The Osceola times. [volume] (Osceola, Ark.) 1870-current, 1888-07-21
THE CENTURY MARK.

lhe LEN Onr MANN.
The Centennial Celebration of the Est,b-
Iishment Of Law. Order and Civil Gov
ernmcnt in the Northwest Territory at
Marietta. Ohio-The Old Town Again In
n Blaze Of Glory aud Enthusiasm.
MARIETTA. o., July 16.-The celebration
which commenced here Yesterday, and
which is to continue till Thursday night
is 20 commemorate the centennial ami
versary Of the origin of law, government
and civil institutions In the Northwest
Territory. The city glows with radiant
decorations. A score OF ornate arches,
rich with flags, bunting and silken
streamers span the streets like glittering
rainbows. The green and lovely public
squares and parks Of which Marietta has
many, are dotted with the white tents OF
soldiers and the warriors OF to-day tread
over the stately tombs Of the knights Of
departed race.
By the river side, on the bank of the
Muskingum, near its junction with the
Ohio, has been erected a spacious and
slightly auditorium, in which the exer-
cises are to be held. 1t is a substantial
building, and has seating capacity of
five thousand. The auditorium is fitted
with an enormous stage, upon which
radiant historical pageant is to be pro-
duced some night during the week, pre-
senting in picturesque and truthful way
strong scenes from pioneer life in the
West
The music for the celebration is being
furnished by the famous Elgin band,
which played AT both National conven-
tons, and by the military band from the
Columbus barracks, which was ordered
here by General Sheridan after his ILL.,
ness as n token of his interest in this
great historical celebration.
Eight thousand people gathered in the
auditorium to see the exercises open by
the rendition OF a tuneful centennial ode
composed for the occasion by Prof.
Saroni, of Boston. The Elgin band and
well trained chorus of one hundred and
fifty voices united in rendering the ode.
Governor Foraker then made a short
address of welcome. The Governor said:
LADIES AND GENILEMEN-We are met here
on an interesting spot and an interesting oc-
casion, not, however. so much because OF what
| Is Transporting here this afternoon, as by reason
| OF what happened here one hundred years ago
| to-day. II was on this identical spot at that
| time that civil government was instituted.
| Here, al that time, Arthur St. Clair and his
| associates in the administration OF our Terri
| torial Government were iuauguratcd and in
| Quoted into oftlco. Here they commenced
their labors. From this spot went forth the
| blessings OF government that so many millions
Of people have enjoyed who have since
| populated our great Northwest. The cent
| ury that has since passed is the most
| brilliant measured by the promotion OF human
| welfare, that has ever been known in the his
tory OF the world Brilliant because during
this century mankind has been everywhere
| elevated not simply in Ohio, the Northwest,
| and the United States, but throughout the
| whole civilized WORLD This has been the case.
Every student Of history knows that this has
been largely due to the success that has been
/ achieved by self-eivil government in these
| United States. Our success here
| has been an announcement and inspiration,
| not only to US, but 10 the millions OF
| Elrope as WELL ana all here who have PARTED.
| pated in what has been wrought know and mp.
| preciate that our success has been largely due
| 10 the fact that our Institutions were founded
| IN the beginning, and have ever since been
maintained. upon religion rs one OF their Chief
| coruerstones. Our forCfathers brought re.
! lgion with them to New England; they car.
| ried It with them through the struggles for
| American independence; they brought it to the
| Northwest Territory. They wrote in the
! ordinance OF 1887 that religion among other
things was essential to good government
Bishop Gilmore, of Cleveland. was the
orator of the day. He chose for his SUBJ
| 1ect, "Religion and Civil Government.
/ His Grafton was a scholarly one, preg
naut with suggestive thought. He treated
the subject from a Roman Catholic stand
PORT. In the evening, another great au-
dience gathered to listen to short adj
dresses from President N. J. Morrison
and a number of well-known Protestant
clergymen.
/ The exercises were only preliminary.
but they drew TO the city crowd Of A.
teen or twenty thousand people. To-day,
when the spirited celebration begins,
| there will doubtless be hundred thou
| sand strangers in the city.
/ Governor Foraker Is keeping his house
/ open, and is entertaining number of
prominent guests. Among those now
| here are representatives OF most Of the
| StateHistorical societies.
Mrs. Martha j. Lamb editoress OF the
Naad.iae Of american History; Mayor
Amos Smith of Cincinnati, and several
of the heads of executive departments at
Washington; Senator Palmer, OF Michi-
gan; Judge j. b. Cassidy, of the Supreme
bench OF wisconsin,; Hon. B. Wilson
Smith, of Indiana. A delegation from
! Washington and one from the Ohio Socie =
ty Of New York are expected to- night.
The Ohio Centenu ial commissioners,
who are to receive the guests at the MARI
| eta, Cincinnati and Columbus Centen-
mails are here, and have an abundance of
work in welcoming the guests who are
! coming by the hundreds from all direct.
ions.