The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-19
BIG DAY AT WASHINGTON.
Centennial Anniversary Of the Capt.
FOL Corner Stone Laying.


dress by President Cleveland-Feir,
Fine Weather and the Occasion
Largely Participated in and Wit
messed by Immense Throngs Vice
President Stevenson Speaks-Ora-
tion by Hon. William Writ Henry of
Virginia-soenes and Incidents of
the Event.
Washington, Sept. 1s.-The weather
could not possibly have been more
pleasant than that which IA
vored the celebration to-day of
the centennial Of the laying OF the corner
stone Of tho national capitol. The day
was ushered in by the ringing of the con-
tenuial chimes, Following as closely as
possible the programme of the original
ceremonies, the procession was chiefly
confined to civic bodies, under the mar
shalship Of Gen. Ordway, commanding
the District National Guard. 1t started
shortly before l o'clock, In four divisions
from in front the white house, which
faces presidents square" (as Lafayette
park was called one hundred years ago, ),
from which point, according to history,
marched two abreast in the greatest
Of solemn dignity, with much playing,
drum beating and colors flying, and spec
tators rejoicing"
THEN AND NOW.
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 il
moved briskly along the broad Pennsyl-
Vania avenue to the capitol, the civic or
CARNATIONS, four abreast, and the mill
tary in column of companies, with bravo
display of civic insignia, much music and
the plaudits Of a mighty cOncourse Of
spectators
The organizations in line included in
the first division the Odd Fellows, the
Oldest inhabitants, Knights of Pyth-
las, Elks and "Noble Red Men"
The second division comprised the
Society of the Cincinnati, the Grand
Army of the Republic, Mexican veterans
and the Sons Of the American Revolution,
in which organization are included many
of the most honored names in public life,
and which, as an organization, made its
public debut to-day. The third division
was military, and comprised the District
National Guard, some regulars and visit
ing militia from Virginia The fourth
division was composed of veteran fremen
and visiting fire associations, including
veterans from Brooklyn, New York, Vir-
ginia and Maryland.
THE PRESIDENT AT THE HEAD.
At the head of the procession immedi-
ately following Grand Marshal Ordway
and his well mounted staff, rode the Pres
ident of the United States and his cabi-
net officers The President rode in an
open harouche, attended by Hon. Beriah
Wilkins, chairman of the reception com
mittee, and escorted by a squadron of
United States cavalry, which made
great tearing, gathering show in their
shOwy field dress uniforms, helmets and
waving plumes. In the carriage follow
ing the President came the orator of the
day, Hon. VIM Writ Henry, of
Virginia, grandson of Patrick Henry
attended by MIR. Lawrence Gardner,
chairman of the general committee Each
cabinet officer was attended by two mem
bers of the committee on arrangements.
After the cabinet officers came Bishop
Parrot of Maryland, chaplain of the day, in
his Episcopal robes. Then came Associate
Justices Brown and Field, representing
the United States supreme court, and af-
ter them the joint committee of congress,
the commissioners of the district, the So
ciety of Cincinnati, and the general com
mittees.
The regular and district militia
were in such force that they gave
quite a military aspect to this civic par
ade No serious accident marred the
day and, though the suns rays grew very
warm before the procession ended the
short distance traversed prevented any
suffering from heat.
CHEERS FOR CLEVELAND.
At exactly o'clock the head of the
column appeared at the top of capitol hill
on the east front. The Presidents car
riage and those occupied by the other dig
nitaries were diverted from the line and
passed under the portico of the east front.
As the President stepped upon the plat
form he was greeted with cheers and APP
plause. The entire space in front of the
capitol almost over to the new library
building was filled with people The
decorations of the capitol were artistic
but not gaudy The center of attrac-
tion was the central portion of the stand
erected Immediately in front of
the main entrance, where sat the Presi-
dent Iand Vice President, members
of the cabinet, speaker Of the House, su-
preme court of the United States, mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and other dis
tinguished citizens. Among the latter
were a number of prominent members of
Sons of the American Revolution, at head
of which was Hon. Horace Porter, who
was the private secretary of President
Grant. To the left of this was the
stand provided for the members of congress
and their friends, each member being
limited to one ticket. On the right of the
President sat the great chorus, com
posed of !, 800 voices, which took very
important part in the ceremonies.
THE EXERCISES BEGIN.
Promptly at o'clock the House of
Representatives filed out from the rotun-
da on to the platform, and at 2:06 the ex-
ercises began. The programme was not
followed literally. The marine band
failed to appear, and the overture from
"Tannhauser'' was the first omission
the ceremonies opening with a recitation
of prayers from the Episcopal prayer
book land one especially prepared for the
occasion) by the bishop of Maryland,
Rt. Rev. William Parrot The next
item on the programme 'The
TIE Deum (by the grand chorus),
was the second omission. The introduc-
tion by Lawrence Gardner, chairman of
the centennial committee, came in due or
der, but his voice lacked the quality of
and his remarks reached the
ears of none but those in his immediate
The President squared him
self up to the task, and sent out his SEN
tenCeS in clear, vigorous, far-reaching