Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-10-03
M(lstrll aneOus.
inauguration Of the Plrry Statue.

The inauguration of the statue in lon~
or of Commodore Perry took place at
Cleveland, OHIO, on the 10Th inst, the
gathering being the largest ever witness
ed in Ohio. Among the guests from a..
broad were Governor Sprague and staff,
Rhode Island Hon. George Bancroft, or
ator cf the day; J. II. Bartlett, Secretary
of the State OF Rhode Island Gen. Dyer
ard staff, Providence Gen Wilson and
stah, Pennsy lvania; overnor's Guard OF
Rhode Island number of surviving rel,
atives Of Commodore Perry, dc, The
ceremony opened with prayer by Rev. q.
B. Perry of Natchez, Miss, cousin of the
Commodor,. The statue was then un.
veiled by Mr.. Wolcott, the artist, and re.
ceivcd in behalf Of the city by Mayor
Senter, in brief speech.
Mr., Bancroft, the historian, then de.
llvered the Grafton, in which he paid a
fitting tribute TO the increasing power OF
the West, and of Ohio as its representa-
tive. In the course Of his oration, in
which he quoted the memorable words of
Perry, in which he reported the result of
the battle Of Lake Erie-",fe have met
TIE enemy, and they are ours"-he said 1:
This anniversary of the great action
of Oliver Hazard Perry. is set apar: for
inaugerating a monument TO his fame
Who has not heard how ga.llntly, forty
seven years ago, the young hero, still
weak from a wasting fever, led his squad
ron to battle! As If shielded by a higher
power he encountered death on his right
hand, death on his left, ever in advance,
almost alone, 0r two hours fighting his
ship, till it become L wreck, so that but
one OF his guns could be used any long
or, and more than four,hcths of his crew
lay around him, wounded or killed; then
unharmed, standing as beseemed his spir.
it, he passed in boat, to the uninju ed
Niagra, unfurled his flag, bore down with.
IN pistol shot of the enemy, poured into
them broadsides starboard and broadsides
pOlt, and while the sun was still high a
Dove the horizon, left no Office 10 lie done
TO that Of mercy to the vanqulshed. II
The comparison does not seem tapciiul
will call his conduct during those hours a
complete lyric poem, perfect in all its
parts. Though he was carried away and
raised above himself by the power with
which he was possessed, the passion of has
Inspiration was tempered by the serene
oNil' YOHsGsslOll VI Li~ ld''l'iA-e' tpb' ~
his will had the winged rapldity OF fiery
.uoprHg. and vet observed viii dellber-
au ..a combuatiOu oi harmony and
.a. ntoport.on of measured order.
N'r may you omit honors to the
memories OF The unrecorded dead not as
nournets who require consolation, but
With clear perception of the glory Of
aeir end. The debt of nature all must
ray. To die, il need be, in defiance oil
%, the country, is q common obligation
III granted to few to exchange lite for
victory so full of benefits to their fellow
men. These are the disinlerested, un-
named martyrs, who without hope OF
tame or gain, gave up their lives in the all
ne'vading love Of country, and left to our
tatesmen the lesson to demand of Others
HptAing but what is right and to submi,
10 no wrong"
tt.er speaking orBritish aggre esions, by
which the last war brougi4 on, and OF
ne disposition Of the British edternment
tt the present time TO sncrbacl upon the
North Western territory he concluded as
follows