Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-16

Glowing with Radiant Dseorations-
Programme of the Exercises. -.
MARIETTA, ONO, July t6.-HA eeiebra-
ton which commenced ksre yestsr6y and
which is to continue till thursday night 10
to commemorate In splendid and fitting
Way the centennial anniversary oil the
origin of laws government and civil tnsti-
tutions in the Northwest Territory. From
this territory the first ever erected, have
been carved the rich and potent states OF
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois Michigan and Wis
consin. The Centennial celebration is an
official one and is the work of the five
states formed from the Northwest Terri
tory. One hundred years ago yesterday
General Arthur s. Clair was formerly in
Quoted into the Office as Governor of the
Northwest Territory aud the machinery
of government was set in motion.
The first settlers had only been
here since April 7th of the same year, and
the total white population did; not exceed
three hundred. Before ST. Glars arrival
and Inauguration, martial laws prevailed,
but as soon as he took up the reins of goy-
ernment courts were established, civil Of
fcers appointed and wise laws made for the
government OF the Territory. The most
distinguished Secretary of the Territory
son, who was also the first Territorial dele
gate to Congress. Harrison and sSt. Clair
are the two great historical personages who
are being celebrated here this week.
General Harrison has impressed himself
upon the West as the giyer of q remarkable
law He was more Of . stafesman than he
has sometimes been given the credit OF
being. He saw as far as other men did, .
century ago, the needs and possibilities of
L.. I'D alx., l<od fho Aar{So
plans for meeting them. He secured the
adoption Of resolution to subdivide the sur
yeys of the public lands, and TO have them
offered for sale in small tracts. a measure
of such great value that il. more than any
other bit Of Legislation, becsmel the eff
cient means of rapidly peopiing the West.
Before Harrison's resolution was adopted,
lands were held in vast tracts by specula-
tors and the actual settlers were cheated
and imposed upon and found il q matter of
d difficulty to obtain foothold unless they
had large means. II is to fix the gauge Of
this ambitious generation upon such laws
and lawmakers that the centennials are
being held in Ohio this year.
Governor ST. Clair, whose high career will
be handsomely exploited by Senator Evarts,
Of New York; Senator Daniel, of Virginia:
General Thomas living, Senator Sherman,
Governor Foraker, aud other orators OF
the honors that are being paid him st this
late day. He was the trusted friend and
confident Of Washington and gave to him
sugg .stions of great value at many import
ant times during the War ofsthe Revolu-
ton. He was daring commander, gem
erous patriot, who gave his whole fortune 10
his country. When the Northwest Terri
tory was formed the Continental Congress
took its own President Arthur ST. Clair,
and made him the Governor Of the new
colony beyond the mountains He found
wilderness peopled by sasages and he left q
State that speedily outstripped most of
thirteen original ones in opuience and i'm
portance. Neither Ohio or the other West
ern States has ever hada more distinguished
Governor than Arthur ST. Clair.
When Ohio was admitted to the Union,
6t. Clair returned to his home In the Lig-
onier Valley, Of Pennsylvania. He had q
lordly estate there but ks late rs 1910 cred
itors got judgment against him Tor supplies
which he had purchased for the continen-
tai troops at the request of Alexander Ham,
nton.l He was forced 70 sell his land and
was left destitute. He had treaty tried
TO have congress refund certain large sums
which he had advanced to the armies bur
though his claim was Just one he WAS not
able TO get il allowed. So he was reduced
TO beggAry by the Government TO which he
hsd given the best of his life and all of his
fortune. He took up his residence in, 4
and family by selling cakes and pies 70
people who travelled on the highway, by
which he lived and the hero Of . dozen
battles, the companion of Washington the
Governor of the first territory, the Presi.
dent of the last Continental Congress- died
in misery and want. Thirty-seven years
after his death, Congress voted bis hsirs o
large sum of money snd to-day one hrn-
dred years after, be became Governor of u
region which has controlled TO greater
degree than any other section of the ooun-
try, the destinies of the nation, st.. Clair is
receiving the homage OF Q hero. The city
glows with radiant decorations. A score Of
ornate arches. rich with ,fsgs, bunting
and siiken streamers spau the streets
like glittering rainbow The resi-
dences and shops are more thor
oughly and artistically decorated than
one often sees in an open air display OF
mural ornament. The decorations do nett
look ephemeral and cheap, but as il they
expenditures The green and lively public
squares and parks of which Marietta has
many and most of which are the engaging
work Of the ancient mound builders. are
are dotted With the white tents 6f soldiers
and the warriors of to-day trcads ever the
stately tombe Of the knights of Q departed
race BY the riverside on the bank of the
Muskingum, which is the most picturesque
stream IN the Central States, near its @uc-
ton with the Ohio, has been erected = spa
cious and slightly auditorium, in which the
exercises a.e held. 1t is asubstsntiaf build
ing and has q seating capacity of 600.
The auditorium, is fitted with an enormous
stage upon which a radiant historical
pageant b 70 be produced isome night dur
ing the week presenting in . picturesque
and beautiful way strong scenes from pio-
neer life in the West. This will be the
most unique, eiaboTate and splendid enter
tainnent of the kind ever produced ID the
country. The music for the celebration 4
being furnished by the famous Mgin band
which played at both National Conventions]
and by the Military band from the Column
bus barracks which was ordered here by
General Sheridan after his Illness rs token
of his interest in this great historical cele-
brstioa. r
rhe Fsr.al a0peniHg. ~
y MARIETTA, 0HIo, July 16-The national
celebration of the hundredth anniyersas Of '
rths beginning OF -eisii osernmeus ii the