USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of the Cuyahoga County soldiers' and sailors' monument > Part 29
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"When the bands struck up in the Square at o o'clock, thousands of people were present to listen to the music as it filled the air. It was manifest that all Na- ture had conspired with the people to make the day memorable for its beauty and the celebration.
" The school children, in gav attire, with flags in their hands, filled the vast amphitheater, and by their songs and appearance made a charming feature of the day. Mr. Stewart was at his best, and called out much praise for the part he did in bringing the children out.
"It was a grand sight to behold ; the thousands of children embowered with the red, white and blue flags. the old Soldiers standing above them as sentinels, em- blems of the past, vet living witnesses of the heroic deeds by which the Union was saved ; then far out be- vond, the upturned faces of the people, who had gath- ered by thousands to commemorate this most glorious day in the history of this country, while they assisted in dedicating the Monument, erected to the memory of their kindred who fought to save the Union.
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" The disposition of the people was as cheerful and lovely as the day, and when Governor Mckinley rose to speak, it was soon made manifest that the crowd was glad to greet him and hear him. The Governor was at his best, and his speech is full of eloquent passages, patriotism and sound sense.
" The reading of the Declaration of Independence by Hon. Virgil P. Kline could not have been done better, for he believes every word of that great state paper, and he made it deeply impressive by his excellent voice and his sincerity.
" The orator of the day, ex-Governor Foraker, never appeared to greater advantage of before a grander andi- ence. His oration was full of brilliant passages that sparkled with keen tact, insight and genius. Read the oration and you will be proud of the speaker and the State which he honors. If he pricks you politically, it will be with a keen blade.
"Grand as were the speeches, they were equaled by the magnificent display of the parade. The citizens of Cleveland had an object lesson in the industrial and commercial exhibits such as should make them proud of then city. Hundreds said, as the great procession passed : 'We did not know Cleveland could make such a display.' It was but the foretaste of the Greater Cleveland.
"All honor to the old Soldiers. Words of ours can never do them justice. We could but thank God and take courage as they marched through the streets in sich goodly numbers, setting example to the younger companies who bore themselves so well. We cannot go into particulars, for every military company deserves great credit, as well as the civic societies for giving aid, comfort and success to this grand celebration.
" To the merchants, to the manufacturers, to the old Soldiers and the young Soldiers, to the civic societies,
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to the orators of the day, to the Council, to the Board of Control, to the School Council, to the children, the Mayor and all the people, we extend congratulations for what they did to make the celebration of the Fourth of July, 1894, the grandest success ever witnessed in Cleveland."
The Leader editorially expressed its opinion of the celebration in manner following :
"Cleveland's big Fourth of July celebration was all that it had been expected to be. The weather, the great crowds of sightseers from other places, the happy multitudes in the streets, the music, the eloquent ora- tions, the impressive exercises in connection with the dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, the illumination, the decorations of the city, in fact all the arrangements for the day, and the execution of the plans could hardly have been better.
"The procession was one of the largest and finest in the history of the city, and in the bright sunshine, tem- pered by such a lake breeze as few places can boast, even the grayest of the old veterans swung along with the tread of their warrior days. The floats and deco- rated wagons inade an impressive demonstration of the industrial resources of Cleveland, and the whole line moved with admirable order and promptness.
" Everybody who contributed to make the Independ- ence Day which marked the dedication of the war Mon- umnent of Cuyahoga County a splendid success is to be congratulated. A big task was undertaken in the face of the disadvantages of industrial depression, and it was carried through in a style which will be remembered to the credit of the men who bore the heaviest responsi- bilities, as well as to the honor of the city."
The Leader locally said :
" Cleveland has seen several great days since the Con- necticut surveyor landed at the mouth of the Cuyahoga
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River, and yesterday was one of them. Realization sur- passed anticipation. Fact, for once at least, outstripped fancy. Even Nature seemed to have taken an especial interest in the occasion, for from her large and well selected assortment of summer days, she could hardly have chosen one more ideally suited to the patriotic pro- gram which had been arranged for it. Nothing was lacking to make the dedication of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, and the celebration of Independence Day a great success. Nature not only did all that could be asked of her, but those upon whose executive talent the success of the several features of the day depended also arose to the height of their oppor- tunity.
"Crowds began to gather shortly after the welcoming of the sun with the thunder of artillery, and by 9 o'clock, when the regular prograin was opened by the concert of the Great Western Band and the yacht race upon the unruffled lake, the Square and the entering streets were thronged with humanity. At 9:30 o'clock, when 3,000 school children took their places in the great amphi- theater, and lifted their trained voices in patriotic song, the scene was inspiring in the highest degree. The wilderness of decorations as far as the eye could reach, the canopy of fluttering flags, the vast concourse, and the chief figure of the scene, the great Monument with its silent eloquence, all combined to arouse the most ardent emotions. Several songs were sung by the chil- dren, and no feature of the day made a more lasting in- pression. The introductory address of Governor Will- iam Mckinley, like all the public utterances of that eminent statesman, met every requirement, and both his presence and his words called forth the utmost en- thusiasm. That other brilliant son of Ohio, ex-Gov- ernor Joseph B. Foraker, the orator of the occasion, delivered a masterly effort, pointing out in a most im-
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pressive manner the lesson of patriotismn taught by the Monument. The reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, without which a Fourth of July celebration would not be complete, was finely done by Virgil P. Kline, Esq., while a meritorious poem was presented by Rev. Levi Gilbert, D. D. During the progress of the dedicatory exercises, as in fact throughout the day, the interior of the Monument was visited by many people.
"In the presence of a multitude such as has rarely as- sembled in the Public Square, with ceremonies most impressive, and amid surroundings of the greatest beauty, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was dedi- cated yesterday morning. The section of the Public Square across Superior Street from the Monument had been chosen as the place for holding the exercises. In it had been built an amphitheater and in this was seated the chorus of 3,000 school children, and half as inany special guests, nearly all of them Soldiers and the widows of Soldiers. South of the amphitheater, and facing the Monument, was a finely decorated stand with a red and white canopy. During the exercises this stand was occupied by Governor Mckinley, ex-Governor Foraker, Mayor Blee, Hon. M. A. Hanna, Mr. L. E. Holden, Judge S. O. Griswold, of Windsor, Conn., to whom is ascribed the distinction of having drafted thie original law constituting the Soldiers' and Sailors' Mon- ument Commission ; Director W. J. McKinnie ; Adju- tant General Howe, of Kenton; General Ebright, of Akron ; Colonel J. C. Bomner, of Toledo ; Colonel H. C. Sherrard, of Steubenville ; Colonel S. L. Mooney, of Woodsford; Colonel Horace E. Andrews, all members of Governor Mckinley's staff; Professor Charles F. Olney, Judge E. T. Hamilton, Hon. A. J. Williams, Rev. Dr. D. H. Muller, Mr. A. P. Winslow, Mr. W. J. Akers, Hon. V. A. Taylor, Mr. James McHenry, Mr.
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James Lavan, General J. J. Elwell, General James Bar- nett, Judge J. F. Burkett, of Findlay, and Judge F. J. Dickman, members of the Supreme Court of the State ; Colonel Emory W. Force, Dr. R. W. Walters, Hon. T. E. Burton, Mr. P. H. Kaiser, Mr. A. C. Hord, Mr. W. M. Day, Treasurer of State W. T. Cope, Secretary of State S. M. Taylor, Hon. O. J. Hodge, Hon. John P. Green, Major W. W. Armstrong, Sergeant James Hayr, Major W. J. Gleason, Captain Levi F. Bauder, Mr. Thomas Reilley, Mr. F. C. Bate, Councilman Walter I. Thompson, School Councilman Martin House, Mr. H. M. Addison, Rev. Dr. Levi Gilbert, Mgr. T. P. Thorpe, Hon. Amos Townsend, General Manning F. Force, of Sandusky, Superintendent of the Soldiers' Home in that city ; Mr. Charles T. Caldwell, of Parkersburg, W. Va .; Mr. Silas Merchant, Colonel C. C. Dewstoe, General M. D). Leggett, Captain J. B. Molyneaux, Captain Edward H. Bohm, Mrs. Levi T. Scofield, Mrs. W. J. Gleason, the Misses Agnes, Katherine, Alma and Florence Gleason, Mrs. Lena Springsteen, Mrs. Lois Knauff, Mrs. John Eisenmann, Mrs. Esther M. Harris and Mrs. Saralı Adams Estabrook Thatcher. The two last named ladies are survivors of the Sanitary Commission, which did such noble work for the Soldiers when the Rebellion was at its height. When in the course of the exercises they were introduced by Governor Mckinley, they were received with the utmost enthusiasm. Mrs. Thatcher is the widow of the late Peter Thatcher, and Mrs. Harris is the widow of Josiah A. Harris. As the occupants of the speakers' stand appeared they were greeted with applause. Mrs. Springsteen and Mrs. Knauff appeared with two big baskets of flowers for the two central figures of the occasion, the Governor and the ex- Governor. The recipients of the floral tributes smiling- ly bowed their acknowledgments, and ex-Governor Foraker said, 'We thank you, ladies.'
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"Stretching away before the company in the stand was one of the largest audiences ever assembled in Cleveland. The crowd extended in an almost unbroken 111ass across Superior Street and over the strip of park which surrounds the Monument. The Monument ter- race was filled and the crowd extended far into Superior and Ontario Streets. Every window of the big build- ings which surround the Square was filled with specta- tors. The decorations were the most beautiful that have been seen in the Public Square. Lines of sinall flags extended to the top of the electric light mast in the center of the Square, the buildings were a mass of decorations and bright colors, and Chinese lanterns were strung among the trees.
"In the dedicating services, there were prayers which were impressive, addresses which were inspiring, music which was soul-stirring, and an audience patriotic and enthusiastic to the last degree."
The brilliant reporter of the Plain Dealer furnishes this word-painting gem :
"Surrounded by silvery-haired men who had marched fortli as beardless youths a third of a century ago at the Nation's call to arms, in the presence of honored sons who, on the field of battle, in the halls of legislation, and in the executive chair of the State had proved their manly worth, surrounded by troops of merry children to whom the story of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were the same as Bunker Hill and Valley Forge, lessons of the school room and fireside, with the pomp and pageantry of military display and the evidences of peaceful occu- pations, the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was formally and gloriously dedicated yes- terday.
"The event was a notable one in many respects. Among the grandest memorials which now commeno- rate the deeds of 1861-5 throughout the length and
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breadth of the land, the Cuyahoga Memorial is probably the last great monolith to be lifted in honor of the men who went forth to battle in that great cause.
" That time had made many strides since the events which this great shaft commemorated was plainly evi- denced by the appearance of the men who had taken part in that glorious struggle. The grizzled hair of Private Joseph Benson Foraker bore little resemblance to the raven locks of the gallant message bearer who rode with Sherman before Atlanta. Governor William Mc- Kinley bore on his strongly developed brow many fur- rows which were not there when he shouldered his mus- ket in the ranks of that Ohio regiment of which he soon became the major.
"General Barnett, Chaplain Mitchell, General Elwell and many others of the distinguished men upon the platform on the Square showed only too well what years of service in the field and a generation of active life since had done, while of the gayly epauletted and aiguletted members of the Governor's staff, inany were children in their teens when Grant was storming Vicks- burg and Meade and Hancock were driving Lee and Longstreet from Little Round Top and the field of Gettysburg.
" That the lessons of that day were not forgotten, that the flag for which these heroes fought had in- creased in luster even as its stars had multiplied in number, that the hopes and aspirations of the Nation were as dear and sacred now as then, no one who wit- nessed yesterday's ceremonial can doubt. That the Nation that was born HIS years ago and saved from in- ternal disruption a third of a century ago is still the idol of the people's heart and the object of their great- est love was made manifest to all. That alone was worth all the trouble, all the sacrifice that the celebration cost, and was after all the greatest lesson it had to tell.
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" Never before did a Fourth of July open with greater promise and never was that promise of meteorological perfection better maintained.
" From an almost cloudless sky, the sun arose over a city decked forth in holiday attire. A cool and refresh- ing breeze swept over it from the lake, setting every piece of bunting in the city in a flutter and stretching every flag into the appearance of a metal emblem stiff against the sky.
"And what myriads of flags there were !
"Never did a city look more joyous. From every business house down town, and in front of almost every private residence throughout the verdure-clad city, there bloomed forth some evidence of loyalty and joy. From the top of the Hickox building, down town streets seemed fluttering ribbons of color leading toward the Square like garlands on a May-pole.
"It was in the Public Square that all interest cen- tered, and here the color scheme reached its climax. Every building was emblazoned with national colors and made resplendent with many colored flags. Over all, like the frame-work of an open canopy, were the gay streamers radiating like spokes of a wheel from the top of the tall light mast in the center.
"By 8 o'clock in the morning the crowds had begun to gather. The Monument itself, with its fringe of variegated plants, never seemed more worthy of admi- ration. From the tall goddess, silhouetted against the sky, to the life-like group about the base, the great shaft attracted the admiration of hundreds of visitors all dur- ing the morning.
"The sun shone forth strong and hot in spite of the morning breeze, and the crowds soon sought shelter under the protection of the trees and awnings, while about the Square a myriad of umbrellas shot up like mushrooms after a summer shower.
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" The great amphitheater alone remained unfilled, and rose in vivid whiteness above the sea of people that swarmed about it.
" The Committee of Arrangements is busy now in re- ceiving such guests as are entitled to seats in the all too contracted stand in front, and the members of Army and Navy Post, each member carrying the guidon of the regiment to which he belonged, take places on the top of the amphitheater like sentries on a bastion.
"Twenty thousand people now swarm like bees about the Square, while the fluttering flags beat tattoos against the staffs around the stand.
"Every building has its quota of people, and men hang about the cornices of the Cuyahoga and Society for Savings like beads on a silken cord. Each window frames a group of people also, and the bright summer costumes of the ladies everywhere impart life and color to the scene.
"Soon Governor Mckinley, escorted by Mayor Blee, appears, followed by the members of his military staff. Adjutant General Howe, with a yellow sash across his broad chest, leads them, and Colonel Horace A. An- drews makes his appearance with his fellow officers, handsomer than ever in his gold-braided uniform. He is the youngest member of the staff present, with the exception of Colonel Harry Sherrard, the Steubenville member.
"Ex-Governor Joseph B. Foraker follows. He has no staff, but he is speedily recognized by the crowd, and evokes a cheer that neither the little Napoleon nor his military attaches can equal.
"There are members of the Supreme Court, members of the Monument Commission, the Chaplain of the Day, the Monsignor of the Roman Catholic Diocese, the Mayor and other dignitaries crowded together in a lamentably insufficient space, but all objects of interest
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to the sweltering crowds beneath. It is after 9 o'clock when the children begin to arrive and take their places on the raised tiers of seats provided. Prof. N. Coe Stewart is at their head, and they assume their places with a precision that calls forth applause on the part of the old Soldiers present. The leader puts them through a short drill previous to the opening. 'Umbrellas closed,' he calls from his stand in the foreground, and hundreds of parasols are closed, revealing a picture of beauty worthy of any stage. The boys are arranged in the central division, flanked by the girls like the dark cen- tral part of some great flower.
"It was as though some great floral emblem had been tilted up to the view of the audience. No old-fashioned garden ever showed a greater variety of color than this. And nothing else than a flower garden seemed worthy of comparison with it. Like a flash the dark curtain of umbrellas was swept away, revealing a mass of bright faces in a sea of foaming white gowns with splashes of crimson and scarlet and gold. Never had those jewels of Cleveland, her school children, looked lovelier, and, as under Prof. Stewart's wand they uncovered their heads, there was a fluttering of color like the waving of a forest in the full grandeur of its Autumnal beauty.
" The gayly-decked speakers' stand, with its comple- ment of noted men and gorgeous uniforms, no longer held the public eye. Every face was turned toward the display of youthful animation on the amphitheater.
" Finally the Great Western Band struck up 'Colum- bia.' The conductor waved his baton. Every child was up. Another wave and the national air is taken up by 3,000 voices and carried far out over the heads of the surging mass of people who fill the Square like figs in a box. The chorus is repeated again and again in response to the applause, and then someone is seen to rise in the stand below and the formalities have begun.
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" Meanwhile the children are waiting for the opening prayer to close, and again at the Professor's beck they rise and our 'Bonnie Blue Flag' bursts forth :
"' We will wave our bonnie flag And fling it to the breeze, Emblem 'tis of liberty On land and on the seas.'
"With this, 3,000 flags, heretofore invisible, flutter over 3,000 little heads, and in rhythmic time are wav- ing to the music. It was a sight to stir the patriotism from the heart of the bronze statue of Liberty on the big Monument, and the old Soldiers in the crowd break forth in rapturous applause as the cascade of color flashes and sparkles in the sunlight.
"It is many minutes before the applause subsides. Governor Mckinley is introduced and the ceremonies of the day are fairly under way.
"THE PROGRAM OF THE DAY.
" The speakers' stand was small and quite crowded with the speakers, Governor McKinley's staff, the Mon- ument Commission, the General Celebration Committee, the Reception Committee, and invited guests. A few of the Commissioners and guests arrived before 9 o'clock, but it was half an hour later before anything occurred to stir the attention of those who had been contemplat- ing the assembling of the great mass of people in front of the stand where Mckinley and Foraker were to recall the deeds of heroic Soldiers and to renew the patriotism of the people. Promptly at 9:30 o'clock the Reception Committee escorted Governor Mckinley and ex-Gov- ernor Foraker and the Governor's military staff. These distinguished men approached the forum and ascended to it before the people became aware of their presence. Governor Mckinley appeared at the entrance to the stand before the crowd discovered him. Major W. J. Gleason, upon behalf of the Commission and Commit-
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tees, received the distinguished party. The Governor was closely followed by the ex-Governor, who walked proudly and with an elastic step. As soon as the peo- ple caught sight of them a cheering was set up. The old Soldiers, members of Army and Navy Post, Grand . Army of the Republic, who were on guard duty at the grand stand, by invitation of the President of the Com- mission, expressed their enthusiasm by waving their bannerets and swinging their hats. This Post turned out one hundred and twenty strong ; and, with their hand- some uniforms and soldierly bearing, made a splendid appearance. The school children were not yet in their places, but the veterans made their applause heard. Governor Mckinley bowed and waved his hand in ac- knowledgment. When his distinguished companion turned to acknowledge the salutation, the applause was renewed.
"A few minutes after the gubernatorial party arrived, the immense chorus of school children, under the leadership of Prof. N. Coe Stewart and the Great West- ern Band, took their places on the grand stand. The sight of about 3,000 school children taking their places, their beaming faces, the airy garments of the little girls and the touches of red, white and blue from the flags each child carried and tried to keep out of sight until the proper time, was an inspiring picture. While the children were arranging themselves, the Band played patriotic music. Shortly before 10 o'clock, Prof. Stewart got his singers in position, and at a signal, parasols and sun umbrellas, which had hidden the little girls from view, were closed and put away. The children removed their hats while they sang 'Columbia.' Before they had finished, the party in the speakers' stand began applauding. This was taken up by the people sitting in front of the singers, then by those on the Superior Street side ; thence it traveled across the street and was
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taken up by the thousands who stood on and around the pile of marble and bronze which all had come to dedicate.
"' It is a beautiful sight,' remarked Gov. Mckinley, whose eyes kindled as he clapped his hands and waved the manuscript he held in one of them. There was no hesitancy in the singing of the children. The pure voices were strong, well controlled and aye, defiant, too, on those passages where natural feeling produced it. The youthful singers, many of them old enough to appreciate the full significance of the occasion, were not half-hearted in rendering their part of dutiful service to the memory of those who founded the Nation and those who fought and preserved it before it had been in exist- ence a century. While they sang the chorus, the chil- dren waved the flags which they had been so careful to hide when they came to their places, and this added greatly to the effect. The man whose emotions could not be stirred by such a scene must indeed be without country, without home, without human sympathy and without heart, an animal in the form of man, but with- out soul.
" Before the echoes of the applause had died away, Mesdames Springsteen and Knauff came with the love- ly baskets and cut-flowers and handsome bouquets, bearing the best wishes of the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of Soldiers to the ex-Soldiers who were to pronounce the words of dedication."
Ten minutes after the band music and singing by the children, the Rev. Dr. John Mitchell, a constant friend of the Monument, one of the fighting chaplains of '61, now Chaplain of the Fifth Regiment, stepped forward, bared his head, stretched forth his hands and called for the divine blessing upon the services about to begin. In fervid tone he asked for the blessing in the following words :
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