Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-19
TEE oAPIroL,s BIRTHDAY.

Centenary of she Laying OF the Cor
ner Stone of the Great Structure
MIR. CIeveland,s Speech-Presiden,
Cleveland Heads the Procession OF
Military Bodies and Civic Organf.
cations.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Sept. 1S.-Thougt
the day seemed to have been fair 1O(
years ago, when, according to contempt
rary accounts, ''His Excellency President
George Washington crossed the Potomac
into Maryland" meaning the ten miles
square decided by Maryland and Virgins
for the site of a national capital, escorted
by Maryland and Virginia troops and
Masonic and other civic bodies, moved In
procession 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
clear skies and brilliant sunshine which
sniled on the centennial oommemoration of
that great event.
graved in 1893 on a silver plate Embedded
in the foundation stone describes the his
| torio occurrence with tersenees ss follows:
"This southeast corner stone of the cap
itol of the United States of America In the
city of Washington was laid on the 18th
day of September, 1898, In the thirteenth
year of American Independence and in the
first year of the second term of the presi-
dsnoy of George Washington, whose viz
tues In the civil administration of his
country have been as beneficial as his mill
tary valor and prudence has been useful,
and in the year of Masonry 5,7s3, by the
president of the United States In concert
with the grand lodge of Maryland, several
lodges under its Jurisdiction, and lodge
| No. 20 from Alexandria, Thomas johnson,
| David Steuart and Daniel Carroll, commits
sioners; Joseph CLARK, right worshipful
grand master, pro tempere, James Hoban
| and Stephen Halleate, architect, and
Thomas Williamson, Master Maaonn
The day was ushered In by the ringing
of the Centennial chimes.
Following as closely as possible the pro-
gram of the original ceremonies, the pro-
oession was chiefly confined to civic bod
les, under the marshslship of General Ord
way, commanding the District National
Guard. 1t started before O'Clock in four
divisions from In front of the White
House, which faces presidents Square"
las Lafayette place was called 100 years
ago., from which point, according to his
tory, "the procession marched two
",
spectators rejoicing"
The modern procession did not march
"two and two" or Its tail end would not
have reached its destination before the
shades of night had fallen, but 1t moved
briskly along the broad Pennsylvania ave.
nue. to the capitol, the civic organization
four abreast ard the military in column of
companies with brave display of civic
insignia, much music and the plaudits of
mighty concourse of spectators
Atthe head of the procession, following
mounted staG, rode the president of the
United States and his cabinet The presi-
dent rode In an open barouche attsnded
by Beriah Wilkins, chairman of the reoep-
ton committee, and escorted by a squad
ron of United States cavalry, which made
a glittering, gathering show, in their snowy
full dress uniforms, helmets and waving
plumes.
In the carriage following the president
came the orator of the day, William Writ
Henry of Virginia, grandson of Patrick
Henry, attended by Lawrence Gardiner,
chairman of the general committee.
The cabinet rode in the order of rank as
named in the presidential succession bill. |
President Cleveland, who had been
greeted with warm applause all the way en-
route to the capitol, received a still more
enthusiastic welcome at the stand. In his |
familiar attitude, with his dark Prince AL |
bert coat tightly buttoned, using no ges
lures, but articulating loudly and distinct |
ly, he spoke about as follows:
"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 sup
pose that we are simply engaged In COM
memoratipg the beginning of a magnificent |
structure devoted to important public uses
have overlooked the most useful and i'm
proving lesson of the hour.
"We do indeed celebrate the laying of |
corner stone from which has sprung the |
splendid edifoe whose grand proportions
arouse the pride of every American Citizen,
but our celebration is chiefly valuable and
significant because this edifice was designed |
and planned by great and good men as a |
place where the principles of free repre-
sentative government should be developed
in patriotic legislation for the benefit of a
free people.
eff representatives who here assemble |
to make laws for their fellow oountrymen
forget the duty of broad and disinterested
patriotism and legislate in prejudice and
passion or in behalf of sectional and self
ish interests, the time when the corner
stone of our capitol was laid and the cir
oumstanoes surrounding 1t will not be
worth concentrating.
'sThe sentiment and the traditions con-
nected with this structure and its uses be-
long to ell 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 alao furnish standard
by which our people may measure the con-
duct of those chosen to serve them. The
memorable application of this standard will
supply proof that our countrymen realize
the value of free institutions which were
designed and built by those who laid the
cornerstone of their capitol and that they
appreciate the necessity of constant and
jealous watchfulness as q condition indi-
spsnsable to the preservation of their insti-
tutions in their purity and integrity.
81 believe our fellow citizens have no
greater nor better cause for rejoicing on
this centsnnial than is found in the assur
anos that their public servants who assem-
BILE in these halls will watch and guard the
sentiment and traditions that gather
around this celebration, and thst in the
days to come those who shall again com
memorate the laying of the corner stone of
their nations capitol will find in the rect
tai of our performance of public duty no
less reason for enthusiasm and congrstula-
tions than we find in recalling the wisdom
Auu FIEtuo OI tuesS VINO nave prsCeucu
u.s."
This afternoons program at the capitol
included music by the Marine band and
chorus of 1900 voices, aud addresses by
Lawrence Gardiner, chairman of the gen
eral committee, by President Cleveland,
by Vice President Stevenson, Speaker
Crisp, by Judge Henry Brown of the
United States supreme court, by Ayron
| NJ. Parker Of the district board of commits
| sioners, the Grafton of the day by William
Writ Henry of Virginia, and the benedic-
| ton by Cardinal Gibbons.
WILL REDUCE WAGES.
| yhere Will be Fully Ten Thousand
| Operatives Affected by the Financial
| Depression.
LAWRENCE, Mass, Sept. IS The fol-
lowing was posted in the Pacific mills tc-
day: "On account of the great depression
in business 1t becomes necessary to reduce
wages in these mills. A reduction will
therefore take effect September %, 1898,
details of which will be given as soon as
schedule can be prepared"