Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-24

inhabitants with a patriotic love and faith in
free institutions. unfaltering fidelity In the dis
charge of their debts as citizens of the Repub-
lie washington founded, and which will ever
be his best and sublimcst monument.
Mr.. Trent delivered to the Mayor the
formal presentation, signed by the commit
tee, which read as follows:
On behalf of the Jr. o. q. A. M. of Western
PENNSYLVANIA we present you with the eques-
trian statue of General George Washington,
erected in the parks of this city.
This committee organized on July /, 1856, and
at this date, February %, 1891, completes its
work, with the proud distinction of being the
first American organization to present our city
with a statue of the Father of our Country.
The hanks of the City rendered.
On behalf of the people Mayor Wyman
accepted the gift in the following brief ad-
dress:
FRIENDS AND CITIZENS: Allow me, as
Mayor of your city. to accept in behalf OF our
city this magnificent gift before us, of grand
ness, greatness and goodness. When / say this
have said that which speaks for itself. I trust
the kindly feeling infused in our breast and
hearts in the past will be kindled and re-
doubled. l hope this days ceremonies will be
solemnized and cherished in all our hearts;
that every man, woman and child in our city,
also our county,. will endeavor to live up to our
principles. Before closing / ask of you all to
nelp make our county in the future one of
prosperity, success and liberty as of the past
"As AAShhCAy M V4dNOIt uldh-
ing a splendid address. He reviewed WASH
tons visit to Pittsburg, which resulted in
establishing Fort Duquesne as an English
post, and his many other achievements.
The erection of this monument to the Father
of Our Country. said he. is not only creditable
to the patriotic sense that has prompted it. but
tits eminently fitting and appropriate to COM
memorate on this historic ground the achieve
ments and to idealize the character of the
greatest of all Americans. Within the domains
of this county are the scenes of WashingJon's
earliest efforts. Near the forks of our great
rivers he was engaged in his first military ex-
periences. On the site of these twin cities, two
years before Duquesne built the fort bearing
mis- name, Washington had marked the very
ground and pointed it out in these strangely
prophetic words 'as the key of the Western
world" The Imagination hardly compasses
the fact that within SO comparatively brief a
period his foot trod the unbroken forests, the
home of the untutored savage, and his hand
helped survey the wilderness. where this great
industrial community exists, the commercial
gateway of the boundless West, and where the
arts and sciences flourish among a people of
half a million.
On wha: an historical spot to erect this mon.
umenti How fitting il is that it should be
erected by American Mechanics Washington
is your model as individuals, as well as in your
moral. social and political character. No man
In all history Is more entitled to the homage of
American toilers of hand and brain. He was
the savior of our country in war; he was the
genius OF Its liberty in peace. He was the per-
oohAhSahou " luOsc RTeaL principles Tor which
the war of the Revolution was waged. He was
the embodiment of the principles of popular
government-''by the people, of the people. for
the people" His life opens that wondrous
page of history where began the first successful
experiment of self-government, and the CEN
fury that has followed, of the most rapid deyel-
opment of inventions and discoveries known to
man and of the phenomenal growth and
peopling of a continent, finds at Its close the
government founded by Washington the most
perfect and enlightened on earth.
Close of the Morning Exercises,
Mr.. Kennedy's address closed the speeches
for the morning. The school choir sang
Rally Round the Flag" the Altoona band
played 1.-THE Star S~pangled Banner" Rev.
Mr.. Lich1eiter pronounced the benediction.
and the first half days services were over.
Many prominent members of the order
were present and occupied prominent .posi-
lions on the stand, among whom we're the
following: Past State Councillor H. A.
Kell, State Councillor Stephen Collins. Ma
tional Representative Fred J. Shaler, State
Vice Councillor OF Ohio; j. G. A. Richter.
Congressman w. A. Stone, Postmaster J.
A. Gilleland, Judge kirkpatrick, A. II.
Rowand, ST., and Coroner Mcdowell.
The cornerstone of the monument was
laid last February. but the box was not
placed in position until very recently. Its
contents included a copy of THE DISPATCH
Of February %. 1890, and other city papers.
numerous old and valuable coins, and MANY
valuable reports and papers.