The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-20
MEMORY OF washington
DEDICATION OF THE BRONZE MON
INTENT IN PARAMOUNT PARK,
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT M'kINLEY
He Referred EIOquently to the Illus
trious Career OF the First Presi-
dent-Descendants of RevOIu-
tionary Fathers Present.

Philadelphia, May 15.-Here, in the
city which first placed on its brow the
laurel crown of achievement. the mem
DRY of George Washington, the soldier,
the statesman and the man, was hon
ored today on monumental bronze.
The cord which released the swaddling
flags from the first ruler of the republic
was drawn by its latest ruler. Sur
rounding him were men in whose veins
runs the blood of those first patriots who
battled shoulder to shoulder with Wash
ington and with him made possible the
scene enacted todav-a scene conceived
and planned by those very comrades in
arms, executed by their sons in peace.
The purpose of years, evolved by a
handful of warriors, to do honor to their
cheftain, carried through crosse and adj
versity by their sires and their sires sons,
was consummated. But the consum-
nation was far beyond the brightest
dreams of the sons of war-stained Ameri-
cans.
| 1t was a notable gathering and repre-
sentative of the country. including the
president, the vice president and the cabi-
net officers; its defenders in the officers
and privates of the army, and its best
! blood in the direct descendants of the
moulders and the makers of the nation.
Maj. William Wayne, president of the
society of the Cincinnati, who formally
presented the monument to the city,
traces his lineage straight to Mad An
thony." and William w. Porter, the Oral
tor Of the day, is a grandson of David
RittenhOuse Porter, twice governor of
Pennsylvania, and great grandson of
Gen. Andrew Porter, who was on Wash
ngton's staff in the revolution. Thus
no historic interest was wanting to
stimulate enthusiasm. ..
The actual unwilling ceremony was i'm
pressively simple. Bishop Whitaker
opened with prayer, and Maj. Wayne fol-
lowed with an appropriate address.
Mckinley and the resultant clamor, aug
mented by the national salute of twenty
one guns by the artillery and by the for
eign and American vessels in the Della
ware. This concluded, President Mckin-
ley spoke as follows:
Fellow Citizens-There is peculiar
and tender sentiment connected with this
memorial. 1t expresses not only the
gratitude and reverence of the living, but
is testimonial of affection and homage
for the dead. The comrades of Wash
ington projected this monument Their
lives inspired it, their contributions
helped to build it; Past and present
share in its completion, and future gen
erations will profit by its lessons.
"To participate in the dedication of
such a monument is rare and precious
privilege. Every monument to Wash
ingtOn is a tribute to patriotism. Every
shaft and statue to his memory helps to
inculcate love of country, encourage
loyalty and establish better citizenship
God bless every undertaking which re-
wives patriotism and rebukes the indif
ferent and lawless.
"A critical study of Washington's ca
reer only enhances our estimation of his
vast and varied abilities. As com
mander-in-c chief of the colonial armies
from the beginning of the war to the
proclamation of peace, as president of the
convention which framed the constitution
of the United States and as the first
president of the United States under
the constitution Washington has dis
tinction differing from that of all other
illustrious Americans. No name bears
or can bear such a relation to the gov
eminent. Not only by his military
genius-his patience, his sagacity, his
independence won, but he helped in the
largest measure to draft the chart by
which the nation was guided; and he was
the first chosen of the people to put in
motion the new government.
His was not the holiness of martial
display or the charm of captivating ora
tory, but his calm and steady judgment
won mems support and commanded
their confidence by appealing to their
best and nOblest aspirations, and withal
Washington was ever so modest that at
no time in his career did his personality
seem in the least intrusive. He was
above the temptation of power. He
spurned the suggested crown. He would
have no honor which the people did not
bestow. Oil.
IAN interesting fact-and one which |
love to recalls that the only time Wash
ington formally addressed the constitu-
tional convention during all its sessions
over which he presided was when he ap-
pealed for larger representation of the
people in the national house of represen-
needed. Thus he was ever keenly
watchful of the rights of the people in
whose hands was the destiny of our gov
ernment then and now.
"Masterful as were his military cam
paigns, his civil administration COM
mands equal admiration. His foresight
was marvellous; his conception of the
philosophy of government, his in
sistence upon the necessity of education,
morality and enlightening citizenship to
the progress and permanence of the re-
public can not be contemplated even at
this period without filling up with aston
ishment at the breadth of his compre-
hension and the sweep of his vision.
His was no narrow view of govern