Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-11
Observation-Disclosures Big Day.

Yesterday IS another day TO be addeh
~ the many lustrous ones In the history
OF Frodoricksburg. That fair old city
has often shown 10 the admiration OF
the world us pluck aud endurance III
war: now II has given beautiful ex-
ample Of its accomplishments in the arts
Of peace.
Many communities Of larger population
and greater prctcnslons would have been
embarrassod 20 make provision for
crowd as large as that which was hand
eornclv entertained IT Fredericksburg yes
to-day. Ola-fashioucd hospitality still
rri..us there For every stranger there
was n kindly greeting; for every guest
there was that hand-pressure and kind
ling eye which make glad the heart Of
the recipient.
The monument to MARY. the mother Of
Washington" could never have been
bgilt but for the women OF Fredericks-
burg. For scores OF years they kept
this duty in mind. Had they ever re-
lsro. il their purpose, the national or
ganization which was destined to bring
the work to happy conclusion would
not have been formed. TO all the dear
women Of our country who aided in this
good work we Virginlans owe thanks
bat most Of all are we indebted TO Frede-
ricksburgs fair and patriotic daughters.
What happiness must have been theirs
when on yesterday they saw the fulfil
1nent Of their long cherished ambition-a
e Z ba
nob!e matron who gave birth to Wash
ington: that woman who did sd much to
mould his life into that form which made
Aiin ",he Father Of his Country
an accounts agree that the crowd at
Fredericksburg was very large; that the
weather was g.oriously fine; that the
parade was beautiful: that the addresses
were good. ana that the dedicatory cere-
monies performed by the Grand Lodge
Of Virginia MasOns were creditabe TO
that ancient and honorable order. Also,
tfat the Presidents reception at the
monument delighted hundreds of peo-
pie. while the banquet and ball. which
followed, completed the triumphs Of the
day.
President Cleveland kept his promise
to make "a short speech" lie happily
saI that I'm the highest meaning Of the
occasion there were no guests" there,
but that all had come on equal terms 10
worship at that sacred national shrine.
His tribute TO motherhood was graceful.
as was the expression of his hope that
American people may always hold last
to those sentiments that grow out OF
love and veneration for American MOTHER
hood. However, we will not epitomize
MS speech. or any of the other speeches.
They are given in full In this paper.
The reader has but to refer to them 10
learn how well Mayor Rowe spoke for
Fredericksburg, Governor OFerral for
the Commonwealth OF Virginia, President
Cleveland for the United States. Senator
John w. Daniel as the particular orator
Of the day. and Lawrence Washington,
Esq, for the Washington family, and,
also. what nice things were said at the
banquet in response TO the toasts.
President Cleveland in introducing
Senator Daniel. paid him an exceedingly
graceful compliment. He said that Vir-
ginla was fortunate In possessing an ora
tor better equipped for the occasion than
could be found anywhere else In the
country.
1t was a day of patriotic oratory-a
day when the minds of the speakers and
their hearers were turned back to Revo-
lutionary men and deeds as I'm the dear
old unpgtraugpl IaVgn Mr. IOweII
would say.