Evening star., 1944-02-27
By John CIaeen Proctor.

"a, the statue Of George Washington
IN Warrington Circle, at Pennsylvania
avenue and Twenty third street, wa.
unveiled.
At this time. the United States was
practically sitting upon volcano, fol-
the rumbling noise of civil war could
already be heard by way of threats
and intimidations; John Browns raid
and the execution Of "Old Osawatomie'
were still news, and it was election year
The Democrats were to hold their con-
vention two months hence at Charles
ton, 8. c., to select standard bearer
from = field OF II, including Hunter
Breckinridge, Douglas. Lane, Davis
Guthrid, Houston, Sidell, Orr, Stephens
and Pierce.
In the "Wigwam" at Chicago the
keubncans were to follow still month
later, the outstanding candidates being
Seward, Bates, Banks, Pennington,
Chase, Mclean, Cameron, Fremont, Lin
coin. Bell and Clay-quite an array of
talent to select from. No one could
predict the changes the next five years
would bring; no one had an idea of the
extent to which the threats OF war
would be carried. Indeed, the people
were again, as 1t happened, to live
over times that would try mems souls.
The Big Parade.
How things change sometimes in a
very short while. When the New York
7th Regiment came here to help to
dedicate this statue, their officers,
through an oversight, were not given
seats on the platform, but not so when
these same troops came here on April
IS, 1861, to protect the city, for then
they were temporarily quartered in the
Capitol Building itself.
Judging by the press accounts, the
parade, incidental to the dedicating of
this statue, was both spectacular and
formidable The military column of
escort and other organizations" we are
told, left the City Hall at 3 o'clock,
marching by Third street to Pennsyl-
vania avenue, thence by the Avenue to
the Presidents Mansion, then halting
to receive the part of the procession
there assembled, and thence proceeding
to the circle containing the statue
A correspondent who covered the exer-
cises for his home journal said: al
together 1t was the finest military and
civic display in Washington for many
years. Pennsylvania avenue was crowded
with both residents and visitors The
patriotic excitement was intense, owing
to the anticipated interesting events.
The view Of the procession as 1t neared
the circle Of the great point OF attrac-
ton was truly splendid.
The procession having reached the
circle, the military wheeled to the right
OF the inclsoure, while the prominent
civilians entered it and took seats on
the platform.
The cabinet officers, with the ex-
ception of Secretary Floyd, sat together
The President. Vice President and Clark
Mills, the artist, were in proximity to
each other, and the orator of the day
was, of course, conspicuous.
The platform was tastefully deco
rated with the flags of England, France,
Russia, Prussia, Austria Brazil, Peru,
Chile, the Netherlands, Ecuador Den
mark, Portugal, Sardinia, Central Amer
lea, Naples, Spain. Mexico, Buenos Aires,
Paraguay and Rome. Our own flag
waved above all and the deck was pro-
frsely decorated with the Stripes and
Stars.
Senator Hammond introduced Rev.
Mr.. Nadal, who offered prayer. Hon.
Mr.. Bocock of Virginia, the orator of
the day, then delivered an Grafton.
Speeches were made also by Mr.. Clark
Mills, Mr.. Whiting, grand master of
the order Of Masons at Washington,
and the President"
The Presidents Message.
In concluding his remarks, the Presi-
dent said
May the God of our fathers preserve
the Constitution and the Union for ages
yet to come. May they stand like the
everlasting hills, against which the
tempests from every quarter of the
heavens shall beat in vain. In a word,
Washington shall be honored and cher
ished among the children of men.
May Washington City, which he
founded, continue throughout many,
many generations to be the seat of
Government of great powerful and
united confederacy. Should it ever be-
come a ruin by dissolution of the
Union, it will not, like the ruins Of Bal
beck and Palmyra, be merely a monu-
ment of the vanity of human greatness;
but 1t will teach the lesson to all the
dwellers upon earth that our great po-
litical experiment has failed, and that
man is incapable of government.
May such a direful disaster to the
human race be averted. and in the Ian
guage of Solomon at the dedication of
the Jewish temple May the Lord our
God be with u.s. as He was with our
fathers Let him not leave us or forsake
u.s. May this be the prayer of all pres
ent, and may each one return to his
home in heart more ardently patriotic
and more determined to do his whole
duty to God and his country than when
we assembled here today"
The next day the President, in ad-
dressing the 7th Regiment, prior to it's
departure, said: THE Congress of the
United States made provision for the
erection of an equestrian statue to the
Father Of His Country. 1t was yesterday
inaugurated; and through the rain, the
mud and the inclement weather you
appeared as if you had been on holiday
parade; and we all thank you for the
sacrifices you have made in doing us