The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-15
WASHINGTON MONUhEH
Philadelphia Catches Up With
the Rest of the Country in
Honoring George.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 15, 1Se7.-<
Here. in the city which first placed on
his brow the laurel crown Of achievement
the memory of George Washington, tha
soldier, the statesman and the man, was
honored today in monumental bronze
IL was am allegory of war and peace and
the scenic equipment was natures own,
a sunltt sky above; in the background
the undulating hills of the old fair4nont in
the first flush and beauty of the spring
verdure.
All possible pomp marked the ceremon-
les. The cord which released the swad-
ding flags from the figure of the first
ruler of the republic was drawn by its
latest ruler. Surrounding him were men
in whose veins runs the blood of those
first patriots who battled shoulder to
shoulder with Washington and with him
made possible the scene enacted today
scene conceived and planned by those
very comrades in arms; executed by their
sons in peace.
Inc purpose of years. evolved by
haddful of warriors to do honor to their
chieftain and carried through crosses ana
adversely by their sons and their sens
sons, was consummated. But the consume
nation was beyond the widest dream of
those first few war-stained Americans.
The union which they formed had grown
to a mighty organization whose member.
ship stretches from ocean to ocean. undeg
the name of the Society of the Cincinnati.
while the magnif1cence of the memorial
iaself. reared at the gateway Of the great
sst park, and in the most intensely
American city of the land, far surpasses
their highest hopes.
Apart from the basic purpose, the
event was not only tribute to the vaIor
and the personal worth of WASHINGTON.
Who IS to those times but a shadowst
figure of history. his name alene living
in the hearts of the people. It was an
expression Of popular patriotism-a glori-
Gus opportunity for love Of country to
find voice and venh And what better In
centiye could be asked than the eresenee
of the leaders and controllers Of that
country in the living nesscns OF the
President, the Vtce REsasaent kan1 shN
Cabinet of1cerss it's defAu6srs, srseks on
GERS and privates af siae zarmyeand navy,
and its best blood IN &Aess3ieeoe &ssoena-
ants of the meuleers aafst &nakers Of ths
nation. Major WNNam Wayxle, Praai6ens
Of the Cincinnati. wA6 &oanaaag pre-
sented the monument To- the dssFa &aece9
his lineage straight 60 MAJ Azzsha1Sssazkt
William w. Porter, the oAaesgsae day,
is a grandson Of Daaf9 Hstsenhouse
Porter. twice Governor e1 Rzansylsaaia.
and great grandson Of 4eaexa3 Andrew
Porter, who was on Wsa1zngaon,S shaR
IN the Revolution. Thus no historic in-
terest was wanting to stimssRss eashns-
asm. The actual unwesaang cevenonE
was impressively simple. Bishop Whit
aker opened with prayer, and Major
Wayne followed with an sppreprfoke ad-
Dress
Then came the unveiling by Presidenx
Mckinley and the resultant clasnor, aug
mented by the national salute of twenty-
one guns by the artillery and by the for
eign and American war vessels in the
Delaware River. This conclud-
ed, President McKiniey spoks
briefly The onatien was thea
delivered by Mr. Porter. The formal
presentation of the memorial by. the So
ciety to the city was made by Majsx
Wayne to Mayer Warwick, with short
addresses by both. and then the Mayor
transferred it to the Fairmount Park
Commission. which body exercises juris-
diction over the great pleasure ground
President Mckinley and his distinguish
ed companions reviewed the military
parade, and the crowd, when not looking
at the troops, reviewed the President and
party.
1t was weel on in the afternoon when
the procession was over and the party
were driven to their hotels to dress for
the banquet of the Society of the
Cincinnati in the evening.
The night will be devoted to various
phases of celebration apart from the din
90 900 in line, viii be the prinoipall feature.
| Illumfnatiofs from the monument, the
City Hail., the Union League, ard other
| jubilee and chose the day in a veritabie
| blaze of glory.