Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-14
Inauguration of the Perry Statue

CLEVELAND, o., Sept. 10.
The weather is clear and cool. The attend
ance is extremely large. Masons, Odd Fellows
and military are in full force. Several com.
panies of Ohio volunteers, under Brigadier
General Fitch, with many companies from
Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York, en-
camped at Camp Perry, join in the ceremony.
Two hundred and fifty passenger-loaded cars
arrived, this morning, in addition to previous
arrivals. 1t is probably the largest gathering
ever in Ohio. Among the guests from abroad
are Gov. Sprague and staff, Of Rhode Island !;
Hon. Geo. Bancroft, orator of the day; J. r.
Bartlett, Secretary Of State of Rhode Island !;
. number Of members of the Legislature of
Rhode Island; Gen. Gould and staff, OF
Newport; Gen. Dyer and staff, Of Providence !;
Gen. Scroggs ard staff, Of Buffalo; Gov.
Wilson and staff, of Pennsylvania; Gov
ernor's Guard, of Rhode Island, parading one
hundred and two muskets; and . number Of
surviving relatives of Commodore Perry.
The ceremony opened with prayer by Rev.
G. B. Perry, of Matches, Mississippi, cousin
of the Commodore.
The statue was then unveiled by W alcutt,
artist, and received in behalf of the city by
Mayor Senior, in brief speech.
Mr.. Bancroft said the defense Of our
country is not burden to be Stunned but 8
right to be asserted, and sacred duty to
fulfill. The deeds of those who have peried
their lives in defsnse of the moral existence o!
the nation deserve to be commcmorsted by
works of art, that the evidence of their virtue
may be ever present to the eye of the people
By our sympathy, we make their glory oui
own.
The citizens Of Cleveland. cheered by the
zeal of the artist, and sustained by the
energy Of the contractors, have used the
monument just unveiled before those here
assembled. The statue now dedicated to the
Union, and il the name Of the people Of
Ohio, rises before the world majestic wit
ness to the benefcent reality of democratic
principles. Younger in years than the
speaker, her wealth is counted by thousands
of millions. Her population nearly equals
that of all England. Her people, frugal
and benevolent, restless in enterprise. daring
yet prudent, do not squander their accumu
lations in vain show, but ever give to make
earth more productive and beautiful.
MIR. Bancroft paid glowing tribute to
the gallantry and patriotism of Commodore
Perry. He spoke at some length Of the az
crossing policy of Great Britain as cause
of the war Of 1912, and referred to it's con
tinuance at the present time in reference to
the Northwestern Boundary Question. -
Your voices to-day give instruction to our
government to abide by the treaty faithfully
on condition that England will do the same,
but the treaty must bind both parties or
neither must be executed in good faith or
cancelled Men who honor the name of
Perry will always knew how to defend the
domain of their country. Has any Europe
an statesman miscounted the stamp of this
nation? Has any foreign ruler listened
with credulity to the tales of impending dis
unions Every man in Ohio will tell the
calumniator or unbeliever the voices of dis.
content are but evanessent vapors. mems
breath. Our strifes are but momentary dis.
turbanoes on the surface, easily settled
among ourselves"