THE PROCESSION. 1137 center of attraction in New York was at St. Paul's Church, CHAP. to which Washington after his inauguration, accom-. LXXII. panied by the members of Congress, had gone to return 1889. thanks to God and implore His blessing upon the Government just instituted. Bishop Provost, Chaplain of the Senate, had officiated. In the same church President Harrison and the members of his Cabinet who could attend, were present; the services were conducted in the usual form, Bishop Henry C. Potter making an address. President Harrison occupied the pew in which Washington was accustomed to sit-which has always been preserved in its original form. Ex-Presidents Hayes and Cleveland were present, besides numerous other prominent men. The assembly adjourned at the close of the services to meet at the historic place in Wall street, where stands a bronze statue of Washington on the spot where the original inauguration took place. After prayer, addresses were made, the chief orator being Chauncey M. Depew. At the close of these services President Harrison proceeded to Madison Square, where he was to review the military procession reaching from Wall street to Fiftysixth street-about four miles. For the accommodation of spectators of which, all told, there were perhaps a million, as every available point for seeing was occupied -temporary platforms or seats were prepared in many places on the streets along the route, in front of public buildings and parks. The private residences on the line of march were elaborately decorated. This parade of citizen-soldiers was the greatest thus far in our history. They came from twenty-three States, extending from Maine to Louisiana, and all along the Atlantic slope; there were present also twenty-nine Governors of States, who were mostly accompanied by their staffs. The whole number of troops exceeded fifty thousand. The exer1 Hist., p. 573. CHAP. cises of the second day closed with an Inauguration CenLXXII. tennial Banquet. 1889. May 1. The enthusiasm of the people continued unabated and they entered into the processions of the third day with a zest equal to that of the two previous. The last day in truth, represented causes that came home to them individually, more than the displays of the other two, as it was an exhibition in favor of the educational and industrial interests of the Nation; showing the great advancement made during the first century of the Nation's life, in the paths of useful labor, of domestic peace and material progress in a Christianized civilization. The detail is too extensive for us to enter upon in this connection. The participants in the parade were drawn from the city and its immediate vicinity, including students of Columbia College, of the New York City College and of the University of New York; followed by boys, pupils in the public schools, 4,000 strong; and they, by the various trade and industrial representations. Applications had been received by the Committee, from civic, commercial and industrial societies-foreign-born and native alike, all of which designated the number belonging to each who wished to participate in the processions, the whole number amounting to 110,000; but the Committee was compelled to limit the number pro rata, so that only 75,000 could be in line. This celebration closed the first hundred years of the Nation's life and history, and, under wonderfully changed circumstances, it has entered upon its second century. |