Mr. Chairman, my Countrymen—Official duty of a very exacting character has made it quite impossible that I should deliver an address on this occasion. Foreseeing this, I early notified your committee that the programme must not contain any address by me. The selection of Mr. Depew as the orator of this occasion makes further speech not only difficult, but superfluous. He has met the demand of this great occasion on its own high level. He has brought before us the incidents and the lessons of the first inauguration of Washington. We seem to have been a part of that admiring and almost adoring throng that filled these streets one hundred years ago.
We have come into the serious, but always inspiring, presence of Washington. He was the incarnation of duty, and he teaches us to-day this great lesson: That those who would associate their names with events that shall outlive a century can only do so by high consecration to duty. Self-seeking has no public observance or anniversary. The captain who gives to the sea his cargo of goods, that he may give safety and deliverance to his imperilled fellow-men, has fame; he who lands the cargo has only wages. Washington seemed to come to the discharge of the duties of his high office impressed with a great sense of his unfamiliarity with these new calls thrust upon him, modestly doubtful of his own ability, but trusting implicitly in the sustaining helpfulness and grace of that God who rules the world, presides in the councils of nations, and is able to supply every human defect. We have made marvellous progress in material things since then, but the stately and enduring shaft that we have erected at the national capital at Washington symbolizes the fact that he is still the First American Citizen. [Cheers.]
The Great Military Parade and Banquet.
On conclusion of the ceremonies at the sub-Treasury the President and other honored guests of the day reviewed the grand military parade from a stand in Madison Square. Along the line of march, especially on Broadway and Fifth Avenue, for several miles the gorgeous pageant moved between two living walls. Never were so many people congregated on this continent. The glittering column, commanded by General Schofield, moved with continuous precision, and was five hours and twenty-five minutes in passing the reviewing stand. The President remained at his post, saluting the last company. The troops of the various States were led by their Governors.
This monster military demonstration and the great industrial parade of the day following were conducted under the management of a committee comprising the following well-known gentlemen: S. Van Rensselaer Cruger, Chairman; John Cochrane, Locke W. Winchester, J. Hampden Robb, Frederick Gallatin, Frederick D. Tappen, and John C. Tomlinson.
The President's visit concluded with his participation in the greatest banquet known to modern times, held at the Metropolitan Opera House. The lavish decorations, the magnitude and occasion of the entertainment have rendered it historical. Eight hundred guests were seated at the tables, while the surrounding boxes and stalls were overflowing with distinguished ladies eagerly partaking of the feast of reason. Mayor Grant presided, and introduced Governor Hill, who welcomed the guests. Ex-President Cleveland responded to the toast "Our People;" Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, spoke to "The States;" Chief-Justice Fuller responded to "The Federal Constitution;" Hon. John W. Daniel spoke to "The Senate;" ex-President Hayes to "The Presidency." Among other prominent guests were Vice-President Morton, General Sherman, Lieutenant-Governor Jones, of New York, Judge Charles Andrews, Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, Mayor Chapin, of Brooklyn, Governor Foraker, of Ohio, Abram S. Hewitt, Cornelius N. Bliss, Fred'k S. Tallmadge, Samuel D. Babcock, Chauncey M. Depew, Erastus Wiman, Charles W. Dayton, Josiah M. Fisk, William Henry Smith, Thomas S. Moore, Henry Clews, Austin Corbin, Philip L. Livingston, Brayton Ives, Darius O. Mills, Richard T. Wilson, William L. Strong, Henry B. Hyde, James M. Brown, Louis Fitzgerald, Allan Campbell, John Sloane, James D. Smith, Edward V. Loew, Eugene Kelly, Walter Stanton, John F. Plummer, J. Edward Simmons, John Jay Knox, De Lancey Nicoll, Henry G. Marquand, Gordon L. Ford, Daniel Huntington, F. Hopkinson Smith, William E. Dodge, Chas. Parsons, A. W. Drake, Oliver H. Perry, Frank D. Millet, H. H. Boyesen, Charles Henry Hart, Rutherford Stuyvesant, John L. Cadwalader, Lispenard Stewart, Chas. H. Russell, Jr., and Richard W. Gilder.
After the Chief-Justice's address President Harrison was introduced and received with a storm of applause. He spoke to the toast "The United States of America" as follows:
Mr. President and Fellow-citizens—I should be unjust to myself, and, what is more serious, I should be unjust to you, if I did not at this first and last opportunity express to you the deep sense of obligation and thankfulness which I feel for these many personal and official courtesies which have been extended to me since I came to take part in this celebration. The official representatives of the State of New York and of this great city have attended me with the most courteous kindness, omitting no attention that could make my stay among you pleasant and gratifying. From you and at the hands of those who have thronged the streets of the city to-day I have received the most cordial expressions of good will. I would not, however, have you understand that these loud acclaims have been in any sense appropriated as a personal tribute to myself. I have realized that there was that in this occasion and all these interesting incidents which have made it so profoundly impressive to my mind which was above and greater than any living man. I have realized that the tribute of cordial interest which you have manifested was rendered to that great office which, by the favor of a greater people, I now exercise, rather than to me.
The occasion and all of its incidents will be memorable not only in the history of your own city, but in the history of our country. New York did not succeed in retaining the seat of national government here, although she made liberal provision for the assembling of the first Congress in the expectation that the Congress might find its permanent home here. But though you lost that which you coveted, I think the representatives here of all the States will agree that it was fortunate that the first inauguration of Washington took place in the State and the city of New York.
For where in our country could the centennial of the event be so worthily celebrated as here? What seaboard offered so magnificent a bay on which to display our merchant and naval marine? What city offered thoroughfares so magnificent, or a people so great, so generous, as New York has poured out to-day to celebrate that event?