El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-05-20
FIRST AND LAST.
M'KINLEY UNVEILS THE MON
UMENT TO WASHINGTON
Graceful Addr IS of the President on
the Life and Character of the
First Ruler.

and the man. was houored last Satur
day in monumental bronze. The core
| which released the swaddlipg flag:
| 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 pat
riots 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.
The purpose of years, evolved by 6
handful of warriors to do honor tC
their chieftain and carried through
crosses and adversely by their. sons ano
their sons so s, was consum mated Bu1
the contamination was beyond the
BRIGHTEST dreams of those first few war
stained Americans. The union which
they formed has grown to a mighty Or
ganization whose membership stretch
es from ocean to ocean under the
name of the Society of Cincinnati, While
the magnificence of the memorial it
self, reared at the gateway OF the
greatest park and in the nest intense
ly American city in the land, TAR sur
passed their heighth of hope.
1t was notable gathering and re-
presentativ of the country, including
the president, the vice-president and
the cabinet officers: it's defenders, IN
the officers and privates of the army
and navy; and its best blood in the dir
ect descendants of the moulders and
the makers of the nation. Major Will
liam Wayne, president OF the Cincin-
natl, who formally presented the
monument TO the city, traces his line
age straight to Mad Anthony. and
William W. Porter, the orator of the
day, is a grand son of David Il item
house Porter, twice governor of Penn
sylvania; and a grea grand son OF Gen.
Andrew Porter, who was on Washing
tons staff in the revolution. Thus 70
historic interest was wanting to slim
ulate enthusiasm. The actual unveil-
ing ceremony was impressively simply.
Bishop Whitaker opened with prayer,
and Major Wayne followed with an ap-
propriate address, Then came the
Unwilling by Pre- ident Mckinley and
the resultant clamor, augmented by
the national salute of twenty-one guns
by the artillery and by the
foreign and and Dai american This e war
cluded, President McKiuly spoke
briefly. The Grafton was then deliver
ed by Mr.. Porter. The formal presen-
tation of the memorial to the city was
made by Major Wayne to Mayor War
wick with short addresses by both and
then the mayor transferred it to the
Paramount park commission which body
exercises jurisdiction over the great
pleasure ground.
President Mckinley ard his distin-
euished companions reviewed the mill
tary parade, and the crowd when not
looking at the tro0ns, reviewed the
president and his party.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
and tender sentiment connected with
the gratitude and reverence of the liv-
ing. but is a testimonial OF affection
and homage from the dead.
The comrades Of Washington project
ed this monument. Their love inspired
it. Their contributions helped to build
it. Past and present share in its com
pletion and future generations will
profit by It's lessons.
To participate in the dedication OF
such monument is rare and pre-
cious privilege. Every monument to
Washington IS tribute to patriotism.
Every shaft and statue to his memory
helps to inculcate love Of country, en-
courage 10y atty and establish better
citizenship. God bless every undertake
ing which reviVes patriotism and re-
Dukes the indifferent and lawless.
A critical study of Washington's ca
reer only enhances our estimation OF
his vast and varied abilities.
AS commauder-in-chie of the colo
NAL 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 ard as the first president OF the
United States under that CONSTITUTE on,
Washington has distinction differ ing
from that of all other illustri Gus
Americans. No other name bears or
can bear such relation to the govern
ment. Not only by his military genius
his patience, his sagacity, his cour-
age and his skill-wae our national in
dependence won, but he helped in larg-
est measure to draft the chart by
which the nation was guided: and he
was the first chosen of the people to
pat n motion the new government.
His was not the bo'dness Of mar ial
display or the charm of captivating
oratory, but his calm and steady judg-
ment won mems support and command
ed their confidence by appealing to
their best and noblest aspirations
and withal Washington was ever SO
modest THAI at 90 time in his career did
his personality seem in the least in
trusive. He was above the temptation
of power. He spurned the suggested
crown, He would have no honor
which the people did not hestoW, an
interesting fact-aRd one which | love
to recalls that the only time Wash
ington formally addressed all its SEES
sions over which be presided in this
city, he appealed for a larger repre-
sentation of the people in the national
house of representatives and his ap-
peal was instantly needed. Thus, he
was ever keenly watchful of the rights
of bhe people, in WHOSE hands was the
destiny of our government then and
now.
Masterful as were his military cam
paigns, his civil administration COM
mands equal admiration. His fore
sight was marvellous: his conception of
the philosophy of government; his
insi5tence upon the necessity Of educa-
ton. morality and enlightened citizen
ship to the progress and permanence
Of the republic cannot be contemplate
ed even at this period without filling
us with establishment at the breadth of
his comprehension and the sweep of
his vision.
His was no narrow view of govern