The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-09
Elaborate Program of Exer-
ciSeS for Occasion.
Chief Justice Fuller Delivers His
tOrical Grafton.
Buildings Elaborately Decorated.
Former Residents Attend.

Augusta, June 9-Augusta celebrated
the centennial anniversary OF its birth,
today, with many natives of the city pres
ent who have not visited their former
home for years. The city was elaborately
decorated with flags and bunting. The
day was ushered In with ringing of
bells of the city churches. Otherwise
there'was no observation in the morning.
The exercises of the afternoon began at
O'Clock and were opened at city hall by
Mayor w. ;. Choate, who introduced
Hon. j. w. bradbury, the president OF
the day. Mr.. Bradbury, who is the old
est living ex- United States Senator, will
be 95 years old tomorrow. The invocation
was given by Rev. Daniel Conley West
of Washington ID. G..
Chief Justice W. NJ. Fuller of the United
States Supreme Court gave the grafton
of the day, which was historical in its
nature.
Chief Justice Fuller's Address.
Chief Justice Fuller delivered his ad-
dress as follows:
''This is the place. Stand still, my steed,
let me review the scene,
And summon from the shadowy past the
forms that once have been.
Nature furnishes the place, but the
scene can only be reviewed when peopled
with those who have brought the place
into connection with humanity, and made
IL instinct with tender and reverential
memories Today the surrounding hills
rise with outlines substantially unchang ged
since the forefathers of the hamlet formed
rude encampments upon their slopes and
the same river flows toward the sea, the
same lake kisses the morning sun, yet the
charm lies in "reminiscences in the revival
of the ties that bind generation to genera
tion, and contain the promise Of future
hat xnytn trxytxy tI..k al l.I~. H.
river and the skies. And so while the
celebration OF the foundation of q town to
some extent revokes the same considera.
tion as the commemoration of great
events, or of the birthdays of eminent
men, it possesses magniicence of friend
ships and kinship and trad tionary con-
nection, all its own. When Augustus
century opened. the star of Napoleon had
risen above the horizon, but the consulate
and the empire were yet to come The
victories OF Cape st. Vincent and the
names of Jervis and Collingwood and
Nelson began TO be known as household
words. Our first naval vessel constructed
since the adoption of the Constitution. was
launched, precursor of those splendid
sbips that are re establishing that Slain
to our power upon the deep SO gloriously
yindicated in the war of 1872.
Washington Had just Retired.
Washington had just retired from the
presidency, leaving to his countrymen an
undying example of devotion TO the public
and an immortal legacy in the farewell
address which delineated the path of
safety in the nations progress 1t was
during this year, too that Burke died,
having lived to sec tho French revolution
devour its own children. but fearing
that the outburst of the spirit OF liberty
in that great convulsion might lead to
the destruction of free government, for
pf IN
preservation OF life and property and So
cial order and which, in some form, he
knew would certainly be- imposed.
The achievement of our own independ-
once and the framing of the federal Con-
stitution were but recent, and the time
was characterized by earnest spiritual en-
ergy; by ardent sympathy for the op-
pressed, by sincere desire for the eleya-
tion of mankind. as we'll as by such dis
plays of inventive genius and of indus
trial progress as clearly marked the be-
ginnings of the wonderful era which has
followed These and like matters natur-
ally occur to us, vet our minds involun-
tarily come closer home and busy them
selves within n narrower area.
The speaker then entered into an ex-
haustive history of Augusta from its
founding until the present time
THE past teaches that our fathers
knew not only how TO command" he
said "but how To obey, and that true
freedom ilourishes best when self-re-
strained. AS they successfully solved the
problem of their time, so may we look for
the solution of the problems which con-
front us We need not fear external at
tack. and. If we follow their good exam
ple no Cloths and Nandals can arise with
In our borders TO overthrow our institu-
tions"
The exercises were interspersed by music
by the Togus Home orchestra under the
direction OF Prof. Deeme and singing by
the Augustus choir OF a hundred voices.
The poem of the day was given by Mrs.
w. Emma Huntington Mason, on An
cient Kousinoc ~