to civic bodies, under the
marshalship of Gen. Ordway, cons
handing the District National
Guard. 1t started shortly before
1 o'clock, in four divisions, from
in front OF the White House,
which faces "President's Square,
Gas Lafayette Place was called one
hundred years ago." from which
point, according to history, sthe
procession marched two abreast in
the greatest solemn dignity. with
music playing, drums beating, and
colors flying, and spectators re-
jsicinz." The modern procession
did not march 'two and two" or
its tail end would not have reached
it's destination before the shades of
night had fallen, but it moved
briskly along the broad Pennsyl~
vania avenue to the Capitol, inns
mediate!y following Grand Mar
shall Ordway, and his well-mounted
staff, rode the President of the
United States and his Cabinet
officers. The President rode in an
open barouche attended by Hon.
Beriah wilkins, chairman Of the
reception committee, and escorted
by a squadron OF United States
cavalry which made a giittering,
gathering show in their dress uni
forms, helmets. and waving plumes
In the carriage following the Press
ident came the orator Of the day,
Hon. VIM. Writ Henry, of Virs
ginia grandson of Patrick Henry,
attended by Lawrence Gardner,
chairman Of the general committee.
Each Cabinet officer was attended
by two members of the Committee
on Arrangements. After the
Cabinet officers came Bishop Paret,
of Maryland, Chaplain for the day,
in his Episcopal robes. Then came
Associate Justice Blown and Field,
representing the United States
Supreme Court, and after them the
joint committee of Congress, the
Commissioners of the District, the
Society Of Cincinnati and the gems
eral committees.
At exactly 2 o'clock the head of
the column appeared at the top of
Capitol hill! on the east front. The
Presidents carriage and those ocs
cupied by the other dignitaries
we're diverted from the line and
passed under the portico of the
east front. As the President
stepped upon the platform he was
greeted with cheers and applause.
The entire space in front of the
Capitol almost i've to the new liz
brary building was filled with peos
pie. The decorations of the Capi~
toll were artistic, but in no way
gaudy. The chief attraction was
the central portion of the stand
erected Immediately in front of the
main entrance where sat the Presi-
dent and Vice-P resident. members
of the Cabinet. Speaker of the
House, Supreme Court of the
United States, members OF the
Diplomatic Corps and other dis
tinguished citizens. Among the
latter were a number of prominent
members of the Sons of the ALle,i~
can Revolution, at the head of
which was the Hon. Horace Pors
ter, who was the private secretary
to President Grant. The INTRODUCES
ton by Lawrence Gardner, Chairs
man of the Centennial Committee,
Of President Cleveland, came in
due order; but bis voice lacked the
quality OF penetration, and his re-
marks reached the ears Of none but
those in his immediate proximity.
The President squared himself
up to the task and sent out his
sentences in clear, vigorous, FAIRS
reaching tones.
While [ accept with much satis-
faction the part assigned to me on
this occasion, | cannot escape the
eober reflections which these cer-
emonies suggest. Those who supr
pose that we are simply engaged
in commemorative the beginning
of a magnificent structure devoted
to important pablo use, haye over.
looked the most useful and inns
proving lesson of the hour. W.
do indeed celebrate the laying of a
cornerstone from which has sprung
the splendid edifce whose grand
proportions arouse the pride of
every American either; but our
celebration is chiefly valuable and
significant because this ediice was
designed and planned by great and
good men, as a place where the
principles of a free representative
Government should be developed
in patriotic legislation for the bener
fit Of a free people. If the represen-