Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-10
SHAFTS DEDICATED
TOPERRY'S VICTORY
Former President Taft Speaker
at Centennial Anniversary
Celebration.
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE
FOUGHT CENTURY AGO
Ceremonies at Putin Bay and Cedar
Point Attended by Men
Of Prominence.

! Of Prominence.
| CEDAR POINT. Ohio, September 10
The celebration of the centennial ami
| versary of the battle of Lake Erie. Sep
| TENDER 10, 1913, and the commemoration
OF 100 years of peace between Great
| Britain and the United States under the
| auspices of the interstate board Of the
Perrys victory centennial commissioners,
began here today.
A towering shaft of white mare.
erected in commemoration of the victory
and the century Of peace, was formally
dedicated today by former President Taft.
lnaugurating the dedication ceremonies,
| cannon doomed at the hour of the firing
OF the opening gun of the famous battle,
within view of the Put-in-Bay shores.
| "A century ago today this bay was
made famous by BATTLE said Mr..
Taft, and today we meet to dedicate a
| great and beautiful monument to those
| who took part.
In the retrospection of 100 years we
can weigh its significance. Nothing has
| developed In these years to diminish the
courage, patriotism and skill Of the COM
| mander and his men as they appeared to
their contemporaries But the conse-
quences of the battle and the war OF
| which 1t was one of the few bright spots
in field of gloom were strikingly benefi-
cent, and promise to grow even more so
in the second century upon which we are
now entering
Mr. Taft then sketched the biography
of Commodore Perry. from his birth In
Rhode Island, August 23, 1875, to the SUI
preme moment of his career-the naval
| engagement off West Sister Island 100
years ago, and to his sudden death in
Venezuela on his thirtyfourth birthday.
His youth. the difficulties encountered In
building and manning his fleet and his
courage in the crisis which turned the
| tide of victory were made the subjects OF
| Mr.. Taft's eulogy.
"Shows Greatness of Man.
The vent in the light of the difficulties
encountered in building, arming and
manning his feet served to show the
greatness of the man." the speaker said
But when we note the almost hand-to-
hand fight in which he was engaged,
the slaughter upon the deck of his flag
ship, his passage from one vessel TO
another In an open boat. exposed to the
direct fire of the enemy, and then note
how he took a second flagship and bore
down upon his two formidable asSaflantS
and made them strike their colors In
ten minutes, we see one worthy TO rank
with Lord Nelson and all the great naval
commanders in history. When he fought
the battle he was not yet twenty -elght
years of age, the age of Napoleon at
Lodi and of Nelson at Cape st. Vincent.
I'VE lay down the record of his life
and drop a tear upon its tragic closing.
and we can truly place him among the
great heroes of our history and thank
God for the beneficence Of his great ex-
ample. Throughout his short and brill
liant career he maintained the highest
level of equanimity, patriotism and de-
votion to duty.
1--WE celebrate the centennial of this
battle, not in the spirit of triumphal
victory of arms. but in the deep graft
tude that one hundred years has not seen
it's repetition. No historical review can
give as much satisfaction to him that
hopes for permanent. international peace
as the contrast between the attitude of
the two people then and now.
And so we are here today to mark
the rearing Of this beacon light of per-
petual peace Little could Perry have
thought in the struggle that he had IN
building his puny fleet. in the stress he
was under In the height OF battle, in the
victory that he announced in his famous
words to Gen. Harrison. that his work
would be remembered for one hundred
wears as the harbinger of perpetual
peace; and while we venerate the energy,
the intrepidity, the patriotism, the SELF
sacrifice that brought him and MS men
their great triumph, today we cnerish
not so much its evidence of American
manhood and love OF country as the
teaching that its memory brings to the
world of the practical possibility OF I'M
ending love and peace between interna-
tional neighbOrs
Transformations of Century.
Gov. James NJ. Cox OF Ohio in his ad-
dress said:
"One hundred years ago today from
the very hour. within sight OF this
stand on which we assemble, the naval
forces of two great nations were In
the bitter clash OF war; Today repre-
sentatives of the same great powers
congregate in peace.
"A century ago 1t was conflict OF
passions: today the fraternity OF
brothers. The flags of both fleets were
| then enveloped in the fire Of powder
| and the crash of canister: today stated
| by the blood of many battles. and glor1-
| fed by the valor Of new generations.
| they stand together majestic symbols
/ OF q common ancestry. Then the waters
ran red with the CORY price OF battle
| and chanted solemn requiem to many
| brave souls; today they reflect the blue
/ OF heaven and sing aloud the hallelu-
labs OF peace. Then the issue Of war
| drove men together in spirit of de-
| struction: now the impulse Of a greater
day assemblies their SONS in conclave
| of good Will.
| What tribute these changing scenes
are to the evolution of the race. The
/ commonwealth of Ohio, proud of her con-
| tribution to our national life, rejoices In
the glorious honor of this day by bidding
| welcome to the ENJOYS of two nations.
| and Joining with them in the formal dedi-
| cation Of this magnificent temple Of
peace -. ,o ,.
| tory of war. The victories Of peace
| achieved this day, September 10. 1913. In
/ spring emotions that give place to no
/ thought of the bitterness of hundred
wears ago. A century of peace is more
| glorious in the Imagination Of man. than
the combined valor of all the warriors
| of all times.
The Greatest Achievement.
I'VE stand close to the longest boun-
Diary line on the globe; not marked nor
marred by fortress, unprofaned by either
cannon or bayonet. Poets may sing the
virtues of our race, but this Is the great
est achievement
1T seems almost divine arrangement
that here, within sight of the islands of
Canada, there should be builded on this
day, the centenary Of peace, light to
shine throughout the everlasting nights
of time as a beacon guide to the crafts
Of nations. and the conscience of the
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