Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1894 — CHRONICLE OF A YEAE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHRONICLE OF A YEAE

EDITOR FENNO TELLS THE STORY OF 1789. Washington's Progress from Virginia to Kew York and What Happened During the Journer —First American Congress Meeting—Day of National Espousals. From an Old Newspaper. On Wednesday, April 15, appeared the first number of the “United States Gazette, a national paper to be printed at the seat of the Federal government and to comprise as fully as possible early and authentic accounts of the proceedings of Congress—its laws, acts, and resolutions communicated so as to form a history of the transactions of the Federal Legislature under the new constitution.” A file of the Gazette for the year 1789 constitutes a veritable antique in the way of American journals. The pages are stained and faded, their color is that of an antique proper, but the matter is invaluable. If all other literature of the period were to be destroyed the entire political and social fabric of the time might be reconstructed from this fragment. Properly approached it becomes au adequate

revelation of 'the post-revolutionary spirit. The political atmosphere in which it is involved is refreshing, invigorating, and delightful. It is, in fact, a poem, a political poem—or, better still, a political pastoral, for it is the pastoral perioi of our political history that it reflects. Booms, barrels, bosses, machines, and all the other refinements incident to a highly developed politicabsystem were at that time unheard of. A beautiful simplicity charadel'ized all political life and activity. The more one reads the Gazette the stronger becomes the conviction that the politics of the time was essentially bucolic and idyllic. One notes a certain joyous, breezy, outdoor sunlight quality about it. There was the shepherd, Washington; his flock, the people; the shepherdess the new constitution. It was a desire to describe the charms of the new constitution that afforded Mr. John Fenno, editor of the Gazette, an excuse for starting his paper. Editor Fenno believed that the new constitution would, as Carlyle says, “march.” Washington had made the Declaration *of Independence “march.” Why should he not make the new constitution “march?” It will

be remembered that things were “marching” very badly over in France about this time. The Day of National Espousals. On the eve of the inauguration of Washington Editor Fenno prints the following double-leaded editorial in his paper: “We have heard much of the birthday of our Columbia. Her natal hour is dated on the 10th of April, 1775. “To-morrow is the day of her espousals—when, in the presence of the King of kings, the solemn compact will be ratified between her and the darling object of her choice. * “May she date from that moment the brightest scenes of freedom and happiness, under the auspices of the wise and glorious administration of the President of her affections.” One remarks some differences between this and the modern election editorial. Editor Fenno does not speculate as to whose head will fall ihto the basket first; he says nothing about appointments; he does not present this man's “claims” on a certain position, nor does he urge the “peculiar fitness” of Mr. Blank for a particular office. Nothing could be more unique, more charmingly ingenuous, than this idea of the marriage of Washington to, the new constitution. Let us expand it. Washington, the hero, after having proved himself worthy by many victories on land and sea, is chosen by Columbia as her bridegroom. Columbia wears a diadem of thirteen stars. The hero comes*to her and, amid manifestations of the greatest joy on the Dart of the people, she marries the “darling object of her choice.” There is matter in it for an epic; but the age of epics—alas! There is one more paragraph to the editorial. In it Editor Fenno describes the spectacular effects which have been prepared for the celebration of the espousals: “In the evening fireworks, prepared under the direction of the ingenious Col. Bauman, will irradiate the hemi-

sphere, which, in conjunction with well-fancied illuminations in various parts of the cityp will conclude the scene With a splendid exhibition.”

THE LANDING AT NEW YORK.

WASHINGTON’S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK.

FRAUNCE'S TAVERN, 1854.