The Nation's Centenary.
The celebration, at the city of New York, of the one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as first President of the United States was more than national in its scope and influence. The people of the entire continent manifested a gratifying interest in it, and no event in our history has been commemorated with greater success. The occasion called together more than two million people within the gateways of the great metropolis, many of them our most distinguished and representative citizens. The celebration was conducted under the auspices of one hundred prominent citizens, organized as a general committee, of which the Hon. Hamilton Fish was President; Mayor Hugh J. Grant, Chairman; Hon. Elbridge T. Gerry, Chairman Executive Committee; and Clarence W. Bowen, Secretary.
Early on the morning of April 29 the President, accompanied by Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. J. R. McKee, Mr. and Mrs. Russell B. Harrison, the members of the Cabinet, Chief Justice and Mrs. Fuller, Justice and Mrs. Field, Justice Blatchford, Justice Strong, Major-General Schofield, Mr. Walker Blaine and Miss Blaine, Col. Thos. F. Barr, Lieut. T. B. M. Mason and Mrs. Mason, left Washington by special train tendered by President Geo. R. Roberts and Vice-President Frank Thomson, of the Pennsylvania Company. The distinguished guests were escorted by the following members of the Centennial Committee designated for this honorable duty: John A. King, Chairman; John Jay, Edward Cooper, Wm. H. Wickham, Wm. R. Grace, Frederick J. DePeyster, Wm. H. Robertson, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Wm. M. Evarts, Frank Hiscock, Seth Low, Orlando B. Potter, Clifford S. Sims, Jas. Duane Livingston, and Frank S. Witherbee.
At Trenton the party was met by the New Jersey Centennial Committee, consisting of Governor Green, General Sewell, Rev. Dr. Hamill, Colonel Stockton, General Grubb, Colonel Donnelly, Captain Skirm, Senator Cramner, Senator Cattell, Colonel Chambers, and others.
Arrived at Elizabeth the President breakfasted with Governor Green and then held a reception, conducted by Col. Rob't S. Green, assisted by Col. Suydam, Chas. G. Parkhurst, and John L. Boggs. Following the route taken by Washington, President Harrison and his party embarked at Elizabethport on board the U. S. S. Despatch, and, escorted by a magnificent fleet of war ships, merchant marine, and craft of all kinds, proceeded up the Kills to the bay amid the roar of cannon from the several forts and the men-of-war.
At the gangway of the Despatch the President was received by Jackson S. Schultz and the following gentlemen, comprising the Committee on Navy: John S. Barnes, George G. Haven, D. Willis James, Frederick R. Coudert, Capt. Henry Erben, Ogden Goelet, John Jay Pierrepont, Loyall Farragut, Alfred C. Cheney, Buchanan Winthrop, and S. Nicholson Kane. Other distinguished guests on the Despatch were Gov. David B. Hill, Gen. William T. Sherman, Admiral David D. Porter, Commodore Ramsey, and Jas. M. Varnum. Several hundred thousand patriotic people greeted the Despatch as she proudly entered the harbor. The scene was a most memorable one.
Following the example of Washington, President Harrison was rowed ashore in a barge, landing at Pier 16, where he was met by the venerable Hamilton Fish, who welcomed him to New York. Proceeding to the Equitable Building, the President was tendered a reception in the rooms of the Lawyers' Club, followed by a banquet under the auspices of the Committee on States, consisting of the following distinguished citizens: William G. Hamilton, Chairman; James C. Carter, John Schuyler, J. T. Van Rensselaer, James W. Husted, Theo. Roosevelt, Jacob A. Cantor, E. Ellery Anderson, Floyd Clarkson, Henry W. LeRoy, John B. Pine, Samuel Borrowe, and Jas. M. Montgomery. Among the guests—other than the members of the Cabinet and the other prominent gentlemen who accompanied the President on the Despatch—were ex-President R. B. Hayes and the Governors of thirty-five States.
At night the President and his Cabinet attended the grand centennial ball at the Metropolitan Opera House, at which 6,000 guests were present. This brilliant entertainment, rendered memorable by the presence of so many distinguished people, was given under the auspices of a committee composed of the following society leaders: Stuyvesant Fish, Chairman; William Waldorf Astor, William K. Vanderbilt, William Jay, Egerton L. Winthrop, Robert Goelet, Wm. B. Beekman, Stephen H. Olin, Wm. E. D. Stokes, and Gouverneur Morris.
The morning of the 30th—Centennial Day—the President, members of his Cabinet, with ex-Presidents Cleveland and Hayes, Governor Hill, and many other noted guests, attended thanksgiving services at St. Paul's Church. The President and his family occupied the Washington pew. The exercises were conducted by the Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, Bishop of New York. The literary exercises were held on the steps of the sub-Treasury, where General Washington took his oath of office a hundred years before. Countless thousands surrounded the speaker's stand and congregated in the vicinity. Elbridge T. Gerry presided and introduced Rev. Richard S. Storrs, who delivered the invocation. Secretary Bowen read a poem entitled "The Vow of Washington," composed for the occasion by the venerable John Greenleaf Whittier. Hon. Chauncey M. Depew then delivered the Centennial oration. On conclusion, Chairman Gerry introduced President Harrison, who was greeted with a grand outburst as he advanced to the front. Amid repeated interruptions with cheers he spoke as follows: