Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-03
Ohio Day at the Centennial.


Ohio Day at the Centennial.
PHILADELPHIA Oct. 26.
This is Ohio day and merchants day
at the Centennial and the attendance is
more than usually great. Among the
crowds present on the grounds are great
numbers of Ohioans, and their interest
in a suitable observance of the day, added
to the general interest awakened by the
presence on the grounds of Gov. Hayes,
gives an animation to the affair that has
hardly been equaled except on Pennsyl-
vania day,
At At11;21o'c5ck Gen. Hawley, the Pres
| ident, on behalf of the United States
Centennial Commission, Director-Gen. Go
shorn and President j Welsh, of the Board
of Finance, met and received Gov. Hayes
at the main entrance to the grounds on
Elm avenue The Governorwas attended
by his staff, in full uniform, and delega-
tion of distinguished citizens of Ohio,
and escorted to the Ohio State Building
| by detachment of the Centennial
Guards, preceded by the First Brigade
Band. At the door of the building the
Governor was received by Gen. McCook
and others, of the Ohio Centennial Board,
and a few moments later was presented
to the people from the little porch on the
east of the building.
After an enthusiastic greeting Presi-
dent Hawley, on behalf of the Centen-
nial authorities, formally welcomed the
Governor and all other visitors from
Ohio, alluding to their brotherhood in
the great Union, and adding that they
had done much to make the Exhibition
and were specially privileged to be pres
ent. He would not only welcome them
but would join hands with them in pledg-
ing a new devotion to the Constitution,
the Union and the flag, and in praying
Almighty God that the next century may
surpass the present one. Gov. Hayes
wastthen introduced, and, when the cheer
ing which greeted his appearance had
subsided, spoke as follows:
On behalf of the people of Ohio 1 desire to
make their grateful acknowledgment to all
of the Centennial authorities for the recep.
ton and cordial welcome given, and | desire,
also, on behalf of the State of Ohio, to eX-
press our appreciation of the honor done to
us by the presence of the Centennial Com
missioners from foreign countries who are
here with us in their respective representa-
tive capacities, to the representatives of the
executive departments of our own National
Government in charge of the Government
exhibit, and to the Centennial Commission
ers of our sister States who have honored us
with their welcome presence. Also to the
people, one and all, citizens of other States
and of other lands than our own, who are
here to join with us in this commemoration.
The citizens of Ohio have been deeply in
terested in this celebration and are greatly
gratified by its success. If events are to be
measured by their results the work of the
great founders of the National Government
may well be commemorated by the people Of
all of the States, and by none more heartily
than by the people of Ohio. When indie
pendence was declared Ohio had no exist
ence, Over all that is now Ohio stretched
one vast unbroken wilderness. What is
Ohie now? A State with 10000 inhabit-
ants-a greater population than that pos
sessed by all the Colonies whenthey achieved
their independence But it is not for me, it
is not for us, fellow-citizens Of Ohio, to dwell
on the growth, progress and prosperity of
Ohio, A very instructive address on all
these topics was delivered some weeks ago
by distinguished citizen of our State.
We are here to-day as citizens of Ohio, up
on the invitation of the Board of Centennial
Managers of our State, to complete the COM
memoration exercises on our part contem-
plated in the original institution of the Ma
tional Commission. 1t is enough for us to
say that we rejoice that our homes are in
grateful that our lines have fallen unto us
in such pleasant places, and that We have
such heritage as Ohio now is. Ohio has
been equally honored here by the selection
of one of her citizens as the Director-General
o. this great enterprise. We are glad to
know that Gen. Goshorn has so discharged
the duties Of his Office that his name will be
honorably remembered in connection with
this Exhibition. We wish, citizens of Ohio,
to congratulate especially the citizens of
Philadelphia and the people of Pennsylvania
on the fortunate issue of this great enter
prise. 1t is mainly their enterprise; upon
them it is a great burden deyolved, and to
them belongs the lions share of the glory of
its great success.
This Centennial Exhibition is now drawing
to close. 1t will not be forgotten. 1t will
pass into history. 1t will live in the minds
of our countrYmen, linked with the recollec-
tions Of the fathers, whose work it has so
fully commemorated. We hope that the in
huence of this celebration will be to extend
and peTpetuate the principles of our Revolu-
tionary ancestors, and to give increased as
surance to all mankind that the new nation,
brought forth on this continent hundred
years ago, is destined under Providence long
to remain the home of freedom and the
refuge of the oppressed.
While making a tour of the buildings
and grounds, under escort of Mr.. Cos
horn and several members of the guber-
Material staff, Gov. Hayes arrived in the
vicinity of the Municipal Building, at
which the commercial exchanges of other
cities were being entertained at lunch by
their Philadelphia brethren. At the
door of the building the Governor and
his companions were upon the point of
Withdrawing, when, upon solicitation of
Mayor Stokeley, the party were induced
to enter Gov. Hayes was presented to
the company by E. Ii. Jeffries, of Phila-
delphia, and was received with hearty
applause. The Governor responded in
acknowledgment of the cordiality of his
reception, which, he said, he construed
to have been rendered, not as compli.
ment to himself as an individual, but to
the Office of the Chief Executive of the
great State of Ohio.
Addressing Mayor Stokeley, he added
that the pleasure of meeting so many of
the representative men of the business
interests of the country was an unex-
pected one, and that, as he had been
honored with an introduction, his only
purpose was to pay his respects to the
gentlemen present. He thanked the
people of Philadelphia through their
Mayor for the generous manner in which
they had greeted the name of Ohio and
the welcome they had extended to her
Executive, and closed by saying that
whatever may be the result of the pres
ent ephemeral political strife we would
all remember that we are Americans,
The Governors brief remarks were in
terspersed with rounds of cheers, which
were renewed upon their conclusion.
Mayor Stokeley followed in some per-
tinent remarks, and the visitors in a
short time withdrew to continue their
trip through the inclosure.