The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-11
WASHINGTO2'S 2'SMOTHER
The Monument to Her Memory
Dedicated at fredericksburg.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND's ADDRESS
He Pays Glowing and Eloquent Trlh-
ute to American Motherhood and to
the Free and accepted Citizens Of the
United States.

United States.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, May 1.-THE
special train bearing President Cleveland
and party TO participate in the unveiling
OF the Mary Washington. monpment
reached this city shortly before noon yes
terday. great crowd surrounded the
station, and when the train prlled in a
presidential salute was fired. President
Cleveland and his cabinet were received
by members Of the reception committee,
Of whom one was Judge Harlan, of the
supreme court. In the adjoining streets
were various organizations, conspicuous
AMONG them the Confederate veterans,
bearing battle flags Of the Confederacy.
The procession marched through the
town from the station TO the Green Knoll,
topped with wooden stands, where the
Bons and Daughters Of the Revolution and
distinguished guests were assembled.
The program for the dedicatory exer-
slses were as follows: Prayer by Rev.
Jsmes p. Smith, D. D.; address of well
come on the part of the city by Hon. A. p.
Rowe, mayor; address of welcome on the
part Of the state OF Virginia by Governor
Charles T. O'Ferrall; Masonic ceremonies;
address by Mr.. Lawrence, OF Washington,
= descendant Of Mary Washington; ora
Hon by Senator John w. Daniel, the ora
tor Of the day
Senator Daniel in his oration said;
"'All that | am said Washington, L
owe to my mother All that we are as
nation we owe to him. His debt is ours.
II is many times multiplied. L ey :
growing, as the ever growing repuR
Illustrates in its virtues and in It's faa
alike the merit sf his example and the
wisdom of his teachings. But for the
light that streamed from the deeds of him
she bore, we would doubtless have never
heard the name Of Mary Washington, and
the grass that grew upon this grave had
not been disturbed by curious footsteps or
rsyerential hands. But 1t does not follow
that she shines only in the reflection of
her offerings fame. Her virtues were not
created; they were only discovered by the
marvellous career of her illustrous SON.
There were ten thousand Mary Washing
tons among the mothers Of the revolution,
and honoring her we honor the mother
hood Of heroic days and heroic men.
"For many years this grave remained
unmarked. But that this monument has
been slow to rise is no proof that Mary
washington was unappreciated or for
gotten. That this monument Is reared
1
It had been done under the momentary
impulse of some transient feeling. This
10 the great test. and the hoary years to-
Gay set their seal on her glory"
President Cleveland responded to Gov
srnor O'Ferralls address of welcome, say
Ing in part:
Il speak to those who are today greeted
as the official guests Of Virginia and Fred
cricksburg when 7 return sincere thanks
for the hearty welcome that has been ex-
tended to us in behalf of both the state
and city Our appreciation of the warm b
Of your reception is not diminished by he
thought that in the light Of the highest
meaning belonging to this occasion there
are no guests here. We have assembled
on equal terms to worship at "A sacred ma
ttonal shrine.
''rbe man who said he cared not who
usasds peoples laws II he could write
their songs might have said with more
truth that he could gauge the strength
and vigor of people and their fitness
for self government II he knew the depth
and steadfastness of their love for their
mothers. ! believe that he who thinks it
brave and manly to outgrow his care and
devotion for his mother is, more than he
who has no music In himself, fit for trea-
son, stratagems and spoils, and should not
be trusted Let us recall today as conclu.
siys proof of the close relation between
American greatness and lasting love and
reverence for our mothers the proud dec
larAtion Of George Washington, All am
lowe to my mother and let us not for.
get that when his glory was greatest and
when the plsudits of his countrymen were
loudest he valued more than these the
hlnasip us nd annrnyoI of bia a1ad ~, 81 l. on
"While these exercises cannot fail to in.
spire us anew with reverence for Ameri
can motherhood, we will remember that
we are here to do honor to the woman who
gave TO our nation its greatest and best
citiLen, and that we have the privilege oi
participating In the dedication of monu
msnt erected by the women of our land IN
loving and enduring testimony to the vir
tues OF the mother of Washington. Let
us be proud today that the nobility OF this
woman exacted from a distinguished for
eiguer the admission: If such are the ma
irons of America, she may we'll boast Of
tllustrious sons and that LAFAYETTE
who had fought with her son for Ameri
can independence, declared after he had
received her blessing: 4 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 pray er to God that our people may
hold fast to the sentiment that grows out
Of love and reverence for American
motherhood.
fredericksburg Lodge No. of Free
Masons, in which George Washington
was made Mason, gave banquet at tn,
opera house after the ceremonies AROUND
the monument. The prominent guests
were seated around three long tables OF
the stage elevated above the body of th,
house. Vice President Stevenson was a
ths head of the right hand table. Chic
Justice Fuller presided over the left, anC
the place of honor at the center table wa
sscapt when the banquet commenced.
During the banquet President CLEVELAND
entered the hall quietly and was standing
In the center of the stage with the mem
bers of his cabinet and their ladies befor,
he WAS recognized. Then the house shool
with yells when Judge James B. Sener in
troduced the president, pointing to tn
portraits Of Washington and Andrew
jackson above the proscenium arch ant
Alluding to Mr.. Cleveland as the legiti
mate successor of both. The president re
sp9ndedi
Gentlemen, am a good deal embal
rassed by the mention OF my two distin
guished predecessors and by the fact tina
they are both members of the society un
der whose auspices the banquet Is given
I am obliged to acknowledge my owi
shortcomings In not being member OF il
Perhaps 1t ia my fault; certainly 1t ia m
misfortune. Those in fault seek comper
cation. I, too, have the honor to belon
to great fraternity, one Of which Georg
Washington and Andrew jackson wsr
promi nent members, A fraternity who's
grip means united stand for America
Institutions. fraternity that can neye
die. for Its fruits will aiwnvs be before th
MAN,