Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-14


Gov. CHASE opened the speaking on the stand
by brief and appropriate address, as follows
Fellow CITIZENS We are assembled today
upon a most interesting occasion. FOrty-fye
wears ago this day, American valOr met British
yalor, and American skill and conduct met Brit
ish skill and conduct upon yOndeT Lake, aud
American valor and skill and conduct triumph
ed-and may they ever triumph [Appause.l
But we have met day TO indulge in no feel
ings of exultation over a conquered foe but TO
celebrate the greatness and the glory Of our
country, identified as they are and must be for
ever, with the remembrance of the men by
whom the triumph was achieved. WeweleOme
here to-day the remnant of that gallant band
who fought that battle. How delighted must
be their eyes as they pass over scenes which
meet them nov-when they contrast that weak
ness with this strength, that comparatively
feeble nation with this great and glorious
people
said we have met together TO interchange
no feelings of eXultatiOn over the past, but to
thank those who have achieved the inestinable
blessings we enjoy, and rejoice that Providence
has favored our prosperity Why should we
cxult over that nation which was then our foe
Instead Of meeting upon fields Of battle, we are
now peacefully engaged in commerce. Insteld
/ of answering cannon and exchanging sautes
upon fields Of battle, our shouts OF welcoming
| hg across the ocean and are re-echOed from
/ thence across our mountains, until they lose
! themselves in the Pacific. Instead of sending
/ our thoughts even 10y the slow methods OF IN
| accommodation, American perseverance and
| skill have traversed the ocean-not above It,
| but beneath-and lightning now speeds our
/ words of cheer and welcome to our Anglo
/ Saxon bre hren, while our thoughts 60 up
] in QTr SSH lrOl bless
lhemi'
We rejoice TO welcome this vas; multitude
of citizens, To whom at last Is to be conferred
the destiny Of the country. We rejoice to
| welcome the brave soldier, to whom cur defence
/ NAV be committed the brave sailor, who de-
iends the honor of his country and last, but
| never least, we rejoice to welcome here to-day
our fair county-women, by wl4Um men are
nurtured for the performance OF the duties o. life.
! l am admonished, my fellow-eitizens, that
we must be brief, for the sun will rapidly has
ten to its setting. 1t has been thought that
the best mode in which l could cOmmuni-
cate It to the rest, would be to set the example.
| [Cheers.l
| At its close three stentorian cheers were Civ
/ en- for Gov. CHASE, of Ohio.
SPEECH oy HON. z. COOEE.
After the organization Of the Perry Aonu-
ment Association had been perfected, Gov.
CHASE introduced to the multitude the Hon. E
Cooks, of Sandusky, who eloquently spoke as
follows:
FELLOW CoUNrRYNEN Il rise, on behalf Of
| the Executive Committee, 10 bid you welcome
| to this eonsccra.ed spot If could hope 10 be
heard, would thank you for having come up in
such vast numbers, from the beautiful cities Of
the Lake and the interior, TO this patriotic reun-
/ ion. l can have little else TO say than 10 offer
up nv fervent thanksgiving to Almighty God,
/ tor those evidences of social fraternity and
/ grateful patriotism, which your presence this
/ day proclaims.
We have met to commemorate one Of those rare
and signal events, which, considering the vast
interests It involved the benefits It conferred and
the glory achieved has few parallels in history.
We shall find it difficult justly 70 appreciate the
| importance Of Perry's victory, without calling
| 10 mind the condition Of our country which pre-
ceded and followed its achievement.
Here Mr. c. proceeded TO portray in terse
and graphic style the defenceless and exposed
condition Of our whole frontier, from Buffalo to
Arkansas; alludiug to the bloody tragedies, con
ff4crations, and savage horrors which followed
Hulrs surrender; and glancing at the brilliant
defences Of Harris on md Croghan.l
But, said Mr. c., these exploits ayailed little
Wnlle the eullrc pushtsslon oA thS i4AS y a
well manned fleet Of veterans, remained in the
undisputed control of the foe, with power to
descend at any moment, with their combined
forces, upon any point Of our exposed frontier
The crisis demanded action, combined with val
or and talent to direct il. IN view of this, the
creation of an American fleet ON the Lake was
ordered by our Government, as well Tor pur-
poses of protection as invasion. In March,
1913. the charge of its construction and CON-
mand " as assigned TO Oliver II. Perry, of Rhode
Island, who, in spite OF almost suPcrhuman diff |
ticultes, in less than three months completed |
his work and launched his vessels at the har- |
Dor of Erie But, although he frequently /
sought to engage the enemy, he was unable to /
bring them to action until the very glorious day |
We are here % commemorate
Of the battle and lis thrilling incidents, we |
have no time to speak. l am not here, with 4 |
tongue Of fire, to re-Iight and emblazon the |
splcndOrs of the achievement. That office must |
be left to others better fitted for the task ITejoice
that some of It's incidents Will be given TO day,
by living actor in the scene
l will refer only 20 one fact, that although be-
tween ships on the ocean, the trial had been 4
signally glorious to our flg, yet this was the /
first American squadron that ever made battle /
with an enemy, and this was the first English |
feet since England had a navy, that ever had |
been captured Our fleet, moreover, was un-
equally provided with men and cannon, manned /
mostly by raw recruits, uninurcd TO battle, /
and Offered by Young men without experience /
m naval warfare: while On the other hand, that /
OF the British vas fully armed, furnished with /
men who had encountered many conflicts /
on the ocean, and commanded by the eNPerienc- |
ei and veteran Barclay, who had Won rich |
lsuTels under Nelson at the battle Of Trafalgar. |
At quarter before u o'clock the conflict /
begun-at O'Clock, the battle ended-its thun-
ders were hushed, and the deep silence Of Ma
ture succeeded. As the smoke Of battle rolled /
away, it shed Undying glory upon the Republic |
aud gave immH Hrtal renOwn TO the victory |
victory which wiped from our escutcheon the
disgrace Of HulI's surrender, avenged the in
suited honor Of our flag, and dissolved forever
the spell Of bo.ste1 British maratIme invinci-
bility The pupil Of Nelson had struck to the
youthful Perry, and the whole country rang
with acclamatiOns Of Joy
To the scene OF this glorious victory, let Us
with each returning anniversary come up for
our instruction. Let Us seek our great practical
lessons Of public duty and patriotic daring, in
the contemplation Of the stirring incidents Of
that great event. And let Us this day signalize
our appreciation Of the victory by taking efici-
ent measures for the erection Of a monument
on Gibraltar Rock to Perry and his noble COM
pauions There let It rise-there let it stand,
as long as the blue waves Of Erie continue TO
dash against It's rock bound base, to mark the
spot which must forever be dear TO US and our
children's children down to the latest syllable
Of recorded time.
The lapse Of forty five years has laid in the
dust most of the brave men who participated
in the victory. The ilustratrious chief himself
who, on that day, amid the roar and smoke Of