Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-19

Standing IN his familiar attitude, With
his dark Prince-Albert coat closely but
toned. ana using no gestures, but artic-
ulating loudly and distinctly. the Presi.
dent addressed the assemblpge.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
He said: while accept with much sat
isfaction the part assigned TO me on this
occasion. l cannot escape the sober re-
Elections these ceremonies suggest Those
who suppose that we are simply engaged
In commemorating the beginning OF a mag
nifcent structure. devoted 10 important
public uses. have overlooked the most
useful and improving lesson OF the hour.
We do. indeed, celebrate the laying of a
cornerstone from which has sprung the
splendid ediflce whose grand proportions
arouse the pride Of every American clti-
zen, but our celebration Is chiefly yalua-
blc and significant because this edifice was
designed and planned by great and good
men, as the place where the principles OF
a free. representative Government should
be developed I'm patriotic legislation for
the benett or a free people. II the rep
rescntatiVeS who here assemble 20 make
laws for their feliow-countrymen forget
the duty Of broad and disintereStcd pa
triOtism, and legislate In prejudice or pas
sion. or In behalf Of sectional and selfish
interests, the time when the cornerstone
OF our Capitol was laid and the circum
stances surrounding IL Will not be worth
commemorating
THE sentiment and traditions connected
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 stead
tastncsS In many a struggle for the pub
Tic good. They also furnish a standard
by which our people may measure the con
duct Of those chosen 20 serve them tn"
incXorabe application OF this standard
will always supply proof that our country
men realize the value Of the free insti-
tuition which were designed and built by
those who laid the cornerstone Of their
Capitol and that they appreciate the ne
CeSsity OF constant and jealous watchful-
ness as a condition Indispensable to the
preservation Of those institutions In their
purity and integrity.
Il believe our fellOw-citiZens have no
greater nor better cause for rejoicing on
this centennial than rs found in the az
surancc that their public servants who as
scmhlc 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 shall again
commemorate the laying Of the corner
stone OF their nations Capitol will find
IN the recital OF our performance of pub
lie duty no less reason for enthusiasm and
congratuiation than we find IN recalling
the wisdom and virtue Of those who have
preceded us"
lMPROMPTU ACCOMPANIMENTS
The Interruptions were few. but occa-
sicnally cries OF My Maryland" and
Dixie" and "Rally Around the Flag
came over on the air as an accountant
ment not much out of place. After the
President had taken his seat there was a
round Of applause. and then the grand
chorus put in its first work with an cx-
cellcnt rendering of the "Star-Spangled
Banner"
This was the only part Of the celebra-
tiOn which seemed to have much attrac-
ton for the three representatives. Of China
and the two representatives, of Korea
in their official uniforms.
When the last notes of the "Star-Span-
glcd Banner had floated away President
Cleveland in a few wer-chosen remarks
introduced the orator Of the day, William
Writ Henryand the Grafton was begun
MIR HENRY'S GRAFTON.
Mr.. Henry said:
Fcllow-Ciuzcas OF the United States:
Thc exercises Of to-day are fitting
close OF the series Of Centennial celebra-
uuns OF the most important events in
our Revolutionary history. Celebrations
which have presented vivedly TO the pre-
sent generation the courage Of our ances-
tors IN winning our liberties. and their wis
dom IN forming a system of government
which has proved a safeguard Of the in
valuable possession. From the skrmish
at A<'AlilH lhu oI 'lH Ainllt 100, Nftn lilt
immcdiCabilc Vulnus" was inflicted which
finally severed the ligament binding the
colonies to the mother country. To the
30th April 1883. when Washington was
inauEurated as the first President under
the Federal Constitution, the most i'm
Uortaut events have been made to pass in
panorama before our eyes The attention
of the world has been more closely attrac-
ted by US, and American history has as
Sumed its proper position In the forefront.
where IL is destined TO remain as the
great teacher of advanced civilization.
And now II becomes US to celebrate the
hundreth anniversary of the laying of the
cornerstone of this magnificent Capitol,
the permanent home of the government Of
this great nation, and thus TO complete
the roll-call of the events which estab-
lshcd us among the nations Of the earth.
I'm looking back upon these events how
Insignificant they appeared at the time
10 the outside world. our battles Were
but sklrmishes as compared with the en-
gagements of the vast armies which had
Teddened the soil of Europe and Asia In
their conflicts. our Declaration OF lnde-
pendence was but "brutum fulmen' unless
sustained by force of arms which was
believed 10 be beyond our power. our
first union was held by rope OF sand,
and even our Federal Constitution, de
pendent as IL was upon popular VIII,
was an experiment with DIVIDED people
divided as TO the wisdom of the plan, and
divided as to the construction of the
instrument 1t was confidently predicted
by the enemies Of our free institutions
that our experiment would prove mis-
erable failure and that but short dis
tance would intervene between It's cradle
and its grave.
But how different the scene Of to-day.
What grand results have followed IRON
our despised beginnings, For more than
n century we have demonstrated, as no
other pe0ple have ever done before, our
canacitv for f-cOVeTnment. our
Federal system has been tested IN peace
and I'm war. and 10y violent forces from
without and within. yet every hbre has
stood the strain and It's perfect adaptation
10 our needs under all circumstances ne
been demonstrated. Yea more; already
the hope of our fathers as u the tHec'
Of our free institutions upon the human
race has been wonderfully realized
with the history of this progress this
Capitol has been intimately connected ~
TWO PERIODS.
As l stand here on this commemoration
day, two periods in the history OF its
building rise prominent TO my view; the
first at the beginning OF the century
which ends to-day. ] behold a country
not Yet recovered from the exhaustion of
the war which established its independ-
cuCc, with new system Of government
not sufficiently tried 90 overcome the fr.c-
tion of its machinery, nor TO ensure It's
HiNnli4AFs ttlA Us 'HiihAta NU 'lli' n NiN
m. spirit OF anarchy which had been 81
strongly manifested in the nation and
had So seriously threatened the dissolu-
tiOn OF the Union; with a revenue made
Quatc To meet its liabilities; without sulii-
cicnt strength to force England 70 com
ply with the terms of her treaty and sur
render The military posts on the great
lakes and as Il consequence suffering the
cruel effects OF an Indian war. believed
To nave been insugated by the British
commanders. with Spain plotting to get
q foothold In the Mississippi valley. by
refusing TO the United States the free
navigation Of that river. whose mouth
she held and offering Il 10 ;ne inhab'
itauts OF the valley as the price OF thesr
leaving the linton. and casting their lot
with her; with open opposition to the eN-
else law OF Congress assuming the form
of an insurrectiOn I'm West Pennysylvan-
ga: but above all with the almost madden
Ing effect upon the people OF the Frencn
Revolution. followed by war between
France and England which was threaten
ing TO engulf the newly Launched AmeFl,
can shio of state I'm the macls'rom O,
European wars. 1 see the calm hBure ol
Washington holding firm the helm oil
state as he steers Il amidst the storm
and with that unfaltering faith IN the lu'
ture OF his country which had nerVed MIN
10 be her deliverer In her darkest hours ol
trial. coming To this spot 10 lay the cor