Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/141

 one who had fought all through the war he knew of how much use the "pen-sion" would be to men who had lost health and strength on the field and of its worth to the kin of these men, and he said so when in the Sen-ate. It was his wish too that there might be more ships of war, and the na-vy might be made strong, as the lands o'er the seas had made theirs strong.

In 1889 Ben-ja-min Har-ri-son was made Pres-i-dent and sworn in, March 4 of that year. James G. Blaine held a high place near his chief, and so did John Wan-a-mak-er.

The last two days of A-pril, '89 it was thought fit to keep in a way that would mark the great changes that had been made in the land in the 100 years which had gone by since George Wash-ing-ton was the first chief. In New York City the "Wash-ing-ton Cen-ten-ni-al" was held. Pres-i-dent Har-ri-son and his friends went to the place where Gen-er-al Wash-ing-ton took his oath to serve as Pres-i-dent. Har-ri-son spoke there in his fine, strong voice, and said words which brought out cheers from those who heard him.

The streets were full of troops and long trains of men took up the march, past hou-ses and stores where flags and wreaths were seen. Young school girls in white spread flow-ers in the path of the Pres-i-dent, as had been done in Wash-ing-ton's time. Fire works at night were sent off at points through the town, and large sums were spent for floats on which men were seen at work at trades. Long lines of men from lands o'er the seas, who had come here to make their homes and help in all our good work, were on the march, side by side, in the garb of the Swiss, the French, the Ger-man, and more.