The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-10-08
ADDRESS
Hon. RICHARD C.PARSONS
AT
THE PIONEER MEETING Tn KENT. 0,
SEPTEMBER Sd, 1890.

not real Governor he nearly became one
and trust the future still has that good fortune
in store for him. AT present he must be con-
tent to stay out in the cold. You know he is 4
Democrat, and 1 am Republican. The DEM
ocrats must be satisfied from National point o
view, at looking with hungry eyes at the Nation
al Kitchen, while we Republicans are enjoying
the hospitalities of the parlor of the White
House, and feasting on the good things a gen.
erous people provide. applause and laughter).
But as politics is forbidden subject here, l
proceed at once with my remarks.
Eighty-siX years ago, Ohio was admitted into
the Union as State. Her population in 1900
was $4,000 souls. Her territory comprised an
area of about 40 900 square miles, or 26,ooo,ooo
| acres, of which 100000 comprises some of
the richest coal and mineral lands in the world.
The Ohio River flowed by all her southern
boundary, while Lake Erie stretched its mighty
bosom along her northern shores. On this lake
and river, then almost unbroken by sail or
steamboat, is now carried an annual commerce
richer than Greece or Rome ever knew. 1t is
conceded by all public writers that the popula-
ton of our State stands among the foremost in
morality, culture, intelligence and substantial
prosperity. In 1880 our State numbered 3,225,-
900 souls, and has enclosed with its borders over
1000 miles of railroad.
1t seems almost incredible that all this growth
and achievement should have been accomplish
ed within the life time of many members of
your Society. A few years ago knew several
persons who remembered the first settlement,
made at Marietta in 1888, and had talked with
the principal leaders of the enterprise. The
longest human life is but as a day in the life OF
a Nation. But yesterday and Ohio was a pri-
meval wilderness. 1t was discovered by LaSalle
IN 1870, but no white settlement was made upon
Its land for nearly 100 years thereafter. AS late
as 1903 the entire territory was owned by France
and transferred by that country to England,
with as little appreciation of its value or posi-
bilites as if it had been described as lying in the
craters of the moon.
The State was settled, originally, largely by
the descendants of the Puritans, among them
some of the braVest, most distinguished officers
and soldiers of the war of the Revolution.
| Marietta named after the beautiful Marie
Antoinette, and the first county to be christened
| was named Washington. The loyalty of the
4 early settler cannot be better vindcated than by
the record of the names they gave the counties
of the State
What grand, God fearing, patriotic race of
| men those old Pioneers were! How devoted to
their families; how true to their country. They
| built the Meeting Houses and the school houses.
and worshipped their Maker in sincerity and
| truth. No self sacrifice was too great for these
| heroic men and women, and their memories are
among our priceless possessions. What gall
axy OF brilliant names did our forefathers stamp
| forever on the map of Ohio! The immortal
| Washington; Jefferson the author of the Dec
laration Madison one of the founders of our
Constitution; Hancock, the brave Governor of
| Massachusetts,; Adams, the sterling patriot she
Statesman, the eloquent defender of the liberty
| of America; perhaps one of the proudest mo-
ments ever given to mortal was that when
| John Adams, the hater of royalty, the foe of
| English oppression, one of the fathers of the
| American Revolution, stood before George the
Third as the first Minister of the young Repub-
| lie that had conquered the armies of the great
| est power in the world now received as an in
| Idepapdart in fap IF NafiOOS1
Franklin, the philosopher and sage, the wise
| adviser, the hater of oppression, the matchless
diplomatist, to whose magnificent services in
| France we largely owe the success of the war of
Independence; Lafayette, the idol of his adopt
| ed country; Hamilton, the scholar soldier,
Statesman, law maker Starke, Green, Wayne,
| Mercer, Jackson, Harrison. Allen, brilliant
| company of soldiers dear to the hearts of their
| countryEaen. All these men were the expoRents
| of that freedom Graded in liberty loving Amer
| lea.
| The PuritaEs of New England, largely the
| forefathers of these address today, have their
| own high place in the history OF mankind. All
| that learning, eloquence, affection and poetry
| could do has been done to extend their fame
and hallow their memories. The history of the
Puritans is simply the history of the English
Reformation. 1t was they who felt the wrath OF
| that brutal King Henry the VIII, because they
I believed in a religion of which he professed to
be the head. 1t was upon them that the cruel
| ties of bloody Mary were daily inflicted. 1t was
upon them that the wrath of Elizabeth appeared
ever to fall, and they shuddered under her cold
and pitvIess protection" 1t was under James
| that the pilgrims fled to America, and it was
finally the Puritans, goaded by continued griev-
anoes and persecution, that rose in their might
cut off the head of a crowned King, took charge
of the government of England, and ever since
have cont rolled its destinies as Protestant,
liberty loving people.
,,1F4
cution ceased and murderers and torturers, like
Henry VIII az.i Clayerhouse, are known no
more.
can only glance at those pilgrim fathers who
laid the foundation Of this Republic and stamp
ed upon it the love OF liberty and humanity.
They suffered and died that their posterity
might enjoy in peace the fInts of their long
struggles and privations.
From 1920 to I8ool From "dread Kim
James TO Queen Victoria From T,ersecutioTo,
and the stake to American liberty and freeCIon,
of religious thought From the iron rule of one
man, the tyranny of selfish despot, to the mild
supremacy ofhumane and iudcious laws s'nood
by the people and for the people," From want
privation, outlawry, TO the secure enjoyment of
home, education and satisfying prosperity From
darkness to light, from misery to happiness. If
was long, thorny road, but it led at last to tba.
land OF promise, the land flowing with milk and
honey, our own beloved America
Those self sacrificing pilgrims builded be+ta-
than they knew. They laid the foundations of
the mightiest Nation now on the globe. Their
influence is felt wherever the sun shines. In
whatever part of the earth one travels, the name
of America is spoken with respect and honor
Wherever the flag of our country displavs the
stars and stripes to the breeze, it is recognized
as the emblem of powerful people that believe
IN liberty protected by law who are the foes
OF all tyranny and oppression, the great grow
ing, hospltable, freedom loving people Of the
United States.
But the homes of New England, the settle
ment of the various States, the wars with the
Indians, the conflicts with the elements the bat
ties of the Revolution, and subduing the wilder
ness, cannot be touched upon in my brief ad-
dress.
The history of the pioneers in America is one
OF struggle, privation, suffering and sacrifice.
There IS no balance in which their trials can be
weighed, nor can their story be told by any pen
however able. Many of you who have lived
through the large part of this century, whose
hands cut down the wilderness in Ohio, and
made fruitful fields waving with corn and grain,
who planted the school house beside the meet
ing house, and in time the college by the church
you know by cruel experience that the bless
lngs we enjoy today cost a great price. Inever
meet one of the early settlers of our State whose
hands helped to mold and form this great COM
without feeling of sincere respect
and reverence. These gray haired men and
GICll OChOlCu MlNCSs lllC IdulSIS anu mOIlerS OF
Ohio are rapidly passing away. To those that
remain, especially those who are here today,
give my heartiest honor and affection You
have lived in the most interesting and attractive
period of the worlds history. In country
almost a wilderness you have seen villages
towns and stately cities rise as by magic. You
have seen agriculture, commerce and manu-
factures sprinkle continent with wealth almost
Doundless. You have seen the iron horse rush.
ing upon its iron track from ocean to ocean.
You have witnessed the wonders of invention,
the telegraph, the telephone, the electric light
You have witnessed the beginning of steam nav
gation, and have lived to see floating palace
cross the Atlantic at the rate of 500 miles per
day. All the wonders cf steam and electricity,
the development of the arts and sciences the
splendid triumphs of Architecture are fully known
to you. You have seen your fields ploughed
5owed and reaped by tireless machines, that
labor without suffering, and exist only to do
your bidding. Scarcely any new invention
would surprise you. Even the children are sup
piled with dolls that wink at each other in a
knowing manner, sing divers songs and speak
their little piece with cearness, if not with com.