The record-union., 1896-07-23
CLEVELAND One
HUNDRED YEARS old.
Centennial Celebration Of the Founding
Of the Ohio City.
Major Mckinley Delivers an Address
to the People.
John D. Rockefeller Presents to the
People of Cleveland as Centennial
Gift Land Valued at Over ok
Hundred Thousand Dollars to be
Used for Park Purposes.

CLEVELAND (O), July 22.-The
celebration of the founding of Cleveland
one hundred years ago began at mid
night by a centennial salute of one hum
dred guns which was re-enforced by the
sCreeching of steam whistles, the ring
inc of bells and the explosion of fire
works The national salute was hreu
at $50. and the citizens of Cleveland
as well as 10000 strangers WITHIN It's
gates, gave up all thought OF slumoer
end turned out to celebrate.
The speech making programme was
elaborate The exercises took place III
the great Armory, where the recent
Methodist conference was held. Mayor
McKisson delivered an address OF Wei
come, and after some remarks by James
II. Hoyt. Senator Joseph r. Hawley OF
Connecticut was introduced. He de-
livered the oration of the day.
President Cleveland sent the following
message. which was read by James Ii.
Hoyt:
Z congratulate the citizens of Cleve-
land upon the close of her first centen-
rial. and wish it may be only the be-
ginning of her greatness and pros
perity"
The dispatch was warmly applauded-
A centennial ode written for the oc-
casion by Colonel J. J. Piatt was read,
and then Governor CCffin of Connecti-
cut spoke briefly in an historical vein.
J. G. w. Cowles of Cleveland an
nounced that John ID. Rockefeller asked
him to say that he offered as gift to
the people of Cleveland 216 acres of
land for park purposes, valued at more
than S60O,000 The gift was accepted
ana the park will bear Rockefeller's
name. The announcement of this hand
some gift was enthusiastically cheered.
Governor Bushnell made a short
speech of welcome TO the Connecticut
and other Eastern guests, and was fol-
lowed by Major Mckinley He was
greeted with a tumultuous outburst OF
applause Mr. Hoyt introduced him as
the next President. Major Mckinley
said in part:
Mr.. President and fellow-citizens:
The people of Cleveland do we'll to cele-
brate the hundredth anniversary of their
great and beautiful city. On this day
they pause for retrospect. Our history
is beginning to have age; Cleveland is
1OG years old to-day. Its original build
ers are long since gone, and their mighty
struggles are passing from individual
recollection into the field of tradition
and history.
anniversaries like this increase our
pride for the men who wrought so ex-
cellently in spite of the trials and hard
ships from which the present generation
would intuitively shrink. The observa-
ton of an anniversary like this serl-
ously and with reflection does all who
are associated with it or come within
its influences positive good. 1t Yields
the present and the past, and empha-
sizes the ties Of the home and family
and country. 1t encourages civil pride,
and appeals to the highest and best
sentiments of our hearts and lives"
Major Mckinley then reviewed Cleve-
land statistically, and feelingly spoke of
the men who founded the city over 100
years ago, and in closing said:
This work bears the impress Of the
sturdy American manhood of the pio-
neers who feared God and loved liberty.
(Applause0 He stands as the repre-
sentative Of a great age and great civ
illzation, the 'sturdiest oak in the great
forest of man (Applause) Like the
peak which first catches the morning
light is the grand monarch of the hills.
so the sturdy pioneer who struck the
first blow for freedom is the grand
monarch of our civilization. Great
applause) Let me commend to
you their precious example. 1t
is richer than titles or roy
atty. (Applause) God grant that
the fires of liberty which they kindled,