Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-24


R. HubbsII, Speaker of the Ohio House of
Representatives, together with several mem
bsrs Of the Legislature and City Council, the |
Mayor, and President Of the Council, and o:hef
distinguished gentlemen of our city. The
Rev. Mr.. Hayden, former Principal of Hi
ram Institute, and one Of General Garhsld's
first instructors, occupied seat BY the side
Of his distinguished pupil.
About three o'clock the asssmblags was
called to order by Mayor Masters, and the
exercises Of the afternoon were most aPpro-
priatsly opened by prayer from the Rev. Dr.
S. C. Aiken, Of the First Presbyterian
Church, who, in a fsrvent and impressive
manner, invoked Divine assistance, guidance
and support, in the great enterprise now to
be inauguratsd.
Lslsnd's Band then gave Home Again"
with variations, in their usually splendid
style, and On closing wer~lOudly applaudsd.
Mayor Masters, after apOlogizing for the
necessary absence of Governor BrOugh, in
troduced Lieut.. Gov. Anderson, who was
to fill his pIacs,-snd fill it he did, most
capitally Some passages in his brief ad-
dress equaIled, in classic finish and splendor,
in the exquisite beauty of word-painting,
aud the refined appositensss of refer
enees and quotations, the finest Oratory of
the cage of giants" to which he SO elO-
qusntly referred.
SPEECH OF LIEUT.. GOV. ANDERSON.
Mr.. President, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;
in the accidental absence Of our worthy
Governor, have been called to fill his place.
We all regret his absence, but I most Of all,
for how can I hope to be able to meet your
desires on this occasion This absence l
feel called upon to excuse. The presence of
the Governor at Columbus ia required not
merely in his ordinary official duties, but be-
cause he was suddenly called upon to dis
charge a most important task in preventing
the execution of a discovered plot of the
thievish companions Of John Morgan, who
are now in the penitentiary, to make an at
tack upon the guards and escape from pris-
on this very morning. 1 assure you at he
strongly desired to be with you in this most
holy cause. I trust youjwill believe me when
I say that he desires me to express his re-
grets, and when I express my own regrets
/ that am asked to fill his place.
Ny friends, the occasion which calls US
/ together fills our minds and hearts with
feelings and considerations which I cannot
reprsss. This is the anniversary Of the birth
dayof the father Of our Country, ,Gsorgs Wash
/ ington. Andthe future we fear will reveal tons
his like again. he stands without peer in
the story of the past. 1t is eminentiy TT
that we should inaugurate this benevolent
enterprise on the occasion Of the Auniversa
" of the birth of Washington.
The life of George Washington was sub
lime exhibition Of human nature, and his
memory is therefore properly associated with
another sublime display of the same kind.
Tho history of the country never before
/ presented Us with such a parallel. When,
/ before this war, has q million Of men risen
as one man in the cause Of human liberty
and human rights? (Applsuse.) History
gives us no example at all approaching it, in
grandeur and subIimity. Those engaged in
| this war saw at the first the nature and val
ne of the issus.
| But there is even a third stupenduoHs ex-
hibition of sublimity connected with this
days events. The occasion which calls Us
together shows that the men, the
women, tho maidsns, and even the
children take in the scope and sympa
thize with the issue of this war. know not
I
exhibition is worthy Of all regard in the
longest history pen and type can give it,
! Not enIy is there in it sublimity, but beauty
| The exhibition will not only make the day
immortal, but make human nature worthy Of
| Immortality.
Never have I, before this, in sll my varied ex-
perieuoe, seen the like of that of which this
Is the beginning. Everything that taste
could suggest, art could accomplish, and
color could add richness to, has been used to
lend grandeur and beauty to this scene, the
site Of which was but few days since Ike
a primevsl forest.
Thanks to the God of Nature and Of Prov
idence, beauty is all about and over us-in
the wGters Of your noble lake, where they
lie like a mirror refscting the summer sky; in
every foweret that mods along their shore; in
moving clouds that hover like radiant angels
| above them; in the saffron and Vermei
| tints that glow in the robes Of morning-in
all this dWsIls most enchanting beauty.
But deeper and more lasting than all this
evanssosnt beauty Of lake, and cloud, and
flower, and morning glow, Is that moral
beauty which finds its congenial home in the
heart Of the fair lsdiss-God bless them
and deveIopes itself in such god-like works
of love as that which We this day are sp-
pointed to inaugurate. (Applause.)
| That beauty lies deep ana snlnes ike
glory through the material surface,
Illuminating and transfguring it with unsur-
passsble brightness.
But a grace before meat should at least
have the merit of brevity, and you need no
further remarks of mine as an appetizer for
the feast which is to follow, which If it be at
aIl equal to what we have already heard
from the great orator who will address you
whether in the halls Of cur State Legisla-
ture, or later in the House of Representa-
tives-or if it be at eli commemorate with
his galIantry in the bsttle-fsld-Will COM
mand your heartiest applause.
The following dedicsting ode, written for
the occasion, was next sung by glse-club Il
seven gentlemen, tie chorus being Joined in
by the audience.
ODE.
| Oil hsllowed the day when our Chieftain was
born,
The Hero, the Patriot, who with form ser
| commanding,
Mid the sunshine of Peace or'in Battles thick
The ship of State guided and kept it from
stranding