The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-11
THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON.
The Presidents Speech at the dwelling of
the Fredericksburg Monument.

Fredericksburg, Va, May 10.-The weather
was.propitious today for the dedication of the
monument to Mary Washington, mother OF
| the first President. From an early hour
visitors have been arriving at this accent
| city, where SO many memories of Washing.
| ton have been centered for hundred years
| From the National capital special train
| brought President Cleveland, Secretary and
| Mrs. Gresham, Secretary and Mrs. Carlisle,
| Secretary and Miss Morton, Secretary and
Mrs. Lamont. Postmaster General Bissell.
| Private Secretary and Mrs. Thurber and
many distinguished men in public life.
The ceremonies commenced with prayer
| by the Rev. James P. Smith, followed by a
brief address by A. p. Rowe, mayor of
Fredericksburg. Governor O'Ferrall fol-
lowed with an impassioned address of well
come on the part of the State of Virginia,
which was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause, and in an eloquent peroration, pre-
scented the President of the United States.
The President was enthusiastically greeted
and said:
"Gov. O'Ferrall. Mr.. Mayor and Fellow
Citizens:
II speak for those who are today greeted
as the official guests of Virginia and Fred
ericksburg, when l return sincere thanks for
the hearty welcome..that has been extended
to us in behalf of both the state and city.
Our appreciation of the warmth Of your re-
ception is not diminished by the thought
that in the light of the highest meaning be-
longing to this occasion. there are no guests
here. We have assembled on equal terms to
worship at sacred national shrine. Moth
ing can be more important to those who
have assumed the responsibility of self
government than the cultivation and stimu-
lation among themselves of sentiments
which ennoble and elevate and strengthen
humanity. As clear and wholesome stream
must have its flow from a pure fountain
head, SO must a clean and beneficent popu-
lar government have it's source in pure and
morally healthy men. This purity and this
moral health are in nothing better exempli-
fed than love and reverence for mother
hood. The man who said he cared not who
made aspeople's laws, If he could write their
songs might have said with more truth that
he could gauge the strength and honor of
people and their fitness for self government
if he knew the depth and steadfastness of
their love for their mothers. I believe that
he who thinks it brave and manly to out
grow his care and devotion for his mother
lot LlOIC tueA 1lO w uO las uOU luuSlC Ill HILL
self, fit for treason, stratagems and spoils
and should not be trusted.
''Let us recall today as conclusive proof
of the close relations between American
greatness and lasting love and reverence
for our mothers the proud declaration of
George Washington: All 1 am owe to my
mother and let us not forget that when his
glory was greatest and when the plaudits of
I,
more than these the blessing and approval
of his aged mother. While these exercises
cannot fail to inspire us anew with rever
ence for American motherhood, we will re-
member that we are here to do honor to the
woman who gave to our nation its greatest
and best citizen and that we have the
privilege of participating in the dedication
of a monument erected by the women of our
land in loving and enduring testimony to
the virtues of the mother of Washington.
Let us be proud today that the nobility of
this woman exacted from distinguished
foreigner the admission: If such are the
matrons of America, she may well boast of
illustrious sons; and that Lafayette, who
had fought with her son for American in
dependence, declared after he had received
her blessing, and I have seen the only
Roman matron living at this day. Remem-
bering these things, let US leave this place
with our love of country strengthened, with
higher estimate of the value of American
citizenship and with prayer to God that
our people may hold fast to the sentiment
that grows out of a love and reverence for
American motherhood
There was another outburst of enthusiasm
when the President finished and gave way
to the Masonic societies which performed
their dedicatory services. Senator John W.
Daniel, the orator of the day, was then in
troduced by President Cleveland.
A brief address by Mr.. Lawrence Washing
ton, a lineal descendant of the mother of
the first President, closed the programme at
the monument.