Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-10-03
3tllsttll ancOQs.
inauguration Of the Perry Statue.

The inauguration OF the statue in lon,
or Of Commodore Perry took place at
cleveland, ONO, on the 10Th inst, the
gathering being the largest ever witness
ed in ohio. Among the guests from Il,
broad were Governor Sprague and staff,
Rhode Island Hon. George Bancroft, or
ator Of the day; j. r. Bartlett, Secretary
of the State OF Rhode Island Gen. DYER
and staff, Irovidence; Gen Wilson and
staff, Pennsylvania; overnor's Guard of
lthodc Island a number of surviving rel.
aIves Of Commodore Perry, dc, The
ceremony opened with prayer by Rev. G..
Is. Perry, Of Natchez, Mss. cousin of tho
pmmodora. The statue was then un.
Neiled by Mr.. Walcott, the artist, and re.
cclycd in behalf of the city by Mayor
Senter, in brief speech.
Mr., Bancroft, the historian, then de,
livered 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--"He have met
tie enemy, and they are ours '-hc said {:
This anniversary of the great action
OF Oliver Ilazard Perry. is set apar: Tor
inaugerating a monument to his fame
w no has not heard how gallntly, forty
seven years ago, the Young hero, still
weak from Wasting fever, led his squad.
ron to battle? As if shielded by higher
power, he encountered death on his right
band, death on his left, ever in advance,
almost alone, Or two hour, fighting his
glIIn fill II hannrnp ,rrnol-
one OF his guns could be used anv long
or, and more than four.frths of his crew
lay around him, wounded or killed; then
unharmed standing as beseemed his spir-
lt, he passed in Il boat, to the uninim ed
Niagra, untured his flag, bore down with
ln pistol shot Of the enemy, poured into
them broadsIdes starboard and broadsides
port, and while the sun was still high g.
bove the horizon, left no Office 10 he done
20 That OF mercy 10 the vanQushed. If
the comparison does not seem fanciful. |
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
whlch ne was possessed, the passion of his
INSPIRATION was tempered by the serene
ei'possession Of his iaultless courage -
ms WI had the winged rapldity of fiery
Thought, and yet observed with deliber.
atlon the combination ofharmopy and
ihe proportion Of measured order.
Nor may you omit honors to the
anemories OF the unrecorded dead not as
nournefs who require consolation. but
|wlh clear perception Of the glory of
Hheir end. The debt Of nature all must
bay. To die, if need be, in defiance of
iof the country, is common obligation:
Il Is granted to few to exchange life for
"a victory so full of benefits - their fellow
men. These are the disin,erested n
.named martyrs, who without hope of
anne or gain. gave up their lives in the all
'.N'dius love %. country, aud left 10 our
! f'''e.meu The lesson to demand of others
/, o,n.ng but what is right, and to submit
no wrong"
N;er speaking ofBrtish aggressions, by
-'e, the last war brought on ana of
,.e disposition Of the British government
,le present time to encroaca upon the
aIlon. Il,,n western territory he concluded as