The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-21
HIS SECOND TERM.
Governor Foraker Ushered In as
His Own Successor.
Tho inaugural Address Delivered to the
General Assembly.

General Assembly.
CoIuMgrs, o., Jan. Ex-Governor Foraker
was inaugurafed to-day for the second time.
Following is his inaugural address:
Gentlemen OF the General Assembly:
One week ago In compliance with the require
ments OF the Constitution, sent you an an
nual message. II called your attention 70 oil
matters pertaining 70 State affairs concerning
which desired TO communicate with you.
For this rcnson IL Is not necessary to dctafn
you now with the discussion OF such topics. The
few remarks / shall make at this time will
therefore be of a general nature. We are at the
close Of the first century Of civilization and gov.
ernment on Ohio soil. II Is q fitting time TO re-
call our past achievements and the lessons they
have taught. One hundred years ago to-day our
nrst settlement had not yet been made. This
whole country unbrolten Wilderness
There were here no fields, or farms, or towns, or
cities; no roads, canals or steamboats,; no
railways, teegraphs or telephones; no school
houses, colleges or newspapers; no civilization
and no civilized people. Except only the In
| dian, there was no one to govern or be gov
| erned.
| Nevertheless, events had transpired which
we're, with respect to us, OF vast consequence
| and determining character. The independence
| OF the United States had been achieved, and the
| new nation had taken its place among the ma
| tions of the earth. The Constitution had been
adopted and the thirteen original States had
| been bound together by its ties. Whatever hes
! itaton and doubt had at any time existed, as to
the wisdom and proprety of controlling the
| Government and destiny Of the territory north
| west OF the river Ohio had passed away, and the
ordinance OF 1881 had been enacted. Thus 1t
had been settled that we should not only be-
| come part OF the United States, but what Is
still more important that these hills and valleys
should be dedicated to human liberty and that
| oil our governmental structures, here to be
erected should rest upon the great fundamen-
tai truth, that religion, morality and knowledge
are essential to good government. The fortune
that attended us in this regnrd can not be exag-
| gerated. 1t consisted, not simply in the conse-
| Quences that resulted from the character Of this
instrument, but also in the fact that there prob
ably was no time either before or afterward,
when such ordinance could have been
adopted.
All such efforts previously made had failed,
and almost immediately following, o struggle
commenced for its revocation or modification.
The sentiment 50 developed against it would
have been sufficient to have prevented 1t, but 1t
was not sufficient to destroy it. It was destined
| to stand, and the result was, acceptable condi-
tions that attracted the moving tides of emil
grafton and quickly brought us, not only free
dom.loving but o vigorous, enterprising, self
| reliant, God-fearing and union-loving popula-
tion.
The ordinance was adopted July IL, I7s7. The
first settlement, consisting of forty-eight per-
sons, was made ut the mouth Of the Muskingum
April {. 1888 few weeks later, on the 18th
| day OF July, 1873, followed the Inauguration Of
Ohio's first Governor The scene presented on
that occasion was widely different from that
which is witnessed here to-day. The official
record is brief, but 1t is both interesting and
suggestive. 1t informs us that by the use of
forest branches, o bower was erected on the
site of Marietta, the seat of Government and
| that there all the inhabitants of the place had
| gathered How large an audience they made
may be inferred from the fact that on the first
day Of September following, the settlement
numbered 1872 souls, all told.
General Arthur St. Clnir accompanied by the
Secretary and two judges, all OF whom had been
appointed by President Washington to estab-
lish and administer the civil government OF the
Territory, appeared with their commissions and
were duly welcomed, on behalf OF the people and
| presented to them by General Rufus Putnam.
After the reading Of their commissions and
| ''Somo highly appreciated remarks by the Gov
ernor on the Importance Of good government,
the Ordinance OF 1887 wns read by the Secretary.
This was received with cheers that made the
forests echo" The record further states that
the exercises were throughout OF such grave,
formal and dignified character as to greatly i'm
, press oil who were present.
On the following Sabbath divine services
were held, with special reference to, and rs
, | part OF, the inauguration ceremonies The min
| lister preached powerful sermon" from Q
text found in the 9th and 9th verses OF the 10th
chapter Of Exodus-"Now therefore, II ye viii
| obey my voice, indeed, and keep my covenant,
| then We shall be u peculiar treasure unto me
above all people; for all the earth is mine, and
| | ye shall be unto me kingdom of priests and
| an holy nation"
Such are the simple annals Of that even.
Except the bare statement that 1t WAS power
| full sermon. nothing is said rs to the charncte
| OF the minister's remarks. But with the tex
, before us, We can safely assume what some O.
, the thoughts were that entered into his dis
: course. At least he might with plopriety
| have likened their recent escape from the tyran
ny Of England to the fight of the Hebrews; the
4 forests that surrounded them, to the wilderness
2 OF Sinai; and the possessions upon which the!
4 | are entering, to the land OF Canaan There wa
enough, in their situation, of striking similarit.
to that of the children of Israel, to make the in
n functions and promises OF the text impressvel.
applicable.
If the sermon had been reported we would nj
q doubt find 1T, In all parts, u most interesting
e document for present perusal But probably
n the most interesting portion of it would be tina
In which were depicted the triumphs OF the fu
ture, and the consequent blessings to them an
4 their posterity, if they but obeyed the voic
and kept the covenant. Doing that, the ric
- promises of reward should follow. These wert
Il OF such character rs to signify the most excer
4 tiOnal favor and the highest earthly prosperity
With what kind of speech, with what sort G
1 figures, with whot pictures OF success did Il
@ paint their possible realizations? Doubtless h
had grand conceptions of what the comm
years might unfold. All connected with tn
J, initial proceedings Of our territorial govern
g ment seemed to be so impressed. The natur
Il | of the ordinance shows that the men VIII
- framed it highly appreciated its importance
The grove, formal and dignifed character of tn
J. ceremonies attending the inauguration Of Go,
ernor ST.. Clair would have appeared absurd an
ridiculous had it not been well understood tina
q not only the spot they occupied an
"a the handful of people there assembled were
| be affected, but that government was bein
u instituted for n territory larger than France c
# Germany and capable of supporting popull
a | tion OF millions. He was seeking to impres
!, | upon the hearers their dependence upon Go
u for thoir highest success and, us an inducemer
K | for observing the conditions precedent name
n In the text what that highest success might b.
Manifestly he would deal in glowing color
~ And yet who can doubt that his painting Of til
achievements and glories of the future wou
!, fnll far short OF to.days realities!
~ One hundred years have come and gone TT
D little band who occupied but n foothold on Il
,e border have swelled to more than twel,
millions Of intelligent, cultivated and patriot
~ citizens, who have spread out over every ac
Y. OF the two hundred and fifty thousand squa
IN miles OF area which then constituted an uno
=, Cupied territory, but which to-day compris
!" the mighty States OF Ohio, Indiana, Illinoi
IN Michigan and Wisconsin. Where wacc but u
id haunts OF savage men and beusts are tod
happy and peaceful homes. The forests ha
~ been swept away and the retnements ai
IN adornments OF civilization have heen subs
r. tuted. Considering only our own State,
| Nave n poDulation greater thuu that of ii