The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-11

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jackson and helped him of the field
when mortally wounded at Chancellors-
vile.
Mayor Rowe then extended brief and
appropriate welcome on the part OF the
city, after which Gov. O'Ferrau delivered
a fifteen minutes address of welcome on
behalf of the state, concluding his elo-
quent peroration by Introducing President
Cleveland.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The President spoke as follows:
Gov O'Ferall, Mr.. Mayor and Fellow Clti.
zens; I speak for those who are, today
greeted as official guests OF Virginia and OF
Fredericksburg, 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
reception 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.
Nothing can be moro important to those
who have assumed the responsibility OF self
government tnan the cultivation and
stimulation among themselves OF sentiments
which ennOble and elevate and strengthen
humanity. AS a clear and wholesome stream
must have ITS how from pure fountain head,
so must clean ana benehcent popular govern
ment have it's source in pure and morally
healthy men. This purity and this moral
health are in nothing better exemplihed than
in love and reverence for motherhood The
man who said he cared not who made the peo-
pies laws. II he could write their songs. might
have said with more truth, that he could
gauge the strength and honor Of a people,
and their fitness for self government If he
knew the depth and steadfastness Of their
love for their - mothers believe
that he who thinks IL brave and manly to ont
grow his care and devotion for his mother is,
more tnan he has no music in himself, 'lt
for treason stratagems and spoils," and
should not be trusted. Let me recall to-day
as conclusive proof of the close relation be-
tween American greatness and lasting love
and reverence for our mothers. the proud
declaration of George Washington: "All I
am l owe to my mother and let us not forget
that when his glory was greatest and
the plaudits OF his cOuntrymen were loudest
he valued more than these the blessing and
approval of his aged mother While these eX-
ercises cannot fail to inspire us anew with
reverence for American motherhood. we will
remember that we are here to do honor TO the
woman who gave to our nation It's greatest
and best citizen. and that we have the privi
lege of participating in the dedication OF a
monument erected by the women Of our land
in loving and enduring testimony TO the vr-
tues OF the mother OF Washington.
Let us be proud to-day that the no tlity of
this woman exacted from distinguished for
elgner the admission: IT such are the ma
irons Of America. she may well boast Of Illus
tr1Ous persons" :" and that Lafayette, who had
fought with her son for American independ
blessing: II have seen he only Roman ma
trOn living at this day
Remembering these things let us leave this
place with our love OF country strengthened,
with higher estimate OF the value Of Amer
lean citizenship, and with a prayer to God
that our people may hold fast to the senti-
ment that grows out Of love and reverence
for American motherhood
MASONIC RITES.
Then followed the cabalistic rites of
Masonry, accepting the work Of the archi-
tect and builders as worthily done
Lawrence Washington was then INTRO
duced and delivered short, but interest
ing address. He is the son of John Au-
gustine Washington who sold Mount
Vernon to its present owners, the ladies'
association.
The presiding officer then introduced
Senator John w. Daniel, the orator of
the day.
Senator Daniel after paying a graceful
tribute to Mrs. Waite ana the ladies of the
Mary Washington Association, whose
pious hands had reared 1.-The first monu-
ment on earth erected by woman TO a
woman" said, in part:
This stone represent two ideals-womanly
excellence and patriotic duty. You have
reared this beautiful io5elisk to one who was
the light OF the dwelling in plain rural,
colonial home. Her history hoVers around It..
W.
a hero at her breast At her knee she trained
to the love and fear Of God and TO the kingly
virtues, honor, truth and valor. the lion Of
the tribe that gave to America liberty and in
dependence This is her title to renoWn. IL
is enough 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 reyerential hands But II
does not follow that she shines
only In the reflection OF her offspring s
fame Her virtues were not created. they
were only discovered by the marvellous ca
reer of her illustrious son This memorial
might indeed re due TO her because Of who
she was, but IL is far more due TO her because
Of what she was.
II is In her own right, and as the type OF her
sex, her people and her race, that she dc
serves this tribute stone.
There were 10 900 Mary Washingtons among
the mothers Of the revolution, ana honoring
her we honor the motherhood Of heroic days
and heroic mel. IL was IN his character. all
sufficient in every emergency, that was dis
played the overtowerinR greatness Of George
Washington and IL Is not doubted that this
character was lined and shaped by his
mothers hand. ] he principles which he ap-
piled to a nation were the simple and elemen-
tary truths which she first imprinted upor his
mind In the discipline OF nome.
sKErcHED HER LIFE.
Senator Daniel traced the story Of the
mother of Washington from her birth on
Nov. 80, 1906, at the plantation home Of
her father, Col. Joseph Ball. In Lancas-
ter county, Virginia, on the banks Of the
Rappahannock, whore the river broadens
as IL blends into the Chesapeake bay,
through all the eventful years OF her life
down to her death at her home in Fred
ericksburg on Aug. 25. 1883, and closed an
eloquent peroration By saying
once again tho May time breaks with it's
sunshine. its vcrdure and ITS blossoms. over
the land whose hills and plains were shaken