The Monitor-register., 1896-01-31
LETTER BOX.
A Visit to Trenton.

A Visit to Trenton.
MIR. EDITOR I'm the last issue of your val.
liable paper l was little astonished to see
my name among those who represented
Woodstown at the Inauguration of Gov.
Griggs. Then, sir, being somewhat with that
honorable body. l may be pardoned for sub
mitting some humble thoughts which oc =
Cured to me on that all-important visit to
the capital city of my native State, New
Jersey.
For long time had cherished an ardent
desire to v isit that famous resort, and at last
my object has been attained, and to-day
stand another witness for that shining prov /
erb which says: "All things come to those |
who work and wait" 1 had once before |
passed through Trenton. en- route for the |
great metropolis, but it was dark, driZzly |
November morn, and, as matter of course,
the magnitude of the city was hidden from |
view.
Doubtless there are thousands of people |
born who spend all their days within the |
limits of the State and have never seen Tren- |
ton. l do not think that it is beyond the |
boundary of. reason or common sense to sug
gest that every citizen of New Jersey, how |
ever humble or exalted, should once in life |
visit Tren ton. .and behold the grandeur of
our institutions. And, while there, walk up
and down and all around the marble capitol. |
and. in the shadow of its gilded dome, get
baptized anew in the spirit of State pride
and patriotism.
The loyalty, history. wealth and the con
tinued march all along the line of progress
are traits which ever marked the record of
New Jersey, and entitle her not only to the
respect of our people but the entire Union.
A State little but great, having an area OF
only $3.50 square miles, yet within her long,
narrow, crooked domain lives vast multi
tude of Industrious people. New jersey is
famous for seaside resorts, great in agricul-
tural productions and manufactures. Her
famous sons have sat high in the councils of
the nation. Here is the birth place of Tai
mage and the home of politicians the equal
of Quay. The State has sacred Revolution
ary history, and is one of the thirteen origi-
nal pillars on which has been built a pow
erful Union.
The capital of this vast political body is
Trenton, nicely situated on the right bank of
the Delaware river. overlooking that historic
stream. The people seemed to realize the
fact on the day John W. Griggs was installed
Chiet Executive. Here were thousands of
people. representing all the walks of life,
and truth requires me to say that nowhere
among this vast throng did see any drunken
or disorderly conduct, nor even hear good
natured partisan debate nor an insulting
word fall from the lips OF any one. Yea, it
was an assemblage of cultured people.
On my arrival in Trenton was surprised
to find such n noble city. The suburbs
abound in beautiful scenery. The city lies
on both sides of the railroad and is situated
several feet above the platform. Passengers
alighting from the trains must climb one or
more flights of stairs to gain the main streets:
The embankments lying each side of the
railroad are adorned by wealth of green
grass, which in the freshness of spring must
present magnificent view. paused for a
moment on the upper platform, viewing the
scientific attainments of the civil engineer,
and soon my attention was attracted by the
largest railroad gines that ever beheld,
standing ready to run q race with the wind.
And as their escaping steam ascended in the
air, it was caught up by the smoke from the
chimneys of great potteries, iron mills, zinc
works and rubber factories. Volumes of
black smoke overhang the city day and
night, and to my mind in many respects
resemble the belching crater from an angry
volcano. Passing up into the town, soon
discovered that was in city of high rank.
Art, science and opulence were on exhibition
everywhere. Here, too. was the glorious
flag, the proud emblem of freedom, stream
ing from the public buildings and private
mansions was not long in Trenton, in the
midst of her sixty thousand. before began
to feel much at home.
In the afternoon all repaired to the capitol,
the occasion being the reception of the new
I .,afo n n I,a a
of Governor Griggs, the most exalted person
in all New Jersey. He did not falter mo-
ment from grasping the hand of a darker
pigment. The whole bearing of this man
struck me forcibly. A man of slender fig
ure, noble forehead. sharp ,clean-cut features,
quick. intelligent eye. ana solid counte-
nance. Like Abraham Lincoln, his face
bespeaks the character, and believe that he
will give the people of New Jersey, trrespec-
tive of party, n fair, wise and economical
administration.
In the State House is much to excite the
highest interest. Here is the Senate Cham
ber and House of Representatives, hand
somely arranged. Here is where the safety
of the home and the State abides. Here are
the portraits of Abraham Lincoln and other
noted men hanging on the walls. Here,
preserved in glass cases, are the torn battle
flags of the veteran regiments of the State,
carried on the bloody fields of Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Get
tysburg. Here, also, Abraham Lincoln APP
peared in person, in February, 1861. and
addressed the Lower House of our Legisla-
ture, while en- route for Washington, to guide
the Ship of State among the breakers of
rebellion.
can now say with confidence that have
been over the ground where Washington and
Lincoln have travelled. They are the great
| est benefactors this country has ever pro-
| duced. hold that the ground in and around
| the capitol is sacred, because of the fellow
ship of those two great men, for in them was
| an abundance of supernatural ingenuity.
God was with Washington, because He had
| foreordained that America should become
| the field for the demonstration of truth and
| new and higher civilization and God was
with Lincoln because he was the man chosen
| to bravely uphold the fundamenta tai law of
this higher civilization. by proclaiming lib
erty through the land to all the inhabitants
| thereof. An Indian shot at General Wash
| ington seventeen times but couldn't hit him.
| Why2 Because the work assigned him had
not been fulfilled. Part of that work was
well performed when he crossed the Della.
| ware river and took one thousand Hessian
prisoners in the battle of Trenton.
In conclusion, 1 wish to say that every
| loyal American citizen should once in life
| make it a point to visit our great national
| centre, the city of Washington. If that
| should prove impossible, let them go to the
| capital of their respective States Like the
| emblems of our freedom waving over the
| school grounds, it will awaken the siumber.
ing qualities of patriotism, and give clearer
insight into ana loftier appreciation of our
Republican Government.
The people of New Jersey have a right to
| be proud of their capital, the city of Trenton.
am under the impression that she will COM
pare favorabiy with many of her sisters in
the bond of union. Then let every citizen,
| be he great or small, visit Trenton, our his
I tofio centre. at some period during life. Not
with the narrow views of partisanism not
merely to see the sights or behold her beauty;
not merely to join the ranks of marching
columns or to unite in the shouts of the
victorious party but in the broad spirit Of
enlightened patriotism, knowing the vaiue
of free institutions ana how to cherish,
maintain and perpstuate them.
| s. BROWN WATSON.