The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-07-12

Fart OF the audience yelled Hayes! Hayes =
and Mr. Steuben jenkins arose and said that
1t gPve him great pleasure to introduce to the
audience the President of the United States.
81 might say continued Mr.. jenkins "a
Pr 'ident whose wise and liberal admins
tration has given the country peace and
The President IN reply said:
Ladies and w.citizens IT is sim.
ply impossible for me to make myself heard |
so vast an assemblage. Howev-
er, that fact is of no importance as no for
mai address was expected from the President
This centennial celebration to-day differs
quite essentially from any that has been held
the past few weeks. Pennsylvania has borne
an important part in the history of the I'm
ion. The people of Pennsylvania have fre.
quently celebrated deeds of valor, but to-
days celebration is peculiar, as it is emphat-
ically pioneer celebration of the virtues of
men and women who settled this beautiful
valley.
Every part of the United States has pi-
oneer history somewhat similar to that of
the Wyoming valley. The men who settled
along the James river in Virginia and the
the Connecticut river that fertilizes the sol
OF Steady Habits, endured similar expe.
rience as those who first cultivated the soil
along the banks of the silvery Susquehauna.
The people who are to-day settling the Ter
rltories, Dakotah, Nebraska, Idaho and
Montana, are living through their pioneer
history. The same history belongs to all
people of the United States. The courage,
constancy and neighborly charity that are
in'eparable with people who settle new coun-
countries, are the virtues of new country.
| What shall we say of the lessons of to-day 2
What service can we be to the people of
! Idaho | tell you the trouble between the
pioneers Of this country and the Indians has
always been underratcd. Let US all try to
| understand the question of settling new
countries. Let us try to understand the In
dians. When We take anything from them
let us give them an equivalent for it. Le
us do this and we will get at the cause,
which have led to so many disasters in this
country. 1t is best to deal honorably witt
all creatures. If the Indians refuse peace
any price then the duty of the Government
is to see that the pioneers are amply protec
ted. They are entitled to protection, an,
if they receive it we shall be spared witness
ing repetition of the conflicts at Blue Lick
Kentucky, and Wyoming Valley.
Deal with the Indians fairly. Applause,
Do unto them as you would have them d
unto you Applause and that will preven
shedding of human blood The Presiden
retired amid great applause.
Mr. Steuben jenkins then presented him
on behalf of the ladies of the Wyomin
Valley, with cane, made from buckwood
The President received the gilt and init
mated that no doubt there were many in tn
audience who envied him in receiving 5
beautiful present. He returned thanks t
the donors and took his seat, while tn
crowd applauded with earnestness.
Calls were made for Governor Harranf
bur that gentleman did not respond.
, After tervent prayer by the Rev. ID. j
Waller the Hon. II. b. Wright delivered til
reception address
, At the close of Mr.. Wright's address, a
/ original ode, by Mrs. Waters, was read, anc
after addresses by Hon. Edmund l.. Dan
and Hon. q. |. A, Chapman and the reaC
E ing of poem by DIR. Coppee the Histor
q cal address was delivered by Steuben JenL
, ems, Esq The following is an abstract of
r MIR. JENKINS ADDRESS.
There is no event of equal magnitude tn;
a occupies 50 large and conspicuous Il place
/ none that has made the scene of its enac
4 ment SO celebrated in history and song, {
has that of the Battle Of Wyoming, with i
: attendant massacree and cOnllagraton; nor
q that has so largely called forth the execr
Il tion OF mankind against the one side, al
q the feelings Of compassion and sympatt
for the other.
, We are met to-day to recount the seen
/. enacted here on the ground just one hui
c dred years ago, and to commemorate Il
= valor and patriotism of that little band
= heroes who went forth to stay the march
ii the ruthless invaders Of their soil and sa
e their families, their homes, their focks al
II their haryests from havoc and destructio
II They were not soldiers. trained and inur
is to martial service, well armed and equipp
it for the fray. They had no great comman
II er with an army of veterans, going forth co
l. querng and to conquer; to safe his m
&c ambition or wreak his vengeance upon
innocent, unollending people. There "
J. no one among them who possessed an ab,
re lutte command. They were principally q
"a men aud boys unfit for the active and ard
.e Gus duties of the field who, from ineficie
E cy had remained at home, while the you
le men, better fitted for those active and ard
" Gus duties, were serving in the distant ran
10 Of our country's defenders.
n. 1t was no war of ambition, of plunder,
of of revenge on their part; it was to sa
of themselves and their families from butche
s. their homes from the torch of the incend
e, ry, their tiocks and herds from being slaug
m cred or driven off, their harvests from bel
destroyed and their liberty from being ov
4 thrown.
in After referring TO the sparsely sett
ly country at that time and the habits of I
h, people Of the Wyoming Valley 100 ye
r ago he said that in 1920 Charles l., of FL
8 land, granted to the Duke of Lenox,
b. Earl of Warwick, and Others, under
r name of The Council of Plymouth" +"
il that part of America lying aud being
's breadth from forty degrees of north lattl
IN to the fory-eighth incIusively and
v. breadth throughout the main lands from
rg to sea-
Robert, Earl of Warwick, in 1880 obta
~ ed from the "Councl at Plymouth" )" and
IL next year, 1881, having obtained :confrr
tion of hi, title by royal patent from Cha