Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-02-10
ADDRESS OF MR.. HODGES.
At the Banquet Given to the Ohio Ed
itOrs in Baltimore.


this occasion, take much pleasure in
adding their sincere welcome to the SAL
utations which have been extended to
guests of the Ohio Press Association
this evening, and the ladies who accom-
pany them-a welcome to Baltimore
and welcome to this festive board.
But the expressions of hospitality which
have already been addressed TO them are
so full and earnest in their meaning
that there is little left for me to say to
them are so full and earnest in their
meaning that there is little time left
for me to say to give increased cordial
ity to the greeting. Besides, the eyes of
our people have already spoken, and
the eyes of our guests have given back
their responses, and the bond of mutual
sympathy and appreciation is thus al
ready drawn up and signed, and needs
no verbal Endorsement. Gentlemen, of
the Ohio Press Association, you come
from State especially distinguished in
the brilliant cluster that forms the
American Union. Ohio proud Ohiol
conspicuously favored of her sister
States, is the happy mo,her of Presi-
dents and statesmen. How proud her
editors must be to represent so bright a
star in our federal constellation. The
Chief Justice, the General of the Army,
the Secretary of the Treasury-the most
renowned financial celebrity of the day
in this land-are all her gifted sons.
need not remind you after this that you
hatl from State of splendid educational
system. strong in the general intelli-
gence of her people, and the great earn
estness of purpose in time of peace and
in time of war The name of your State
is household word in Baltimore. 1t is
advertised and placarded everywhere
around us. 1t is familiar to the tongue
of every citizen. 1t was another name
for commercial hope to our merchants
and business men fifty years ago, when
our great Western Railroad was project
ed in search of the rich and growing
trade of Ohio and the West. That great
railroad, the proudest offspring of our
enterprise and the right arm of our ci-
ty, bears its name, and the iron ligature
which it has established between the
city of Baltimore and the State of Ohio
makes the two as inseparable as the ST.
amese twins. Let us hope that the pee
pies will soon become as closely bound
together by the ties of friendship and by
ties of trade as the Siamese brothers
we're Hnited by the ties of blood, and that
one of the first fruits of this intercourse
of soul to-day will be the accomplish
ment of those results. A glance at the
railroad map of the country will soon
convince you that Baltimore is your
natural port of export and import. 1t
is your natural outlet to the sea, as it
is your natural market on the seaboard.
These facts, let US hope, have been most
convincingly illustrated to you by your
inspection of our harbOr to-day. OF
course you have seen but few of the fa-
cilities we possess for vast foreign and
domestic trade, but let me assure you
that they exist here on scale cOmmenSu-
rate with our greatly favored geOgraph-
ical position. Upon this point you need
not entertain the slightest doubt. As a
commercial people We are conscious of
our power, and would impress you with
Just appreciation of it. We have faith
in our destiny. Our course is onward
to higher attainment of commercial
prominence and influence, and to far
greater achievements in the way of mu-
nicipal wealth of architectural grandeur.
Our only serious rival in the future for
commercial supremacy on the Atlantic
seabOard is the city of New York. This
is so plain that he who runs may read.
In our contest with that formidable
competitor, with which We are closing
for desperate commercial struggle, L
ask our guests if we may not reasonably
expect the aid of the editorial pen of Ohio
in our efforts to secure the trade of that
State as an important auxiliary to our
success? | feel sure that We can; but
by aiding us you would be promoting, on
economic grounds, the agricultural and
commercial interests of your State. We
are an old city, full of historic ann COM
mercial interests. We have just COM
pleted the 15Oth anniversary of our mu-
nicipal birth, from which you may infer
that we are well graduated in business.
While our growth has been gradual, our
roots are deeply set and far-reaching,and
onr outcrop is vigorous and honest to
the core. Our trading motto might well
be, "Who comes within these walls is
safe" We have not flashed cut with
the suddenness and brilliancy of meto-
or on the national firu am snt, like some
of our more youthful sister cities of the
West, but we have advanced with that
gravity and dignity of manner and free
dom from self-assertiOn so becoming to
seniority when conscious of its inherent
and power. While this is ad-
mitted. no one familiar with our early
history can deny that we were foremost
in many enterprises that now support
the whole superstrncture of modern
trade. We have been recently reminC-
ed by Maryland's latest historian that
our people were the first in the country
to construct turnpike and to build and
to run a railroad and steamboat; that
we were the first to light city with IL
gas, to use the magnet tele-
graph and to erect a cylinder press.
These are some of the great enterprises
started here. You have seen something
Of their development to-day, in city
whose freedom you have enjoyed, with
the good will of its citizens and the hos
pitality of ourselves. You do not need
to be presented with the traditional
KEYS in city where all are soVereigns,
citizens and strangers alike. You are
welcome everywhere. Our doors are un-
and the latchstrings are out to
our friends. Gentlemen of the Ohio
press, one word in conclusion: The
Meachants and Manufacturers Associa-
80. 80 Dolt;u,ora raaf3;-uoinU their