The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-11
VIEWPOINTS
OLD HOME
WEEK

On the 92d anniversary OF Commodore
oliver Hazard Perry's great victory over
the British fleets on Lake Eric. New
ports old Home Week celebration so
widely heralded all over the state and
New England began last night with a his
torical address at the First Baptist
church, tho oldest in the United states,
preaching by rev. Edward A. Johnson.
The church was not nearly large enough
to accommodate the crowd that wanted
TO attend I'm addition 20 the q. A. r. Vet
Grams and the Spanish American War
Veterans.
TRAINING OF THE FLAGS.
DR.. johnson took for his theme. Com
modore Oliver Hazard Perry. Rhode ISL
and's Gallant Son. and His Victory OF
Lake Erie" and his text was found In
Chronicles. xxx, II: Thine, O Lord, rs
the greatness and the power and the
glory and the victory" and In part said:
This day. Sept. 10. carries us back TO
that distant day. % years ago when
Rhode Stands gallant son. Commodore
Oliver Hazard Perry, brought honor ana
renoWn 20 our American Navy. No other
theme would be appropriate for this day
and hour. than TO live over again those
stirring scenes. our thoughts and oar
hearts and our city are full OF our hero,
and we hasten To place the chaplet OF
praise and honor on that young brow.
"The city OF Newport is by all means the
most appropriate place for our thought, in
asmuch as ~ was the home az Commo-
DIRE Perry and his descendants. tho pi-
oneer residents Of Newport. VIII our city
80 49, 80. --a 49, -
his wife. the parents Of our honored citi-
zens, Hon. Perry Belmont. Hon. Oliver
Hazard Perry Belmont and Mr.. August
Belmont
To-day. their dead lie as they were bur
led. side by side. American by the British.
a prophecy OF the twining of the two
flags. Why should they ny apart? Ma
tons Of common blood and one mother
tongue.
Later. Capt. Perry and Harrison were
seen supporting between them Capt. Bar
clay, the commander 81 the British fleet.
weak and feeble from his wounds. assist
ing him mp from the Harbor OF Erie 10
his quarters. Can you find n moro beauti-
full scene in all history? The victor and
the vanquished arn1-in-arm. The Ameri-
can and the Englishman together passing
up into the evening. MAY IL ever be an
emblem % the closer bond between Amer
lea and England.
There Is also an element hero which
means more than blood and muscle. II IL
the profound belief that there is an ever
ruling power: that God does nave a hand
In the affairs OF mon; that our nation.
above all. desires 20 be on Gods side. and
this conviction nerves our ARMY and orr
navy and helps to bring our victories.
kANEKo SENT REGRETS.
Yesterday Hon. Perry Belmont. a mem.
hafs nf The ra,nntsg,, yal...E.,a- 49,
the following letter from tho japanese
representative:
MY Dear Mr.. Belmont:
Il have tIst sent YOU n telegram from
which I hope YOU will know how greatly
! am disappointed for not being able 10
accent your cordial and exceptionally in
teresting invitation 10 participate I'm tho
celebration OF Perry Dav' IN Newport on
next Monday, the nth. You know what =
keen interest the japanese people alvavs
take In whatever il connected with Com
modore Perry. whose memorable service
mas so closely cemented the friendly rela.
tons between this great republic and Ia.
Tan. And particularly YOU know what
unique privilege ! had I'm connection with
the monument which was erected at Ku-
rihama, in token OF our grateful sppre-
citation Of the commodore's service TO orr
empire. Therefore. YOU can well Imagine
my genuine disappointment when 7 found
that tho engagement ~ Oyster Bav pra-
vents me- from having the pleasure to ac-
cept the invitation. But 7 shall he with
Won, In spirit, on that day. and hope that
YOU will have a succcssruI celebration.
am very sincerely yours.
'Slghed) "kENTARO EA\EKO."
THE NAVAL DEMONSTRATION
Sunday morning the coast SQUADRON.
under the command OF Rear Admiral +
w. Dickens. consisting OF the battIeship
Texas and monitors Nevada. Florida ana
Arkansas. arrived I'm the outer harbor ia
take part I'm the celebration OF Perry
Day, the feature OF which will be the ma
val parade. this afternoon. and I'm which
the sailors and marines from these ships
ana from the training station will partici-
pate.
Admiral Dickens promises the greatest
raval demonstration Newport -has-evrr
seen and the men OF the navy will no
given a warm reception In the city. To-
night Admiral and Mrs. Dickens. and the
officers OF his fleet viii be entertained at
dinner by Hon. and Mrs. Perry elmon
BY day the city is a flutter with flags
and brilliant with bunting and iIlumino-
ted greetings and by night II is aglov
and ablaze with lights. The public build
inss including the old state house have
been decorated and the Perry statues
have been decorated and Illuminated hy
night.
Today's program was ne follows. Moor
sports at old polo lot by New York Po-
lice Athletic association: l y. m. dog show
at Casino: 230 p. m. hawai- parade. New
port horticultural &ociety show at Cast
no: s p. m, band concerts AT washington
square. Battery Park and Morton Park
$3.50 p. m, fireworks at King Park and