Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-09-21
CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON.
Centennial Celebration of the Laying OF the
Corner stone of the Capitol.

| brated, solemnly and impressively, on
| the broad plaza that stretches out from
the west front of the capitol this after
noon. One hundred years ago, to the
day and hour Washington, the first Presi-
dent of the republic, as grand master of
| the Free and Accepted Order OF Masons,
wearing an apron and sash woven
by the wife of Lafayette, laid the
! foundation stone Of the great marble
pile that it is now the admiration OF the
world This city was then village, It's
| broad sweeping avenues, magnificent
buildings and beautiful parks as yet un-
marked upon the map. Escorted by d
small band Of patriotic citizens and
troop of soldiery, Washington accom-
panied by his cabinet and many Of the
lllustrious men of his day, rode to the
! forest crowned hill on which the capt.
toll now stands to lay the cornerstone
of that giant structure. Over the same
route to-day, President Cleveland was
escorted by dashing cavalry, marching
infantry, blaring bands and a vast null
titude of people, to add by his presence
and words to the celebration OF the an
niversary of the event. The Goddess
of Liberty from her stand on the dome
! looked down upon the gaily decorated
| platforms on which, in addition to the
orators of the day, there set in solemn
state the members OF both branches of
Congress, the judges of the supreme
court clad in their judicial ermine, the
members of the cabinet and other high
dignitaries of the government. Beyond
she saw filling the plaza in front OF the
| platform and extending far out into the
radiating avenues a great concourse OF
citizens and civic soldiery, which in
numbers, patriotism and enthusiasm
fttingly marked the growth and grand
eur of the country during the 100 years
| that have passed. On the right of the
| platform was stationed the marine band
under the direction of Prof Fancuilly
and the chorus of l 800 voices under
the direction of Prof. Coward.
Not since the second Inauguration of
President Cleveland have the thorough
fares of this city been so thronged with
people as they were to-day. And not
since then has there been such dis
play Of civic and military organizations
as that of to-day. Long before the
| hour for the parade to start, the in
habitants of Washington and the thou
sands of visitors from far and near
began TO assemble along the side
walks of the streets through which it
was to pass. They crowded the steps
and porticos of the public buildings,
|
and peering from hundreds of windows
in private houses, and they watched
and waited until the parade passed by.
Then there was an exodus from streets
and houses and housetOps to the
grounds of the grand old capitol where
| the exercises were held.
The parade started from the White
House, and here it was the multitude of
sightseers was the densest. A Gordon
of police kept the crowd off the grounds
and out of the way of the soldiers and
civic bodies while they were forming in
| line. Notwithstanding the fears of
many, order was at length restored and
! the procession started from the White
House to the east front of the capitol
over the same route taken 100 years ago
when George Washington laid the cor
ner-stone of the capitol. 1t was from
the White House along Pennsylvania
Avenue to the capitol grounds. Gen.
Ordway, the chief marshal, and his
staff, with a squadron of United States
cavalry acting as an escort for Presl-
dent Cleveland in carriage, led the
way AS the Chief Executives car
riage passed through the streets, the
crowds of watchers honored him with
loud huzzas. Then in carriages fol-
| lowed the orator of the day, William
Writ Henry, of Virginia; the governors
of the various states, Chairman Lau-
renee Gardner and the specially invited
guests, troop A, of the District National
Guard, bringing up the rear.
After this escort came the first division
proper, under the command of Marshal
Robert Boyd. This division was com
posed of civic organizations. The sec
ond division was under the command Of
ii. q. Gibson as marshal, and in this
division were the Society of Cincinnati,
Sons of the American Revolution, Aztek
! Club of 1S47, Veterans of the Mexican
War, Old Guard, Grand Army of the
| Republic, Sons of Veterans and
the National Rifles. The Third Division,
composed entirely of United States
regulars and District of Columbia and
visiting militia. The Fourth and last
division of the parade had for its COM
mander, Marshal James II. Richards.
of the District of Columbia and similar
organizations from other parts of the
country.
Arriving at the capitol, the parade
was disbanded and the ceremoni of
the day were begun on the stand
erected at the east end of the capitol.
There was an overture by the United
| States Marine Band. The Rt. Rev.
William Paret, bishop of Maryland, in
voked the blessing Of God, after which
TIE Deum was sung by chorus of 800
voices. When the chorus had finished
Laurence Gardner, the chairman arose
and addressed the great gathering. AS
he concluded, DR.. Gardner turned to-
wards President Cleveland and intro
duced him as the next speaker. The
| President was given most enthusiastic
greeting. He said:
FELLOW CITIZENS: While I accept with
much satisfaction the part assigned to me
on this occasion, | cannot escape the sober
reflections which these ceremonies suggest.
| Those who suppose that We are simply
engaged in commemorating the be-
ginning of magnificent structure de-
| voted to important public uses, have
| overlooked the most useful and improving
| lesson of the hour. We do indeed celebrate
the laying of cornerstone from which has
| sprung the splendid editice whose grand
| proportions arouse the pride of every Ameri
| can citizen; but our celebration rs chiefly
| vain nd Sir