The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
GREAT EVENTS IN APRIL
A Month Which Figures PrOmi'
nenily in American History.
Important Happenings in the Rero-
iutionnry. Mexican. Civil. aud
Spnnish Wars - Inauguration OF
washington and Death of Lincoln.

Washington and Death of Lincoln.
The month of April is one of the most
interesting of the year in its anniver-
saries of great events in American his
tory. 1t Was in April that the Govern
ment of the United States was estab-
Ushed. The Revolution and the civil war
each began and ended in April, the Span
ish war started in that month. while de-
risive battles in the Frcnch-lndian wars
and the contest with Mexico were fought
in April Three of the Presidents were
born in the second month Of spring, and
two have died in thst n1nth. Some of
Americas most distinguished soldiers and
statesmen first saw the light in April,
and the pail OF death fell upon others
during that month. Far-reaching enter
prises have been inaugurated and impor-
tant recruits achieved in the month OF
uncertain skies and freshenins veTdure.
In the United States and throughout the
civilized world April l is known as All
Fools Day. From a remote period 1t
has been the anniversary of practical
Joking and tricks to trap the unwary. and
to furnish mirth for the perpetrators The
origin of this annual day of license is
lost in the traditions of antiquity, but
seems to have been inherited from some
common source by the European nations.
One April day in 1852, the 9th of the
month. La Sale, after reaching the Mis-
sissippi River by way of the Great Lakes
and the Illinois River and descending to
the sea, took possession of the valley in
the name Of his sovereign and called it
Louisiana. More than seventy years
later. April II, 1754. the French under
General Contrecoer swept down the AL
legheny River from Venango and sum-
moned the handful of English soldiers
at Fort Duquesne to surrender They
capitulated and abandoned Louisiana"
to the French. The combined efforts of
Washington and Braddock were futile
TO retrieve the misfortune, and the own
ership of the Mississippi Valley was
settled until the Treaty of Paris in 1863.
In April 1895. the Louisiana purchase
was effected in Paris between Livingston
and TalIeyrand. The negotiations began
on the 18th of the month, and the instru-
ments of purchase We're signed on the
Soth. The price agreed upon. including
losses and embargoes, amounted to about
S15,O00,01J. The notifications were ex-
changed the following October and the
United States took possession in Deem
Der. To complete the cir~in of coinci-
dences in this connection the State of
Louisiana admitted TO the Union
April S. 1872.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The first shot of the Revolution was
fred from a pistol in the hand of Major
Pitcairn. who was leading the British
regulars against the farmers of AIassa-
Chusetts. 1t WAS in the early morning of
April 10, 1775. and the volley for which
il was the signal stretched sixteen Minute
Men upon the sward of Lexington com
mon, and its echoes were heard round
= Il
the dashing ride of Paul Revere the night
before, and was attended on the part of
the British troops by baptism Of fire
extending from Concord bridge to the
heights above Boston.
On april ., lT6 the North Carolina
Legislature authorized its delegates to
join in the Declaration OF Independence.
During the month of April 11I1, the Brit
ish sent out expeditions to destroy Amer
lean stores on the Hudson, in Connecti-
cut and in New Jersey. In April, 1850, oc-
CURED the siege OF Charleston. and the
same month OF the same year marked
Benedict Arnold's treachery in Virginia.
In the last days of April. 17S1, CORVALLIS
took command OF the British army and
began to raVage the country on both
banks of the James. beginning the last
campaign of the war. which ended in the
surrender at Yorktown, October IS of
the same year. The Battle of Hobkir!k's
am was fought April %, ISL in which
General Greene was defeated by Lord Raw
don. On the 18th, in 17S2, peace was Of
days later the cessation OF hostilities was
announced by the commander of the
army. On the same day the Independence
of the United States was recognized by
Holland. The return of peace was cele
brated in all the colonies with bonfires,
rockets, speeches, and thanksgiving on
the eighth anniversary of the Battle of
Lexington, April 70, 1873.
INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON.
After the meeting of the Philadelphia
til,
and watching to see what the States
would do with the Constitution. Maryland
ratified the instrument April %. 17Ss by a
vote of 60 to II of her Legislature. A year
later on the 9Th of the month, Congress
met in joint session and counted the first
electoral vote under the Constitution.
General Washington received Go votes and
John Adams "a, and they were declared
President and Vice President, respective
1y. Washington was inaugurated in New
York on April so, 1883. His journey from
Mount Vernon to the seat of government
was slow and he received the plaudits of
the people in every town and hamlet
through which he passed. on the CEN
tenary of the event in 1889 the anniver-
sary was celebrated with considera BILE
fidelity to the original exercises in New
York City. Benjamin Harrison was then
President and he. with his Cabinet were
the guests of honor on the occasion. The
President was the personal guest Of the
Governor of New Jersey, as Washington
had been. He was rowed across the river
and received in New York by the Gov
ernor of the Empire State and the Off
Gals Of the city. The exercises at the
City Hall were similar to those held 100
years before.
By act of Congress approved April 10.
1870. the United States Patent Office was
established. The Secretary of State, the
Secretary of War, and the Attorney Cen
cral composed under the law a commits
sion to examine the claims of inventors
nztGntS
changed in 1855 making the Secretary Of
State alone Commissioner OF Patents.
Congress again changed the law, creating
an Independent bureau of patents in 1886.
IN the burning of the general postofiice
that year 1000 models and some of the
records were destroyed. Another fire &C
CURED in 1sT7, Which partly destroyed the
present Patent Office. The centennial Of
the founding Of the Patent Office and OF
the first patents was celebrated in Wash
ington in 1891.
THE ASSUMPTION BILL.
April u. 1890, the assumption bill, after
being hoty discussed in the House of
Representatives, was defeated by a vote
of 81 Anti-Federalists to 90 Federalists
This measure provided for the assump-
tion by the Federal Government of the
money owed to France and other foreign
Powers and of the debts incurred by the
States in the Revolution. A few months
later 1t was triumphanty carried through
Congress, the Southern members who had
voted against IL changing their votes in
consideration Of the vote Of the Federal
lists for the establishment of the National
Capital on the banks of the Potomac
April 5. 1898, L'Ambuscade, a French
frigate, with Citizen Genet on board
landed al Charleston, on the same day
that Washington issued his proclamation
of neutrality with England. In the teeth
of this Genet fitted out priYateers and
sent them out from American ports to