New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-05
THE CINCINNATI CENTgNNIAL.

The exposition which opened yesterday In
Cincinnati is to celebrate the hundredth an
niyersary of the settlement, not only OF that
city. but of Ohio and the great Northwest
Territory generally. The first settlement OF
the Northwest Territory was indeed maze IN
Marietta on the 18th of April, 1888, but that
event has already had due recognition, and the
fact that Cincinnati, the chief city of the State
and of the riye err, was settled in the same year,
seemed to make a general and imposing cele-
braton appropriate
The anniversary of the actual settlement OF
Cincinnati, which is said to have taken place
in December, is thus anticipated somewhat
The first settlement of Cincinnati was by
colonsts from New-Jersey upon lands bought
from the Government by John Cloves Symmes
the author of the fantastic theory OF
"Symmes's hoe.r This was, in brief, that the
earth was hollow and open at the poles and
habitable within, and that there was brilliant
opportunity awaiting the daring explorer who
should be the first to get inside. The author
of this theory, and owner of the land on which
the village first stood, was the great grand
father of the present Republican candidate for
the Presidency, for it was Symmess daughter
who married young Captain William Henry
Harrison, stationed there in command OF Fort
Washington The name of Harrison will be
frequently recalled in the "reminiscences which
this celebration will evoke. Captain Harrison
gave up his commission to become Secretary
of the Northwest Territory when General
Wayne's conquest of the Indians made its or
ganization possible, and was afterward its dele
gate in Congress. When, little later, Ohio
was organized into separate Territory, and
the present States of Indiana, Illinois, Nlichl-
can and Wisconsin were organized into the
Territory of Indiana, he was made Governor
of the latter, afterward returning to his Ohio
allegiance as Congressman, State Senator and
United States Senator. The pride Of the peo-
pie of Indiana in the name of Harrison, which
recent events have made so conspicuous, Is
thus explained in part by the fact that the
memory of this brave soldier is associated with
the struggles of the pioneers against their
savage enemies
The display Of manufactures and products at
Cincinnati will be an imposing one. II should
be so to represent to any adequate extent
the marvellous growth of the States that were
carved out in rapid succession from the North
west Territory. When we consider not only
the growth in population and material riches,
but the diffusion of education and the high
standard of intelligence that prevails, it is seen
| to be wonder without parallel in the history
of the world. When this century opened Gin
cinnati was village of Lighthouses, having a
population of less than thousand souls, and
| the Northwest Territory was for the most part
, wilderness swarming with savages, and only
| penetrated here and there by adventurous trad
ers and jealous priests To-day it is an en-
pire, with ten millions of inhabitants and grow
| ing every hour. Americans are not commonly
| supposed TO be lacking in self-apprecation,
but it really seems at times as If we were in
danger of not realizing how wonderful the
progress of the country had been. Fifty-five
years ago, at an election in the village of Chi
cago 20 votes were cast, and now that city,
the eighth wonder of the world, is claiming
something near million of inhabitants 1t is not
| forty years yet since Minnesota became Ter
ritory, though this foreigner seeing St. Paul
and Minneapolis for the first time would find
it hard to believe. And it will not do to dis
parage these facts as evidences of a merely
material prosperity. The foundation Of this
growth and wel-being is civil liberty, and
every day this Republic endures and fourishes
| it teaches mankind a new lesson in the wisdom
of self-government.