Evening star., 1898-10-25
The Capitals Centennial.

II is enirentiy proper that steps should
be taken toward some kind of celebration
TO commemorate the removal of the seat
of government to this city in 1StD. Inc
city as the actual capital of the republic
will soon reach it's hundredth anniversary,
and il is desirable that the occasion
be remembered and marked in befttinS
manner. The question of how best to ac-
cCmplish this purpose remains TO be de-
cided. and therefore, it is well that the
matter has been taken in hand early and
has been placed on working basis Last
nights preliminary meeting started the paii
rolling. and it may be accepted as assured
that the citizens Of Washington VIII carry
cut the project with spirit and thorough
ness
1t is 10 ne recalled that the Board d
Trade considered the matter two years ago
Ii wisely decided. however, rot TO attempt
tn organize A great exposition in 1890, as
was proposed. 20 commemorate the rehoVal
of the government from Philadelphia. 1t
was agreed that the Paris exposition Wouii
assure,llv eclipse whatever might be un-
dertakcn in the same line in Washington
and the plan was advisediy abandoned,
This decision, however. did not operate
against . more modest form of celebration
winch might kC dl OtlIt d i'Ne'i ''iiH % -
tiouaI affair. 1t rather established the
limitations which prudence dictated
The capitals birthday may he CONNIE
morated in a variety of ways There Is no
end to the possibilities for patriotic demon
stratiOns Almost any well conceived pro
gram of proceedings, whether confined to
single occasion or spread over several days,
weeks or months, viii serve to awaken ma
= patriOtlC IN
terest in the capital city, to teach history
to the youth and to strengthen among the
elders a spirit Of devotion to the cOmmu-
nifty which stands for the republics great
ness an1 growth. Washington is yet an
infant among capitals It's first hundred
years. however, have witnessed marvellous
changes and striking developments. The
occasion Of this anniversary would Well
serve as a ripe time for comparisons be-
tween the beginnings and the present, to
reveal the progression toward the ideal
which has been established for the guild
ance of the capital founders and the capt.
tai makers.
\ study Of the times preceding and fol-
lowing the transfer of TIE seat of govern
ment from Philadelphia to Washington will
disclose much TO encourage all patriotic
Americans, whether they reside here or
eist where. The removal was an affair of
small proportions and of no formality
whatever. 1t was begun Immediately after
the adjournment of Congress May ~, 1850,
and was accomplished within a few weeks.
Owing to the inadequate antiquated faciii-
ties for travel the pilgrimage Of the gov
ernmeut officers to their new official home
was necessarily slow. They came in squads.
by stage coaches The archives of the gov
ernr-cTlt were brought around in sailing
vessels. the number being uncertain. Nor
is there any exact record, thus far dis
closed. Of the date of their arrival.
Doubtless if an effort be made to concen-
trate the celebration upon fixed date,
similar TO the occasion of the laying of the
corGer stone Of the Capitol-com
in 1Sr;-it will be most appropriate to
lect the day on which the FIRST official
tokens Of government reached the embryo
city. that is. when the first OF the packets
arrived with the documents. The commit
tees in charge may be able by thorough
search to discover this date.
Whatever the plan may be, the cere-
monies or observances will assuredly par
take OF the national character suggested
by the nature Of the occasion. July i. 1776,
was the birthday Of the republic in that it
markell the bursting Of the bonds holding
the Colonies to England The year 800
was in another sense the birthday of the
republic. in that IL was marked by the ere
alton and use for the first time Of a per-
manent seat of government. The anniver-
sary will, therefore, concern the people OF
all the states as closely as those of Wash
ington.