Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-09-05

lie ceicStlOu VI Ooi. SoosoS HtuhVyt -
Ohios centennial poet, gave that distin-
guished gentlemen the opportunity Of his
life. and we are glad TO say that he has made
the best of the opportunity and the occa-
sion. The reading of his poem. by him
self. was the feature of the great opening
day of the Ohio centennial, at Columbus,
Tuesday. The late Sidney Lsnier was the
poet of the centennial anniversary Of the
declaration of independence, at Philadel-
phia, In 1876, but Coates Kinney, our Ohio
centennial poet. has given us better and
stronger poem, and, at the same time, an
utterance that can be clearly comprehended
and appreciated by the masses OF the peo-
pie. That Is to say, it is precisely what
such poem should be. 1t is grand and
magnificent utterance, and yet an utterance
that all can understand. We give, as q
specimen, the opening stanza:
In what historic thousand years Of man
Has there been builded such state as this?
Yet, since the ciamor Of the axes ran
Along the great woods, with the groan and
And crash of trees. to hew thy groundsels
here,
0hioi but century has gone,
And thy republics building stands the peer
OF any that the sun and stars shine on.
What could be more beautiful and effect
i've than the following:
hundred years Of Labor! Labor freel
Our river ran between IL and the curse.
| And freemen proved how toll can glory be.
The heroes that Ohio took to nurse
(As the she-wolf the founders OF old Romel-
Their deeds Of fame let history rehearse
4 An eaIohrafa.
This paradise their hands have made our
Nod. plumes of wheat. wave. banderoles of
Toss. orchard-orifammes swing. wreaths of
| vine,
Shout. happy farms. with voice of sheep and
For the old victories conquered here on
| these
The fields OF Labor when. ere we were born,
The Fathers fought the armies Of tn the trees, e
We are next told, by the Colonel, In
graceful lines, of the achievements Of
knowledge, in hundred years. We are
Informed that
Our learning has not scared. but it has
Ohio's i irteiiects are sharpened tools
To deal with daily fact and daily bread.
| The starry peaks Of knowledge In thin air
Her culture has not climbed. but on the
! plain,
In whatsoever is to do or dare
With mind or matter. there behold her reign
The aremen who ch0pt out the clearing here
Where stands the capital. could they today
| Steam wagons in their laundering career
| Wires that q friends voice watt across state
And wires that wink thought across the
l sea,
And wires wherein imprisoned lightnings
wait
To leap forth at the turning of key
Could they these shows Of mind In matter
Machines that almost conscious souls con
| fess,
Seeming to will and think-the printing
| Not quite Intelligent enough to vote
Could they arise these marvels to behold,
What would to them the past republic seem
The state historifed in volumes old.
Or prophesied in Grecian Plato's dreamY
Freedom. Peace and Law have also
wrought their especial achievements In the
century whose close we so appropriately
and triumphantly celebrate. OF the fruits
of Law, the poet says:
A hundred years OF Law! The peoples will,
The might OF the majority.
The right OF the minority.
| The light hand with authority,
We promised. with the purpose to fulfll
But the contagion of the border taint
Blackened our statutes with Its shameful
| stain,
| And left the color OF our conscience faint
Till freshened by the battle storms red rain
/ Ay. war has legislated; II has cast
The white Mans Government out into
night.
And Labor. knowledge. Freedom. Peace. al
| last
Stand color blind In Laws respiendent light
We would be glad if we mad space fol
the entire poem, which was so worthy OF
the occasion and of the author.