The Portland daily press., 1893-09-19
DEDICATED BY WASHINGTON.
The Centennial of the Laying of the Cor
nor Stone of the Capitol.

nor stone OF the Capitol.
Washington, September 1S.-Though
the day is said to have been fairAand
beautiful 100 years ago, when, according
to contemporary accounts, Ellis Excel
lency, President George Washington
crossed the Potomac into Maryland
(meaning the 10 miles square decided by
Maryland and Virginia for the site Of the
National Capitol), and escorted by Yir-
ginia and Maryland troops and Masonic
and other civic bodies, moved in process
sion to Capitol Hill. and there laid the
corner stone of the National Capitol, :"
the weather could not possibly have been
more pleasant on that occasion than the
2 clear skies and buoyant sunshine which
smiled on the centennial commemoration
OF that great event today.
Following as closely as possiblethe
programme of the original ceremonies,
the procession was chiefly confined to
civic bodies. Under the marshalship of
General Ordway, commanding the Dis
trict National Guard, it started shortly
before l o'clock in four divisions, from
III 1lOuU VI lu0 w nll6 hOQSt. WHICH
faces presidents Square," as Lafayette
Place was called 100 years ago, from
which point, according to history, the
procession marched, 1.-TWO abreast, in
the greatest solemn dignity, with music
playing. drums beating and colors flying,
and spectators rejoicing" The modern
procession did not move two and two,
or its rear end would not have reached
its destination before the shades of night
had fallen, but it moved briskly along
the broad Pennsylvania avenue, to the
Capitol. the civic organizations four
abreast and the military in column com
panies with a brave display of civic in
sigma, much music and the plaudits of a
mighty concourse of spectators.
The organizations in line included, in
the first division, Odd Fellows, oldest in
habitants, Knights Of Pythias, Elks and
Noble Red Men.
The second division comprised the
Society of the Cincinnati, the Grand Ar
my OF the Republic and Mexican Veter-
ans and the Sons of the American Revo-
luton, in which organization are lnclud-
ed many of the most honored names in
public life and which, as an organization,
made its public debut today.
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, firemen and visiting fire associa-
tons, including veterans from Brooklyn,
N. Y, Virginia and Maryland.
i At the head of the procession, mrne-
diately following Grand Marshal Ordway
and his well-mounted staff, rode the
President of the United States and Cabl-
net officers. The President rode in an
open barouche attended by Hon. Beniah
Wilkins, chairman of the reception com
mittee, and escorted by a squadron of
United States cavalry, which made
glittering. Gathering show in their snowy
full dress uniforms. helmets and waving
plumes.
After the cabinet officers camc Bishop
Paret of Maryland, chaplain of the day,
in his Episcopal robes. Then came As
sociate Justices Brown and Field, repre-
senting the United States Supreme
Court, and after them came the joint
committee of Congress, the commits
sioners of the district, the judiciary of
the district, the Society of Cincinnati
and the general committee. III
Mrs. Perrine, Mrs. Cleveland's mother,
escorted by Private Secretary Thurber
and accompanied by Miss Thurber, en-
tered the Presidents carriage in the
morning and drove up to the capitol to
witness the proceedings.
An interesting side feature of the day
was the releasing of a number of carrier
pigeons which had been sent to the en-
gineer corps of the National Guard from
New York city, Brooklyn, Newark, N.
j.. Providence, r. l.; Fall piver. Mass,
and Leesburg, Va. The little m essen
gers entrusted with messages uf COL
graduation from the district commits
sioners to the mayors of the respective
cities were turned loose at different
times during the day, according to the
distance to be traversed.
Arrived at the capitol shortly after 2
O'Clock, the parade was dismissed and
the ceremonies of the commemoration
were commenced from stands erected on
the east front and in the presence of an
immense concourse of spectators. The
musical part of the programme was ex-
ceedingly notable and effective. First
the Marine band, under the leadership of
Prof. Fanciulli, rendered the overture to
G Tannhauser," then after Bishop Paret's
brief and eloquent prayer, closing with
the entreaty that if it should be the
divine will that the end of another CEN
fury these walls shall still be standing,
grant that they may stand with our
Dudley Bucks magnificent
" Te Deum in E fat'' was rendered by a
chorus of 1900 voices, under the leader
ship of Prof Du Shane Clowrad. AS the
majestic chords of this superbly rendered
died away the oratorical
part of the proceedings was commenced |
by Mr.. Lawrence Gardiner in an address
of welcome. He closed by introducing
to the audience, "As chairman of cere-
monies, the worthy successor of Washing
ton, the President of the United States,
Grover Cleveland"
President Cleveland, who had been
greeted with warm applause all the day |
en- route to the Capitol, received a still |
more enthusiastic welcome now. Stand |
ing in his familiar attitude, with his |
dark Prince Albert coat huttoned, using |
no gestures, but articulating loudly and |
distinctly, he spoke as follows:
While [ accept with much solicitation |
the part assigned to me ON this occasion,
I cannot escape the sober reflections |
which the ceremonies suggest. Those |
who suppose that we are simply engaged |
in commemorating the beginning OF a
structure devoted to impor-
tant public uses, have overlooked the |
most useful and improving lesson of the |
hour. We do indeed celebrate the laying |
Of corner stone from which has sprung |
tba cplanid edifica 1rbosa GRAND oropop.