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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

HISTORY OF THE OHIO SOCIETY
OF NEW YORK

One thousand copies of this book have
been printed from type by The Grafton
Press of New York and the type has been
distributed.

" We found this Society because we love Ohio, and would cherish her
history, her traditions, her recollections of home, and camp, and forum."

Thomas Ewing, January 13, 1886.

Ohio Bickeye
^fJ)iriiliin ijUihru, WiUd

HISTORY

OF THE OHIO SOCIETY

OF NEW YORK

1885—1905

Prepared and compiled under the direction of

Henry L. Burnett

Warren Higley

Leander H. Crall

Committee on Publication

James H. Kennedy

Historian of the Society

THE GRAFTON PRESS

NEW YORK

MCMVI

c-^^'"

%''''

Extract from the minutes of the Ohio Society of New York, January 11,
1904:

" Whereas, It is deemed highly desirable to have prepared a correct
chronological history of the Society from its inception and organization;
therefore, be it

" Resolved, That the governing committee be, and it hereby is, authorized
and requested to cause such a history to be prepared, and to employ such
assistance in the work, at such compensation as to it may seem proper, and
also to appoint a special committee of five members to supervise and approve
the work."

The governing conmiittee reported to the Society on February 8th, 1904,
that the following gentlemen had been selected pursuant to this resolution :

Gen. Henry L. Burnett,

Hon. Warren Higley,

Mr. Leander H. Crall,

Hon. Milton I. Southard,*

Mr. Andrew J. C. Foye.*

* Deceased.

IG279!

PREFACE

THIS record of the Ohio Society of New York has been prepared under
the direction of the special committee appointed for that purpose. The
author desires to acknowledge the courtesy, the willing assistance, and
the devoted interest which these gentlemen have shown, not only in advice as
to plan and scope, but in the aid which they have extended in the gathering
of material, and in counsel from time to time.

The story told in these pages is, and purports to be, nothing more nor
less than that called for in the resolution under which the work was author-
ized— a plain chronological history of the Ohio Society of New York. The
minute books of the Society and of the governing committee have furnished
the main body of information. These have been supplemented by the re-
ports of officers and committees, by the official programmes prepared upon
special, social or other occasions, the year books, scrap-books, kept by the
superintendent of the Society rooms, by newspaper files, and, in a few in-
stances, the personal recollections of early members.

While it is to be regretted that in many cases good material has been
lost by the meagreness of official record, it cannot fail to be a gratification
to the members that so much of value and interest has been preserved; far
more than was thought possible by any when it was proposed that the story
of the Society should be preserved in concrete form. This holds especially
true of the banquets which have achieved national fame. Many have been
the expressions of regret that the Society had not earlier inaugurated its
present commendable system of reporting in full and preserving the speeches
made by eminent men upon these occasions. It is with pleasure your historian
states that practically all of these speeches are reproduced with more or less
fulness; many of them verbatim. It was not without research and labor
that the valuable material was secured, but a perusal of the pages that
follow will show that it has not been lost. Many of the most eminent among
American citizens have spoken upon these occasions; presidents, vice-presi-
dents, cabinet officers, senators, governors, diplomats, soldiers, naval officers,
and others. In the twenty years which have passed since the Ohio Society
was organized, there has been hardly a man great in national affairs who
has not been present as orator or guest on one or more of these occasions.
The speakers have dwelt eloquently upon great themes. It can hardly be
questioned that there is no one book published in America that can show so

PREFACE

much that is truly great and varied in the way of public speeches as this
History of the Ohio Society of New York.

The official transactions of the Society, and its social relaxations, have
been recorded in the order of their occurrence, with such fulness as available
records would permit. The historian has confined himself to the record,
without criticism, comparison or comment. There has been no attempt to
depart from a plain statement of the facts as they have occurred; no en-
deavor to point a moral or adorn a tale. There will, no doubt, be errors of
fact discovered; there will be omissions pointed out; there will be sugges-
tions that undue mention has been made of this thing or not enough of that.
These are acknowledged in advance. They were necessary features in con-
nection with a work in which so many have a loving, personal interest; in
which so much of detail appears. The historian has done what he could
with the disconnected and widely scattered material at his hand.

James H. Kennedy, Historian.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I — Organization 3

II — Proceedings during the year 1886 l6

III — Proceedings during the year 1886 24

IV — Proceedings during the year 1887 34

V — Proceedings during the year 1888 49

VI — Proceedings during the years 1888-1889 '. . . 57

VII — Proceedings during the years 1889-1890 83

VIII — Proceedings during the years 1890-1892 96

IX — Proceedings during the years 1892-1894 125

X — Proceedings during the year 1894 l65

XI — Proceedings during the years 1894-1896 187

XII — Proceedings during the years 1896-1897 231

XIII — Proceedings during the year 1898 252

XIV — Proceedings during the years 1898-1899 282

XV — Proceedings during the years 1899-1900 308

XVI — Proceedings during the years 1901-1902 331

XVII — Proceedings during the years 1902-1903 356

XVIII — Proceedings during the year 1903 397

XIX — Proceedings during the year 1903 423

XX — Proceedings during the year 1904 448

XXI — Proceedings during the years 1904-1905 485

XXII — Proceedings during the year 1905 513

APPENDIX

The First Settlement in Ohio 531

By John Q. Mitchell

The Second Settlement in Ohio, at Cincinnati 538

By Hon. Warren Higley

The Ordinance of 1787, and the War of 1861 548

By Gen. Wager Srvayne

Assassination of President Lincoln and the Trial of the Assassins .... 591

By Gen. Henry L. Burnett

The Struggle for Freedom in Kansas 6l7

By Gen. Thomas Erving

Some Recollections of Abraham Lincoln 629

By David Homer Bates

A Rebel Cipher Dispatch which Did Not Reach Judah P. Benjamin . . . 637

By David Homer Bates

ILLUSTRATIONS

A Buckeye Branch Frontispiece

Portrait of Gen. Thomas Ewing facing page 4

Diagram of First Banquet " " 16

Portrait of Col. Charles W. Moulton " " 52

Portrait of Gen. Wager Swayne " " 74

Memorial to General Sherman " " 108

Portrait of Hon. William L. Strong " " 120

Portrait of Hon. Whitelaw Reid " " 128

Ohio Field, University of New York " " 144

Portrait of Gen. Henry L. Burnett " " 190

Memorial to Hon. Thomas Ewing " " 222

Resolutions presented to Gen. Henry L. Burnett .... " " 270

Portrait of Hon. Milton I. Southard " " 282

Title page Peace Commissioners' Banquet " " 284

Portraits of Presidents —

William H. Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant,

Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield,

Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley .... " " 310

Portrait of President William McKinley " " 314

Title page Governors' Banquet . . . •. page 332

Portraits of the Governors of Ohio pages 333 to 340

Portrait of Hon. George K. Nash facing page 344

Portrait of Colgate Hoyt, Esq " " 348

Portrait of Leander H. Crall, Esq " " 350

Portraits of United States Senators —

Joseph B. Foraker, Marcus A. Hanna,

William M. Stewart, William B. Allison,

John P. Jones, Charles W. Fairbanks,

Julius C. Burrows, Albert J. Beveridge,

Stephen B. Elkins and Nathan B. Scott .... facing page 356

Senatorial Banquet — Tol'sts

Portrait of Hon. Marcus A. Hanna

Cup presented to Leander H. Crall, Esq

Title page Diplomatic Banquet

Portrait of Hon. John Hay

Portrait of Col. John J. McCook

Title page Army and Navy Banquet

Portrait of Hon. William H. Taft

The " Fighting McCooks "

Portrait of Hon. Warren Higley

Title page Nineteenth Annual Banquet

Portrait of Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks

Portrait of Andrew J. C. Foye, Esq

Memorial to Hon. John Hay

358
362
366
400
404
436
452
458
478
488
492
498
514
516

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

CHAPTER I

1885-1886

THE foundation principles upon which the Ohio Society of New York
was built were set forth in a few eloquent words by its first president,
Thomas Ewing, on the night when the labors of its founders had reached
a point where the work of organization was to be completed.

" We found this Society," said he, " because we love Ohio, and would
cherish her history, her traditions, her recollections of home, and camp, and
forum."

It was in the spirit of loyal love for Ohio and of fraternity among its
sons that breathes in these words, that a few Ohioans in New York City
came together in the closing days of 1885 for the purpose of forming an
organization that should bring the sons of their native state into closer per-
sonal relations and keep alive the memories of home in this city of their
adoption.

The justification that comes through triumphant success has been
theirs. The story that follows shows not only how wisely were the founda-
tions laid, but also with what unswerving love and patriotic devotion these
men and their later associates and successors labored to make this great
organization not only the first, but the foremost of its kind.

It detracts from the credit due to no other Ohioan in New York, and
voices only the sentiments of his working associates, to say that Col. Charles
W. Moulton was especially enthusiastic and insistent as to what might be
done, and for some little time made it a labor of love, to call upon Ohioans
in New York with a view to enlisting them in the formation of a Buckeye
organization.

Suggestions and sentiment seem to have soon crystallized into a definite
plan, and, as the first starting-place of this record of the Ohio Society of
New York, we turn to the first entry in its first minute book, under date of
November 10th, 1885, where is found the following:

" The Ohio Society of New York. We, the undersigned, hereby agree
to unite with each other to form an association to be known as The Ohio
Association in New York, and to that end will meet at any place designated
for the purpose of completing such organization, upon notice given to us

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

whenever twelve persons shall have signed this agreement. There is to be
no expense incurred until the organization is completed and assented to
by each member."

Following this entry are the names set down below, which are given in
the order in which they appear upon the record: C. W. Moulton, Joseph
Pool, T. Ewing, Samuel Thomas, Homer Lee, Wm. Perry Fogg, INlilton
Sayler, Mahlon Chance, L. M. Schwan, J. O. Moss, M. I. Southard, Anson
G. McCook, W. C. Andrews, W. M. SafFord, Calvin S. Brice, J. W. Har-
man, J. Q. Howard, David F. Harbaugh, H. J. Jewett, Wai-ren Higley,
Cyrus Butler, Carson Lake.

There hangs upon the walls of the Ohio Society rooms in the Waldorf-
Astoria — placed there in obedience to a formal vote of a later date — a
framed call reproducing the words above quoted. To this are attached, in
the orioinal autographs, the names and addresses given below: reproduced
as nearly in facsimile as the types will permit:

Name.

C. W. Moulton,
Joseph Pool,
T. Ewing,
Samuel Thomas,
Calvin S. Brice,
Homer Lee,
Wm. Perry Fogg,
Milton Sayler,
Mahlon Chance,
L. M. Schwan,
Jay O. Moss,
M. I. Southard,
Anson G. McCook,
\V. C. Andrews,
W. M. Safford,
J. W. Harman,
J. Q. Howard,
David F. Harbaugh,
W, L. Strong,
H. J. Jewett,
Warren Higley,
Carson Lake,
Cyrus Butler,
A. J. C. Foy^,
Henry L. Burnett,
Albert W. Green,
Charles H. Blair,

Business.

Atty. at Law,

Banker,

La^vyer,

R. R'd,

Atty.,

Bank Note Eng.,

Caxton Co.,

Atty. at Law,

Equitable Life,

Atty.,

Banker,

Lawyer,

Editor,

Insurance,

Merchant,

R. R.J

La\vyer,

Journalist,

Merchant,

Lawyer,

Merchant,

Lawver,

Address.

Tribune Bldg.,

No. 3 Broad St.,

155 Broadway,

110 Broadway, N. Y.,

110 Broadway,

60 Cedar St.,

81 White,

No. 2 Wall,

No. 120 Broadway,

110 Broadway,

Windsor Hotel,

155 Broadway,

303 Broadway,

22 Cortlandt,

2 Wall St.,

340 Broadway,

Grand Hotel,

120 Broadway,

75 Worth,

4S William,

38 Park Row,

Tribune Office,

24 Cliff Street,

68 Reade St.,

67 Wall St.,

51 Leonard St.,

149 Broadway,

Formerly of.

Cincinnati.
Cleveland.
Lancaster.
Columbus, Ohio.
Lima, O.
INlansfield, O.
Cleveland, O.
Cincinnati, O.
Fremont, O.
Cleveland, O.
Sandusky.
Zanesville, Ohio.
Steubenville, Ohio.
Cleveland.
Cleveland.
Cleveland.
New York.
Cleveland.
Mansfield, O.
Zanesville, O.
Cincinnati.
Akron, O.
Norwalk.
Mt. Gilead, O.
Youngstown, O.
Columbus, Ohio.
Zanesville, O.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

In accordance with the above, a notice was sent to the subscribers to
meet at tlie law office of Ewing & Southard, No. 155 Broadway, on the 13th
of November, 1885, at 3:30 P. M. A majority of the signers were present.
General Thomas Ewing was elected president pro tern. David F. Har-
baugh was elected secretary pro tem. The president appointed the follow-
ing members as a committee on permanent organization: C. W. Moulton,
Wm. Perry Fogg, Cyrus Butler, J. Q. Howard, Mahlon Chance, M. I.
Southard, David F. Harbaugh, Warren Higley, Calvin S. Brice and Joseph
Pool.*

The official record mentions no business done at this session, except to
adjourn to the same place at 2:30 P. M. of November 20th, and to instruct
the secretary to notify each of the subscribers of said meeting.

The second meeting was held upon the date above named. So much was
accompUshed in this session toward setting up and starting the machinery
of the Society, that the official report of the gathering is given in full as
follows :

" New York, November 20, 1885.
" Pursuant to adjournment, the meeting of the Society was called to
order by president pro tem General Thomas Ewing, and the minutes of
the previous meeting were read and approved. The chairman then an-
nounced that the first business in order was to hear the report of the com-
mittee on organization appointed at the last meeting.

" Col. Wm. Perry Fogg, on behalf of the committee, submitted a report
of a constitution of the Society. Upon motion the report was read, section
by section. Each section was discussed by the various members, and a separate
vote on each section was taken. Col. C. W. Moulton then moved that this
report on the constitution be unanimously accepted and adopted, and that
copies of the same be engrossed and printed for the use of members. Motion
seconded, carried. The following is the report so adopted:

" To the officers and members of the Ohio Society in New York.
Gentlemen: The committee on permanent organization, who were instructed
to frame an outline of a constitution and by-laws for the government of
this Society, beg leave to submit the following report:

" CONSTITUTION.

" Article 1. — The name of this association shall be ' The Ohio So-
ciety of New York.'

"Article 2. — Its object shall be to cultivate social intercourse and
promote the best interests of its members.

* The facts concerning the above meeting are entered in the first record book of the
recording secretary, attested bv David F. Harbaugh, secretary pro tem. Where the pro-
ceedings of the Society are quoted hereafter, they will be from the books of the secretary
or of the governing committee, unless otherwise specified.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" OFFICERS.

" Article 3. — The officers shall be chosen from the active members and
shall be: 1, a president; 2, three vice-presidents; 3, a secretary and assist-
ant secretary ; 4, a treasurer ; 5, a governing committee of nine members ;
all of whom shall be elected at the regular annual meeting of the Society, and
shall discharge the duties incident to their respective offices under the general
direction of the Society.

" MEMBERSHIP.

"Article 4. — There shall be three classes of membership: 1, Active
members ; 2, Non-resident members ; 3, Honorary members.

" Article 5. — ^Any person of good moral character and twenty-one
years of age and upwards may become an active member of this Society
upon payment of the prescribed dues, who is a native of the state of Ohio
or has for a period of seven consecutive years been a resident of that state,
and who has a good social and business standing in New York.

" Article 6. — Any person of like age and character, and residing in
the state of Ohio may become a non-resident member (if approved by a
majority of the governing committee) upon payment of the prescribed dues.

" Article 7. — Honorary membership may be conferred by a unanimous
vote of the governing committee upon persons deserving that distinction,
provided, however, that not more than five such memberships shall be con-
ferred during one year.

" Article 8. — Non-resident and honorary members shall be entitled to
all the privileges of the Society, except those of voting and of becoming
officers of said Society.

" Article 9. — The governing committee has power by a majority vote
to admit active new members; but the names so admitted to membership
shall be reported to the Society by said committee at its next monthly
meeting.

" Article 10. — The first meeting of this Society for the selection of
officers shall be held within ten days after at least one hundred persons shall
have signed the constitution, and at the regular annual meetings thereafter.

" MEETINGS.

"Article 11. — The annual meetings of the Society shall be held on
the 29th day of November in each year. Monthly meetings shall be held
on the first Monday of every month, at such hour as the governing com-
mittee may determine.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Article 12. — The initiation fee of active and non-resident members
shall be ten dollars until at least one hundred persons have become members,
and until the first meeting is held for the election of officers. Thereafter
the initiation fee may be fixed at any sum by resolution of the Society that
it may deem proper.

" Article 13. — This constitution and the by-laws that may hereafter
be adopted may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of those present
at any meeting called for that purpose, of which due notice has been given
to the members.

" C. W. MOULTON,

" Wm. Perry Fogg,

" J. Q. Howard,

" Cyrus Butler,

" David F. Harbaugh,

" M, I. Southard,

"Joseph Pool,

" Mahlon Chance."

" Col. W. W. Moulton moved that the following resolution be adopted :
* That the committee on permanent organization be directed to report to
the president pro tem. of the Society whenever one hundred names shall
have been enrolled, and as soon as this is done, the president shall call a
meeting of the Society, and the secretary shall give due notice thereof two
days before the meeting to every member to be present, at such time and
place as shall be designated for said meeting by the president.' Motion
seconded, carried.

" Col. William Perry Fogg moved that the following resolution be
adopted : ' That the committee on permanent organization be authorized to
enroll new members, and have leave to report at any time until the election
of permanent officers.' Motion seconded, carried.

" Col. Fogg moved that : ' The committee on organization be authorized
and requested to, report for consideration suitable names for the officers
(permanent) of this Society, at the meeting to be called for the selection of
officers.' Motion seconded, carried.

" It was then moved that the following names be added to the com-
mittee on permanent organization: Carson Lake, Cyrus Butler, Joseph
Pool, John W. Harman, Charles H. Blair, Homer Lee. IMotion seconded,
carried.

" David F. Harbaugh, Sec. pro tern."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

A gentleman who was present at these early conferences has fur-
nished his testimony as to the spirit of these gatherings. Charles H.
Blair says : " Committees upon constitution and by-laws were appointed
and a very warm discussion arose, as I recall, between Cyrus Butler and
Colonel Moulton, regarding the objects and aims of the Society. It was pro-
posed to make it into a regiilar club with a restaurant and all the accompani-
ments of a city club. This was warmly opposed by some of the members,
myself among others, on the theory that many of us were already members
of clubs in New York city, and that it was not desirable to so disassociate
ourselves from our fellow citizens of New York as to form ourselves into an
ordinary social club. The club idea never prevailed."

On the 13th of January, 1886, a meeting was held at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, at which a number of important measures received consideration. Gen.
Thomas Ewing occupied the chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting
were read by Mr. Harbaugh, and approved.

Col. Moulton, on behalf of his special committee, recommended that
the constitution be so amended as to provide for five vice-presidents instead
of three. The president held that, being in the nature of an amendment to
the constitution, it would require a two-thirds vote to adopt it. The vote was
called for, and the change was ordered unanimously. On motion of Mr.
Southard the constitution as amended was adopted as a whole. The election
of officers was then called for, and Gen. Ewing was unanimously elected presi-
dent for the ensuing year. We quote from the official record :

" On motion of Mr. Follett, which was duly seconded. Col. Moulton was
authorized to cast the vote of the Society for the five vice-presidents, and
there being no dissenting vote, this was agreed to. The names of the five
members recommended by the committee were put in nomination to serve one
year: Whitelaw Reid, William L. Strong, Wager Swayne, Hugh J.
Jewett, Algernon S. Sullivan, thus endorsing the recommendation of the
committee.

" The nomination for secretary for the ensuing year was then con-
sidered, and Homer Lee was duly elected. The recording secretary and
treasurer were then acted upon. Carson Lake and William Perry Fogg,
respectively, were unanimously elected. The president, on motion of Cyrus
Butler, then named a committee of five to nominate a governing committee
of nine members, as follows: Cyrus Butler, William Perry Fogg, Washing-
ton Belt, Wallace Mayo, Milton I. Southard. This committee retired to
prepare a Hst for presentation to the Society. During the interval. Gen.
Henry L. Burnett was called upon and responded, after which Algernon S.
SulUvan, Gen. Wager Swayne, Bernard Peters, Col. William L. Strong
and Col. IVIoulton made appropriate remarks.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" The nominating committee at this point reported that a list of names
for the governing committee had been; decided upon, and presented the fol-
lowing for consideration, which wa^ unanimously elected, alphabetically:
Henry L. Burnett, Calvin S. Brice, Stephen B. Elkins, A. J. C. Foye,
Jerome D. Gillett, A. D. Juilliard, C. W. Moulton, Joseph Pool. The
motion to appoint a committee of seven, by the chair, on art, history and
literature was made, seconded, debated and carried. Thereupon the president
stated that he would announce the names of the said committee at the next
meeting in February. C. W. Moulton notified the members present that he
would move an amendment to the constitution increasing the governing
committee from nine to twelve, at the next monthly meeting. On motion of
H. A. Glassford, it was resolved that the adoption and consideration of by-
laws for the Society be referred to the governing committee for action.
Considerable discussion on the subject having arisen, the motion was modified,
and the subject of by-laws was referred to the president and the five vice-
presidents, as a special committee, to frame and report a suitable code of
by-laws for the government of the Society. A letter was read from Joseph
Pool, a member of the committee on permanent organization, stating illness
as the cause of his absence, and one from W. S. Hawk, of the Windsor Hotel,
kindly tendering to the Society the use of a parlor. The meeting ad-
journed, after a vote of thanks to the proprietor of the Fifth Avenue Hotel

for courtesy extended. ., _,. _ « ^ »

Homer Lee, Secretary.

The above official report gives but the cold, bare outlines of tliis, one
of the most fruitful and interesting of the early meetings of the Society.
Fortunately, the remarks made by President Thomas E^ving, on calling the
meeting together, have been preserved among the family papers, and are
here given in full:

" We have met here to-night, as sons and foster-sons of Ohio resident
in New York city, to complete the foundation of a new society in our national
metropolis. Full as this city is of organizations of men, she has, I think,
none such as this. The ties of religion, charity, pohtics, science, art, htera-
ture and common occupation draw and hold people together in numberless
associations which have filled our gi'eat city with splendid edifices. So, too,
the sympathies of a common race and history have founded here societies of
St. Patrick, St. Andrew, St. George and many others, at whose annual re-
unions the wit, song and sentiment of the fatherlands warm the hearts of
their sons in this land beyond the sea. And here, also, is an American society
which has at several crises in the last fifty years exerted a considerable in-
fluence on public opinion; and the annual reunions of which are watched
with eagerness everywhere throughout our land where the sons of New Eng-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

land from their distant homes look proudly and fondly back on their grand
old mother.

" But the New England society is composed of the sons of six states.
This is a society of the natives or former residents of but a single state —
Ohio — the state first bom of the American republic. I do not say she was
the first state received into the union, for Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee
preceded her. Vermont was admitted in 1791, Kentucky in '92, Tennessee in
'96, and Ohio not until the 29th day of November, 1802. But these three
older states were never territories of the union. Tliey begun Hfe as colonies,
each exclusively owned by and settled from its parent colony — Vermont from
New York, Kentucky from Virginia, and Tennessee from North Carolina.
But the territory northwest of the Ohio River was the first land ever owned
by the United States. It was a vast and pathless wilderness when, in 1784,
Virginia, with magnificent generosity, presented it to the Union. It was
not until ten years later, when the savages who had been allies of Great
Britain throug'hout the War of the Revolution were routed and subdued by
Mad Anthony Wayne, that agricultural settlements, except under the shadow
of blockhouses, first became possible. Then the veteran soldiers of the
Revolution, broken in fortune but aflame with the love of liberty, and triumph-
ant from the long struggle for independence, flocked there from every one of
the glorious thirteen — hewed out their homes in the primeval forest — paid the
United States for their lands in the long dishonored certificates of indebted-
ness given for their service in the war, and thus founded the first state which
sprung from the womb of the republic.

" We are proud of Ohio, for her heroic birth, her honorable achieve-
ments, and her glorious destiny. She ' sits in the centre,' belongs to no
section, and is a bond of all.

" Her sons who have met here to-night are at home in New York. We
do not come together as strangers in a strange land to seek relief from the
depression of inliospitable influences. No! New York is not inhospitable.
She is merely too big and too busy to note who comes or goes. Her gates,
landward and seaward, are thrown open to the world. She is a focus of all
the great forces of American Hfe. Miuch that is best and worst in it is
developed here; and the struggle for a foothold here is always intense and
generally unsuccessful. But New York is more truly cosmopohtan than any
other city in the United States, or perhaps in the world, and there is little of
race or sectional prejudice to bar the path of merit, from whatever quarter
it may come.

*' We found this Society because we love Ohio and would cherish her
history, her traditions, her recollections of home and camp and forum. How
often do we not look back to the days and scenes of our life there to revive

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the sweetest influences and the dearest memories of existence. But we have
aims for our Society besides the memories and affections of other days. We
hope to make it felt in this great theatre of thought and action as a gen-
erator of wholesome, intellectual and moral forces.

" When this meeting was called there were one hundred and fifteen signers
of our constitution. Under the direction of a judicious governing committee
the number will doubtless be increased by several hundred. Our member-
ship of non-residents will, perhaps, be equally large. We should make some-
thing more of such good and abundant material than a mere social club.
I am far from insensible to the pleasures of convivial reunions, and hope
our Society may have many of them, and that I may long be of the number
present. But we can have some good work out of it as well as plenty of rec-
reation. For instance, with the aid of our western and southwestern brethren
who, like ourselves, have drifted into this comer of the republic, we might
help it to throw off its colonial subserviency to English politics and manners
and gradually Americanize it. We can thus repay in kind the debt of grati-
tude we owe the East for its missionary efforts a generation ago, when it was
the seat of power in the United States and the now imperial West was but
a half -subdued wilderness.

" Ere long, we can command means, I hope, to fit up and maintain an
accessible, commodious and permanent clubhouse, tlie halls of which will be a
pleasant rendezvous for members and their friends, wbere the ideas and
policies of East and West may meet in friendly and intelligent encounter, and
where sectional prejudices may be worn off in the attrition of social inter-
course— where Ohio men and women who are eminent, or rising in any
worthy field of effort, may have cordial recognition and a helping hand if
needed; and where those who have unfortunately fallen in the struggle for
a foothold here will not be forgotten. In conclusion, gentlemen, I venture
to express the hope that our Society may be from the outset and continue
to the end so aristocratic that wealth cannot buy a membership for vice; and
so democratic that none will be excluded by needless cost of membership from
an association which their virtues and talents would adorn."

There is contemporary testimony from a prominent Ohio newspaper of
that date* that the meeting was " one of the happiest gatherings ever held
in Gotham. Nearly one hundred were present, including General Thomas
Ewing, who presided; General Wager Swayne, Algernon S. Sullivan, Col-
onel W. L. Brown, J. Q. A. Ward, Colonel W. L. Strong, General H. L.
Burnett, Henry E. Abbey, Rev. Dr. I. K. Funk, S. B. Elkins, B. Peters, and
other well-known gentlemen. General Ewing created much enthusiasm by
his address on the opening of the meeting."

* Cincinnati Enquirer, of January 14, 1886.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The governing committee, always an important and responsible body
in the record of the Society, immediately set itself in motion to put the
affairs of the organization in running order. Its first meeting was held at
the office of Gen. H. L. Burnett, No. 67 Wall street, at three o'clock, on Sat-
urday, January 16th. There were present Messrs. H. L. Burnett, Thomas
Ewing, A. J. C. Foye, Wm. Perry Fogg, George FoUett, J. D. Gillett,
Carson Lake, Homer Lee, C. W. Moulton, Joseph Pool and Whitelaw Reid.
The meeting was called to order by General Burnett, who nominated General
Ewing for temporary chairman. Mr. Lake was made temporary secretary.
The permanent organization of the committee being declared the order of
business, Mr. Fogg nominated Colonel Moulton for chairman. C^olonel Moul-
ton, after a brief statement of his reasons, respectfully declined to permit
the use of his name for that position. Mr. Gillett moved that General Bur-
nett be selected as chairman, and the motion prevailed unanimously. JVIr.
Lee moved that Mr. Lake be elected secretary of the committee, and the
motion prevailed.

Mr. Moulton moved that it be the standing rule of the governing com-
mittee that the chairman should appoint, as the chairman of any committee
hereafter to be appointed, any member he might see fit, and that the usual
parliamentary rule which makes it incumbent on a chairman to make the
proposer of the motion for the selection of a committee the chairman of
such committee, be abrogated. Carried. On motion, duly carried, the chaii
appointed Messrs. Moulton, Elkins and Lee as a connnittee to prepare forms
of papers necessary for the admission of members. Mr. Moulton moved that
a committee of three be appointed on by-laws, and assist in the preparation
of the same, if desirable, and also to prepare and submit amendments to the
constitution which might be deemed advisable. The m.otion was carried, and
the chair appointed Messrs. Burnett, Pool and Fogg. On motion, Mr. Reid
was also added to the committee.

Mr. Fogg, as treasurer of the Society, stated that there were now one
hundred members enrolled, of whom fifty-one had enclosed the initiation fee
of ten dollars. The receipts from membership in his hands were $510, and the
disbursements had been $49.49, leaving a balance on hand of $460.51. The
following resolution was offered by him and passed:

" Resolved, Tliat the treasurer be requested to collect the initiation fee
from those gentlemen who have signed tlie constitution and been enrolled as
members."

The chairman was instructed to confer with members of the committee
and report at the next meeting on the matter of permanent headquarters.

Until a permanent abiding place could be secured, the Society was the
guest of various hotels, several of which were under the control of Ohio

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

men, all of whom were glad to make the associated Buckeyes welcome.

The next meeting was held at the Windsor Hotel, on February 1st, 1886,
with President Ewing in tlie chair. He reported in behalf of the special com-
mittee, consisting of liimself and the five vice-presidents, on the subject of
by-laws. A number of amendments to the constitution were proposed, and
then it and the by-laws were adopted, and both were ordered printed.

Col. W. L. Strong proposed General WiUiam T. Sherman as the first
honorary member, and it was carried unanimously. A blank form of appli-
cation for membersliip was read and adopted, and ordered printed and dis-
tributed among the members.

At the second meeting of the governing committee, held on February
12th, the matter of selecting a permanent home was taken up and discussed,
but no formal action was taken. The list of those who had been proposed
for membership was taken up for consideration. Colonel Moulton moved that
where names were approved the persons should be declared elected to mem-
bership, subject to their compliance with the requirements of the constitution
and by-laws, and that the secretary of the committee be instructed to notify
the gentlemen of their election. Carried. The following names were ap-
proved, and are given in full, as being the first list officially acted upon by
the committee: James C. Beard, T. Frank Beard, D. C. Beard, A. W. Beas-
ley, D. T. Lawson, James Parker, E. B. Convers, J. B. Leavitt, J. S.
Newberry, W. H. Quinn, Jacob N. Bonnett, N. W. Emerson, C. P. Cassiday,
J. W. Worthington, Wallace Shillito, F. T. McFadden, Wm. S. Munson,
R. G. Hanford, Lycurgus B. Moore, B. F. Peixotto, Gaylord McFall, H. H.
Brockway, Richard Butler, E. J. Wheeler, Dr. N. H. Beckwith, Frederick J.
Prentiss, Frederick C. Prentiss, Frank Brainard, Walter H. Brainard, Andrew
Donaldson, Wm. C. Peet, H. B. Brundrett.

It was by vote ordered that all persons within a radius of fifty miles of
the city hall of New York be considered eligible for active or resident mem-
bership. It was also ordered that the annual dues be made payable on the
first of April each year. On February 26th a resolution was adopted direct-
ing the governing committee to take a lease of rooms at No. 236 Fifth avenue.
The meeting of the Society of February 26th, 1886, was held at the
Gilsey House, and was called to consider the question of quarters. General
Burnett, as chairman of the governing committee, made a report as to the
action of that body, and gave details as to various places that might be se-
cured, with locations, rentals, and other particulars.

The question was discussed in all its bearings by Messrs. Burnett, Butler,
Foye, Harman, Brown, Kimball, Fogg, Lee, Pool, etc. Mr. Lake moved
that the governing committee, through its chairman, and the president and
secretary of the Society, be empowered to lease rooms at No. 236 Fifth avenue

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

for a term of one year. ]Mr. Kimball's amendment that the location be left
to the judgment and selection of the governing committee was accepted by
Mr. Lake, and the motion was then carried.

A design for the seal of the Society was presented by Secretary Homer
Lee; was inspected, endorsed and adopted with thanks.

The meeting of March 8th was held at the Grand Central Hotel, at
which the president announced a committee on Hterature, history and art as
follows, in alphabetical order: C. H. Applegate, Cyrus Butler, J. H. Beard,
J. Q. Howard, Andrew J. RickofF, Wilham Henry Smith, J. Q. A. Ward.
The committee on entertainment was announced as follows: W. C. Andrews,
Wilham L. Brown, R. C. Kimball, Bernard Peters, William L. Strong. On
motion of Mr. Pool the names of the president, secretary and chairman of
the governing committee were added to the entertainment committee.

President Ewing suggested that between the present and the next meet-
ing the members look up the date of admission of the state of Ohio to the
Union, " which seemed to be in dispute." It was ordered that " the date of
Ohio's admission be made the subject of discussion at the next meeting."*

William Perry Fogg moved that the entertainment committee be in-
structed to arrange a subscription dinner within a few weeks, at a cost not
to exceed $5.00 a plate, and the motion was carried.

At the meeting of the governing committee held on March 16th, 1886,
General Philip H. Sheridan and ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes were
unanimously elected honorary members. On April 5th the committee
appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Moulton, Lake, Lee, Fogg
and Harbaugh, to present in brief form a history of the formation of the
Society.

The meeting of the Society on April 6th was held at the Murray Hill
Hotel. The name of C. W. Moulton was added to the entertainment com-
mittee. Letters were read from Senator John Sherman, Senator Henry B.
Payne, Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite and Justice Stanley Matthews.

Mr. Howard, as chairman of the committee on history, literature and art,
opened the discussion of the evening on " The date of Ohio's admission to the
Union " by proposing the following resolution :

" Resolved, That in the opinion of the Ohio Society of New York, Febru-
ary 19, 1803, must be accepted as the date of the admission of the state of
Ohio into the Union."

Mr. Howard read a paper citing various authorities in support of the

• It will be noted that even at this early date the Ohioans in New York began the dis-
cussion of this never-ending and never-settled question. It has been brouglit to the front
many times since, and one of the pioneer members, Mahlon Chance, made it a close study
for years, and collected mudi valuable material and data on the subject.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

resolution. The matter was discussed by Messrs. Moulton, Burnett, Mitchell,
Strong, Chance, Ashley, Ewing and Peters. The resolution was referred to
a committee consisting of Messrs. Ewing, Burnett, IMoulton, Howard, Ashley,
Mitchell, Lake and Strong. The president stated that, as the beginning of a
library for the Society, Mr. Stout had presented a history of Wayne County,
Ohio. A vote of thanks was tendered. General Burnett moved that the presi-
dent be requested to prepare a sketch of Thomas Corwin and present it at the
next regular meeting. Motion was carried.

CHAPTER II.

1886.

THE " subscription dinner," proposed by Colonel Fogg at the meeting
of March 8th, was held at Delmonico's on the evening of May 7,
1886, and passed into the Society's history under the descriptive
title of the " First Annual Banquet of the Ohio Society of New York."
" Two hundred citizens whose hearts throbbed like one," to quote from a news-
paper account of the affair, " cheered and applauded the sentiments that told
how great and glorious were the good people withini its hmits. The Society
was organized only last January, and is made up of men who have left the
elysium of Oliio for the flesh-pots of New York. Members must be either
natives of the Buckeye state or the descendants of natives. That tells its own
story, and any attempt to say how really glorious last night's gathering was
would sound stale and flat in comparison."

Five tables ran the length of the dining-hall, with General Thomas Ewing,
president of the Society, at the centre table, flanked by Senator H. B. Payne
on his left and Senator John Sherman on his right. Wager Swayne presided
over one table, with Bernard Peters at the foot ; Whitelaw Reid over a second
table, with W. L. Brown facing him ; A. S. Sullivan and W. C. Andrews had
a third table, and W. L. Strong and H. L. Burnett a fourth.

As the official diagram prepared for tliis initial occasion tells the story of
the banquet so far as relates to those who participated therein, it is repro-
duced in full.

The eloquent writer quoted above throws a further light upon the occa-
sion in these appreciative words :

" Never since the morning stars sang together has there been such broth-
erly harmony as prevailed last night. One common enthusiasm kept the two
hundred throats cheering all' the evening. Every man felt convinced that
without Ohio this country would be a land of darkness, and he wasn't afraid
to say so, either. And every other man, when he wasn't busy saying this
himself, put in his spare moments cheering the sentiments in the mouths of
others. The American flag that tapestried the Union smiled only on Ohio
men, and the very menu lacked something of its French flavor out of deference

y 7, 1886

Wager Swayn

^ullivan

( Benj. Butterworth

E
L. Strong

Daniel Voorhees

Wm. McKinley, Jr.

Leon Abbett

Alex. Sullivan

W. H. Upson

A. D. Juilliard

S. L. Woodford

Robt. W. ShoppeU

J..

/ John C. Short

David Robison, Jr.

Stephen B. Elkms

L. H. Crall

J.]

[ Thos. S. King

Wm. Linn Tidball

A. J. C. Foyt

R. J. Kenworthy

Jol

J. J. Slocum

Albert W. Green

E. F. C. Young

W. D. Lee

Jol

Carson Lake

H. K. Enos

John A. Walker

D. C. Beard

j.y

Frank Hatton

Wm. W. Heaton

W. J. ArkeU

Geo. H. Brown

Chas. P. Bruch

F. Brainard

Edwin F. Green

T. A. Legler

E, F. Cummings

W. H. Brainard

Thos. McBride

Wm. H. Eckert

F.<

G. N. Howlett

H. Q. French

Wallace Shillitto

I. J. Struble

Jai

D. F. Harbaugh

L. B. Moore

John T. Granger

J. F. Sadler

Chi

A. McKinley

Gary W. Moore

D. S. Hammond

John W. Stout

Ith

CjTus Butler

J. M. Chandler

A. W. Follett

John Guth

D. T. Lawson

(reserved.)

Washington Belt

Tlios. Hinds

Ge(

I. K. Funk

(reserved.)

J. H. Hewson

John A. Smith

Jol

A. W. Wagnalls

Hugh J. Jewett

G. H. Valliant

John Dickson

S.l

M. B. Wright

L. C. Hopkins

(reserved.)

H. R. DeMilt

Z. K. Pangborn

H. K. Wick

C. L. Buckingham

Theo. Ricksecker

J.^

F. M. Foy6

T. B. Musgrave

W. M. Saftbrd

J. M. Edwards

Jol

Wm. Brinkerhoff

Jolin R. Brady

A. R, Lawrence

(rkserved.)

R.:

Chas. H. Grosvenor
Andrews

Chas. Foster

B. Hazen

Bernard Peter

H.L

. Burn

ett

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to the men who came from Cleveland and Mansfield and Fremont, and the
cheering when the speeches began was as continuous as the rain that pattered
outside. They cheered John Sherman before his speech ; gave him three times
three after it, and punctuated every sentence with a wild howl of enthusiasm.
It was one great love feast. Proud senators and governors and congressmen
clinked glasses with humble citizens of the day, and Democratic lions lay down
with Republican lambs just as if the millennium had come in with the coffee.
Levi P. Morton hobnobbed with Steve Elkins, and Weather Chief Hazen re-
called Washington days with the great Frank Hatton."

Among those present were Senator John Sherman, Senator H. B. Payne,
Joseph E. McDonald, ex-Governor R. M. Bishop, Hon. Charles Foster, James
M, Ashley, William Henry Smith, Thomas T. Eckert, W. H. Upson, Charles
H. Grosvenor, B. F. Jones, chairman of the Republican national committee;
Governor Leon Abbett, Judge W. H. Upton, General W. B. Hazen, Gen.
Anson G. McCook, General Benjamin Harrison, Levi P. Morton, Benjamin
Butterworth, Stewart L. Woodford, Stephen B. Elkins, Calvin S. Brice, Frank
Hatton, William McKinley and General Thomas Ewing.

iThe following cablegram was received from the Hon. S. S. Cox: " General
Thomas Ewing, 155 Broadway, New York. Ohio full of civil and martial
honors. Her sons are peei-s without the heraldry ; her daughters Peris without
the harem. Fill the Golden Horn."

Homer Lee, the secretary, read letters of regret from Governor Hoadly,
General Durbin Ward, Murat Halstead, Judge Thurman, Chief Justice
Waite, Judge Cartter, General Schenck, Senator J. P. Jones, W. D. Howells,
Richard Smith, General Sherman, General Sheridan and others. General
Thomas Ewing then arose and said :

" I hail and congratulate you, guests and members of the Ohio Society of
New York, on our delightful and auspicious reunion. It is good that we are
here. This large assemblage of Ohio's sons, coming from far and near, attests
how strong and vital are the ties which bind us to our mother state. We have
every reason to love and to be proud of her. If American citizenship be a
patent of nobility, it adds to the honor to have been bom of that state which,
almost in the forenoon of the first century of her existence, has shed such lustre
on the republic; which has given to it so long a roll of presidents, chief justices,
judges of the supreme court and statesmen in the cabinet and in Congress;
among whom is found not one dishonored name, but many that will shine illus-
trious in our country's annals forever ; a state which, in the supreme struggle
by which the union was established as indissoluble and the plague of human
slavery destroyed, gave to the republic even more than her enormous quota of
noble troops, and with them those great captains of the war. Grant, Sherman,
Sheridan, Rosecrans, McPherson. Gentlemen, we have not formed our society

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to the men who came from Cleveland and Mansfield and Fremont, and the
cheering when the speeches began was as continuous as the rain that pattered
outside. They cheered John Sherman before his speech ; gave him three times
three after it, and punctuated every sentence with a wild howl of enthusiasm.
It was one great love feast. Proud senators and governors and congressmen
chnked glasses with humble citizens of the day, and Democratic lions lay down
with Republican lambs just as if the millennium had come in with the coffee.
Levi P. Morton hobnobbed with Steve EDcins, and Weather Chief Hazen re-
called Washington days with the great Frank Hatton."

iThe following cablegram was received from the Hon. S. S. Cox : " General
Thomas Ewing, 155 Broadway, New York. Ohio full of civil and martial
honors. Her sons are peei"s without the heraldry ; her daughters Peris without
the harem. Fill tlie Golden Horn."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

from a desire to cultivate state pride in any spirit of divided allegiance. No,
no! There has been far too much of that in the past and cannot be too little
in the future.

" We are first Americans, then Buckeyes. The blessings and misfortunes
of our sister states are ours as well as theirs. The love of our own state and
pride in her history spring largely from the fact that she and her institutions
in their birth and growth are purely American. She is the oldest and, so far,
the best developed of all the typically American states. Neither Roundhead
nor Cavalier stood sponsor at her cradle. She never wore the collar of colonial
subserviency. Her churches and colleges are not endowed of King Charles or
Queen Anne. Her lands are not held by grant or prescription under tlie Duke
of York, Lord Fairfax or Lord Baltimore, but by patents under the seal of the
young repubhc, and the hand of George Washington — whose name will con-
tinue to be loved and honored throughout the world long after the memory
of the last king and peer of Great Britain shall have sunk in oblivion. The
early generations of her sons were not reared amid distinctions of wealth and
rank and class, but in the primeval forest and prairie, where all stood equal
and had no aid to eminence but strenuous effort; where recollections of the
sufferings and sacrifices of Revolutionary sires became inspirations of patriot-
ism in their sons, and where nature threw around them all her pure, loving and
benignant influences to make them great and strong.

" I now have the pleasure to present to you a typical Buckeye — ^the archi-
tect of his own fame and fortune — who stands below only one man in the repub-
hc in official station, and below none in the respect of his countrymen — John
Sherman."

Senator Sherman was applauded many minutes before he was allowed to
speak, but when quiet was restored he said :

" I am grateful for tliis very warm greeting, but if you were to receive
every Buckeye from the State of Ohio in this manner you would have the
hordes of Ararat among you. Such a reception as this would bring every boy
from every farm in the state of Ohio, and what would become of New York
then ? It was a happy idea to gather the sons of Ohio and those who have been
identified with her history in so pleasant a manner as this to preserve the
recollections of Ohio boyhood and manhood. Why should you not do this?
Why should you not have an Ohio Society as well as New England ? Why the
citizens from the shores of New England, from Ireland and Scotland and from
Germany form their societies in the state of New York, and why should not the
state of Ohio, which is more than either of these countries? Now, gentlemen,
there is one thing about the Ohio people which has marked them from the be-
ginning of its history, and marks it now — ^we are a migratory race. We are
the innocents abroad. We are a migratory race, and why should we not be,

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

for we desen^e the best of any land? When we go to any country, we do not
go to rob them, but to aid in their wealth. If I wish to prove this, what better
evidence could I desire than the men around me? Here is my friend, General
E^ang, who is from one of the garden beds of Ohio, brought up under circum-
stances that would lead you to suppose tliat he ought to be content, but he wan-
dered off to Kansas, then to the war and then to Washington, and at the last
settles down near New York in the shadow of the shades of the great town.
Here is the grandson of William Henry Harrison, and we have representatives
of the old Puritan fathers. We have representatives not only of Virginia, but
also of Newark, New York and Pennsylvania, all from Ohio. Why, my coun-
trj^men, Ohio was the camping ground of all the states. It is true that Vermont
and Kentucky and Tennessee were admitted into the Union first, but Ohio was
the first fruit of the Federal Union. Every state had a camping ground in
Ohio, either reservation by purchase or by settlement. The}' went there to
improve the lands of the wilderness — they made Ohio prosperous. In Ohio
was the beginning of that magnificent march westward which leads on to
prosperity.

" I want to defend Ohio people against a charge which is often made
against them in this city of New York, They charge them with being fond of
office. Well, my countrymen, I can show by statistics — and they never lie —
that Ohio never had a fair share in public office. There is nothing so dr^i^ in
an after-dinner speech as figures — they never lie. Well, we have never had our
share of public office, but if we have, we always performed the duties with
credit. Only one or two other points. In the early times migrations were
always westward. Nobody thought of coming East. Therefore it is that
the eight sons of Ohio who are now members of the United States Senate all
moved westward, which was the star of the Empire. But lately the star of the
Empire seems to have settled here in the city of New York, and to-night more
than two hundred Ohio men assemble to feast. There is more money in New
York than anywhere else. Some of our people have come here to better their
conditions, and I hope to God they will — not only to better their own condition,
but all those around them. Here are men who have come from Ohio poor, but
with honest endeavor to do what is best for their families, and here they are
to-night, rich and happy.

" We love Ohio ! We love Ohio as our mother, who guarded us in our
infancy, and never, my countrymen, although you may hear ill of Ohio, never
fail to remember all that is good of Ohio, and be true and noble for the love of
Ohio. But we love our country more, and no man from Ohio would ever be
true to his mother unless he was more true to his country. Our country for-
ever— from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canada
line and away round."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Senator Payne followed, and reviewed the history of the Buckeye state,
her advancement, resources and wealth, and paid a glowing tribute to the
" men from Ohio," who had conquered in the fight for Hberty, independence
and constitutional rights.

General Benjamin Harrison, ex-Governor R. M. Bishop and others fol-
lowed in short speeches, and the company separated.

Of this meeting, George Alfred Townsend, in his dispatch to the Cincin-
nati Enquirer, said as follows: " Senator Payne distinguished himself at this
dinner by the copiousness and simphcity of his remarks and character. He
seemed to be a feeble man when he arose, and he is far advanced in Hfe. His
voice was not very clear at first, but his conception was earnest. As he went on
he seemed to take a new life, and broke out in patriotic praise of Ohio and her
sons, among whom he had spent the most of his days. There was a palpable
feeling and tenderness in his words, whidh found responsive chords in all
minds ; and every time he wavered he was called upon to continue.

" Ben Harrison, senator from Indiana, who is a native of Ohio, showed
his metal in a considerable speech, delivered with a vigor and style that carried
to my mind the idea that he was an abler man than his distinguished ancestor,
the President of the United States. In appearance he does not generally
impress people as he goes about the streets, with his head somewhat down and
no particular ' get up ' about him. But when he rises to speak you see that
he is broad-shouldered, full-chested, healthy and strong, square-headed, firmly
planted on his feet, aggressive, loud and incisive — very much of a leader of
men. In all he made the strongest impression of any speaker of the night.

" It occurred to me that the Ohio Society of New York, which the Irish
speaker, SuUivan, fitly characterized as an Irish bull, had better change its
name to the ' Ohio Club,' which is brief and to the purpose, and if it designs
to take rooms in New York it will be the first organization from the West, and
sufficiently indicated by the latter name. One of the originators of the move-
ment said to me : ' In a large city like New York these social organizations are
beginning to have an immense influence, and men can hardly find each other
without some such facility. A good many men join clubs without any other
apparent purpose than to use their letter sheets to write their letters upon, and
thus localize themselves in the metropolis. Therefore,' said my informant, ' the
Ohio Club has a business utility and significance quite as important as it is
friendly in character.' "

It may be a matter of interest for those who have been managing banquet
aff'airs in these later days of prosperity to peruse the report of the entertain-
ment committee made to the Society a short time after the occurrence of this
event. It is as follows :

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" First Annual Banquet of May 7, 1886 —

Delmonico's, 202 plates, at $4.00 $808.00

« Ex.* 904.95

Coat of arms 8.50

Printing and postage 168.68

Telegrams, etc 1.80

Messenger service 4.10

$1,896.03

Tickets sold, 184 at $4.00 $736.00

Sen. H. B. Payne 5.00 741.00

Deficiency $1,155.00

" Twenty subscribers to pay each $57.75.

" Mr. Strong's proposition to pay personally for deficiency was declined
with thanks. Mr. Sullivan moved that the secretary notify the subscribers of
the deficiency and ask a check from each for the same. Carried."

That seems to be the end of the matter so far as the records of the Society
give testimony.

Action was taken by the governing committee from time to time in
placing the rooms on Fifth Avenue in order and in providing for their care.
The chairman was empowered to secure a visitors' register for the rooms, and
the first visitor to place his name upon the record was William Jones, of
Coburg, Canada, introduced by J. J. Slocum, on May 21, 1886.

Mr. Follett moved that the chairman appoint three members to act as
house committee, and that official named Messrs. Moulton, Lee and Pool, and
said committee were instructed to complete the furnishing of the rooms and
make the necessary purchases. The thanks of the Society, on motion of Gren-
eral Swayne, were extended to Mrs. Hannah B. Strong for a handsome copy
of the Bible. The Hon. R. B. Hayes was elected a non-resident member
rather than an honorary member, at his own request.

The first meeting of the Society in the rooms at No. 236 Fifth avenue was
held on June 14, 1886. In the absence of the president, Vice-President W. L.
Strong presided. General Henry L. Burnett, chairman of the governing com-
mittee, reported that the expense of fitting up the rooms so far amounted to
about $1,500. Mr. Howard, chairman of the committee on literature, history
and art, off'ered the following resolution, which was adopted : " Resolved, That
the committee on history and art be requested to assign to suitable members
of this Society appropriate subjects relative to the history of Ohio, with a view

* The " Ex " in this case means " extras." At the last moment it was discovered that
the affair was likely to be " dry," and an order was given by those in charge that obviated
that difficulty.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to having biographical essays or historical papers prepared, to be read at each
monthly meeting of the Society."

Mr. Howard then read a paper relating to some of Ohio's most noted
sons, and, on motion, the same was ordered to be printed.

C. W. Moulton, on behalf of the house committee, stated that a considera-
ble number of newspapers from the state of Ohio had been received for fiHng,
and that a number of other publishers had expressed their willingness to send
their papers soon. Mr. Pool, of the house committee, reported progress in
fitting up the rooms. H. L. Burnett moved that an auditing committee, com-
posed of three members, be appointed by the chair to examine the expenditures
of the governing committee to this time. This was concurred in by Mr. Fogg,
the treasurer, and the chair named John W. Harman, Warren Higley and
Leander H. Crall as such committee.

At the meeting of July 12th this committee made a report to the effect
that they found everything in first-class shape, and took occasion to compli-
ment Colonel Fogg, the treasurer, for tlie neat and handsome manner in which
his accounts were kept, and for the ready manner in which his vouchers were
produced. They characterized his books as a marvel of neatness, and his
accounts as in every way intelHgible.

Mr. Howard, from the committee on history and art, reported the follow-
ing subjects as having been arranged for subsequent meetings, stating that
he expected the reading of these papers would be begun by the August
meeting ;

" The First Settlement at Marietta," Mr. John Q. Mitchell.

" The Second Settlement at Cincinnati," Judge Warren Higley.

" The Administration of Governor Arthur St. Clair," Wilham Henry
Smith.

" Thomas Corwin," General Thomas Ewing.

" The First Constitution of Ohio and Its Framers," General Henry L.
Burnett.

" The Second Constitution of Ohio and the Chief Men Who Made It,"
Algernon S. Sullivan.

" Thomas Ewing and Hocking Hunter," General Wager Swayne.

" The Character and Career of Hiram Powers," James H. Beard.

" The Public Services of Salmon P. Chase," Whitelaw Reid.

It was decided that w'hen the Society should adjourn at the close of this
meeting, it should be until the second Monday in September. On motion, the
president was authorized to extend the thanks of the Society to Mrs. Alice Ber-
nard for a crayon portrait of Hon. John Sherman, and the house committee
were instructed to have it framed.

The first fall meeting of 1886 was held on September 13th, with Presi-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

dent Ewing in the chair. J. Q. Mitchell read a very interesting paper entitled
" The First Settlement at Marietta."

The governing committee were instructed to have this paper, and also
one offered by Mr. Howard, printed in a uniform style, and copies of these
distributed to the members of the Society without delay.

It was at this meeting that the custom of adopting resolutions in honor of
deceased members seems to have been inaugurated.* The chair was instructed
to appoint a committee of three to take action in regard to the decease of
several members of the Society, and appointed J. W. Harman, Warren Higley
and Cyrus Butler. The members who had died were William Hunter and
J. Monroe Brown. The secretary was instructed to write to Judge Manning
F. Force and General Jacob D. Cox, asking them to furnish the Society with
papers on the Mound Builders. At the meeting of October 11th James H.
Beard delivered an interesting address on Hiram Powers, replete with reminis-
cences of art in Ohio in early days, and Mr. Kimball presented the Society with
a history of Stark county.

At the meeting of November 8th General Burnett, on behalf of the gov-
erning committee, stated that preliminary steps had been taken by that com-
mittee to arrange for the next annual banquet. Judge Warren Higley read a
very interesting paper on " The Second Settlement of Ohio at Cincinnati." A
vote of thanks was tendered, and the paper ordered printed, and that copies,
together with those of previously printed papers, be sent to each member as
well as to the representative newspapers of Ohio.

Milton I. Southard offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That
the committee on history and art be requested to examine into and determine
upon the general character and quantity required of such papers as may be
read and printed under the auspices of the Society, and then refer the matter
to the governing committee for printing." It was adopted.

A discussion then occurred concerning the election of officers for the en-
suing year, and a nominating committee of seven were provided for by motion.
On motion of General Burnett, the resolution ordering this committee was
amended in that the nomination and terms of service of members for the gov-
erning committee be also referred to the same committee, with power to act.
The chairman named the following gentlemen as members of the nominating
committee: P. B. Armstrong, Warren Higley, William Henry Smith, Cyrus
Butler, William Ford Upson, J. Q. Howard, William H. Beard.

* Appropriate action has been taken by the Society from time to time upon all its
members who have passed away, and the resolutions and memorials appear in full in the
minutes. It was thought wisest to refer here only to the action taken in exceptional &nd
conspicuous cases.

CHAPTER III
1886

THE first annual meeting of the Ohio Society of New York was held at
the rooms on November 29, 1886. The reports of the various officers
and committees were presented. They form a valuable summary of the
work already accomplished.

That of the governing committee was especially full of data and sugges-
tions, and the most salient portions are here reproduced :

" The by-laws require that the committee shall meet at least once a month,
and provide that five members shall constitute a quorum, except during July,
August and September, when three shall constitute a quorum. The committee
held its first meeting January 16th and its last on November 17th, and during
this eleven months held twenty meetings. The interest of a majority of the
members of the committee in the welfare of the Society and an earnest desire to
discharge with faithfulness and efficiency the duties which had been imposed
upon them by the Society was at all times manifest. At the regular and at
the called meetings there has usually been a good attendance.

" The duties imposed upon the governing committee by the by-laws were
{a) the admission of new members; (b) to control and manage the property
of the Society and enforce obedience to its rules; (c) to make all expenditures
and all contracts on behalf of the Society; and {d) generally to manage the
affairs of the Society, and at regular meetings recommend such action by the
Society as it may deem advisable.

" Our present membership is as follows, viz. : Resident members, 229 ; non-
resident members, 62; total, 291.

" The governing committee, during the y^ear, has passed upon and
elected two hundred and sixty-eight members ; the other twenty-three became
members either by subscribing to the original constitution or by direct action
of the Society.

" The next step taken by the committee in managing the affairs of the
Society was to secure attractive and commodious permanent rooms or head-
quarters for the Society. After careful consideration of the subject and per-
sonal examination of rooms in various localities by several members of the
committee, the present rooms at 236 Fifth avenue were unanimously selected.
On the 13th day of March, 1886, the president and secretary of the Society

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and the chairman of the governing committee, on behalf of the Society, entered
into a written agreement with the Messrs. Everall to lease said rooms for the
term of one year from May 1, 1886, for the sum of $2,250, and the right of
renewal from year to year thereafter for five years at the yearly rental of
$2,500. The committee feel assured that the lease is an excellent one in a
financial point of view for the Societ}', and that the locality is most convenient
and desirable.

" A sub-committee of the governing committee was appointed to take
charge of the repairs, changes and furnishing necessary to fit the rooms for
occupancy. This was accomplished as rapidly as possible and on the 26th of
May a card was issued to the members, notifying them that the rooms were
then substantially in order and ready for the use of members. At the meeting
held on said 26th of May a sub-committee of the governing committee, con-
sisting of Moulton, Pool and Lee, were appointed a house committee, which
should thereafter have special charge of the rooms and make such further
purchases as were necessary to complete the furnishing of the rooms. The re-
port of said committee through its chairman, Colonel Moulton, is hereto ap-
pended and is commended as a very full and complete report of the work of
the house committee in the performance of its duties.

■" The total cost of the furnishing and fitting of the rooms was $1,832.37.
Of this sum about $500 was expended in construction of water-closets, wash-
room, coat-room, ventilators and plumbing work, leaving about $1,300 as the
total cost of furniture, carpets, draperies, etc. ; i.e., in furnishing proper. For
more particular specification of the expenditures, reference is made to the
annual report of the treasurer.

" Of the 291 members elected, 229 were resident members and 62 non-
resident ; 232 have paid both the initiation fee and annual dues and 262 have
paid initiation fee.

" The treasurer reports,on November 20, 1886, the total receipts. $5,755.00
" Of this sum there has been expended under the orders of the gov-
erning committee, for construction and furnishing of rooms. . 1,832.37

" Printing, stationery, etc 652.65

" Rent, attendance and current petty expenses 1,976.45

" Total expenditures $4,461.47

" Leaving balance in hand of treasurer $1,293.53

" The committee estimate that it will require about $4,000 to meet the
actual fixed expenses of the club for the coming year. For the Society to have
an income of this amount there must be 225 certain paying members at $15

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

each, and at least 27 new members paying initiation fee and annual dues of
$25, or the equivalent of tliis in resident and non-resident and new members.

" The committee, by way of suggestion or recommendation, beg to say that
in order to maintain the requisite membership a sustained interest in the
monthly meetings and in the general purposes and objects of the Society must
be manifested by the present members. First: There ought to be a greater
attendance, a more frequent dropping in of the members to the rooms of the
Society afternoons and evenings. It might be well for the Society or govern-
ing committee to designate some special evening each week as Ohio Society
night, w'hen it shall be understood that as many of the members as can possibly
do so will visit the rooms.

" No more attractive feature could possibly be added to the Society rooms
than to fill them comfortably full with the cultivated, able and attractive men
who constitute its membership. ' All place a temple ; all season summer ' where
such men do congregate.

" Then again, while the papers read at our monthly meetings are most
interesting and instructive, are filled and weighty with great truths and his-
toric facts, yet may they not be just a little depressing, from their very pon-
derosity.'' Might it not be weU to lighten a httle the great load of historic
facts, of robust reasoning and massive wisdom shoveled on to the average
intellect on these occasions, by a little music — a sprightly duet or a stirring
glee song? I doubt not we have the talent. Our committee on history, litera-
ture and art might brighten the sombre tints of the evening by a choice recita-
tion or reading. Why can we not have the presence of ladies at our monthly
meetings or semi-monthly meetings ? Their presence would certainly bring into
our rooms Matthew Arnold's vision of ' Sweetness and light.' It has also been
suggested that by concerted arrangement members of the Society, or a large
number, might meet once a week and dine together at INforelli's or some such
place, after the manner of the Twilight Club. The dinner would be good and
moderate in price — not more than a dollar each, without wine — and nothing
would tend more to build up the fraternity of feeling, the good comradeship
and personal attachments among members, which are the best foundations for
Society existence. It might be well also, during the "winter, for the Society to
invite some of our many eminent non-resident members to come here and give
a pubhc lecture or lectures on some burning question of the hour. The ex-
penses could be met by voluntary subscription, and the lectures being of a high
standard, and given under the auspices of the Ohio Society, would give us a
place in the Hterary and intellectual life of our city and time. These sugges-
tions are thrown out for the thoughtful consideration of the Society. To
continue to live as a Society we must be very much alive, and show that we are
worthy to live. « Henry L. Burnett, Chairman Governing Committee."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The following are extracts from the report of the house conunittee re-
ferred to above : " Book cases are becoming necessary, but have not yet been
provided. The supply of newspapers and periodicals is shown by schedule of
superintendent, annexed hereto; dailies, 18; weeklies, 23 — ^total, 41. Of the
above all are contributed. Since last May two hundred visitors have inscribed
their names in a book kept for that purpose, and perhaps as many more called
at the rooms but neglected to register. Ever since the rooms were opened the
interest manifested by members of the Society has fully justified the expendi-
ture incurred in leasing and furnishing these apartments. Your committee
is gratified to be able to report that the property of the Society is in good
order, and with the few additions added there wiU be no necessity for any con-
siderable outlay for house furnishings during the coming year."

The first annual report of the secretary, Homer Lee, was also replete
with information. It will be recalled that at one of the meetings already re-
ported a committee, of which Mr. Lee was a member, was appointed, with in-
structions to prepare a history of the origin of the Society. He apparently
took this occasion to present the information asked for. The report was as
follows :

" New York, November 29, 1886.

" To the memhers of the Ohio Society of New York. Gentlemen : The
secretary begs leave to submit the following sketch of the several attempts at
the formation of societies composed of Ohio men and of the work of the Ohio
Society of New York for the past year :

" The first step of which any record can be found towards establisliing
an Ohio Society was a call printed in the Boston papers on the 25th day of
January, 1786, not quite one hundred and one years ago, when eleven dele-
gates met at the Bunch of Grapes tavern in Boston and organized by electing
General Rufus Putnam president and Winthrop Sargent secretary. This
was undoubtedly the first Ohio Society. It was called the ' Ohio Company of
Associates,' and was intended to promote emigration to Ohio and to develop
that portion of the national domain, then a part of the state of Virginia.

" The next step talcen was at the outbreak of the civil war, when there
was formed in the parlors of one of Ohio's fair daughters residing on Murray
Hill, in this city, a society composed mainly of Ohio ladies and gentlemen,
which held weekly meetings, and which was afterwards known throughout the
land as the Sanitary Fair.

" The object was to send supplies, clothing, medicines, etc., to the soldiers
at the front. A handsome silk and satin banner was made at a cost of some
$500, upon which was a beautifully embroidered coat of arms of the state of
Ohio, to be presented to the bravest Ohio regiment. As might have been
expected, there was much rivalry for the possession of this prize, as glowing

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

descriptions of the beautiful souvenir were given by the newspapers at that
time. The commanding officers were appealed to, but could not be prevailed
upon to decide the question, because, as one officer put it, * It could not easily
be decided which was the bravest where aU the regiments by their valor and
heroism had covered themselves with glory.' At the close of the war the
Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of Cleveland, secured the prize. This, how-
ever, was not carried further, but several members of our Society were among
the number, as follows : William L. Strong, Augustus D. Juilliard, Theron R.
Butler, Albert W. Green, Thomas Reed, A. Jennings, D. M. Porter, Samuel
Hawk, Frank Work, Clinton Work, Joel Reed.

" The Ohio Soldiers' Aid Society was formed about the same time at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, of which Theron R. Butler was elected president and
John R. Cecil treasurer. Committees were appointed to assist all the sick and
wounded soldiers belonging to Ohio regiments, from the army of the Potomac,
that could be found in the hospitals of New York and vicinity. Hundreds of
disabled men were sent home, transportation free. Over $15,000 were ex-
pended in this good work.

" About twenty privates, belonging to a Dayton regiment, were found in
a Jewish hospital uptown, who, true to their Ohio instinct, longed for pork,
which was rather difficult to get at that place, but those in charge, recognizing
their wishes, informed Colonel Strong, chairman of the disbursing committee,
and the result was a splendid feast of Cincinnati pork sent up from Del-
monico's in baskets, which was much enjoyed.

" Upon the occasion of the funeral of the late Honorable Salmon P.
Chase, in 1877, the subject again came up and was warmly discussed by a
large number of Ohioans who were residents of New York at that time, but no
decisive steps were taken. Several of the gentlemen who were the most active
are also members of the Ohio Society. Among them were Henry L. Burnett,
Whitelaw Reid, S. S. Cox, A. S. SuUivan and others.

" Some of the younger Ohioans in New York again endeavored to form
an Ohio Society in the winter of 1874. Several meetings were held at the
Hotel St. Germain, Broadway and Twenty-second street, where they endeav-
ored to put the Buckeye Club on its feet.- This, also, was but a glimmer.
Several of these are likewise among the present members of the Society, viz. :
William M. HofFer, Giles N. Howlett, Henry C. Ehlers, Homer Lee.

*' Still another and last attempt was the one out of which the present
Society sprang. It was rewarded with better success, however, for when a
paper was circulated in this city, about a year ago, to see whether a dozen
Buckeyes could be united on this matter it was found that over thirty re-
sponded, and with such spirit and enthusiasm that there was no longer any
doubt that the time had at last arrived for organization."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Lee's report tlien reproduced the call, already given, and followed
with a brief recital of the facts as given in the record preceding this.

After the presentation of reports the chair announced that the election of
officers and of a governing committee for the ensuing year was in order, and
the following gentlemen were elected: President, Thomas Ewing; vice-presi-
dents, Whitelaw Reid, Wager Swayne, A. S. SuUivan, WiUiam L. Strong,
WilHam Henry Smith; secretary. Homer Lee; recording secretary, John Q.
Mitchell; treasurer, William Perry Fogg; governing committee, three years,
Henry L. Burnett, Andrew J. C. Foye, George FoUett; two years, jfoseph
Pool, John Dickson, William H. Eckert; one year, Charles W. Moulton, S. B.
Elkins, J. J. Slocum. It was ordered that the committee on entertainment and
the history and art committee be increased from seven to nine members.

On December 6, 1886, a special meeting of the Society was held for the
discussion of the question, " On what date was Ohio admitted as a state into the
Federal Union ? " Letters were read from General Ewing and William Henry
Smith, regretting their inability to be present and to participate in the dis-
cussion. Mr. Smith's letter contained a concise argument upon the question
under discussion.

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on December 13th, General
Henry L. Burnett was elected chairman and J. Q. Mitchell secretary for the
coming year. At a meeting of the Society on the same date those present were
entertained by an interesting and instructive paper by William Henry Smith
upon the life and public services of Jeremiah Morrow, once governor of Ohio.

It seems appropriate at this point, the close of 1886, to speak with some
detail of the first manual or year-book of the Society. It was a small paper-
covered pamphlet, about 6 by 4% inches in size, containing twenty-eight
pages, exclusive of the cover.

The title page was as follows :

CONSTITUTION,

BY-LAWS,

OFFICERS AND MEIMBERS

OF THE

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

1886

First Edition

Rooms of the Society :

236 Fifth Avenue,

New York

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The contents comprised a list of the officers of the Society at that time;
announcement as to the location at No. 236 Fifth avenue ; the constitution and
by-laws ; the list of names which are found below ; and the remarks of General
Thomas Ewing upon his election as president of the Ohio Society of New
York at its meeting on January 13, 1886, which remarks are found elsewhere
in connection with the report of that meeting. The list of membership at
the time of pubHcation is herewith given:

LIST OF MEMBERS TO APRIL, 1886, WITH DATES OF THEIR ELECTION.

Resident Members.

Abbey, Henry E.,

Dec. 30, 1885

Bryant, Stanley A.,

April 5, 1886

Allen, Theo. F.,

Dec. 15, 1885

Buckingham, G.,

Dec. 30, 1885

Andrews, W. C,

Dec. 12, 1885

Burnett, Henry L.,

Dec. 15, 1885

Applegate, Chas. H.,

Dec. 14, 1885

Busbey, Hamilton,

March 16, 1886

Armstrong, Geo. E.,

Dec. 12, 1885

Butler, Cyrus,

Dec. 12, 1885

Armstrong, P* B.,

April 5, 1886

Butler, Richard,

Feb. 12, 1886

Ashley, James M.,

March 16, 1886

Cassiday, C. P.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Bartlett, Geo. S.,

April 5, 1886

Chance, Mahlon,

Dec. 14, 1885

Beard, D. C,

Feb. 12, 1886

Chandler, J. M.,

Dec. 12, 1885

Beard, Harry,

Dec. 15, 1885

Clark, Heman,

Dec. 30, 1885

Beard, James C,

Feb. 12, 1886

Comly, G. S.,

Jan. 15, 1886

Beard, J. H.,

Dec. 15, 1885

Convers, E. B.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Beard, T. Frank,

Feb. 12, 1886

Corwine, Quinton,

Dec. 29, 1885

Beard, W. H.,

Dec. 12, 1885

Crall, L. H.,

Dec. 12, 1885

Beasley, A. W.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Delamater, Jehiel,

Dec. 26, 1885

Beckwith, N. Mahlon.

, Feb. 12, 1886

Dickson, John,

April 5, 1886

Beebe, A. 0.,

Jan. 4, 1886

Donaldson, Andrew,

Feb. 12, 1886

Belt, Washington,

Dec. 18, 1885

Doren, D.,

March 8, 1886

Bidwell, Fredric H.,

April 5, 1886

Doyle, G«orge,

April 5, 1886

Bonnet, Jacob N.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Eckert, Thos. T.,

Jan. 22, 1886

Bostwick, J. A.,

April 5, 1886

Eckert, T. T., Jr.,

Jan. 22, 1886

Brainard, Frank,

Feb. 12, 1886

Eckert, Wm. H.,

Jan. 12, 1886

Brainard, W. H.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Edgerton, David M.,

Dec. 12, 1885

Brewster, S. D.,

Dec. 21, 1885

Edwards, J. M.,

Dec. 21, 1885

Brice, Calvin S.,

Dec. 18, 1885

Elkins, Stephen B.,

Dec. 12, 1886

Brown, J. Munroe,

Dec. 20, 1885

Ellis, John W.,

Jan. 4, 1886

Brown, Walston H.,

Jan. 15, 1886

Emerson, N. W.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Brown, W. L.,

Dec. 31, 1885

Enos, H. K.,

Jan. 22, 1886

Bruch, Charles P.,

March 16, 1886

Ewing, Thomas,

Dec. 14, 1885

Brundrett, H. B.,

Feb. 12, 1886

Fleischmann, Max,

Dec. 22, 1885

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Fogg, Wm. Perry,
Follett, Austin W.,
Follett, George,
Foye, A. J. C,
Foye, Frank M.,
French, Hamlin Q.,
Funk, Isaac K.,
GiUette, M. G.,
GiUett, Benjamin W.,
Gillett, Francis M.,
Gillett, Jerome D.,
Gillett, Morillo H.,
Glassford, Henry A.,
Goddard, Calvin,
Gorham, A. S.,
Granger, John T.,
Green, Albert W.,
Green, Edwin M.,
Grojean, J. H.,
Hain, Isaiah,
Hall, Philander D.,
Hammond, D. S.,
Hanford, R. G.,
Hanover, M. D.,
Harbaugh, David F.,
Harman, George V.,
Harman, Granville W
Harman, John W.,
Hawk, William S.,
Heaton, William W.,
Hewson, J. H.,
Hibben, J. H.,
Higley, Warren,
Hine, C. C,
Hoffer, William M.,
Hopkins, L. C,
Howard, James Q.,
Howlett, Giles N.,
Hoyt, Colgate,

* Deceased.

Dec. 10, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 22, 1885
April 5, 1886
Dec. 22, 1885
April 5, 1886
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
March 8, 1886
Dec. 14, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885
Jan. 12, 1886
April 5, 1886

March 16, 1886
Dec. 18, 1885
April 5, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
Dec. 10, 1885
Dec. 16, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885

., Dec. 15, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 21, 1885
Jan. 15, 1886
Dec. 26, 1885

March 16, 1886
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 15, 1885
April 5, 1886
Dec. 14, 1885
Dec. 20, 1885
Jan. 4, 1886

*Hunter, William,
Hunt, John L. N.,
Jennings, P. S.,
Jewett, Hugh J.,
Jewett, W. K.,
Juilliard, A. D.,
Kimball, R. C,
King, Thomas S.,
Knisely, WilUam,
Lahm, Frank M.,
Lake, Carson,
Lauer, E.,
Lawson, D. T.,
Leavitt, John B.,
Lee, Homer,
Lee, W. D.,
Lloyd, William S.,
Mayo, Wallace
McCook, Anson G.,
McCracken, W. V.,
McFadden, F. T.,
McFall, Gaylord,
McGill, George W.,
McGufFey, Edward M.
Miller, Gus M.,
Miller, J. W.,
Mitchell, John Q.,
Monett, Henry,
Moore, Cary W.,
Moore, Lycurgus B.,
Morse, Theodore G.,
Moss, J. O.,
Moulton, Charles W.,
Moulton, Sherman,
Munson, William S.,
Newberry, J. S.,
Newton, Ensign,
Nichol, Thomas M.,
Oberholser,- Jacob,

Dec. 21, 1885
Dec. 22, 1886
Dec. 20, 1885
Dec. 13, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885

Jan. 5, 1886
Dec. 20, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885
Dec. 15, 1885
Dec. 11, 1885
April 5, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
Dec. 10, 1885
April 5, 1886
Dec. 20, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885

Jan. 4, 1886

Dec. 14, 1885

Feb. 12, 1886

April 17, 1886

, April 5, 1886

Dec. 15, 1885

April 5, 1886

Dec. 12, 1885

Jan. 15, 1886

Feb. 25, 1886

March 8, 1886

Jan. 5, 1886
Dec. 10, 1885
Dec. 16, 1885
Feb. 12, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886

Jan. 5, 1886
March 8, 1886

Jan. 4, 1886

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Oldham, J. L.,
Palmer, Lowell M.,
Parker, James,
Peet, W. C,
Peters, Bernard,
Philipp, M. B.,
Pierson, Frank H.,
Peixotto, B. F.,
Pool, Harwood R.,
Pool, Joseph,
Post, Charles A.,
Prentiss, Frederick C.
Prentiss, Frederick J.
Reid, Whitelaw,
RickofF, A. J.,
Ricksecker, Theo.,
Rodarmor, John F.,
Root, E. W.,
Sadler, J. F.,
SafFord, W. M.,
Sayler, Milton,
Schooley, John C,
Schwan, Louis M.,
Scott, George,
Shillito, Wallace,
ShoppeU, R. W.,
Shotwell, Theodore,
Shotwell, William W.

March 16, 1886
Dec. 26, 1885
Feb. 12, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
Dec. 14, 1885
Jan. 20, 1886
April 5, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
Dec. 23, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885
Jan. 10, 1886

, Feb. 12, 1886

, Feb. 12, 1886
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 28, 1885
Dec. 15, 1885
April 5, 1886
Jan. 5, 1886
Jan. 10, 1886
Dec. 16, 1885
Dec. 31, 1885

March 16, 1886

Dec. 18, 1885

March 8, 1886

Feb. 12, 1886

March 16, 1886
Dec. 21, 1885

, Dec. 21, 1885

Slocimi, J. J.,
Smith, John A.,
Smith, William H.,
Southard, Milton L,
Sprague, Charles,
Stout, John W.,
Strong, William L.,
Struble, I. J.,
Sullivan, Algernon S
Swayne, Wager,
Terrell, H. L.,
Thomas, Samuel,
Thyng, Charles H.,
TibdaU, W. L.,
Tunison, Joseph S.,
Upson, WiUiam Ford
Vaillant, George H.,
Waggoner, Ralph H.
Ward, J. Q. A.,
Wells, Joseph,
Wheeler, E. J.,
Whitehead, John,
Wing, Charles T.,
Wing, Frank E.,
Worstell, G. W.,
Worthington, J. W.,
Wright, M. B.,
Wylie, David G.,

Dec. 12, 1885
Jan. 10, 1886
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Dec. 24, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885
Jan. 10, 1886

, Dec. 15, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 18, 1885
Dec. 31, 1885
Dec. 20, 1885

March 16, 1886
Dec. 22, 1885
Dec. 14, 1885
Dec. 21, 1885
Mar. 16, 1886
Dec. 22, 1885
April 5, 1886
Feb. 12, 1886
March 8, 1886
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 12, 1885
Dec. 30, 1885
Feb. 12, 1886
April 5, 1886
Jan. 15, 1886

Elected April 28, 1886.

Atkinson, W. H.,
Buckingham, C. L.,
Critten, T. D.,
DeWitt, Henry R.,
Fairbanks, Chas. W.,
Fawcett, J. C,
Griffith, G. F.,
Howell, William D.,

April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886

Kidd, George W.,
Loveland, F. C,
Morgan, Henry M.
Pritchard, Daniel,
Seigfried, A. H.,
Townsend, Amos,
Work, Frank,

April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886
April 28, 1886

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Non-Resident Members.

Allison, William B., March 16, 1886 Long, J. A., April 5, 1886

Washington, D. C. Akron, O.

Arms, CD., April 17, 1886 Loud, Enos B., March 16, 1886

Youngstown, O. Paris, France.

Barber, A. L., April 5, 1886 Matthews, Stanley, April 5, 1886

Washington, D. C. Washington, D. C.

Beardslee, John B., April 15, 1886 McBride, John H., April 17, 1886

Mt. Vernon, O. Cleveland, O.

Card, Henry P., April 5, 1886 Means, WOliam, April 5, 1886

Cleveland, O. Cincinnati, O.

Cooper, Wilham C, Payne, Henry B., April 5, 1886

Mt. Vernon, O. Washington, D. C.

Dale,T.D., April 17, 1886 Plumb, P. B., March 16, 1886

Marietta, O. Washington, D. C.

Dawes, E.C., April 15, 1886 Powell, J. H., March 16, 1886

Cincinnati, O. Urbana, O.

Dayton, L.M., April 17, 1886 Reinmund, H. J., April 5, 1886

Cincinnati, O. Lancaster, O.

Ford, George, April 17, 1886 Robison, David, Jr., March 16, 1886

Youngstown, O. Toledo, O.

Foster, Charles, April 5, 1886 Sherman, John, April 5, 1886

Fostoria, O. Washington, D. C.

Geddes, George W., March 16, 1886 Sterl, O. W., April 5, 1886

Washington, D. C. Rutland, Vt.

Goodrich, B. F., April 5, 1886 Upson, William H., April 5, 1886

Akron, O. Akron, O.

Hale, Harvey W., April 5, 1886 Van Tine, H. C, March 16, 1886

Wilmington, O. Baltimore, Md.

Hanna, Marcus A. March 16, 1886 Waite, Morrison R., April 5, 1886

Cleveland, O. Washington, D. C.

Jones, John P., March 16, 1886 Wick, Caleb B., April 17, 1886

Washington, D. C. Youngstown, O.

Kimball, William C, April 17, 1886 Wick, Henry K., April 5, 1886

Tiffin, O. Youngstown, O.

CHAPTER IV

1887

THE first official action of 1887 was taken on January 4th, at a meeting
of the governing committee, when the chairman appointed a house com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Moulton, Lee and Slocum, to serve the en-
suing year. Colonel Fogg, acting with the house committee, was directed to
prepare and cause to be printed a circular letter in the form of an application
for non-resident membership, to be widely distributed among those eligible for
such membership. The house committee was instructed to prepare and have
printed cards of invitation to visitors. The secretary was directed to cause to
be kept in the rooms a bulletin of the arrivals in the city of Ohio people.

The first meeting of the Society for 1887 was held on January 10th.
Attorney-General Kohler favored the gathering with remarks upon the pres-
ent prosperity and prospects of the state of Ohio.

On motion of Mr. Butler, the Society voted to hold a ladies' reception
on the evening of January 31st, and a special committee was appointed to
arrange for the same, consisting of Messrs. Butler, Burnett and Upson.

There was a gratifying attendance of members of the fairer sex on the
occasion named. One of the features of the entertainment provided was
an original poem of ten stanzas, dedicated to " The Boys of the Ohio Society
of New York," by its author. Prof. J. C. Zachos. The tone and tenor may be
judged from the opening and concluding stanzas, which were as follows :

" I greet you all, Ohio Boys,
Reminders of my youthful joys,
When games, and school, and college toys

Filled up the fresh, young hfe:
I take your hand in friendship's grasp,
For cordial love and faithful clasp,

In manhood's noble strife.

" And thus we give the manly grasp.
Unselfish, in our friendship's clasp.
Where faith and love we find ;
We'll take each other by the hand,
Ohio's sons — fraternal band —
Where'er we find them in the land,
And love them for their kind."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" The Buckeye Tree " was another original poem prepared for the occa-
sion, and was read by its author, Cyrus Butler. Of the seven decidedly
unique stanzas, the first three are reproduced:

" A wonderful plant is the Buckeye Tree — In O-hi-o, in 0-hi-o !

" A decidedly deciduous tree,
Umbrageous to a prodigious degree — ^In O-hi-o, in O-hi-o!

" An exogenous, horse-chestnutty tree,
That grows and that blooms spontaneouslee,
As the botanist all over can see — In O-hi-o, in O-hi-o."

" Pandora's Message," a third poem, accompanied by the presentation
of " gifts," " amulets " and " blessings," completed the entertainment of
the evening.

The question was taken up in the meeting of February 14th as to the
character of the annual banquet of 1887, and on motion of Judge Higley
the matter was referred to a committee of arrangements, with instructions to
select a date as soon after the close of the Lenten season as practicable, con-
sisting of the following named gentlemen: Samuel Thomas, C. W. Moulton,
J. A. Bostwick, A. W. Green, Joseph Pool, A. J. C Foye, Homer Lee,
W. L. Strong, Judge Higley, General Ewing and General Burnett.

Col. C. W. Moulton, on behalf of the artist, Miss Marion Foster, pre-
sented to the Society a crayon portrait of Gen. Tliomas Ewing, and Colonel
Fogg was directed to extend to the donor the warm thanks of the Society
for her gift, and assurances of its grateful acceptance, and also to have the
picture suitably framed.

The Society was favored with an instructive historical address by Gen-
eral Eaton, of Marietta College, and a very interesting speech by Col. A. L.
Conger. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Chance, Peixotto and Upson,
was appointed to procure for the Society portraits of some of Ohio's eminent
men. T!he question of providing for the Society a memorial album, and the
portraits and autographs of its members, was referred to the art committee.
A committee, consisting of Judge Higley, R. Harwood Pool, Carson Lake,
Homer Lee and John Q. Mitchell, was appointed to make the necessary ar-
rangements for a second ladies' reception, to be held on the last Monday
evening in February.

The gentlemen entrusted with this pleasant task set themselves to work
immediately, and succeeded in securing the consent of the following named
ladies to act as a reception committee: Mrs. C. W. Moulton, Mjrs. Joseph
Pool, Mrs. J. Q. Howard, Mrs. W. L. Strong, Mrs. A. J. C. Foye, Mrs. M. I.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Southard. A notice was sent to the members notifying them that the evening
of February 28th had been set aside for the gathering, and adding : " The
success of the first Ladies' Night gives confidence in the success of those to
follow; and the committee takes pleasure in announcing that arrangements
have been made for the next one, which promises many good things. Tickets,
admitting gentleman and two ladies, are one dollar each. Your presence is
respectfully requested."

A further announcement was made that among the distinguished Ohioans
who had kindly consented to contribute to the pleasure of the evening were:
Mme. Eugenie de Roode, the pianist ; Mrs. Ehza Archard Connor, of the Am.
Press Association; Mrs. Harriet Webb, the elocutionist; Mr. Wilbur Gunn,
Miss Belle Cole, and Mrs. Marion Wilcox. Also that the following artists
would contribute paintings: Albert Bierstadt, Edgar M. Ward, G. D. M.
Peixotto, J. O. Davidson, J. H. Beard, S. J. Guy, Miss Belle Smith, and
others.

The following were among the invited guests: Gen. and Mrs. W. T.
Sherman and Miss Sherman, Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton, Mrs. Lucretia R. Gar-
field and family, ex-Gov. and Mrs. Hoadly, Col. and Mrs. C. O. Rockwell,
Col. and Mrs. Fred D. Grant, Hon. John W. Bookwalter, Hon. Howard
Douglas. A collation was to be served by MoreUi.

The anticipations of the committee in charge seem to have been fully
realized. In an account of their stewardship, rendered to the Society under
date of March 14th, they say: " The number present was estimated at two
hundred and fifty, which the committee deemed quite satisfactory in view
of the fact that the Lenten season was in full force, and the first Ladies'
Night had occurred but a month before.

" The committee was especially fortunate in securing the hearty con-
tributions of song, of music, of recitation, of address, from the following
well-known artistes, whose rendition of their several numbers elicited the
highest commendation of those present: Mr. Wilbur Gunn, Mrs. Harriet
Webb, Mme. Eugenie de Roode, Marion Wilcox and Eliza Archard Connor.

" Excellent works of art were kindly loaned by George D. M. Peixotto,
S. J. Guy, Homer Lee, Cyrus Butler, Carson Lake, J. H. Beard, Rev. Jared
B. Flagg, Richard Butler, W. H. Beard and Isabella Smith, and were artisti-
cally hung under the kind supervision of Mr. Cyrus Butler."

All bills were reported paid and a small surplus left in the hands of the
committee. The programme of the evening, and the list of pictures on ex-
hibition, were as follows:

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

1. Tenor Solo,

2. Reading,

3. Piano Solo,

4. SoPEANO Solo,

5. Address,

6. Duet,

PROGRAMME.

" Tell Her I Love Her So."
Wilbur Gunn

The Women of Mumbleshead."
Mrs. Harriet Webb

" Grande Polonaise."
Mme. Eugenie de Roode

"La Fiorga."
Marion Wilcox

" The Ohio Woman."
Eliza Archard Connor

" A Night in Venice."
Marion Wilcox, Wilbur Gunn

DeFaye

Clement Scott

F. Liszt

Bevignani

Arditi

ARTIST.

George D. M. Peixotto,
do

S. J. Guy,

J. O. Davidson,

Magnus Von Bagge,

do
Albert Bierstadt,
C. E. Proctor,
J. H. Beard,

W. H. Beard,
A. F. Tait,
George H. Hall,
W, H. Beard,

Isabella Smith,
do
do

CATALOGUE.

SUBJECT.

LOANED BY

" Portrait,"

" Alice in Wonderland,"

A Study

" Open Your Mouth and Shut

Your Eyes,"

" Constitution and Guerrier," Homer Lee.

" Midnight Moon, Norwegian ^ ^ -p ,,
-r^ . n .« v^yrus Jtiutler.

Fjord," -^

Artist,
do

" Romsdal Valley, Nonvay,"

" Green Mountains,"

Carson Lake.

" Old Tokay,"

" Queer, Ain't It.? "

Artist.

" Ideal Head,"

Rev. Jared B. ]

" Misplaced Confidence,"

Richard Butler.

" Adirondack Deer,"

" Study of Grapes,"

" The Inquest,"

Artist.

" Faded Beauty,"

"Portrait:— Lady,"

" Portrait:— Gentleman,"

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on March 10th, the
resolution that follows was adopted :

"Whereas, a number of editors in the state of Ohio have very kindly
and generously furnished their papers to be placed on file in the rooms of the
Society for the use of its members, be it therefore,

"Resolved, That in recognition of their courtesy and generosity, the
secretary of tliis committee be instructed to notify the gentlemen thus con-
tributing their papers, that all the privileges of non-resident membership in
this Society are hereby extended to them, and that copies of all notices of
meetings and publications of the Society in future be sent to their addresses."
It was ordered that the house committee should be increased from three
members to five. Andrew J. C. Foye and John Dickson were selected as the
two additional members.

The March meeting of the Society was held on the 14!th. General
Burnett, chairman of the governing committee, recommended the renewal
for one year of the lease under which the Society occupied its present quar-
ters. The chairman of the annual banquet committee reported that April
21st had been selected as the most suitable date for the banquet, and that
the committee had decided to invite the ladies. The Society was favored by
ex-Gov. George Hoadly in a brief speech.

Mr. Chance, chairman, read a report from the special committee ap-
pointed to procure for the Society portraits of Ohio's distinguished men.
The report was accepted and the committee continued. The document pre-
sented was as follows:

" The committee appointed at the last meeting of the Society, to obtain
the portraits of eminent and distinguished sons of Ohio, for this Society, beg
leave to submit the following: As the rooms of this Society are limited, the
space would not accommodate a tithe of those deserving to adorn our walls ;
and for this reason, if for no other, there must be some discrimination in
their selection. Representative men should be chosen, and we do not feel like
taking this responsibility without conference and the concurrence of the
Society. We would suggest that the first efforts should be made to secure
the portraits of those men who have achieved a national reputation and a
world-wide fame, whose names are household words throughout the length and
breadth of the land. List of names:

" 1. The four presidents of the United States, Wm. Henry Harrison,
Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield.

" 2. General Sherman, General Sheridan, General James B. McPherson.
" 3. Chief Justices Salmon P. Chase and Morrison R. Waite, Associate
Justices John McLean and Noah H. Swayne.
" 4. Edwin M. Stanton.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" 5. Vice-President Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin F. Wade, Thomas
Ewing, Thomas Corwin, John Sherman and Allen G. Thurman.

" 6. The Governors of the state of Ohio and ex-Governors of the state.

" The Presidents of the Ohio Society of New York.

" There will be many difficulties and delays in securing these portraits,
and we have no doubt by the time this list is placed the Ohio Society will
have grown to such magnificent proportions and enlarged its facilities that we
can take care of many more than these named.

" There is a long line of senators, representatives, soldiers and jurists,
eminent sculptors, poets, divines, scholars and writers that we should honor:
but it would be impossible to put upon our walls the portraits of the smallest
proportion of those we could obtain, and in the invitations or withholding
invitation to gentlemen equally distinguished in service there might arise a
feeling of unjust discrimination. There are man}'^ who might not contribute,
but there are certain things, like custom, more honored in the breach than in
the observance, and in this care should be taken not to offend sensibilities
or prejudice the Society.

" The committee desire to say that in the selection of portraits a reason-
able degree of uniformity as to size and so forth should be indicated to the
donors.

" Respectfully submitted,

" Mahlon Chance,
" Wm. Ford Upson,

" Committee.'"

On motion of Judge Higley, George D. M. Peixotto was authorized to
paint for the Society a portrait of Chief Justice Waite.

The session of April 11th was enlivened by a notice from Colonel Moulton,
on behalf of the governing committee, that an amendment to the by-laws
would be offered at the next meeting, forbidding any reception committee
of the Society from expending more than the receipts. A present of the
statutes of Ohio, from the beginning of its organization to the year 1852,
and a copy of the code of 1853, was received from John M. Giiiteau, Esq.,
and a vote of thanks was extended to the donor. A loan, for an indefinite
period, of an oil portrait of Thomas Ewing was received from Colonel and
Mrs. Moulton, which was accepted by the president, Gen. Thomas Ewing, in
behalf of the Society, in a brief speech, giving an interesting history of the
picture and attesting its value as a portrait. The following resolution was
unanimously adopted :

" Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York hereby expresses to Mrs.
Col. C. W. Moulton its high sense of appreciation for the loan of the original

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

portrait of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, whose illustrious services in the councils
of the state and nation have made his memory dear to every American heart;
and,

** Resolved^, That the Society will safely guard this portrait, in trust,
and while hoping that the trust may be made perpetual, will surrender it to
Mrs. Col. Moulton whenever that gracious lady shall request its return."

The second annual festal gathering of the Society was held on the even-
ing of Thursday, April 21st, 1887. The committee of arrangements having
the matter in charge consisted of the following gentlemen : Henry L. Burnett,
Thomas Ewing, William L. Strong, Warren Higley, Samuel Thomas, J. A.
Bostwick, C. W. Moulton, Homer Lee, Albert W. Green, Joseph Pool, Andrew
J. C. Foye. They were assisted by the following ladies: Mesdames Thomas
Ewing, George Hoadly, William L. Strong, Henry L. Burnett, Algernon S.
Sullivan, Anson G. McCook, Samuel Thomas, Wallace C. Andrews, Calvin S.
Brice, Stephen B. Elkins, Joseph Pool and Miss Green.

The affair was a success in the widest acceptance of the term. This was
vouched for publicly in one of the leading newspapers of the succeeding
morning,"* which said : " The Ohio Society of New York celebrated its first
anniversary at Delmonico's about a year ago, with a highly successful dinner.
This year the members gallantly determined to give their wives, daughters
and sweethearts a share in the festivities. So the dinner, with its set speeches,
was given up and a reception, ball and supper substituted. Gen. Thomas
Ewing made a speech of welcome, standing on a little platform in the ball-
room, amid the patronesses and chaperons, while the younger people waited for
the mbusic and the forming of the first quadrille. But beyond that everything
was an easy, pleasant come-and-go, with hand-shakings and talk in the re-
ception rooms, lounging or walking in the corridors, and short, varied dances
in the big ball-room. Supper was served in one of the small dining-rooms
soon after midnight. There was no regular cotillon."

The ball-room was gaily decorated with plants and flowers. Bunches of
red or white roses hung in the spaces on the walls between the mirrors, and in
each comer was a mass of palms, through which pushed the top branches of
a buckeye tree just about to bud. The music gallery was trimmed in wreaths,
and there were festoons of flowers from window to window on the north and
south ends of the room.

The buckcj^e tree had been sent on for the reception by^ the citizens of
Findlay, Ohio. There was a card tied about a stem of the tree on which a
long and, perhaps, jocose dedication was written. The tree, it was said, had
come from good buckeye soil, for 1,100 feet beneath the surface where the

* New York Tribune, April 22, 188T.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

horse chestnuts grew, an inexhaustible supply of high pressure natural gas
was met with.

The first guests began to arrive at about half-past eight o'clock, and
the reception proper lasted until nearly ten.

President Thomas Ewing and ]Mrs. Algernon Sullivan led the march out
into the ball-room. Lander's orchestra played a lively air while the big pro-
cession made a turn or two, and as the seats about the hall began to fill and
the crowd from the outside pushed in on the smooth floor. General Ewing
stepped out a little from the corner, where the reception committee had its
quarters under the buckeye tree, to give a brief speech of welcome. He talked
rather than spoke, in fact, turning his sentences off lightly and familiarly.
This is what he said:

" Ladies and Gentlemen : In the name of the Ohio Society of New York
I cordially bid you welcome to its second annual reunion. It celebrated its
first by a dinner at Delmonico's nearly a year ago, when its career had as
yet scarcely begun. We then went through the round of champagne and
oratory common to men's societies in New York. The speaking was, in our
opinion, especially excellent — almost every orator being a candidate for the
presidency, and doing his level best.

" To-night we intend to steer clear of politics and break all precedents
by having a banquet and ball and a good social time with our wives and
daughters. We can aff'ord to be peculiar. We did not organize this Society
after an Eastern pattern. We are not perishing to be considered ' in good
foiTDi,' but we are willing to be a little odd if we can have a pleasanter re-
union by it. As for the oratory, in view of our acknowledged success of last
year, we will forego it at this reunion, if only to give the New England Society
a chance to catch up.

" A year ago last January our Society was founded. It began with one
hundred and fifteen members and now has four hundred. Its two informal
social receptions, which were graced by the presence of many of the wives
and daughters of our members, served to strengthen interest in it and add
largely to its membership. Our rooms are becoming small for our numbers,
and the time is not distant when we shall need more commodious quarters. It
requires but a continuance of the interest heretofore shown to insure the per-
manent foundation of the Society in a building of its own, supported by a
membership of double our present number.

" While I have the pleasure of looking into the bright and beautiful
faces of the ladies before me, I wish to ask them for their help in building up
the Society. We have to thank some of them for valued contributions to
our rooms already made, and others for contributions promised. Any gifts
or loans of portraits of eminent Ohio men or women, books of history, biog-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

raphy, or general literature, especially if connected in any manner with our
state, will be welcomed. We are founding a library in which is already col-
lected more of the history of Ohio than can be seen in most of the great
libraries of the East. Send us books — our shelf-room is ample and wiU be
enlarged to keep up with the contributions. We are also having historical
and biographical papers prepared by members and read before the Society,
some of which have been published. We would be most happy to have
sketches of the lives of memorable Ohio women, read to us in person or by
proxy, by any who may find it convenient and agi'eeable to do such work.

" The glory of the state is due to the virtues and talents of her women,
equally with her men. Great men generally have mothers of great character,
who are themselves born of great men of the preceding generation. Many of
the daughters of the foremost leaders of the Revolution were mothers of
heroes of the Civil War. Nature thus distributes high qualities between the
sexes, turn about, and with an even hand. To preserve and transmit the en-
vironments, the achievements and the characteristics of the men and women
who have placed Ohio in the front rank of states, and to do all that can best
be done in fostering a just pride in her and a friendly intercourse among her
absent children, are among the objects of our Society, and surely it is as
appropriate to look for help to the daughters as to the sons of Oliio.

" This is an era of innovation in all things. I tliink no Hne of inno-
vation more desirable to pursue than in bringing together men and women
of character and culture, in social reunions founded on common sympathies,
rather than on the accidents which establish the circles of modern society.
Of course, a good-hearted, refined and intelligent woman is always charming,
no matter whether she come from Europe or America, Ohio or New York.
But if she comes from Ohio and knows of its history, its pubHc characters, or
its social Hfe, I confess that I hke to meet her all the better, for then we have
a hundred ties in common, and are friends from the outset. We rush away
every summer, and often in winter, by a sort of imperative impulse, largely to
get out of the ruts of our social sets, and we breathe freer for meeting new
people and touching elbows with mankind. Our views and sympathies ex-
pand and we come back to our little circle and feel cramped as we settle down
in it. When I attend a meeting of the Oliio Society, and talk with the men
coming from all parts of the state, talk of their counties and towns, their
social life, their pohtics, their industries, and the people past and present
associated with them, I come away feeling as if I had made a leisurely visit
around Ohio; for, after all, its men and women are the state, while its
scenery is only associated with their lives and actions.

" Ohio had an early history of peculiar trial and hardship, and out of
them came its greatness. It was settled by poor men and women, stripped by

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the long war of the Revolution of all their possessions, except hope and
courage. They braved perils of savage men and beasts rarely known in the
settlement of other states. In my youth I often heard from the now silent
lips of women of that era, from the accomplished and charming Mrs. General
Goddard, of Zanesville; Mrs. King, of Lancaster; Mrs. Morgan, of Cham-
paign county, and from my father's sisters, tales of heroism of Oliio women,
which seemed to me loftier and finer than any of the published tales of the
frontier. I have a recent letter from a kinswoman in Westfield, N. J., tell-
ing me of a visit made to Cumberland count}'^, in that state, in the year 1789,
by a lady from the Northwest Territory, who came here to see her parents and
relatives. Slie was the wife of a soldier of the Revolution who had emigrated
to the far West after the war was ended. She had made the long journey
from the Ohio, over river and mountain, by flood and fell, through an almost
trackless wilderness, on horseback, alone, carrying a boy baby in her arms.
I know you will pardon me the vanity of saying that that lady was my grand-
mother and the baby my father.

" There are hundreds of like instances of dauntless love among the
women who early settled the Northwest, wliich are worthy to become historic.
Must the memory of their high virtues perish because displayed only by
women and in the wilderness.? And can we not find among us women's pens
and tongues to revive and tell these stories of love and patriotism to our
Society, and through it to the world?

" Come, then, Ohio women of New York, meet Ohio men in these re-
unions and help us to lay broad and deep the foundations of this Society,
which will cultivate fellowship among Ohio's sons and daughters here, and
keep alive the memory of all that has made our state worthy of the love and
pride of her children.

" And now, after the welcome and exhortation, which I am sure you
will applaud me for stopping, let the dance and banquet begin."

There was a round of warm applause as General Ewing closed. Tlien
the band stinick up a quadrille air from " Erminie " and the floor was soon
filled with dancers. General Sherman came in late from the Twelfth regi-
ment reception, but quickly got into the dances. There were sixteen of these
on the programme, carrying the gayeties far through the supper and be-
yond into the morning.

The statement was made at the meeting of May 11th, by General Bur-
nett, chairman of the banquet committee, that the reception of the Society
was a pleasant success ; that the receipts of the committee from tlie sale of
tickets were $972, and that the total expense was $1,139, an excess of $167
over the receipts.

On motion of Colonel Strong, a committee consisting of General Ewing,

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

General Burnett, Colonel Moulton, J. Q. Howard and Judge Higley were
appointed to select a date on which the annual celebration of the Society
should in future be held. The name of Colonel Strong was added to this
committee. It was decided that the monthly meetings of the Society in July
and August should be omitted.

A paper entitled, " Gai-field, the Statesman," was read by Mr. Howard
at the meeting of June 13th, and remarks were made by Dr. Zachos, General
Burnett, Colonel Moulton and Colonel Loveland.

The quiet of the mid-summer of 1887, when the Society was officially
taking its long vacation, was pleasantly intennipted by an invitation from the
Fall of Babylon Amusement Co. to witness the performance of " the Fall," at
St. George, Staten Island, on Thursday evening, July 21st. This invitation
had been accepted and it was determined in connection therewith to take
dinner at the Casino, adjoining the grounds of the performance, on that
evening. All members of the Society and their friends, including ladies, were
cordially invited. The call was signed by President Ewing and seventeen
other members, constituting a committee of arrangements. As the inclemency
of the weather prevented the exhibition on the date named it was postponed
to Wednesday evening, July 27th.

Two hundred of the members and their wives and daughters sat down
to dinner in the Casino on the evening last named. Algernon S. Sullivan,
a vice-president, in the absence of General Thomas Ewing, president of the
Society, was seated at the centre of the presiding officer's table. At his right
was Senator Plumb, of Kansas, and at his left General Wager Swa3me.
IViahlon Chance, Wm. Perry Fogg, Judge Warren Higley and Major H. A.
Glassford occupied prominent places near the chairman. At the other tables
were: W. H. Eckert, Thomas Ewing, Jr., and Miss Ewing, Dr. J. C. Zachos
and Miss Zachos, Col. C. W. Moulton, Washington Belt, ex-Gov. George
Hoadly, Gen. H. L. Burnett, Homer Lee, Carey W. Moore, Cyrus Butler,
A. J. C. Foye, J. Q. Mitchell, George Follett, John W. Stout, Capt. J. P.
Walker, United States Army; J. J. Struble, F. W. Steriing, Col. W. L.
Strong, C. C. Shayne, Colonel Slocum, J. Q. Howard, J. H. Bunnell, A. W.
Follett, C. H. Applegate, J. M. Guiteau, Amos A. Bard, Jerome D. Gillett,
Colgate Hoyt, Col. Colin Goddard, M. I. Southard, Calvin S. Brice, Joseph
Pool, Sherman Moulton, L. H. Crall, Carson Lake and David Pritchard.
Fully one-third of the seats were occupied by ladies.

When justice had been done to the dinner, Mr. Sullivan called the Society
to order, and after expressing regret at the absence of General Ewing, con-
gratulated his fellow-Ohioans upon the wonderful growth and progress of
the Society, and Introduced as a distinguished son of Ohio, Senator Plumb.
He was received with applause, and his speech throughout was greeted with

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

laughter and cheers. The Senator said that it was usually accepted as a
truth that his state had been settled by New England men, and that they were
the people who had braved the dangers of that period. He wished to correct
the mistake. The pioneers of Kansas were from Ohio. For any one New
Englander at or about Lawrence in those trying timies, he had found five
Ohioans. Ohio has taken possession of the West. After she had succeeded
in putting things in shape out there, she would be found turning her atten-
tion to the effete East. New Yorkers would discover that next to governing
themselves it would be desirable for them to be governed by Ohio men and
in acordance with " the Ohio idea." Then, the Senator said, Kansas was com-
ing East, and both Ohio and New England influence would disappear from
here altogether.

M!r. Sullivan next introduced General Swaync, one of the vice-presidents
of the Society, who said that this was the centennial year of the Ohio Society.
The origin of the Ohio Society, he said, was in 1787, when leading officers of
the Revolutionary army banded themselves together in an association for the
settlement of the Ohio territory. They sent delegates to Congress and appealed
to that body for the enactment of an ordinance the very language of which
is now incorporated in the United States Constitution, in the Xlllth Amend-
ment, providing that " neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as
a punishment for crime," should ever exist in all the Northwest Territory.
As a result of this action of this Ohio Society, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wis-
consin became free states. It was the centennial of this society that was
now being celebrated.

The next speaker was Mahlon Chance, who, Mr. Sullivan said, was one
of the veterans present at the fall of Babylon. Mr. Chance gave a humorous
historical sketch of the fall of the ancient city, at the conclusion of which the
Society adjourned to view the spectacular display. A pleasant breeze made
the weather on Staten Island delightful and refreshing, and the guests re-
turned to the city highly gratified with the success of the entertainment.

At the first meeting in the fall (1887), held on September 12th, a
matter of more than passing moment was taken up for consideration.

As has been shown in connection with one of the early meetings
of the Society, the idea of a clubhouse, or permanent home of its own,
was suggested as one of the means by which the organization could be made
most effective in the service of its members. The idea had come to the front
again and again in consultations among the Ohioans, and to a certain extent
had been carried to realization in the temporary home now occupied on Fifth
avenue. It seemed to many of the active workers that the time had now come
to take steps toward the purchase or erection of a clubhouse that should be the
property of the Society.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

At the meeting above mentioned this question of purchasing propert}'^ for
the use of the Society was presented by Judge Higley and discussed by a
number of the members. A motion was made by Judge Higley that a com-
mittee of five be appointed, with instructions to take the matter into considera-
tion. It was taken up and considered from time to time, but no action of a
permanent nature resulted.

At the meeting of October 12th the president announced the following
committee for the nomination of officers for the ensuing year: A. W. Follett,
J. D. GiUett, H. R. Pool, Leander H. Crall, William Ford Upson, H. A. Glass-
ford and J. W. Stout.

The chairman of the committee appointed to recommend a ticket to be
voted for at the succeeding election reported, on November 14th, the follow-
ing: President, Thomas Ewmg; vice-presidents, Whitelaw Reid, Wager
Swayne, Algernon S. Sullivan, Charles W. Moulton, George Hoadly; secre-
tary. Homer Lee; recording secretary, John Q. Mitchell; treasurer, William
Perry Fogg; members of the governing committee, Charles T. Wing, Henry
K. Enos and L. C. Hopkins.

It was moved b}'^ Mr. Nye that a committee of eight be appointed to
determine and report action to be taken by the Society relative to the centennial
celebration of the first settlement of Ohio, to be held at Marietta, Ohio, April
6th, 7th and 8th, 1888. The motion was carried, and General E^ving, Homer
Lee, W. L. Strong, Bernard Peters, Colonel Moulton, Henry Monett and
Theo. S. Nye were appointed as that committee. Gen. Wager Swayne was
subsequently added.

A special committee of six were appointed to make the necessary arrange-
ments for the ladies' reception, to be held in the rooms of the Society early in
December, and it was further ordered that hereafter at each monthly meeting
a similar committee be appointed to arrange for a like reception on the last
Monday evening of the month. Messrs. Harwood R. Pool, Marshall Halstead,
Charles P. Bruch, Warren Higley, John Q. Mitchell and Theo. Ricksecker
were appointed as a committee to arrange for the receptioni in December.

The annual meeting of 1887 was held on November 29th. The annual
reports were presented and the election of officers called for. The nominees
proffered by the official committee, as above given, were elected, except that
William Ford Upson was made recording secretary in place of John Q.
Mitchell.

While the election was in progress a committee was appointed to invite
Senator John Sherman, a non-resident member of the Society, who was at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, to visit the rooms. Senator Sherman on his arrival was
greeted with loud applause, and after a brief interchange of greetings with
acquaintances was formally presented to the Society by Colonel William L.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Strong. The Senator made a brief speech of thanks, congratulating the
Society upon its prosperous condition. As he had other engagements, he left
the rooms after a brief visit.

The governing committee held its first meeting after the above election
on December Sd. Nominations for chairman for the ensuing year being in
order, Henry L. Burnett was unanimously chosen to preside over the committee
for the next term. General Burnett stated that his business engagements
would not permit his serving, and that having already devoted much valuable
time to the Society, he hoped that some other member would be willing to
assume the position and that he be relieved from the responsibility.

The committee were unanimous in requesting him to reconsider his de-
cision and continue in the office. It was only after their repeated solicitations
that he accepted the position again, upon consideration, however, that he would
have the privilege of resigning when the Society should become an incorporated
body. William Ford Upson, the recording secretary, was appointed secretary
of the governing committee for the year.

It was ordered that thereafter no resignation of a member should be
accepted by the governing committee until the treasurer should report, or it be
otherwise ascertained, that the said member was not in arrears for the current
year.

It was also decided that three members chosen from the nine members of
the governing committee should be appointed a house committee. The chair-
man appointed the following gentlemen : Joseph Pool, A. J. C. Foy'e and John
Dickson.

A special meeting of the Society was held on December 6th for the pur-
pose of taking appropriate action relative to the death of Algernon S. Sulli-
van, lately one of its vice-presidents. Appropriate resolutions were adopted,
and speeches eulogistic of the deceased member were made. A committee of
twenty-five, in addition to the officers of the Society, were appointed to repre-
sent the organization at the funeral.

When the Society assembled on December 12th, General Burnett moved

Note. — A pleasant comment as to the status of the Ohio Society at this date is fur-
nished in the following from " The Earth," a New York City publication, date of December
8, 1887: "Of the eighty-eight counties of Ohio, forty-eight are represented in the Society.
Cincinnati and Marietta, the oldest settlements, have the largest number of members, being
55; Cleveland comes next, with 25; Toledo, 9; Columbus, 8; Youngstown, 7; Mansfield, 6;
Akron, Springfield and Mt. Vernon, 4 each; Canton, Massillon, Steubenville and Mt. Gilead,
3 each; Daji:on, Urbana, Painesville, Granville, Lima, Wilmington and Zanesville, -2 each;
Hamilton, Cuyahoga Falls, Chagrin Falls, Georgetown, the birthplace of Grant; Fremont,
the home of Hayes; Nottingham, Lancaster, the birthplace of the Shermans and the Ewings;
Ottawa, Clarkesville, Chillicothe, the first seat of government; London, Tifiin, the home of
Ohio's first governor; Maplewood, Norwalk, Salem, Fostoria, Oxford, Circleville, the home
of the mound builders; Piqua, the camping ground of Tecumseh; Fletcher, West Jeiferson,
Berlin Heights, Wooster, Williamsburgh and Leesburgh, 1 each. Besides these there are
others whom I cannot now locate."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

that the president be requested to invite a fellow-member, Hon. S. S. Cox, to
deliver an address under the auspices of the Society upon the following ques-
tion : " Without reducing the internal revenue duties, can the import duties
be reduced to the needs of the government economically administered without
injury to the manufacturing industries of the country and to the laboring
men? "

The motion was carried, and a committee of three, consisting of Henry
L. Burnett, Joseph Pool and W. L. Strong, were appointed to make the neces-
sary arrangements for this address.

CHAPTER V

1888

THE 3'ear 1888 opened with the interest of the members in no way
lessened and the fortunes of the Ohio Society of a nature to afford
gratification to those who had labored so earnestly to make it what
it was already becoming — a strong, prosperous and progressive organi-
zation. At the meeting of January 9th a gavel was presented by Captain
Glassford. The secretary was instructed to frame and hang in the Society
rooms the original paper in response to which the first meeting of the Society
was called.

Mr. Howard, as secretary of the committee to fix a date for the annual
banquet, reported as follows : " At a meeting of the committee appointed by
the Society to determine a date whose anniversary it would be proper to cele-
brate in connection with its public dinners or other annual entertainments, it
was resolved that this committee do hereby recommend that February 19th,
when practicable — the date recognized by the United States government as
that of the admission of Ohio into the Union — ^be fixed upon as a suitable and
proper date to honor on the occasion of its annual festivals."

After a very spirited debate, in which a number of members took part, the
words, " The date recognized by the United States government as that of the
admission of Ohio into the Union," were stricken out, and it was finally re-
solved that the following should be adopted as a substitute for the committee's
report : " That the annual banquet of the Society shall be held, when practica-
ble, on February 19th."

On motion of Mr. Lake, it was ordered that a committee of eighteen be
appointed to arrange for the annual banquet, whereupon the president ap-
pointed the following gentlemen : Messrs. Higley, Ewing, Strong, Smith, Reid,
Lee, Swayne, Andrews, Shayne, Foye, Rice, Milmine, Crall, Glassford,
Mitchell, Lake, Wing and Moss.

The first ladies' reception for the current j^ear was held at the rooms of
the Society on the evening of January' 12, 1888. The committee of arrange-
ments consisted of the following gentlemen: Warren Higley, Thomas Ewing,
John Q. Mitchell, Charles P. Bruch, Mahlon Chance, C. C. Shayne, P. B.
Armstrong, Leander H. Crall, Marshall Halstead. The programme of enter-
ment arranged is here given :

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

1. Song, " This Kiss I Offer,"

MISS ALICE MANDELICK.

2. Piano Solo, Fantasia, or Spanish Song, . . Ceruelos

SENOa CERUELOS.

3. Tenor Solo, " Like to Like," .... Denza

PROFESSOB, EUGEXE CLARKE.

4. Recital,

MISS JULIA THOMAS.

5. Address, " The Club-able Woman,"

MRS. D. G. CEOLY ( JENNY JUNe).

6. Whistling Solo, " Message of the Nightingale,"

Lauri Sedgwick Collins

MRS. ALICE J. SHAW.

7. Duet, " Hour of Parting," . . . . Rubinstein

MR. F. A. GUILD. MR. J. A. METCALF.

The following is a catalogue of the pictures loaned for the occasion by
the several artists:

TITLE

Portrait, Gen. W. T. Sherman, .
Study from Life, H.R.H.., Albert

Victor, Prince Albert of Wales,

(Edward VIII), .
Jupiter, lo and Juno,
" Evangeline," .
Wood Interior, .
The Chess Problem, .
Portrait,

Portrait, Henry Barnard, LL.D.
A Conversation, .
Long's Peak, Rocky Mountains,
" We Have Buried the Hatchet,"
An Oriental,
After the Run, .
Master Regie Trautschold ("Little

Lord Fauntleroy "),
" Nobody asked you. Sir ! she said,"
Portrait,
In Dreamland,
A Bit of Sunshine,

ARTIST

James H. Beard

Franklin Tuttle

W. H. Beard

George D. M. Peixotto

A. H. Wyant

J. Wells Champney

George D. M. Peixotto

Franklin Tuttle

J. H. Dolph

W. Whitridge

J. H. Beard

J. WeUs Champney

Daniel C. Beard

Franklin Tuttle
W. H. Beard
Franklin Tuttle
J. Wells Champney
Harry Beard

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

TITLE

Cloister du Convent de Saint Dom

Palermo, built A.D. 1252,
Portrait, ....
Light for His Pipe, .
Group of Heads,
Still Life, ....
Mighty Poor Country for Game,

niquc.

ARTIST

J. H. Dolph
Franklin Tuttle
Daniel C. Beard
George D. M. Peixotto
Mrs. Holbrook
James H. Beard

A comprehensive and appreciative report of the entertainment was pre-
pared by Judge Higley, chairman of the committee of arrangements, and
was submitted to the Society at a later date, and as it explains fully how suc-
cessful was the affair, it is well worth presentation here:

" EEPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LADIES' RECEPTION.

" To the Hon. President and members of the Ohio Society of New York.

" Gentlemen : Your committee on the last Ladies' Reception, held at the
rooms of the Society, January 12, 1888, beg leave to report as follows : The
committee were fortunate in securing the co-operation of the following ladies
who kindly consented to receive on that evening, to wit: Mrs. Wallace C.
Andrews, Mrs. Wager Swayne, Mrs. Warren Higley, Mrs. Christopher C.
Shayne, Mrs. C. C. Galbreath, Miss Rachael Sherman, Miss Beall Ewing, Miss
Strong, Miss Gillett, Miss Hutchins, ]\liss Vaillant and Miss Harman. The
gracious welcome extended by these ladies to members and guests as they
arrived at once prepared them to enter heartily into the social enjoyments of
the evening, free from the cold formalities of the ultra-fashionable, meeting
together with no common sentiment of interest. The thanks of the Society
and especially of your committee are due to the'se ladies for their presence and
hearty co-operation in promoting the enjoyment of all.

" Our distinguished artist-members kindly contributed beautiful works
of art in oil and pastel to the number of twenty-four. These were admirably
grouped by and hung under the direction of Mr. Cyrus Butler, whereby the
best effects of the paintings were secured. Contributions came from the
studios of James H. Beard, Franklin Tuttle, W. H. Beard, George D. M.
Peixotto, J. H. Dolph, J. N. Beard, Daniel C. Beard, W. Whitridge, Mrs.
Holbrook and J. Wells Champney. Taken all in all, this was the finest
collection of paintings we have yet had. Our Society is especially fortunate
in numbering among its members so many artists who stand in the first rank
of their profession. The programme of instrumental and vocal music, of reci-
tal, address and the whistling solo was rendered to the delight of all. The
artists who kindly contributed to this are Senor Ceruelos, Eugene Clarke,
Miss Mandelick, Miss Julia Thomas, Mrs. D. G. Croly (Jennie June) and

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mrs. Alice J. Shaw. After the rendition of the programme an excellent
collation was served by Morelli.

" That this ladies' reception, like the former ones given by the Society,
was a great success will be acknowledged by all who were present. There was a
manifest freedom from restraint and a homelike intercourse not usually
observed in large social gatherings, and due, no doubt, to the fact that the
daughters of Ohio are as loyal as her sons, and equally zealous in honoring
the state of their birth or adoption.

" The Ohio Society has stepped out of the narrow circle of prejudice and
selfish exclusiveness of the club in admitting woman to social gatherings, and
recognizing her as an important element in growth and strength and influ-
ence. This feature is to be commended and encouraged, and should be
enlarged. It is the beginning and promise of what the modem chib will be
in the near future the recognition of the independence of man and woman in
the social affairs of life, for —

" They rise or sink
Together, dwarfed or godlike, bond or free:
For she that out of Lethe scales with man
The shining steps of Nature, shares with man
His nights, his days, moves with him to one goal.
Stays all the fair young planet in her hands —
If she be small, slight-natured, miserable,
How shall men grow?
For woman is not undeveloped man,
But diverse: could we make her as the man
Sweet love were slain: his dearest bond is this.
Not like to like, but like in difference. ^

Yet in the long years liker must they grow;
The man be more of woman, she of man ;
He gain in sweetness and in moral height.
Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world;
She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care,
Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind;
Till at the last she set herself to man,
Like perfect music unto noble words."

A special meeting of the Society was held on January 25 (1888) to
take action in honor of the memory of Col. Charles W. Moulton, one of the
most prominent members of the Societjs one of its nwDst active founders and
a vice-president at the time of his death. Colonel Moulton had passed away
on the day preceding, January 24, 1888.

On motion of Colonel Fogg, Captain Henry A. Glassford took the chair
and in a few impressive words told of the loss the Society had sustained. On
motion of Colonel Lake the chair appointed the following committee to draw
up a suitable expression of sorrow on this occasion: Messrs. Lake, Chance,
Fogg, Guiteau and Foye. The committee withdrew, and while they delib-
erated General Swayne, INIr. Shayne and Colonel Strong told of their associa-

Col. Charles W. Moulton

0.--THi ^'
OF

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tions with Colonel Moulton, of his many high qualities and of the deep regret
at liis loss. The committee reported as follows:

" Whereas, The members of the Ohio Society have learned with pro-
found sorrow and regret of the death of Col. Charles W. Moulton, who was
one of the earliest and most earnest founders of the Society, one of our most
efficient fellow-members and a vice-president, and are desirous of expressing in
suitable and fitting manner the grief and sense of bereavement felt at his
loss ; therefore, be it

" Resolved, That the secretary be instructed to extend in due form to
the family of Colonel Moulton the heartfelt condolence of the Society, and to
express to them the high esteem in which he was held by his associates for his
many generous and manly qualities of head and heart ; be it further

" Resolved, That this testimony to his worth be spread upon the minutes
and a copy be sent to his family.
" Carson Lake, Mahlon Chance, William Perry Fogg, John M. Guiteau,

Andrew J. C. Foye."

Colonel Fogg moved that the report be adopted and spoke most feelingly
of Colonel Moulton, giving personal reminiscences, especially of his connection
with the foundation of the Society. Colonel Fogg said:

" I presume that no member of our Society, resident of New York, has
known Colonel Moulton so long as I have. Our friendship has met the test of
thirty-seven years. I first made his acquaintance In 1851, when he came to
Cleveland from liis home in Medina county, about twenty-one years of age,
and commenced the study of law. I was three years his senior, and we
were both active members of a literary club, and congeniality of taste drew us
very closely together."

Colonel Fogg then briefly sketched the career of Colonel Moulton up to
the opening of the war in 1861, when he was called to fill a very difficult posi-
tion under the government In Cincinnati. He stood then firm as a rock be-
tween the loyal government in Its heroic struggle to save the Union and a class
of unpatriotic men whose only aim was to enrich themselves from government
contracts. He was directed by the war department to buy the materials and
open government workshops for the manufacture of army clothing. The
strongest pressure was brought from Interested parties to break him down, but
President Lincoln and the great war secretary stood by him, and the urgent
needs of the boys In the field were supplied. Immense sums were disbursed
by him, amounting to many millions per month. " What greater tribute can
be paid to the Integrity of Colonel Moulton than to say, as he has often told
me, that when he resigned his commission at the close of the war, he was a
poorer man than when he entered the army ?

" We who knew our friend who passed away so well would all bear testi-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

mony to his strict integrity of character, his keen sense of honor, and his big,
generous heart. I have been called upon during the past year to mourn the
loss of my two brothers, and, next to these, the man who stood nearest my
heart was Colonel Moulton."

Gen. Wager Swayne was the next speaker. He said : " Gentlemen, an
opportunity offers in wliich it becomes the duty of us all to say something of
eulogy in memory of the deceased. With many sad feelings we reahze that
the most valuable member of the Society has been called away from us. At this
moment his body is going on to its last resting place. He stands to us in the
relation of a sojourner; as one of us who has left as much of himself with us
as we may gather in our hearts and keep forever. It is true of him, eminently
true, that he cared for us, and that his care was not merely a passing impulse.
He demonstrated that his constant care was for the well being of the Society
and for each one of us individually. I remember that in the course of organ-
izing I heard him express fear that the club might be regarded as having a
political significance. How well he has succeeded in making it a social organi-
zation is a matter of history."

The resolutions were adopted unanimously.

The proposed incorporation of the Society at about this time
was taken up and the matter duly consummated. The names of the incor-
porators were as follows: Thomas Ewing, Warren Higley, Andrew J. C.
Foye, Henry K. Enos, William L. Strong, Calvin S. Brice, Homer Lee, John
Q. Howard, John Dickson, John Q. IMitchell, Wager Swayne, Samuel Thomas,
Henry L. Burnett, John H. Harman, Christopher C. Shayne, Charles T.
Wing, Milton I. Southard, Benjamin LeFevre, Carson Lake, Cyrus Butler,
Leander H. Crall. The constitution and by-laws were referred to a special
committee, with instructions to make such changes as were needed to comply
with the law. These changes and some others were duly made and the report
of the committee was adopted at a meeting on March 1st.

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on April 4th, General
Burnett tendered his resignation as trustee and member of the committee in
these words:

" New York, March 26, 1888.
" To the Trustees and Governing Committee of tlie Ohio Society of New York.

" Sirs : I beg hereby to tender my resignation as trustee and member of
the governing committee of the Society, to take effect immediately.

" For nearly two years and a half I have given much time and labor in
discharging the duties devolving upon me as chairman of the governing com-
mittee of the old Ohio Society, now merged in the present incorporated body.

" My professional duties are of such an exacting nature, and my time
so fully occupied in the discharge of those duties, I feel now that I am justified

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

in passing the work and responsibilities connected with the governing com-
mittee of the present Society on to other members of the Society.

" Thanking my associates on the governing committee of the old Society,
now constituting the governing committee of the new, for the uniform courtesy
shown me as chairman of said committee, and congratulating them upon the
high spirit and right thinking which seemed ever to actuate them in the dis-
charge of their duties, I am, with sincere respect,

" Very truly yours,

" Henry L. Burnett."

The answer of the gentlemen to whom this letter was addressed was made
promptly. The resignation was laid on the table and the following unani-
mously adopted :

" Resolved, That it is the unanimous wish of the board of trustees of the
Ohio Society that General Henry L. Burnett retain his membership with the
trustees, and that Messrs. Dickson and Foye be appointed a committee to con-
vey this wish to General Burnett."

The committee for the third annual banquet (1888) was appointed in
January, when it was expected that it would be given on Monday evening, the
20th of February — the 19th day of February having been previously fixed by
the Society for its future annual banquets, excepting when this should occur, as
it did that year, on Sunday, when the following day should be honored. The
sudden and unexpected death of a member and vice-president. Col. Charles
W. Moulton, naturally caused a postponement, and the 7th of April was de-
cided upon as the time. Upon the card making announcement of this date
were the following words :

1788
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

OF THE

FIRST SETTLEMENT

OF THE

OHIO VALLEY

April 7, 1788
1888

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The committee was constituted as follows: Warren Higley, chairman;
Thomas Ewing, William L. Strong, Wallace C. Andrews, Calvin S. Brice, A.
J. C. Foje, Henry A. Glassford, Charles T. Wing, J. O. Moss, Whitelaw
Reid, Wager Swayne, Henry L. Burnett, William Henry Smith, C. C. Shayne,
Carson Lake, John Q. Mitchell, George Milmine; Homer Lee, secretary;
Leander H, Crall, treasurer. The work was mapped out and the chairman
appointed the following sub-committees : Speakers and invitations, Thomas
Ewing, Whitelaw Reid,, William L. Strong, Wager Swayne, William H.
Smith, C. S. Brice and Carson Lake; cards and tickets, H. A. Glassford, L.
H. Crall and George Milmine ; printing. Homer Lee, J. Q. Mitchell and J. O.
Moss ; the press, C. C. Shayne, W. C. Andrews and Henry L. Burnett ; ban-
quet, A. J. C. Foye, C. T. Wing and Warren Higley.

The coming event was announced by the press of New York as one of
importance. From the Star of April 1st we quote as follows:

" Invitations are out for the third annual banquet of the Ohio Society of
New York, to be held at Delmonico's on Saturday evening, April 7th. The
invitations are unique and beautiful. They are printed on a richly tinted card
about four inches square, on the front of which is engraved a map of the state
of Ohio in Buckeye drawing. In the centre of the map is a vignette of an early
settler, a man and a dog grappling with a bear, while two Indians lurk in a
background of green foliage. Over this vignette are the name of the Society
and date of the banquet. The back of the card is adorned with an admirable
engraved portrait of George Washington, surrounded by scroll, over and on
either side of which appear Cupids holding a silken banner, on which is in-
scribed, ' Ordinance of 1787.' Below, in gold letters, are the words of Wash-
ington to his men at Valley Forge : ' If we are overpowered we will retire to
the Valley of the Ohio, and there we will be free.' On the inside of the invita-
tion are the names of the committee of arrangements. Among the prominent
people to whom invitations have been sent are : Governor Foraker, of Ohio ; ex-
President Hayes, Senators Sherman, Payne, Allison, Manderson, Voorhees
and Plumb, ex-Senators Thurman, Harrison and McDonald, Generals Sher-
man, Sheridan and Rosecrans, Associate Justice Matthews of the United
States Supreme Court, the Ohio Congressional delegation, and Governor Hill
of this state and Mayor Hewitt, who Avill represent the state and city of New
York."

The fact that the most important event in the history of Ohio and the
Northwest Territory was being celebrated at Marietta, the place of the first
permanent settlement north of the Ohio, prevented a number of distinguished
Ohioans from being present. But for this there was reason to believe that the
occasion would have been honored by the presence of ex-President Hayes,
Senator John Sherman, Governor Foraker, Representative Charles H. Gros-
venor and others.

CHAPTER VI

1888-1889

ON the night of Saturday, April 7, 1888, Dehiionico's big dining-room
was filled, over two hundred sitting down at the feast, which was dis-
posed of to the accompaniment of lively music from the orchestra in
the gallery and after a fashion which showed that Ohio men had extremely
good appetites and presumbably equally good digestions.

The affair was marked by channing informality and good fellowship.
No cut and dried toast list had been prepared, so that the speakers were not
under the necessity of restricting themselves to any particular text. There
were five tables, but no distinctive guest-table. Its absence marked an inno-
vation in the arrangement of dinners. The centre table was presided over by
Gen. Thomas Ewing, the president of the Society. At the heads of the other
tables were Stephen B. Elkins, Gen. Wager Swayne, ex-Governor Hoadly and
Whitelaw Reid.

Among the distinguished guests present were Gen. W. T. Sherman,
Chauncey M. Depew, ex-Secretary Windom, B. F. Jones, chairman of the Re-
publican national committee ; Gen. John S. Casement, Charles A. Dana, ex-Sec-
retar}^ Bristow, Cornelius N. Bliss and Col. W. L. Strong.

The banquet hall was suitably draped with the national colors, and the
coat of arms of Ohio graced the wall back of the president.

The speakers proved themselves worthy of the occasion. General Ewing,
Gen. W. T. Sherman, ex-Secretary of the Treasury William Windom, White-
law Reid, Chauncey M. Depew, Gen. Wager Swayne, ex-Governor George
Hoadly, Col. C. S. Brice, Col. W. L. Strong, Charles A. Dana and others
entertained those present with eloquence, and the enthusiasm with which their
words were received gave unmistakable evidence of the delight of all.

When full justice had been done to the good things of the feast, General
Ewing rose and after welcoming the guests he sketched in eloquent language
the growth of Ohio. He was listened to with the closest attention and was fre-
quently applauded. He spoke in part as follows :

" I bid you a cordial welcome, guests and members of the Ohio Society
of New York, to our third annual banquet. If ever a people had reason to
rejoice and celebrate, we Buckeyes have, on this centennial of the settlement at
Marietta. For it tells of the founding of our state ; of the first act of Ameri-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cans in assuming dominion of the continent; of the wonderful growth of the
RepubHc in the first century of her existence; and the splendid future which
awaits her as she leads the world to freedom.

" The settlement at Marietta stands alone and without a parallel in
origin and in purpose. It was not a colony of mere adventurers. It was led
by no Lord Raleigh, Fairfax, Baltimore or Delaware, with vast grants of land
to bestow on satelhtes and serfs; nor by unconquerable Roundheads, driven
over stormy seas to struggle for existence on barren shores. It was a colony
of American soldiers, inspired by the love of liberty regulated by law; an in-
carnation of the bold, virile, intelligent Americanism, born in the fires of the
Revolution.

" From this initiative followed the agitations which formed and deter-
mined the character of the RepubHc. The liberated colonies turned from the
jealousies, poverty and discouragements of the hour, and became absorbed
in the inspiring problems of the future — the need of forming an effective
government ; defining and limiting its powers ; and assuming the empire of the
continent. New York generously and fraternally surrendered her claims to
the Ohio country ; Virginia followed ; and then Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The constitutional convention was called; Congress sold a million and a half
acres to Putnam and his emigrant soldiers, and in the same month gave them
the glorious ordinance of 1787 — the first great charter of American hberty —
which they bore as the Ark of the Covenant to the promised land.

" Here was the founding of the Republic. By a system of public sur-
veys in small divisions the landlordism wliich blighted most of the old thirteen
states was prevented and a general distribution of lands among the people
forever assured — a policy which, accompanied by liberal provisions for schools
and colleges, has been followed in all subsequent dispositions of the public
domain, and has proved to be the fountain of general intelligence and prosper-
ity. Slavery, then existing in a majority of the states, was forever prohibited
in the Northwest, and put under the ban of American civilization. And the
fundamental propositions of American liberty, which were incorporated in the
ordinance of '87, and four years later adopted as amendments to the Federal
Constitution, became the corner-stone of state after state as it set its star in the
blue field of the Union.

" But it is not the material gi'owth of the West, past or to come, which
signalizes the event we celebrate as one of the great epochs of history. It is
the fact that there was formulated and founded then a new type of govern-
ment, unlike any states of the Old World, and unlike most of the just liberated
states of the New World which still wore some of the tattered Hvery of aristo-
cratic institutions. After a hundred years of trial this American type of state
government has convinced us, and is fast convincing mankind, that the people

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

alone have a right to rule, and are also the best rulers. The Republic formed
of such states stands pre-eminent among nations in prosperity and peace, and
is leading the world by its silent and shining example to the blessed consum-
mation when ever}^ dynasty shall be dethroned, when every great army shall be
disbanded, when every people shall rule themselves ;

" ' And man to man, the Avorld o'er,
Shall brothers be, and a' that.' "

Several letters of regret were then read by Judge Higley. That from
Senator John Sherman was loudly cheered. It was as follows :

" Senate Chamber, Washington, April 2, 1888.

" I have received the kind invitation of the Ohio Society of New York to
attend their third annual banquet on the 7th inst., at Delmonico's, and also the
inclosed cards. I assure you it would give me great pleasure to accept this
invitation, not only for the good cheer of such a meeting, but to mark my
appreciation of the great event of the first settlement of the Ohio Valley, one
hundred years ago. The centennial ma}^ well be celebrated with hearty re-
joicings, with songs and music, and cheers by all the people of the United
States, but especially b}^ the sons of the pioneers of Ohio. To our ancestors
it was the beginning of an important event in American history. It was the
first outflow of population into the West and the first dedication of any por-
tion of our territory to free institutions. It was the first proclamation of
emancipation from the evils of slavery. I regret that other duties will pre-
vent me from sharing in your happiness. But I wish you a good time and I
know you will have a joyous reunion.

" John Sherman."

The mention of Governor Foraker's name was also the signal for applause.
He wrote as follows:

" Marietta, Ohio, April 6, 1888.
" To the Ohio Society of New York.

" On behalf of the people of Ohio and particularly those here assembled
to celebrate the centennial anniversary of our first settlement, I send you enthu-
siastic greeting. While we are justly proud of our state and the conspicuous
part she has borne in the achievements of the centur^s our hearts are filled with
grateful emotions b}'^ the loving pride and kind remembrances of our absent
children. May God bless and prosper the Ohio Society of New York.

" J. B. FORAKER."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Other letters of regret were read from Congressman Charles H. Gros-
venor, General Sheridan, Governor Hill, ex-Congressman Follett, Senator
Allison, ex-Governor R. M. Bishop, John R. McLean, ex-Senator Harrison, of
Indiana ; Senator Jones, of Nevada ; Congressman R. F. Kennedy and Senator
Plumb, of Kansas.

It had been expected that Mayor Hewitt would be present. Judge
Higley said that the Mayor had told him on Friday afternoon that if he slept
well that night he would come, but he had received subsequently a letter from
the Mayor regretting his inability to be present.

Judge Higley concluded by reading a poem by W. H. Venable, of Cin-
cinnati, which contained a great many statements flattering to Ohio. Carson
Lake next read a poem by Miss Bertha Monroe WickofF on Ohio. It was well
received.

The chairman then introduced General Sherman amid a salvo of cheers
by referring to him as " the son of one of the earliest settlers of Ohio and the
bearer of one of the most distinguished names in her civil roll." General Sher-
man on rising to speak was greeted with another outburst of cheering. After
stating that he had not yet the honor to belong to the Society and recounting
a couple of pleasant anecdotes, he said :

" My young friends from Ohio, whilst you bear your honored state in
memory, honored memory, never reflect upon others. There were good men
bom long before there were in Ohio. There are a great many good men born
in other states out of Ohio. I have encountered them everywhere on this broad
continent and in Europe. There seems to be a pretty fair representation of
Ohio in this great city of New York, and I claim you have the same right here
as the native-bom citizens, not by sufferance, but by right; and I hope you
will bear in mind that you are citizens of a greater country, the United States
of America. As your president has well told you in eloquent words to-night,
our friends in Marietta are celebrating a past of vast importance in the history
of Ohio and the United States and of all mankind. One hundred years ago
there landed at Marietta that little body whose influence was then felt and is
now felt all over the earth's surface; an organized body of men with dis-
cipline, seeking to make homes for themselves and their families and to rear
up a state, free, where all men could enjoy liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness in their own way and at their own time. Ohio was the first of the states
created, not the first of the thirteen, but it was the child of the Revolution,
although the ordinance of 1787 preceded the constitution by two years. Yet
it was made by the same men, breathing the same spirit of freedom and na-
tionality.

" I was bom in the town of Lancaster, and I doubt if any town anywhere
possessed a larger measure of intelligence for its numbers, about 8,000.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

There was General Beecher, Henry Stanbury, Thomas Ewing, William Irvine.
(A voice — 'Tom Corwin.') Yes; he belonged in Lebanon, and I knew liim
well. His name suggests to me something which I am frequently reminded of
when I go to Ohio. In these modern times I don't think they're as good as
they used to be in those early days. I suppose it is a common weakness A\'ith
old men to view things in that way. I could recount a great many things about
those early days. My memory goes back to 1826. I remember perfectly the
election of General Jackson in 182S. I remember the coffin handbills put out
by The Cincinnati Gazette to stigmatize Armstrong and Arbuthnot. At
that time I belonged to a strict Whig family, and we all thought Jackson a
tyrant. I have come to the conclusion in later years that old Jackson was a
very clever fellow. There used to be a man in Columbus named Gustavus
Swain, and what he didn't know about Ohio nobody did. Ohio had its fun,
and its serious times, and always bore in mind that they were the first free state
northwest of the Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota followed
aften^ard by catching the inspiration from her. It traveled beyond. I went
with McCook to Arizona and found our fellows there from Yellow Creek.
Everywhere we stopped we met them. They didn't know they were from
Ohio, but we convinced them they were."

Ex-Secretary of the Treasury Windom, the next speaker, was received
with applause. He said, among other things :

" Pride is not a characteristic of Ohio by any means. Under the inspira-
tion of this occasion I think I could express my sentiments well were it not for
that peculiarly Ohio characteristic of modesty. Ohio has many things which
distinguish her, her material resources, her horses and cattle and hogs and
wheat and corn. And of the whiskey of Ohio we are all peculiarly proud. We
are proud of her men and her women. Her sons are found upon all the fields
of commerce, of war and of politics — particularly of politics. Wherever a
dollar is to be honestly made, wherever an office is to be filled, you will find an
Ohio man on hand. In war her sons held a front rank ; and when you come
to the civil offices of the country Ohio is not far behind. Of the last four
Presidents Ohio has had three of them, and so far as I can see, among the
names of the gentlemen who are spoken of in the party to which I belong,
she has a fair chance of getting another. He would have been an Ohio man four
years ago, too, almost. The gallant chieftain who led the Republican party
four years ago came near it. He was bom within sight of Ohio. In his early
youth he breathed the inspiring air that swept Ohio's hills. Had he been on
the other side of that promised land he would have been elected four years ago."

Whitelaw Reid then rose for the purpose of introducing Mr. Depew. He
said in substance:

" The Ohio Society is nothing if not original. Your president seems

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to have the idea that the vice-president should do something. Now you have
been very Hberal to him, j^ou have provided him with five vice-presidents to
take the surplus work off his hands. It is a curious reversal of things which in
that list makes me the senior and our venerable friend Governor Hoadly the
junior. Between us is §andwiched in the only other surviving vice-president
who, I fear, is not always remembered as a soldier, because of the brilliant re-
nown he has won as a lawyer.

" Now one of these vice-presidents, as I am credibly informed, is about
to explain the significance of the day we celebrate — the day that made Ohio,
and so saved the country from awful trouble about finding presidents and chief
justices and generals. The other, as is said on equally good authority, is going
to vindicate the consistency of liis own political record and that of all his
associates, present and past. You see, gentlemen, there are two very long
speeches before you! — ^mine shall be short.

" You noticed that General Ewing told us about how willing New York
and other states were in Washington's time to give up to Ohio. Well, alas,
Washington is dead. They don't seem so eager to give up to Oliio now. We
are perfectly willing to let them give up. Why, we can furnish more presiden-
tial candidates to-day than half the rest of the country put together, and
they'll average pretty high, too. We can do more than that. We can furnish
the only man now living, or that ever will live, that said, and meant it, that he
wouldn't have the Presidency of the United States if it were brought to him on
a silver salver.

" He didn't intend to be mean about it, either. ' Why,' he said, ' if they
don't take my brother John, bless their eyes, why don't they take my brother-
in-law Tom? ' Well, gentlemen, even that doesn't exhaust the list. Only,
when you find three candidates growing in one family — hke three monster ears
of com on one stalk — you begin to get some Idea of the size of the Ohio crop.

*' There's been some reference to John Sherman. Nobody will question
that whether for length or distinction of public service he easily leads the pres-
ent list. Nobody will hesitate much in saying that just now Harrison and
Allison stand next. Both are sons of Ohio ; both ought to have been here to-
night, and both would have been only for the secret fear of each that some
Incautious utterance at this critical moment might blast his boom. It Is but
fifty years since the grandfather of one of them was badly beaten In the race
for the presidency. But he had staying powers, and four years later he made
one of the most trlimiphant canvasses In our history, and was borne to the
White House on the wave of a tremendous popular uprising.

" Ten years later the other, before leaving his native state for the wilds
of Iowa, resolved to get a stamp by wlilch he could always make good his Ohio
claim, and so took his degree from the Western Resel'^'e College.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" But I'm not going into the list of Ohio candidates. Life is short.
And besides, it has always been thought that an after-dinner speech should
not be too personal, and you'll bear me witness that I always try to obey
that rule. I have been endeavoring by gentle stages, by mildly introducing
the subject of the presidency, to lead up to the introduction of the gentleman
whom I am charged by the president to introduce to you to-night as an
adopted son of Ohio. I present to you this modest youth, Chauncey M.
Depew."

jNIr. Depew began in a humorous vein, by acknowledging that he had no
near relationship with Ohio, and that though he was on good terms with all the
other great nationalities at their celebrations, when he tried to make out
some claim of kinship he was at a loss for it on tliis occasion. He then went
on to show that Ohio was " all over everywhere," and not only a shining ex-
ample in her institutions, but somewhat of a monopolist in the possession of
men fitted for high national positions. The following sketch of his re-
marks gives some of the points he made:

" Ohio understands the presidential game so well that she has not only
arranged it herself within her own borders, but she has studied the quality
and the peculiarity of presidential lightning so as to put somebody where-
ever it is likely to strike. It is the peculiarity of New York that she is the
most conquered city in the world. She has been successively conquered by
the English, by the Yankees, by the Germans, by the Irish. But still she
thought her business was secure; but when she turned to look for the money
the Standard Oil of Ohio had it all, and in business, law, politics and jour-
nalism Ohio has captured New York; but then New York reveres Ohio.
Ohio has alwa3^s been devoted to a high order of politics. She could not
have furnished chief justices, justices in the Supreme Court and presidents
of the United States in such abundance except for the quality of her men
and tlie character of her politics. The great political leaders of Ohio on all
sides and in all parties have always been easily the leaders of their party
upon the party thought and sentiment of the hour. Senator Shopman's fight
for honest currency and Garfield's magnificent struggle for honest credit
and for the purity of the government In every department of policy and
finance will long be remembered as a period when it required courage, con-
sistency and abilty to stand up against the errors of the day. Among the
Democratic leaders of the nation there is no one who has stood up for his con-
victions and compelled his party to follow him because he knew he was right
— and they found he was right — so well as the old Roman, Allan G. Thur-
man, and that elegant gentleman, accomplished scholar and diplomat, George
H. Pendleton, who taught the Democratic party the reversal of the old Jack-
sonlan motto, that to the victor belongs the spoils, and the failure of this most

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

beneficent reform was due to that combination of good intentions and rural
inexperience as illustrated by President Cleveland, except the man comes
from Ohio, which always falls a victim to the wiles of the Hungry Joe of
politics.

" We have had eight years of continuous centennials ; and none of them
more significant than that celebration going on to-day in Marietta, Ohio.
It is more than a local celebration. It is an international celebration of
the kind which affects the globe, because it affects and has affected the
destiny of the human race. If every one of the hundred people who
landed at Marietta a hundred years ago to-day could be a sentinel
down the century, one for each year, and there could be attached to
each man or each woman all that the year he or she represented meant in what
Ohio was, what she has accomplished and what she is, that man and that
woman would stand out conspicuously in each one of the hundred years of the
century as the immortal centurions of the United States. "

The next speaker was General Wager Swayne. He was greeted with loud
cheers and his speech was listened to with marked attention and abundantly
applauded. This is part of what he said:

" I suppose it would be safe to assume that 100 years ago to-night our
ancestors were not dining at Delmonico's, and were not listening to Chauncey
Depew. Mr. Reid has been good enough to suggest that I was not much of a
lawyer because I was something of a soldier, and that I had not been a great
deal of a soldier because I had been something of a lawyer. Nevertheless I
propose to say something of the influence of Ohio both in the results of the
war and as to her impress upon the organic law of the land. In 1783 our revo-
lutionary ancestors were encamped at Newburgh in this state, half fed, half
clothed, waiting to be disbanded. They addressed to Congress a petition ask-
ing that a tract of land, which became the Territory of Ohio, might be set
apart in accordance with a previous provision of law, and in their plan of
settlement they declared that in the constitution of the new State there should
be a total exclusion of slavery. Out of this plan came the resolutions of 1787,
which provided that within that territory from which so many States were
erected, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for
crime, should ever exist. For ten long years Indiana laid siege to Congress,
asking that that clause might be repealed. John Randolph, of Roanoke,
although reared in slavery, reported against the repeal. The free State of
Ohio resulted, and word for word that clause was written in the Constitution
also of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1820 the Congress of
the United States put the same clause into the Missouri Compromise.

" In 1854 Congress repealed that clause as far as it applied to the Ter-
ritories, and that repeal brought on the Civil War. But the five States, made

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

free by the legends of Ohio, put into the war for the Union a milHon of men
who marched and fought and gave victory to the Union. No words of mine
can be appropriate when we turn to contemplate the glory of the State which
shed such inestimable blessings upon all generations of men. Let us pray God
that peace may be within her walls and prosperity in all her homes."

Three cheers and a tiger greeted the close of General Swayne's speech.

Charles A. Dana was the next speaker. He said among other things :

" We who are not so fortunate as to have been born in Ohio feel to-night
that we are praising what belongs to us, too. The glories of Ohio belong just
as much to the sons of New York and Massachusetts and of South Carolina
as to the sons of Ohio. Ohio is a great commonwealth; how admirable is her
situation ! How great is the intelligence and the industry, and above all the
virtue of her people ! There she stands, in the valley of that beautiful river,
the centre of the continent not all belonging to the union as yet, but destined
to belong to it, so that the Stars and Stripes planted in Ohio will be seen in
the tropics and in the Arctic regions. The observations that we have heard
here to-night, I am obhged to say, have been rather political in their tend-
ency, and also rather Republican. (Laughter, and cries of ' Ohio is Republi-
can ! ') Well, when we are in power, we all try to stay there, and when we are
not in power we try to get the other party out, but there can be no party in
this country that is not a patriotic party, so that while in Ohio you possess
an extraordinary crop of Republican great men, men who are eminently
fitted to be the candidates of that party for president, and while you have,
as my friend, Mr. Depew, has said, planted a great number of them in other
states, where they can be ready to take the place if those at home fail, you
can't lose anything by stretching out now and then fraternal hands and
adopting an outsider, and I have observed that you have a pretty warm side
for our friend Chauncey, and I say you are right in it. He is one of those
men of whom we all as Americans have a right to be proud. For my own pai-t I
would rather that no Republican should be elected president next year, but
if there is going to be any one at all I don't know of any one that I would
rather it should be than Chauncey Depew."

It was ex-Gov. George Hoadly's turn next, and that he acquitted himself
to the satisfaction of everybody was attested by the applause he received.
The following is a summary of what he said:

" I came here without the expectation of speaking. Twenty-four hours
ago I hoped for an even greater pleasure than that of dining here to-night,
for I expected to be to-night on the sacred soil of Ohio. When I came, it
was to listen to him who deserves the title given him the other day by the
Republicans of Vermont, the Wizard of the North, unless, indeed, INIadame
Diss Debar may prove her better title. I came to listen to New York's munici-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

pal mayor, whom, although we have had some past differences of opinion,
both he and I believe to be the best mayor in the country. I came to ask the
mayor many things, and he is not here to enlighten me. I am told by my
distinguished friend, who, when I last saw him, was a Democrat of the Demo-
crats, Avliile I was a Republican, I must speak to a text, must speak of my
record. In Spanish architecture there is employed an ascending spiral, used
in building stair-banisters, but the architect can never place projection oppo-
site projection; so I find the records of myself and my friend — they won't lie
spoon-fashion. Do you once think what you could have done if you had
drafted the whole state in the service.'^ You have made your presidents, your
senators, your chief justices, with one hand tied behind your back, with half
your population allowed only to pay taxes and do convict labor. We Demo-
crats have been allowed to do all the fighting and heavy work, and have been
defeated in elections without number, but we have always come up smiling the
next day.

" Tom Corwin was once asked whether he had heard a certain story
about a friend of his. ' I don't know. Was it about himself ? ' 'No.' 'Then
I have not heard it.' So there can be no speech from me to-night unless it is
personal."

After ex-Governor Hoadl}', Calvin S. Brice, Attorney-General Cole-
man and Mr. Struss made short addresses. Then the company dispersed.

At a subsequent meeting of the Society, the committee of arrangements,
in making its report as to this banquet, said:

" The committee take pleasure in calling your attention to the financial
part of the banquet. A full and detailed report of the treasurer of the
committee, Mr. Crall, with vouchers, is contained in the books of accounts
kept for this purpose, among the records of the Society, and to which mem-
bers are referred for particulars. The thanks of the committee and the
Society are due to Mr. Crall for the important service he rendered in the
work he has done. It is only necessary in this report to add that the gross
receipts from the sale of tickets were $1,302. The total expenditures (and
all bills of every kind have been paid), are $1,125.15, leaving a balance of
$176.85, which the committee now pay over to the Society."

At the meeting of the Society held on May 14, signs of that reserve
fund which the organization has been laying away were apparent in a re-
port from the treasurer, showing a balance on hand of $1,743.80.

Col. W. P. Fogg presented to the Society a handsomely bound volume
entitled " Charter Members," containing the original signed copies of the
constitution. The gift was accepted with sincere thanks.

Colonel Fogg's letter of presentation was as follows :

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" New York, April 16, 1888.
" The President of the Ohio Society.

" Dear Sir : — I have the pleasure to present to the Ohio Society the
bound volume, herewith sent, containing the original signatures to the con-
stitution of the one hundred and sixteen charter members. These include
the honored names of several of our brother members who have passed away
since our organization, and this volume may well be treasured among our
most valued memorials.

" Very truly yours,

"Wm. Perky Fogg."

The volume is bound in heavy morocco, with ornamentation and lettering
of gold. It is eleven by eight and one-half inches in size. On the outside in
gold letters are the following words :

The Ohio Society

New York.

Charter Members.

1885.
Presented by Wm. Perry Fogg.

The book consists of various copies of the constitution of the Society,
each one of which is ornamented with a handsome engraving of the seal of
the state of Ohio. Every member of the list of charter members given
below signed one copy of this constitution, except in several cases where two
signed the same sheet, making a unique and valuable souvenir. The names
are given in the following order:

INDEX.

«
(Arranged in the order of their reception by committee on organization.)

1. C. W. Moulton. 8. J. M. Chandler.

2. Homer Lee. 9. L. H. Crall.

3. Wm. Perry Fogg. 10. Henry Monett.

4. M. D. Hanover. 11. G. E. Armstrong.
.5. Frank E. Wing. 12. H. J. Jewett.

6. Charles T. Wing. - 13. W. C. Andrews.

7. Henry A. Glassford. 14. John Q. Mitchell.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

15. A. J. C. Foye.

16. Wager Swayne.

17. Cyrus Butler.

18. John W. Harman.

19. Granville W. Harman.

20. George V. Harman.

21. C. C. Hine.

22. D. M. Edgarton.
'23. Carson Lake.

24. S. B. Elkins.

25. Wm. Henry Smith.

26. Whitelaw Reid.

27. Waxren Higley.
J. J. Slocum.

28. W. L. Strong.

29. Wm. Ford Upson.

30. James Q. Howard.

31. J. S. Gorham.

32. Bernard Peters.

33. Mahlon Chance.

34. Joseph Pool.

35. Wallace Mayo.

36. Thomas S. King.

37. C. H. Applegate.

38. Thomas Ewing.

39. Milton I. Southard.

40. W. V. McCracken.

41. Gus M. Miller.

42. W. H. HofFer.

43. Theo. Ricksecker.

44. Henry L. Burnett.

45. Algernon S. Sullivan.

46. Frank M. Lahm.

47. W. Harry Beard.

48. J. H. Beard.

49. David Harbaugh.

50. A. W. Green.

51. George Follett.

52. A. W. Follett.

53. H. L. Terrell.
Calvin S, Brice.

54. Washington Belt.

55. W. K. Jewett.

56. Philander D. HaU.

57. Wm. Knisely.

58. R. C. Kimball.

59. Giles N. Hewlett.

60. P. S. Jennings.

61. W. L. Brown.

62. J. M. Edwards.

63. Geo. H. VaiUant.

64. Wm. S. Hawk.

65. J. Monroe Brown.

66. S. D. Brewster.

67. Wm. Hunter.

68. Theodore Shotwell.
Wm. W. Shotwell.

69. Max Fleischmann.

70. J. Q. A. Ward.

71. Isaac K. Funk.

72. H. K. Enos.

73. Thos. T. Eckert.

74. Thos. T. Eckert, Jr.

75. Joseph S. Tunison.

76. Harwood R. Pool.

77. Frank M. Foy6.

78. John W. Stout.

79. J. H. Hewson.

80. Lowell M. Palmer.

81. And. J. RickofF.

82. Geo. Buckingham.

83. Clinton Corwine.

84. John T. Granger.

85. Heman Clark.

86. B. W. Gillett.

87. F. M. Gillett.

88. J. D. Gillett.

89. M. H. Gillett.

90. A. D. Juilliard.

91. Jacob Oberholser.

92. Anson G. McCook.

93. Colgate Hoyt.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

94. Ensign Newton. 104. John L. N. Hunt.

95. A. O. Beebe. 105. C. H. Thyng.

96. I. J. Struble. 106. Charles Sprague.

97. John A. Smith. 107. Walston H. Brown.
J. F. Sadler. 108. Theo. F. Allen.

98. Edwin M. Green. 109. Charles A. Post.

99. W. H. Eckert. 110. Cary W. Moore.
David G. Wylie. Geo. K. Clark, Jr.

100. G. M. Worstell. 111. Wm. W. Heaton.

101. Sherman Moulton. 112. W. M. SafFord.

102. Henry E. Abbey. 113. Chas. H. Blair.

103. E. W. Root. 114. W. S. Lloyd.

At a meeting of the governing committee held on June 14, John Dick-
son was unanimously elected permanent chairman to succeed Henry L. Bur-
nett, resigned.

Mr. Nye, in the session of the Society held in June, on behalf of the
committee on the Ohio Centennial, reported progress and recommended that
arrangements be made for an excursion of the members of the Society to
attend the celebration at Marietta. The report was accepted, and the com-
mittee continued with power to act, it being understood that the Society
as such should incur no expense. A. J. C. Foye read the following letter from
William Ford Upson :

" My Dear Mr. Foye : — Will you please present the name of Ralph
Hazlett Upson for membership in the Society.? He was bom on the 21st
inst., and will, I think, make a worthy member, to judge by the strength of
his lungs. I shall not be able to attend this evening, but should be greatly
obliged if you will provide a big bowl of lemonade (no stick), with the young
man's compliments, charging the expense to me.

" Very truly yours,

" Wm. Ford Upson."

" There being no further business before the Society," the minutes tell
us, " except the drinking of the lemonade, thus generously provided for by
Mr. Upson, the Society adjourned for that purpose. Whereupon, the mem-
bers being gathered together fraternally with the bowl of lemonade, of gener-
ous measure, close at hand, all standing and each duly supplied with a goblet
of the same, it was ordered that the following minute be spread at large
upon the journal of the Society, and that a copy thereof be sent to Messrs.
William F. and Ralph Hazlett Upson, viz. :

" At an informal meeting of the Ohio Societ}^, held at the Society's

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

rooms, Monday evening, June 25, 1888, it was, upon motion of General
Swayne,

" Resolved, That Ralph Hazlett Upson be and he is hereby unanimously
chosen the first member of the Ohio Society by inheritance.

" Resolved, That our congratulations are extended to his parents, with
fervent trust that though he may sometimes lengthen their nights, he may
never shorten their days, but make them brighter always."*

When the sessions were resumed on September 10, 1888, it was ordered
that a ladies' reception be held on the third Monday of October. Judge
Higley was instructed to arrange for an informal dinner during the month.
A committee of five were appointed to take charge of the ladies' reception,
consisting of Messrs. Higley, Gard, Shayne, Doyle and Harbaugh.

lAt the meeting of October 8, by unanimous consent, at the president's
suggestion, the election of the committee on nominations under the by-laws
was taken up, and the following were chosen by ballot: Wm. H. Eckert,

A. J. C. Foye, J. W. Harman, Geo. B. Hibbard, Homer Lee, Dr. Zachos,

B. F. Peixotto, F. C. Loveland, W. V. McCracken. On November 12 the
committee on the ladies' reception reported that they were making arrange-
ments for one to be held on the 26th inst. It was resolved, on motion of Mr.
Shayne, that an engrossed copy of the original apphcation for the incorpora-
tion of the Society be duly framed and hung in the rooms.

The gathering for the ladies was a successful reunion of the members
and their friends. The full committee having the matter in charge consisted
of the following: Warren Higley, Wm. L. Strong, Henry L. Burnett,
Homer Lee, Calvin S. Brice, C. C. Shayne, Anson A. Gard, George Hoadly,
David F. Harbaugh, Sumner T. Dunham, G. D. M. Peixotto, John Q. Mit-
chell, Alexander Doyle, Cary W. Moore, Marshal Halstead.

The reception committee was composed of the following ladies: Mrs.
W. L. Strong, Mrs. Calvin S. Brice, Mrs. George Hoadly, INIrs. Cary W.
Moore, Mrs. Mary P. Bigelow, Miss Strong, Miss Hoadly, Mrs. Samuel
Thomas, Mrs. Stephen B. Elkins, Mrs. Frank C. Loveland, Mrs. Carson
Lake, Mrs. Anson A. Gard, Miss Ewing, Miss Perry.

* Ralph H. Upson was born on June 21, 1888, and is now past seventeen years of age.
He has finished a course in the high school at Glen Ridge, New Jersey, preparatory to one
in mechanical engineering at Stevens Institute. His father, when the above action was
called to his attention, commented upon it in these words : " As to his benefits from this
membership in the Ohio Society, they are for the most part in the future. He is, I should
say, in the position of one who is by infant baptism a member of the church, but has not yet
reached the age of confirmation. We have preserved in the family archives for his benefit
the letter of the secretary of the Society transmitting the copy of General Swayne's resolu-
tion, from which we intend, at the proper time, to claim for him aU the privileges and
immunities appertaining to such membership."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The programme of entertainment and the catalogue of pictures on
view were as follows:

Song, " Chickk-Cklchie" — The Poultry Maid's Song.

Words by Sidney Rosenfeld. Music by Ceurelio Ceurelos.

Genie Holtzmeyee Rosenfeld.

Accompanied by Sen. Ceurelos.

Trio,

D Minor, Op. 40,

'* Andante," \

" Allegro Assai" '

Mme. Eugenie De Roode, Piano.

Me. Harey Schloming, Violin.

Me. Heney Finzi, Violoncello.

Mendelssohn

Song,

" The Creole Lover's Song,"

Miss Claea E. Stutsman.

Accompanied by Girant C. Odell.

Dudley Buck

Addeess,

"The Carey Sisters."
Mrs. Lucy P. Thomas.

Tenge Solo,

■* Come to Me,"

WiLBUE GUNN.

Denza

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

CATALOGUE

Robert Blum.

Landscapes in pastel. For Sale.

Wm. Verplanck Birney.
"Photographic Memories," .... $175
"Reading Her Fortune," .... 100

" The Rose," 50

"Au Revoir," 200

J. G. Brown.

" Thoughts by the Sea," $1,000

Otto Backer.

" Interior of St. Marc's, Venice," For Sale.

" The Palace of Desdemona, Venice,"

For Sale.

Albert Bierstadt.

" Sunrise on the Matterhorn," . . . $5,000

Wm. M. Chase.

Studies in oil and pastel, . . . For Sale.

J. H. DOLPH.

" Interior, Amsterdam," $400

RoBT. A. Eichelberger.

Landscape, $500

De Haas.

" Moonlight on the Water," . . . For Sale.

Thos. Moran.

Landscape, For Sale.

J. Francis Murphy.

Landscape, For Sale.

J. Symington.

"On the Bridge."

OF PICTURES.

Carrol, Beckwith.

Portrait.

Stanley Middleton.

Marine, For Sale.

J. C. NiCOLL.

" Early Morning at Sea."
" With Yacht Katrina."

G. D. Madura Peixotto.

Study head of H. E. Cardinal Manning,

$1,500

Wm. a. Rogers.

" The Carpet Weaver's Children."
" An Autumn Walk."
" Great Grampus House."

Walter Satterlee.

"The Puritan Mayflower."

James Smillie.

Landscape, For Sale.

George Smillie.

Landscape, For Sale.

Theo. Wores.

"Lotus Pond in Tokio," $850

" Street Scene in Tokio," ..... 850

" A Tea House and Cherry Blossoms," 1,500

Irving R. Wiles.

" Study in Costume," For Sale.

Hamilton Hamilton.

" The Dominie's Daughter," . . For Sale.

Louise Lawson, Sculpsit.
"Abyssinian Boy."

It had been decided by the entertainment committee that on this occasion
a formal presentation of the portrait of a great Ohioan would be made by
the president, Gen. Wager Swayne.

George D. M. Peixotto, a member, had presented to the Society his
painting of Mon*ison R. Waite, chief justice of the United States. Mr.
Peixotto was a great admirer of the chief justice and decided to give a
proof of that personal interest by painting a portrait of the eminent jurist

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

for the Ohio Society. The chief justice cheerfully granted Mr. Peixotto
the time required for the sittings,, which were had at Washington in 1888.

^Ix. Waite being engaged at that period in writing his opinion in the
Bell Telephone case as well as that of the Chicago anarchists, the artist de-
picted him in a mood which conveys some reflection of the great responsi-
bilities of his office.

At an appropriate moment in the evening, General Swayne, in a few
well chosen words, presented the portrait to the Society in the name of the
artist, and then in accepting the portrait, in the name of the Society, he
referred eloquently to the high quahties of the chief justice, and in sym-
pathetic manner commended tlie artist for having contributed this memorial
of one of Ohio's greatest sons; a gift he described as not only a magnificent
portrait but a token of the artist's patriotic feeling and true interest in the
purpose of the Ohio Society. A seated figure, half length life size, the por-
trait represents Mr. Waite robed in the black gown of a chief justice, in one
hand a vellum bound book, the other hand resting on the arm of the chair.

It was ordered at the meeting of December 10, which was the annual
gathering for the election of officers, that a committee consisting of Messrs.
Ewing, Caldwell and Glassford, be appointed to confer with the committee
on the centennial of the inauguration of George Washington as first president
of the United States, to get such information as may be necessary for the
members of the Society as desire to take part in the festivities, and to re-
port at the next regular meeting.

The report of the nominating committee having been already sub-
mitted, the Society proceeded to the election, and the following officers and
trustees were chosen by ballot: President, Wager Swayne; Vice-Presidents,
William L. Strong, Henry L. Burnett, Milton I. Southard, Bernard Peters,
Calvin S. Brice; Secretary, Warren Higley; Recording Secretary, Charles
F. Bliss ; Treasurer, Leander H. Crall ; Trustees, for three years, Wallace C.
Andrews, S. S. Packard, C. C. Shayne; for two years, George IVIilmine,
William S. Hawk, J. F. Holloway ; for one year, A. D. Juilliard, Ralph H.
Waggoner, Henry A. Glassford.

President Ewing, on retiring from the chair, and before handing the
gavel to his successor, spoke as follows :

" It is three years since the Ohio Society was founded. It has not ac-
complished all its founders hoped for — few men hit the mark they aim at,
especially if it is high. But we have gone on each year with increasing num-
bers and interest, and the Society to-day is stronger and more assured of
permanent life than ever before.

" Much yet is needed. We want more social life. First, it seems neces-
sary to have a good-sized, commodious and well located house of our own,

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

or one held by a long lease at a low rent. We want it fitted up so as to be
an attractive resort day and night for residents here and friends from
abroad — as attractive as other club-houses of the city — not necessarily as
large and elegant, but with the appointments and conveniences of an agreeable
resort for ourselves and our friends.

" We want, too, much more of intellectual Hfe. I think we should
strive especially to have discussions on interesting topics of the day, as at
the Twihght and other hterary clubs, and also to have more of essays, the
taste and spirit for ha-Yiug which is strong, but the willingness to prepare it
not so. For instance, I am in default for a paper for two years past and my
successor is, I think, somewhat derelict also.

" We were innovators in New York in establishing the first society of
men from a single state. Our innovation led to the formation of the Southern
Society and will lead, no doubt, to the formation of other state societies.

" Now, in both our intellectual and social aims we need the help of Ohio
women in New York. We have all enjoyed the ladies' receptions we have had,
and the informal dinners. With our new house why can't we admit women
as members ? Our constitution does not forbid it ; it does not limit membership
to men. Let us enlist their minds and hearts and graces in the intellectual and
social life of the Ohio Society, and by broadening the membership we will
heighten the aims and increase the good work of the Society.

" In surrendering the presidency of the Society with which I have been
honored so long, I am troubled with a humbling sense in my failure to ade-
quately exert myself for its welfare, and the grateful sense of the kindness
which kept me so long at the head of the Society. I am rejoiced to know,
however, that the next president will give a greater help than I have done.
He has been identified with it from its birth, is zealous for its success, has
high intellectual ability and sterhng worth which commands the respect and
admiration of every member. To his hands, now, my fellow members, I
deliver the insignia of authority as president of the Ohio Society. The Society
is a democracy and the president has no power vested in him except as a pre-
siding officer. The emblems of his authority are only these two gavels, one
of stainless ivory, the gift of Captain Glassford, the other, the gift of jNIr.
Nye, carved from a log of the double cabin in one room of which was held
the first court of justice and in the other the first school in the Northwest
Territory. It is of oak, which stood perhaps for centuries in the primeval
forest, awaiting the coming of civilization. May it call our Society to order
for a century to come, and may education and liberty, regulated by law,
virtues of American civilization which it typifies, be illustrated by our Society
for a century to come, and may it always be wielded by one as fit to bear it
as our excellent friend and brother. General Swayne.

74j

General Wager Swayne
President from November 29, 1888, to November 39, 1891

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" And now, brethren of the Oliio Society, with grateful appreciation of
the honors you have done me, I bid you farewell as your president and take
my place as a worker in the ranks."

On motion of General Burnett, it was " Resolved, That the hearty
thanks of the Ohio Society are hereby tendered to the retiring officers for
their devotion to the interest of the Society during the terms they have
respectively served."

At a meeting of the governing committee on the same night, Henry A.
Glassford was elected chairman and C. F. Bliss secretary. A house com-
mittee of three was then elected, consisting of Alexander Doyle, Cyrus But-
ler and E. B. Bruch.

At the meeting of January 14, President Swayne announced the ap-
pointment of the following committees: Art and Literature Committee:
John Q. A. Ward, chairman; George D. M. Peixotto, Cyrus Butler, Carson
Lake and J. Q. Howard. Auditing Committee: Wm. Perry Fogg, John M.
Guiteau, F. C. Loveland, Carey W. Moore and J. Q. Mitchell. Entertain-
ment Committee : Homer Lee, chairman ; Thomas Ewing, Whitelaw Reid, Jay
O. Moss and Andrew J. C. Foye.

It was announced that the fourth annual banquet of the Society would
be held at Delmonico's on Tuesday evening, February 19. The following
reception committee for the banquet was announced: John W. Ellis, chair-
man ; John D. Archbold, S. D. Brewster, Watson H. Brown, H. B. Brundrett,
H. H. Brockway, S. B. Elkins, Wm. W. Heaton, Colgate Hoyt, George
Hoadly, E. W. Hoagland, Anson G. McCook, H. J. Morse, Chas. B. Peet,
Joseph Pool, John C. Schooley, Samuel Thomas, Wm. Ford Upson, Frank
Work, F. H. Wheeler.

By resolution it was decided that a committee of two should be appointed
with a view to musical development in the Society.

On motion of Mr. Chance, it was ordered that a committee of five be
appointed by the chair to take steps towards the entertainment of the com-
missioners from Ohio to attend the centennial celebration of the Washington
inauguration, and to report at the next meeting.

The chair urged upon the Society the desirability of its members con-
tributing literature relating in any way to the state of Ohio, to the hbrary,
whether as loans to be returned to the members so lending at their pleasure,
or as absolute gifts.

The annual banquet was held at Delmonico's, on the evening above
designated, Tuesday, February 19, 1889, when, as a local chronicler of the
day* declared, "Ohio pluck, Ohio push, and Ohio perseverance were loyally
celebrated.

New York Tribune, February 20, 1889.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Rufus Putnam and the ordinance of 1787," the writer continued,
" were the themes of patriotic eulogy, and the grounds of the territory which
takes its name from the river tliat the French called ' beautiful ' was pro-
claimed with eloquence and wit.

" Although the Society is young, it makes up in enthusiasm what it
lacks in age and numbers. The Ohio men are noted for coming to the front.
Everybody knows that the aborigines, whose mammoth mud pies still exist,
produced a superior article in mounds which defy competition. Their suc-
cessors whom the intrepid La Salle encountered when he dodged his creditors
and went picnicking along the Ohio, as well as the painted and befeathered
hatchet throwers whom Mad Anthony Wayne subsequently dispersed, had
no rivals in the fine art of hair-hfting and their stake tortures were simply
unapproachable ; so that the state need not apologize for the want of the pic-
turesque and romantic in its history. Washington, it is true, lacked the
address to be bom on the ' Sacred Soil,' but the late settlement of the coun-
try must be accounted an extenuating circumstance, and if there were no
Buckeyes at Valley Forge it was merely because they did not live early
enough."

The dinner arrangements were democratic in their simplicity. No raised
table made the honored guests targets for the gaze of curiosity and debarred
them from participation in the common mirth. President Wager Swayne's
figure graced the head of the centre table on a level with the rest of the
diners, and careful scrutiny was required to pick out the features of Cor-
nelius N. Bliss, the luxuriant locks of Roger A. Pry or, the rotund and
smihng countenance of S. B. Elkins. The decorations were limited to a
colored representation of the seal of Ohio, which displayed its golden sun-
burst above the president's chair, and copies of the national shield which
adorned the walls and the front of the building, and were draped with the
Stars and Stripes.

The menu was a tastefully lithographed card, bearing on its face an
outline map of the state, with a star showing the city of Marietta, and a
dramatic picture of a stalwart pioneer braining a ferocious grizzly which
had just feasted off the head of his favorite watch dog. A summary of the
history of Ohio since the organization of the Ohio Company was contained
on the inside cover, as well as a note setting up a claim to the new nickname
of " The Birthday State," on the ground that Ohio was the first state ad-
mitted into the Union after the Revolutionary war, and literally the child of
the Revolution.

The compilers of this part of the document had, however, ingeniously
hedged on their history by citing the several different dates which different
chroniclers assigned as the period of admission and defied criticism by the

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

triumphant announcement that " Ohio and Virginia, up to date, have fur-
nished twelve out of the twenty-three presidents of the United States."

The invited guests were: Ex-Secretary WilHam Windom, Senator P. B.
Plumb, of Kansas; Gten. Roger A. Pryor, C. N. Bhss, and Congressmen
A. C. Thompson and C. H. Grosvenor.

At about nine o'clock President Swayne rapped for order. He made no
attempt at a formal speech, but congratulated the members on the agreeable
occasion of the gathering, and warmly welcomed the distinguished guests.
It was in New York, he reminded them, that Ohio was really bom, under
Virginia auspices, when in the old City hall, at the corner of Nassau and
Wall streets, the Continental Congress passed the ordinance of 1787 author-
izing the sale of land at the mouth of Muskingum River, out of which grew
Ohio and the other states which have since clustered about her, and they might
therefore recognize the peculiar fitting of such a celebration in this city.

He then read the following letters of regret, remarking that he would
proceed in the inverse order of their importance:

General Schenck : " The sons of our big state may well be proud of her.
Ohio by her marvelous growth and advancement has crowded ages of time
within her history of less than a century. Measured by the succession of
events and progress of improvement, instead of by the calendar, she now
takes rank with the oldest states of the Union, and computing by the
standard, I sometimes feel as if I had lived five hundred years instead of
eighty since my birth in the Miami Valley."

Hon. S. S. Cox: " I am greatly concerned that I am always away when
tlie good things are spread by my Ohio friends. As I cannot be there, the
next best thing I can do is, perhaps, the best thing — to wish you all a happy
evening, with much good cheer, and that every memory of Ohio may give
an additional zest to the festivity."

Gen. W. S. Rosecrans: "The saying that 'blood is thicker than water,'
has always been suggested to my mind since I first left Ohio for West Point,
and during my four years there the sight of an Ohioan made me feel toward
him as though he were a brother. The years spent in the war for the Union
strengthened these feelings, and age has confimied them."

Hon. R. B. Hayes: "Very sorry I cannot meet the 'Ohio Boys,' as
Corwin called them ; but some day my turn at your table will come."

Other letters were received from President Cleveland and President-Elect
Benjamin Harrison; also from many other prominent men.

Simon Wolf, formerly consular agent at Alexandria, Egypt, was the
first speaker called upon. He said in substance :

" New York is so much prepared for a continual dose of Chauncey Dcpew
that no one else has a chance, so our honorable president thought to-night

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

he would give you the speakers, as he has the letters of regret, in the inverse
order of their interest and raising the foundation of the pyramid gently to
the apex. It was the ambition of my life, as a boy in Germany, to become a
citizen of America, and above all, a citizen of Ohio. I succeeded in that am-
bition, and it has been my pride and delight to represent this country abroad,
and to spread the fame of Ohio.

" Ohio men go everywhere. Who, for instance, should I knock up against
in Egypt but the genial Samuel Sullivan Sunset Cox. The first thing he
said to me was, ' Old boy, here I am, where are the mumtmies ? ' I took him to
the museum of Boulak and gave him a glimpse of the mummies that had just
been unearthed from the caverns of the Nile. There was a Pharaoh of the
expulsion, the man who did us the great good of expelling our ancestors out
of Egypt, and Sam says to me, ' Wolf, speak to the old duffer.' Well, not
having received a classical education, I said, ' Sam, you speak to him, as you
are well versed in the dead languages.' Being a good Ohio boy, of course,
he did.

" Last year at our banquet we predicted that the United States would
select its next president from Ohio. It did. We also predicted that two-thirds
of the cabinet would be Ohio men. I am not going to give secrets away be-
cause I have received cipher dispatches from Indianapolis telling me not to,
but I think two-thirds is about correct, and it is only one more instance that
Ohio men will always prove that wherever they are, there are life, prosperity,
vim and enterprise."

The chairman next introduced A. Minor Griswold, of " Texas Siftings."
Mr. Griswold said:

" This introduction reminds me of an introduction that I received once
when lecturing in a little town known as Ashtabula, on the Western ' Preserve '
of Ohio. The president seemed to think it necessary to make an apology
for having a comic lecture. He said, however, that in the formation of
matter you begin with the lower order of creation. ' Take the monkey,' he
said, ' who gradually advanced to the higher formation of man.' It was a
pretty big audience, yet during my lecture not one of them laughed that
night, but during the next day they began to snicker a little bit. I feel
at all events that they are in convulsions by this time, for it is now fifteen
years off.

" At this stage I am reminded of a German who came to this country,
not understanding a word of English. He was in a flour mill and a barrel
of flour fell upon the top of his head and injured him, as it were, in the English
language. Not understanding a word of that language the man did not
know that he had been hurt — if the barrel of flour had struck him in Dutch
it would have killed him. Time passed and he gradually acquired a smatter-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing of the English language, and presently his head began to hurt. At
length when he began to speak English fluently he died of his ailment. I
hope that fact won't befall my Ashtabula friends when they come to reahze
the full force of my lecture.

" Although born in New York I was a resident of Ohio for twenty-five
years. I gave my best days to Ohio, and some of the most enjoyable nights
I have ever spent were while I was in that blissful state. Many of you who
were in that bhssful state before now will know, no doubt, what I mean. I
was frequently urged to go South, but I replied : * No, I wiU stay with my
state; nothing could persuade me to leave the state but an invasion.' I was
drafted in two cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati, and there was only one thing
prevented me going to the front — I was not twins.

" I gave my initial lecture in a little town called Morrow, not far from
Cincinnati. I said to the brakeman, who did not know stations, ' I want to
go to Morrow.' ' Why don't you wait.? ' says he. ' I can't, sir,' says I.
* Does this train go to Morrow.? ' ' No,' he said, ' it goes up to-day and
comes back to-morrow.'

" I told the landlord in Morrow that I was anxious to get a start. He
said they had started every lecturer so far, and he presumed there would
be no exception in my case. He was right. In Cedarville, where our old
friend Whitelaw Reid comes from, I also lectured. I described a painting of
Joseph and his brothers, where they were putting him in a pit, not having
money enough to put him in the parquet."

The chairman before introducing the next speaker took exception to
the last sentence of the previous speaker. " The reason," he said, " that
Joseph was put in the pit was because they had no room in the family circle."

Congressman C. H. Grosvenor was next called upon. A few of the re-
marks he made were:

" I only made one suggestion to the president-elect about his cabinet,
which was that he should pick as many Ohio men as possible, and when his
slate comes out you will probably see that the president made a note of it.
Ohio keeps her eye on whoever is bom in the state. She keeps a register of
Ohio men, and whether they go West, over the Rocky Mountains and down
across the Pacific Coast, or whether they go to New York, or become famous
at the bar, on the bench, or in the halls of legislation, Ohio keeps her eye on
them.

" What a magnificent spectacle we have in this recent presidential elec-
tion. An Ohio bom man gracefully, triumphantly elected president of the
United States. Ohio man gracefully, smilingly, magnificently making a fight
to beat the others, and say after the fight that he was at any rate glad that
he was an Ohio man who won. Underlying the growth of Ohio is the great

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

fact that she built her institutions on a solid basis of freedom and liberty;
liberty of conscience.

" Principles underlying our organic structure, that religion, morality
and education are essential to the growth and perpetuity of the state, are
the great tilings that Ohio built upon. Those great principles were carried
to us engrafted in our organic law by the men of New England."

With a graceful allusion to the early settlement of Ohio by New England
people, the chairman called upon Cornelius N. Bliss, president of the New
England Society. Mr. Bliss said:

" Mr. President and Gentlemen : — I shall make no apology for a single
word that I may say, for I came here with the understanding that I should
not be called upon to say a word. The witty words that I have heard uttered
here to-night by Ohio men make me wish that I, too, had been bom in Ohio
and always stayed there.

" I wish to say a word to you, however, that in view of the kind words
that you have spoken concerning the New England Society, it greets you
with pride and gratification. We thank you and are glad that you remember
the old home. It is with great pleasure that I extend to you the right hand
of fellowship — with the same pleasure I did the same for the new Southern
Society. It seems to me all these societies are calculated to do great good in
our country. I believe that the good that can be accomplished by them will
be incalculable. Let's hold together until we bring this city and this state
and this nation into one harmonious whole. Gentlemen, I thank you for your
kind attention."

Congressman A. C. Thompson followed with a brief but happy speech.

Hon. Roger A. Pryor spoke next, making an eloquent and historical
speech. He said in part:

" May I, gentlemen, now that Virginia has fallen from her high estate,
pause a moment with reminiscences? Who was it but Patrick Henry, of
Virginia, that offered the resolution in the Continental Congress for the break-
ing away from England? And who but Thomas Jefferson that drafted the
immortal Declaration of Independence? G^eorge Rogers Clark, under the
direction of Patrick Henry, organized the expedition that went to the West
and wrested the state of Ohio from the British. In 1784, when our fore-
fathers were endeavoring to form the Confederation, it was objected to on the
ground that Virginia was such a large territory, and Virginia magnanimously
surrendered the magnificent territory of Ohio.

" But when it was feared that the government of the old Confederation
was too weak to stand, Virginia, through the immortal George Washington,
recommended the call of a convention, and the result of that convention was
the written constitution that is the basis of our government to-day. It was

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a Virginian who on the fields of Lundy's Lane and Chippewa vindicated the
strength of the American anmy. In 1861, when the Civil War threatened the
existence of the Union, Virginia dispatches messengers to Washington to urge
moderation, and when the first shot was fired on Fort Sumter, Virginia in her
convention voted two to one against secession. But when the conflict became
inevitable Virginia said, ' I am of the South and I will fight with my state,*
although she knew at the time that she would have to bare her breast and take
the brunt of the battle.

" After this narration, has any one a word to say against old Virginia?
What has Virginia done since the war-f* There is not a man in Virginia to-day
that would, if he could, reshackle the slaves who have been emancipated. We
have come back, or, rather, we have been brought back, into the Union and
we are here to stay, and don't you forget it! Do not confound Virginia, I
implore you, with other Southern states. Virginia looks to an indestructible
Union, of indestructible states."

Ex-Secretary Windom was greeted with prolonged cheering when he
rose in response to the president's call. It was some minutes before the en-
thusiasm of the audience subsided, and when it did his remarks were singularly
apt and graceful. He said in substance :

" I want first to congi'atulate tliis Society on the splendid success of this
entertainment. If I had come here to-night with any purpose of making a
speech I should now be very glad to refrain from doing so, for after the
speeches we have heard the attempt would be a greater task than I can per-
form. However, I have congratulated myself very much since I sat here
to-night upon my great wisdom and good luck. In the first place I con-
gratulated myself on my wisdom in being bom in the great state of Ohio.

" I hstened to my distinguished friend who paid so glowing a tribute
to old Virginia, and remarked, too, that nearly thirty years ago two such
mere youths as he and I represented our respective states on the floor of
Congress, and have scarcely seen him since, and am happy to meet him
to-night. I congratulate myself on my wisdom, ggod judgment and good luck
in having both father and mother bom in the state of Virginia ; then again
turning to our distinguished friend, president of the New England Society,
I congratulate myself more than in all other respects upon my very good
wisdom and my extreme good luck in getting a wife from New England.

" Now, gentlemen, can you get up a better combination than that.''
There is but one thing that I can add to it to give you a further idea of my
great good luck and judgment — that was, perhaps, in removing from Ohio
to the great state of Minnesota, the queen of the head of the Mississippi
River. We are all proud of our native state. I am especially proud of Ohio.
I am proud of the combinations who have been represented here to-night, of

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the glories which are visible all about her, and the halo of glory in being de-
scended from Virginia, as it is, in having such a great mother as our friend
has told us of in New England. There is no reason why Ohio should not be
great, and she is, and patriotic besides. You may go where you will on this
great earth, and if there is a dollar to be honestly made, or an office to be
honestly filled, Ohio is ready to make it or fill it. I believe it is reported that
General Garfield once said that he never could look upon a boy without taking
off his hat when he remembered the responsibilities buttoned up in his coat.
He was speaking of Ohio boys, without doubt.

" I have been making a little calculation as I sat here. There are about
two hundred and forty Ohio men in this room, everyone of whom could make
a better speech than I could, and if each one takes one minute — it is eleven
o'clock now — it will be fifteen o'clock before we get through, I therefore shall
not take up the time of any Ohio men any longer."

As Mr. Windom resumed his seat he was again loudly cheered. Maj.-
Gen. O. O. Howard was the next speaker. In the course of a short but in-
teresting address he said:

" If I am at the base of the pyramid I must occupy a very thin place. I
have listened to speeches that made me wish that I was like the speakers and
not like a simple soldier. I have listened to the speeches and I have rejoiced
that I was here. I was telegraphed to come and I came. I cannot make much
of a speech. I was bom in Maine. I have been in Oliio where I have seen the
little children strewing flowers in the way of the soldiers returning from the
war.

" But my mind has run back to Maine to-night where I was bom, on a
bleak hill. I have traveled in the Old World and I have returned to the
United States to rejoice that I was bom here. It is a good country to be bom
in and it is a good country to return to. I looked about to-night when I
came in and said to myself, ' What a fine set of men — these men bom in
Ohio.' I rejoice in the principles that have been taught me in my youth
and for which I have stood up and am willing to stand up."

President Swayne then bade the gentlemen good night, and the annual
dinner came to an end.

CHAPTER VII
1889-1890

AT the meeting of the governing committee on March 4th, on motion
of Mr. Holloway, the following declaration, prepared by General
Swayne, was directed to be presented to the Society at its next
regular meeting, and to be embodied in the chairman's report of the govern-
ing committee, to-wit:

" The governing committee having been instructed to consider and re-
port upon several constitutional amendments looking to the extension in
various directions of the field of membership, and changing in some particu-
lars the amounts payable by members, respectfully report that in their judg-
ment the Society at this time would be more benefited by stability and per-
manence in both those features of its character, than by any present change.

"At the same time the committee recognizes and appreciates the desire
and need of a larger place for the social element in the Society's affairs.
They beg to suggest, therefore, that the full time of one evening in each
month is not required for the Society's current business, and suggest the
propriety of occasionally giving notices that at the next regular meeting
the regular order of business will be dispensed with and the evening given in
charge of the entertainment committee, who will provide appropriate and
interesting features, and that ladies and other guests of members will be
welcome. The committee, if authorized by the Society, will give such notice
whenever in their judgment the Society's current business will permit.

" The committee recognizes also the desirability of purchasing works of
art, whenever such a purchase will not only be desirable in itself, but will also
secure to the Society a valuable member. They are advised, however, by the
experience of other associations that life-memberships are apt to give rise to
very inconvenient and difficult situations. The result in their judgment is that
•a simple authorization to them to occasionally purchase works of art and
give in payment therefor receipts for initiation fees and for dues paid in
advance for not exceeding, say, five years, would best accomplish what is
desired, and they recommend that such authority be given."

This report was presented to the Society on March 11th, and on motion of
Mr. Butler was adopted.

The report of the entertainment committee upon the fourth annual ban-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

quet was submitted by Mr. Crall, showing receipts from tickets sold to be
$1,377.00; disbursements amounting to $1,104.03, and a surplus to be paid
into the treasury of $272.97. The report was adopted. The thanks of the
Society were also tendered to the members of the banquet committee.

General Burnett moved that at the next monthly meeting the regular
order of business be omitted and the evening be given in charge of the enter-
tainment committee, which was to provide appropriate and interesting en-
tertainment which ladies might attend. Carried. General Burnett moved
that the governing committee be authorized to purchase works of art for the
Society, and to give therefor receipts for initiation fees and dues not exceed-
ing five years. This was also carried.

A valuable and interesting paper was read before the Society on April 8th
by Gen. Henry L. Burnett, on " Our Military and Naval Establishments.
The Armaments of the Great Powers. Our Defenseless Coasts." It was
listened to with great interest, and on motion of General Ewing was ordered
printed at the expense of the Society.

At the meeting of the governing committee on April 20th it was decided
to decorate the Society building during the centennial exercises and to provide
a platform at the front, from which members and their families could view
the parade. Steps were taken to entertain the commission from Ohio while
in the city.

On June 10th Captain Glassford, on behalf of the governing committee,
read a report stating among other things that the Society was in a prosperous
and improving condition; that its funds had been husbanded to the utmost
extent, and that its finances were in excellent condition, the balance of cash
on hand at the time of the report being $2,790.57, and that all debts had been
paid.

The committee on entertainment of the commissioners from Ohio to at-
tend the centennial celebration of the first inauguration of Washington re-
ported through Mr. Caldwell that they had met the commissioners; had ex-
tended to them the privilege of the Society rooms, and had given them enter-
tainment of a private character. The report was accepted.

The president reported that he had been invited to meet the general
committee of the World's Exposition of 1892 ; and, on motion, it was resolved
that he represent the Society in said committee.

The first meeting of the fall was held on September 12, 1889, for the
purpose of taking appropriate action relative to the death of the Hon. Samuel
S. Cox. A committee appointed to draft a series of resolutions reported, and
the same were adopted. A number of members were appointed a committee
to attend the funeral.

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on October 7th, a com-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

munication was received from Ralph H. Waggoner, accompanied b}' a cer-
tificate of the Oliio Auxihary of the World's Exposition at Chicago, urging
the cooperation of Ohioans in furthering the interest of Chicago in that direc-
tion. General Swayne addressed the committee requesting that action be
taken in favor of New York city as the site of the fair. The following pre-
amble and resolution was offered by him : " In view of the appointment of our
president on the general committee of the World's Exposition of 1892, it is

" Resolved, That the committee pledges itself to the president's sup-
port and will promptly carry out his suggestions or those of the general
committee." This was seconded by Mr. Milmine and carried.

Judge Higley moved that a series of entertainments be given during the
coming winter season to consist, first, of an address by the president on a
subject of interest to Ohioans which he might select; secondly, of an informal
dinner; thirdly, a ladies' reception with luncheon, followed by a dance; and
fourthly, about the holiday time, to consist of musical entertainment and
dance. The report was adopted.

The chair then called for the election of a committee to recommend mem-
bers for the offices to be filled at the annual election to be held in November.
The following gentlemen were chosen as members of the nominating com-
mittee: Messrs. Holloway, Chance, Stout, Upson, Butler, Sisson and Love-
land.

Ex-Gov. George Hoadly, of Ohio, was then presented to the Society by
the chair; deHvered a eulogy upon the late Samuel S. Cox, and referred to
his early life and training and subsequent career as a statesman.

Mr. Crall, on behalf of Mr. Schuckers, the author, presented the Society
with a life of Chief Justice Chase; also a portrait of Gen. William Henry
Harrison. The g-ifts were accepted and the secretary instructed to return
the thanks of the Society for the same.

The nominating committee reported through Mr. Chance, chairman, the
following ticket to be balloted for at the annual mGd:ing on the 29th inst.,
to-wit : President, Wager Swayne ; Vice-Presidents, William L. Strong,
Henry L. Burnett, Calvin S. Brice, Henr}^ A. Glassford, John W. Harman;
Secretary, Wan-en Higley ; Recording Secretary, Edward B. Bruch ; Treas-
urer, Leander H. Crall; for Trustees for three years, Benjamin F. Peixotto,
William H. Caldwell, Carson Lake.

The annual meeting for 1889 was held on November 29. The report
presented by the governing committee was as follows:

" Mr. President and Gentlemen : — Your governing committee begs to re-
spectfully submit the following report: Much of their attention has been
given to your expressed wish for a permanent home, and in conjunction with
3'our building committee two efforts were made. One contemplated a purchase,

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the other a leasehold. Both failed of success, and the plan of conducting the
Society on a club basis has for the present, at least, been left in abeyance
on the recommendation contained in the special report of the building com-
mittee recently adopted.

" The lease of the rooms now occupied by the Society expires April 30th
next, and steps should be taken at the proper time towards its renewal or the
procurement of other quarters. On this point it is recommended that the
Society should seek other apartments at a lower rental, where its meetings
may be held and its property be protected, such as may be found on some of
the streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues, and that a hall be engaged for
entertainments for and as the occasion may require. Your committee thinks
a saving in expenses may thus be made and the financial and social interests
of the Society be better promoted.

" The arrangement for the partial use of these rooms by the Republican
Men's Association was fairly profitable while it lasted, but under the contract
it was terminable on notice. Such notice was given by the association and
their occupancy closed June 30, 1889. It was not renewed, as was expected.

" The president. General Swayne, was invited by the chairman of the
general committee of the World's Fair of 1892 (Mayor Grant) to a place
on the committee as a member representing this Society, and your governing
committee thereupon pledged to him its prompt support of his recommen-
dations and those of said general committee.

" The Society mourns the loss by death of three of its members during
the past year: Merrill H. Gillett, S. S. Cox and Henry Beard. The Society
has adopted in due form the proper and customary resolutions of condolence
in relation to the first two; as to the latter, the usual action will doubtless be
taken; and while on this subject, jonv governing committee would respectfully
suggest that uniformity and simplicity in the method and style of the publica-
tion of obituary resolutions might with advantage be adopted, so that mem-
bers of the Society, as well as the families of the deceased, may be put in
possession of the reports of obituary committees. The usage of Loyal Legion
in this regard is recommended for adoption — special report attached.

" Your efllcient treasurer will in his report furnish particulars of the
membership of the Society and of the financial condition, anything thereon
from this committee would, therefore, be superfluous.

" Tlie foregoing committee are largely indebted to the house committee
for their valuable and indefatigable sendees during the entire year.

" A. D. Juilliard, Ralph H. Waggoner and Henry A. Glassford retire
from this committee on the election of their successors — they are not eligible
for reelection. " Respectfully submitted,

" Henry A. Glassford, Chairman.
" No. 236 Fifth avenue. New York. Nov. 29, 1889."

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The report of Leander H. Crall, treasurer, was presented and ordered
received, as was also that of the entertainment committee. The Society then
proceeded to ballot for the candidsCtes for the officers for the ensuing year.
The gentlemen proposed by the nominating committee, as already given, were
all elected, with the exception of trustees ; George E. Armstrong and John
Dickson being chosen in place of Benjamin F. Peixotto and Carson Lake.

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on December 2d, S. S.
Packard was unanimously elected chairman of the committee for the ensuing
year. The house committee, consisting of Cyrus Butler, Alexander Doyle
and Edward B. Bruch, was reappointed.

The December meeting of the Society was held on the 9th, when the presi-
dent announced the appointment of the following standing committees: En-
tertainment: Homer Lee, R. H. Waggoner, A. J. C. Foye, Benjamin F.
Peixotto, Benjamin Le Fevre; Literature and Art: Alexander Doyle, F. C.
Loveland, Mahlon Chance, John M. Guiteau, Cyrus Butler; Auditing: Charles
B. Peet, P. B. Armstrong, John W. Stout, John T. Granger, M. B. Wright;
Library: Theodore Nye, J. S. Moulton, C. E. Milmine.

William Henry Smith, one of the Society's members, read an interesting
and historical paper, at the close of which the president expressed the thanks
of the Society for the entertainment. After the formal meeting adjourned,
refreshments were served, and several gentlemen rendered instrumental and
vocal music.

The fifth annual banquet was given at Delmonico's on the evening of
Wednesday, February 19, 1890. The arrangements were in the hands of
the entertainment committee of the Society, which was constituted as follows :
Homer Lee, chairman; Benj. Le Fevre, Andrew J. C. Foye, Ralph H. Wag-
goner, B. F. Peixotto. The reception committee consisted of the following
gentlemen: Henry L. Burnett, chairman; Gen. W. T. Sherman, Thomas A.
Edison, George L. Pease, Lowell M. Palmer, Calvin S. Brice, A. W. Follett,
Chas. H. Zinn, George B. Hibbard, Charles Sprague, William L. Strong, John
D. Archbold, Cary W. Moore, W. C, Andrews, A. L. Bennett, H. H. Hobbs,
Thomas Ewing, Geo. E. Milmine, John W. Stout.

The great hall of Delmonico's was decorated with American flags, and
blazoned on the walls was the following record : " Our Generals : Grant, Sher-
man, Sheridan, McPherson ; our Presidents : W. H. Harrison, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, B. Harrison ; our Pioneers : Putnam, Washington, St. Clair."

*' In looking at the great names which Ohio so worthily claims," said
Mr. Depew In the course of his speech, " I find, on a cursory examination,
that Grant Is counted twice. How many more are similarly honored I do not
know ; but I believe that one of the current questions of Ohio is an honest
ballot box ! "

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The members and guests sat at five tables. There was no dais, all being
" tables of honor." At the head of the centre one sat Gen. Wager Swayne,
the toastmaster, and at the foot sat Judge Warren Higley. At the right of
General Swayne sat Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, and at his left Hon. John S.
Wise. At the next table Gen. Thomas Ewing sat at the head and H. A.
Glassford at the foot. At the next, S. B. Elkins and John W. Harman ; at
another, William L. Strong and S. S. Packard ; and at the last, Hon. Calvin
S. Brice and Simon Wolf. At the right of General Ewing sat Gen. W. T.
Sherman.

The menu card was artistic. On an outer page it bore the sign of " The
Bunch of Grapes Tavern," with the couplet:

One of sour, two of sweet.

Four of strong, and eight of weak.

Within was the bill of fare, and a series of quotations having reference
to the " Bunch of Grapes " and its associations. These were as follows :

" OHIO.

" * A Tavern Chair is the throne of human felicity.'

" ' There is no private house in which people can enjoy themselves so
well as at a capital tavern.'

" First mention of the Bunch of Grapes, 1711 :

" ' Mr. Francis Holmes be allowed eight pounds in consideration of a
house of his in King street (Boston), being pulled down to stop ye fire.'

" Bunch of Grapes diary, 1712 :

" ' Deputies treat the Governor at Homes's * * * '

" ' I invited the Governor to dine at Homes'.'

" ' Dine at Holm's. I supposed the Council had treated the Gov'r, but
the Gov'r would pay * * * '

" ' Friday I treat the Gov'r at Homes, had two dishes of green pease.
Party of eleven in all, paid 36s.'

" ' The first meeting for the organization of Trinity Church was held
in the Bunch of Grapes.'

" ' The Boston Massacre took place almost before its very door.'

" ' Washington's stay at the Bunch of Grapes upon his coming to town
after the evacuatiom of the British.'

" 1733. ' The foundation for the first Grand Lodge of Free accepted
Masons in America was laid in the Bunch of Grapes tavern.'

" Lafayette was entertained at'the ' Bunch of Grapes.'

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" ' The Boston Tea Party was organized at a meeting held at the Bunch
of Grapes.'

" ' The first meeting for organization of the Ohio Company was held at
the Court Chamber of Bunch of Grapes Tavern. From this feeble beginning
has spi-ung one of the richest, most populous and powerful states in our
Union.'

" O-O-OHI-0."

Tlie entertainment committee introduced something new, strange and
pleasing into the proceedings. Gen. W. T. Sherman was one of the speakers.
Before he spoke, there were thrown on a white screen, by the stereopticon, por-
traits of General Grant, General Sheridan and General Sherman. The orches-
tra played " Rally Round the Flag, Boys," " The Star-Spangled Banner,"
and " Marching Through Georgia."

Homer Lee read letters and telegrams of regret from Whitelaw Reid,
John Q. A. Brackett, Thomas N. Hart, Mayor of Boston ; A. Miner Griswold,
Gov. James E. Campbell, of Ohio ; Senator John Sherman, and John L.
Cooper, of Chicago.

Mr. Reid sent the following dispatch to General Swayne:

" Most cordial greetings in answer to your letter and sincere regrets for
necessary absence. You have learned to appreciate Ohio more than ever since
you came to New York. Come abroad and you will be still prouder of your
whole country, and especially of that fairest spot in it, the spot where we
were born."

Governor Campbell wrote :

" Upon my return from Washington I find an engagement previously
made with the Columbus Board of Trade for the 18th, and leara that there
is no train by which I could reach New York in time to participate in the Ohio
Society's banquet, very much to my regret. I send the state flag, however,
and hope you will have a royal good time."

Senator Sherman's letter, dated Febi-uary 6, ran as follows:

" I regret to say that I shall not be able to attend the annual banquet of
the Ohio Society of New York on the 19th inst. I have agreed to dine with
General Sherman on his seventieth birthday on the 8th inst. in New York, and
will probably not be able to go there again during the present winter."

General Swayne, as usual, made an excellent presiding officer. His pre-
liminary remarks were witty and able, and he introduced the speakers with
tact and grace.

The first speaker was Gen. Thomas Ewing, who delivered an eloquent
address, of which the following is a part:

" The Ohio Society is founded to help preserve, interpret and hand down

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the traditions of the most beneficent, peaceful event in American history, ex-
cepting only the Declaration of Independence. But for the movement of the
old soldiers of the Revolution in their last encampment at Newburg and the
legislation they procured from the Continental Congress and their settlement
at Marietta, the Northwest would probably have been still held by the British.
Tennessee and Kentucky were threatening to cut loose from the Colonies,
which were wrangling, disunited, penniless and powerless. It is not too much
to say that our republic owes largely to that company its continental expan-
sion, its free institutions, the arrest of slavery and its subsequent overthrow
and destruction, and the development of that enlightened and progressive
spirit of liberty which has placed it foremost in the majestic march of civili-
zation."

Mr. Wise reminded the Buckeyes, in charming phrases and well-chosen
words, of the ties that exist between their state and " Old Virginia, mother of
states." Ohio, he said, was bom, indeed, iinder a lucky star. He prayed
that the active life of Virginia was not past, but that she was only recuperating
for new effort. If, however, her days of glory were passed, she had always the
old proud feehng of failing womanhood amid age and decrepitude, that of
maternity, in that she had seven times reproduced her species. He continued :
" The word of the message I bring you from old Virginia is, ' God be praised
for Ohio's past; God be blessed for Ohio's present; God grant that her future
may be the full and free fruition of what the present and the past give
promise! If it is, Virginia, her mother, feels that her cup of happiness is
full.' "

General Swayne introduced Hon. Chauncey M. Depew with reminiscences
of Mr. Depew's Yale life, when he was known by the prophetic name of
" Chat Depew." Mr. Depew, after several quips and modern instances hav-
ing more or less reference to Ohio, compared the children of Ohio and the
children of New York in respect of politics. New York citizens, he com-
plained, were stanch in politics, except on an occasion that was before the
eyes of the whole world, and then New York saw politics as in everything else.
Said he:

" Nobody is to blame for this condition of things but ourselves. Public
affairs have to be managed, parties have to be managed, and if the people
don't do it they will be managed by gentlemen who have an interest in public
affairs and naturally become leaders. Now in Ohio how different it is ! There
efvery man, every woman and every child takes politics in with their mothers'
milk. The first question which an Ohio man brings before you is either the
tariff or its opposite. You never can discuss a professional question, a busi-
ness question, or the promotion of a railway or a company or working a mine ;
you never can discuss an enterprise to build up a Western state, with an Ohio

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

man, but what he takes a recess for politics. Scratch a Russian and you find
a Tartar. Scratch an Ohio man, whether he have the cloth of a Bishop or
the everyday suit of a railroad man, and he's after an office ! "

The chairman, introducing General Sherman, said:

" There are three species of generals : The little general, who is desirous
only of fame; the other general who is ambitious of opportunity and willing
to risk danger in his desire for distinction and regard ; and the greatest general
of all, he whose heart is in his country and w^hose country is in his heart ; and
for such a one the country can not do too much. The military commander of
that character in tliis particular instance is the impersonation of Ohio, Gen.
William Tecumseh Sherman."

Prolonged cheering greeted the introduction of the renowned leader and
patriot, and as he got up and before he began to speak the warm greeting was
repeated. He said in part:

" Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : — I have sometimes thought that we at-
tach more importance to the place of our birth than it is really entitled to. I
was there myself — in Ohio, I mean — but still I have no memory of my birth.
I am told that I was bom there, but that's all I know about it — I mean in
Lancaster, Ohio. I do believe that in the place of our birth the mind and the
character of manhood begin to form very early in life; when the mountains,
the woods and the streams that flow by your house all become stamped upon
your memory and form part of yourselves. It is chiefly the men and women
with whom you associate in early life who have the greatest influence in the
formation and making permanent of what your character shall afterward be.
I recall my own early days in Lancaster, Ohio, as vividly as I look upon your
faces now. I thought, for example, Napoleon was a very small soldier when
compared with old General Beecher. And I remember William and Christopher
King and and old ' Bill ' King. Of the great men among whom my early days
were cast, ' the noblest Roman of them all ' was Thomas Ewing. A better,
nobler, more intellectual man never lived than Thomas Ewing of Ohio. I really
think I received the inspiration of my life from an inferior class of men, if it is
a fact that I received it from men other than those whom I can recall as having
been associated with me in the days of my youth.

" In those parts was the home of Phil. Sheridan. His parents were purely
Irish, and they claim now to have been bom in Albany. Well, I have nothing
to say against that, but it is certain that Phil, was brought up in Ohio. These
associations and places were the schools in which we were taught. They were
good schools, better schools than you have in New York to-day. Five dollars a
quarter was the fee, and this included Greek and Latin, and all the sciences,
as well as reading and writing. That's rarely taught nowadays. Sheridan
was pure Irish and I pure Yankee-Scotch and Yankee; and in the course of

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

events each of us load to play important parts in the great effort to preserve
the integrity of the RepubHc, by virtue of which we are free citizens."

At the close of General Sherman's speech Mr. Depew jumped to his feet
and cried : " Three cheers for that which best represents what Ohio is, has
been, and can be." The cheers were given with a will.

Professor Harper, of Yale College, next spoke, and was followed by Sena-
tor Calvin S. Brice, who spoke briefly. He said :

" The reason Ohio men seek office is because they value the good opinion
of their neighbors, and if a man fails in obtaining that he fails in what he
sought and his hopes are not realized. The reason I entered the contest was
because my neighbors in my town and county wished me, and I succeeded. It is
the little country colleges in states like Ohio where the fibre of young men is
toughened for the battle of life, and we should keep these colleges by sending
them both pupils and money."

General James M. Ashley also spoke. It was late when the diners left the
haU.

A special meeting of the Society was held on February 28th, and a letter
was read from Hon. John B. Mosby, mayor of Cincinnati, addressed to the
Hon. George Hoadly, of New York, in reference to the memorial service to
the Hon. George H. Pendleton, late ex-senator of Ohio. An invitation was ex-
tended to Governor Hoadly to be present, and the letter of Mayor Mosby con-
tinued as follows :

" The remains are now on their way to this country on the ship of war
Enterprise, and on her arrival at your port we will announce the day for the
ceremonies here. It is also our desire that the Ohio Club of New York shall
at once appoint a committee to receive the remains at New York, and if possible
accompany them at least as far as the Ohio line, where you will be met by a
committee of the Ohio legislature, who will assist you as an escort to this city.
Will it be too much to ask you to at once call your Societ}'- together and make
such arrangements as you think proper under the circumstances, and post me
at once as to your own acceptance, as well as the action of your Society?

" We also desire you, as a member of our committee, to send a formal and
written invitation to his excellency ex-President Cleveland to be present at the
ceremonies here."

The following committee were appointed to wait upon Frank K. Pendle-
ton, the son of the late George H. Pendleton, at No. 44 Broadway, to consult
with him with reference to the foregoing request, and to render such service as
might be found to be appropriate : Hon. George Hoadly, Hon. Calvin S. Brice,
Gen. Wager Swayne, Gen. Thomas Ewing, Hon. Milton I. Southard, Gen.
Henry L. Burnett and Hon. Warren Higley.

At the meeting of March 10th Mr. Lee presented a report from the en-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tertalnment committee upon the recent banquet showing that the bills had
been paid and a surplus of $263.81 left in the hands of the entertainment com-
mittee. The committee were authorized to retain and spend this sum for the
benefit of the Society.

Colonel Strong was called upon, and delivered an interesting speech.
General Burnett was requested to deliver an address at the next regular meet-
ing of the Society. Mr. Nye offered the following resolution, which was
adopted :

" Resolved, That the governing committee be instructed to consider the
advisability and feasibility of having the proceedings of the Society steno-
graphically reported; and if, in their judgment, it shall not involve too great
an expanse, they are hereby authorized and directed to make proper provision
for such verbatim repoi-ts of future proceedings of the Society." T. T. Eckert,
Jr., gave an exhibition of the phonograph.

In the meeting of the governing committee held on March 24th the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted :

" Resolved, That the matter to be published in the pamphlet authorized
by this committee at its last meeting be confined to the dates of organization
and incorporation, present officers, constitution and by-laws, roll of member-
ship and roll of the dead."

In the meeting of the Society on March 10th, the proceedings of which
are above given, it is stated in the terse language of the recording secretary
that Col. William L. Strong made a speech. There was present as a guest on
that occasion an Ohioan newly arrived in New York, who set down and pub-
lished * his impressions of the gathering. It has been thought permissible to
make the letter a part of this record, as indicating the spirit of these gather-
ings, and as showing the calibre and methods of the eminent Ohioans who then
had the fortunes of the Ohio Society of New York in charge. It is as follows :

" The Buckeye who has a spare evening in New York that happens to be
coincident with the monthly meeting of the Ohio Society of New York can
afford to omit his usual visit to the theatre and send in his card at No. 236
Fifth avenue.

" The regular monthly meeting, whether held in rain or shine, in mud or
snow, is sure to call out three or four dozen at least, mostly of elderly ex-
Ohioans, who have come to depend upon these gatherings as upon a love feast,
from which they could not bear to be excluded. A half-hour is spent in hand-
shaking and gossip, when the formal call to order is given. Generally the
veteran and venerable Gen. Wager Swayne is in the chair ; a man who needs no
introduction to the generation of Ohioans now coming on the stage, and cer-

* James H. Kennedy, in the Cleveland (Ohio) Plain Dealer, under date of March
23, 1890.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tainly none to that wliich is passing away. A happier presiding officer could
not be constructed out of the best parhamentary materials of the universe. He
is not only at ease, but master of the situation, knowing when to accelerate
business, and when to let it follow its own meandering course ; when to throw a
dam across the stream of a too profuse eloquence, and when to clear out the
channel of too trivial talk. He knows when there can be speech-making with
profit, and whom to call out, and when one has spoken upon one theme and is
to be followed by some one else upon another.

" General Swayne knows how to weave in a few happy words, that dovetail
the one into the other, and make a social mosaic of the whole. He is a combina-
tion in that regard of Harvey Rice and Henry B. Payne. No man has the
past of Ohio more in mind and regards it with a more tender veneration. When
the General and some of the older members get fairly started in an informal
way upon reminiscences pertaining to their home state it becomes a symposium
of Ohioana full of golden gems of history and biography that, if gathered up
and preserved, would become of rare historic value.

" At a recent gathering, when General Swayne was absent, Gen. Henry
L. Burnett, once of Cincinnati, was compelled to preside, being one of the vice-
presidents. Although not possessing the experience of his honored chief, Gen-
eral Burnett proved himself master of the situation, and was as happy in his
selection of speakers as General Swayne could have been. William L. Strong
had been upon an extended tour of the South, and after some persuasion was
set upon his feet and delivered a speech that was as full of humor as it was
of good sense and information. But, remembering that he was there in the
capacity of an Ohio man, and not as a great American traveler or political
economist, Mr. Strong led himself around to his experiences when he was a
general merchant in Mansfield and Loudonville, back in these days when there
were no railroads, no money, no markets and a great deal of bartering and
* getting stuck ' on wildcat money. He recalled the time when he sent flour
from Mansfield to Cleveland by wagon at a cost of fifty cents a barrel, and
threw in the parenthetical information that it could now be shipped from Min-
neapolis to Liverpool for twenty-eight cents ; told of trades of home-made
flannel of Richland county production for patent medicine warranted to
' down ' the fever and ague natural to the bottoms of the Black and the San-
dusky rivers, and of various mercantile transactions native to the Ohio of near
half a century ago.

" The venerable John W. Harman, once of Canal Dover, but for many
years a New Yorker, followed with a few anecdotes of his early personal inter-
views with Abraham Lincoln. A. M. Jones talked for a time of wonders of
Idaho, and told of the Ohio men he found in every direction ; J. F. Holloway
related an anecdote, and a son of General Eckert gave an interesting exhibi-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tion upon a phonograph. Then came a light lunch and more conversation."
On April 14th Mr. Waggoner read a letter from P. F. Collier, publisher
of Once a Week, presenting to the Society a portrait of General W. T.
Sherman. A letter from General Sherman regarding the same was also read.
The thanks of the Society were duly tendered to Mr. Collier for his gift.

The president introduced Mahlon Chance, who read an able and interest-
ing paper upon the question of the date of Ohio's admission into the Union
as a state, at the close of which it was unanimously resolved that the thanks of
the Society be tendered Mr. Chance.

CHAPTER VIII

1890-1892

IN the meetings of the governing committee and Society on May 12th
the house committee was authorized to close the rooms on Sundays of
the coming summer if they thought it wise, and were directed to look
about for another available place for the use of the Society. An interesting
paper on " My Recollections of Ohio " was read by S. S. Packard. At the
June gathering Treasurer L. H. Crall reported that the Society had a balance
of $2,200 on hand and all debts paid. An interesting address was delivered
by Wallace C. Andrews.

The first meeting of the fall was held on September 8th. President
Swayne delivered an address upon " The Ordinance of 1787," and the thanks
of the Society were tendered by formal vote, and it was ordered that the
address be published. An interesting musical programme was rendered under
the direction of Eugene Clarke. On October 13th the following gentlemen were
elected members of the nominating committee to select officers for the ensuing
year: John Dickson, S. S. Packard, Cyrus Butler, H. K. Enos, Cary W.
Moore, Dr. J. S. Converse, John W. Stout.

J. F. Holloway read a paper entitled " The Story of an Ohio Boy Who
Became an Engineer."

At the meeting of November 10th President Swayne addressed the Society
upon the recent celebration at Gallipolis, Ohio, for which a vote of thanks of
the Society was tendered. The committee on nomination made the following
report : President, Wager Swayne ; vice-presidents, William L. Strong, C. N.
Hoagland, J. Q. A. Ward, Thomas A. Edison, George Milmine; secretary,
Warren Higley; recording secretary, Edward B. Bruch; treasurer, Leander
H. Crall; trustees for three years, A. J. C. Fbye, E. C. Bodman, Charles B.
Peet.

The annual meeting of the Society was held at the Hotel Imperial on
November 29th, preceded by a dinner, at which eighty-five members were
present. President Swayne was in the chair. The report of the governing
committee was read by its chairman, S. S. Packard. It was so replete with in-
formation, and suggested so much for the good of the organization, that it was
ordered printed in pamphlet form, and is here given in full :

" The governing committee of the Ohio Society of New York would re-

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

spectfully report that during the fiscal year just ended they have held eleven
regular meetings, with an average attendance of seven members, five being a
quorum. At the first meeting in December, S. S. Packard was chosen chair-
man and the following members reappointed as house committee : Cyrus Butler,
Alexander Doyle and Edward B. Bruch. A resolution was also passed to hold
the meetings of the committee hereafter on the second Monday of each month,
before each regular monthly meeting of the Society. At the monthly meeting of
the Society, held on January 13, a lunch was served at the conclusion, which
seemed so appropriate and hospitable that the practice has been uniformly
observed at all the subsequent meetings. The matter of expense for this part
of the entertainment was duly considered by the committee, and it was felt that
as the comfort of members was one of the chief considerations of the Society,
the experiment should be fairly tried. The average cost of the nine collations
which have been served is $28.44. In fact, including this outlay, the average
monthly expenses of the Society, as shown in the treasurer's statement, have
not exceeded the average of former years.

" The renewal of the lease of the present rooms was made, after full con-
sideration, and with the approval of the Society. The failure of the efforts
to secure a permanent home for the Society seemed to settle the policy as to its
future character, of a society rather than a club, and the reaction developed a
strong tendency on the part of some thoughtful members to do away alto-
gether with a permanent home, and keep the Society together by monthly meet-
ings, after the manner of some of the church clubs or of the Twilight club. It
was felt that the main rallying point would always be the yearly banquet, which
had already achieved an enviable place in the public esteem from the high char-
acter of the speakers and the general interest felt in the historical importance
of the state. Another argument against keeping up the form of a club lay
in the fact that those members who were of the clubable kind had already their
affiliations with regular clubs where the attractions were greater than they were
ever likely to be in a club which should grow out of the Ohio Society. Besides,
the Ohio Society was now, and was likely to remain, greatly a society of
families, and the tendency already shown to encourage the presence of ladies
at the general meetings was sure to increase rather than diminish.

" The president of the Society, as well as some of the prominent members,
had shown from the beginning a desire to bring forward for discussion Ohio
topics, and members were encouraged to prepare papers touching various
points of interest centered in the state. At the regular meeting in January,
William Henry Smith read a thoughtful, historical paper which called forth
the strongest expressions of approval. This was followed in the Februai'y
meeting by a characteristic talk from the president on the ' Early Days of the
City of Columbus.' This talk elicited much pleasant discussion, from which

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cropped out personal reminiscences such as induced the president to attempt to
work that field for future entertainment. General Ewing and General Burnett
were placed on the Hst and are held for future papers, and Thomas Edison
had an opportunity to decline. The failure to secure regular papers at once,
and the interesting talks that sprang up without formal preparation, sug-
gested to certain members the feasibility of employing a verbatim reporter in
order to secure for the archives of the Society the many delightful things
which fell from witty and modest members, destined otherwise to be lost.
Although this pohcy did not prevail, the president did not permit himself to
grow discouraged, but worked arduously along the line he had lain down. And
he was richly rewarded in securing a carefully prepared paper at the April
meeting from Mahlon Chance on the admisson of Ohio into the Union. At the
May meeting Mr. Packard read a paper covering his recollections of Ohio,
which was ordered printed; and at the June meeting Mr. Andrews gave an
interesting talk on Youngstown and the growth of the iron interests in the
Mahoning Valley. For the September meeting, the President was induced to
give his estimate of the importance of the Ordinance of 1787, which he did
under the title of ' The Legend of the Northwest Territory.' To this meeting
ladies were invited, and the very generous response to the invitation at once
satisfied the members that the key to the future of the Society had been
struck. And in another direction the wisdom of the new departure became
manifest ; ' The Legend of the Northwest,' as presented by the speaker, was
found to so aptly emphasize the work of the Society in mantaining the histor-
ical importance of the state, that there was a great unanimity of expression in
the matter, and the president was urged to continue in his efforts. A further
impetus was given at the next monthly meeting when Mr. Holloway read to a
large assemblage of men and women a paper on ' How an Oliio Boy Became an
Engineer,' which proved to be a graphic account of his own boyhood struggles
and the condition and development of the northeastern portion of the state
during the past fifty years. The president then began to reach out for material
of the same sort, and has secured the cooperation and promise of a number of
eminent Ohio men who can be relied upon in the not distant future to entertain
the Society. Meantime, not to disappoint the Society for the November meet-
ing, he gave from his own careful study of the question the true significance
of the recent centennial gathering at Gallipolis. The continued increase of
attendance on the part of the ladies has been one of the encouraging incidents
of this departure, and leaves no doubt as to the feeling upon the subject. It is
proper to state that at these meetings, besides the paper and the refreshments,
we have, under the procurement and direction of Mr. Eugene Clark, been fa-
vored with excellent divertisements in the way of music and recitations. There
is a general acquiescence in the development of the Society along these lines,

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and in view of the fact that there is such a breadth of talent to be made avail-
able, it has been thought that it would be well not to confine the speakers too
closely to Ohio topics. Ohio men are themselves Ohio topics, and anything they
may choose to say will be accepted as a development of the state through its
eminent and honored citizens.

" The question of extending the area of membership so as to include resi-
dents of the states contained in the original Northwest Territory is still an
open question, and by a resolution passed at the regular meeting in May the
discussion and final action is set for this evening. A part of the resolution,
however, provided that thirty days' notice be given in advance, which require-
ment, I think, has not been met. It might be well, nevertheless, in the remarks
made by members on this occasion to keep this suggestion in view.

" The members of the governing committee have not failed to see the im-
portance of some well-defined policy for the future guidance of the Society.
They are alive to the fact that in itself Ohio is a great state, even without in-
cluding the other states embraced in the Northwest Territory, and the recent
establishment of an Ohio Society in Chicago, which they are assured had noth-
ing to do with the prospective offices soon to be doled by the World's Fair
Commissioners, as an indication that the Ohio idea is susceptible of expansion
as well as of condensation. And while there may be warrant for extending the
area of membership in the existence of the New England Society and the
Southern Society, the recent estabhshment in this city of a Delaware Society
shows how dear to the heart is the name and fame of the state. Whether this
state pride may not be preserved even should the Society take on a secondary
title of ' The Northwest Territory,' members must decide for themselves.

" The Ohio Society is already an established fact ; it is on record in a way
to admit of no diminishing consideration. It must grow larger, and not
smaller. It must hold a greater and not a less place in the recognition and life
of the metropolis. There should be attracted to it more young men, and they
should have a hand in shaping its future. It should be so embalmed in our
affections and our memory that its life and its interests will be promoted and
guarded as we promote and guard the interests of our own families. At present
there seem to be good reasons for retaining a home, especially as by sharing the
rental with other organizations we may bring our expenses readily within our
means. This keeping of a home will be necessary if it is ever thought best to
collect and preserve books, pictures and other mementoes of the state. And
while it is, for the present, at least, established that we do not desire a club,
there are indications that a general meeting room for members is a comfortable
thought, if not a necessary adjunct to our permanent growth. The report of
the treasurer will disclose the fact that we are not growing rapidly in numbers
and neither are we falling off. The same is true as to our financial condition.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

We can safely say that we are on a sound basis. It is quite evident, however,
that there has been during the past year no great zest in adding to our num-
bers; and the governing committee in canvassing this fact have felt that it
would not be out of the way to urge upon members, while accepting the admoni-
tion for themselves, a little more active interest in this direction. A very little
effort on the part of each member would double our numbers and put us in a
much better condition to carry forward whatever policy might be deemed best.

" On the whole, the governing committee feel that some progress has been
made. The treasurer's report as to the growth of the Society will be found
encouraging. Of the vacancies b}'^ death, that of General Peixotto appealed
with special force to the Society, as he was a most active and intelligent mem-
ber and in many ways a man of mark. A special meeting was called on Septem-
ber 20, and suitable resolutions passed and proper respects paid to his memory,
and a committee appointed to attend the funeral. Proper recognition was also
given to the removal of the remains of Hon. George H. Pendleton from Ger-
many to his Cincinnati home, and, at the request of the mayor of Cincinnati, a
committee was appointed to receive the body on its arrival in New York and to
facilitate its removal to Cincinnati. The committee comprised Hon. George
Hoadly, Hon. Calvin S. Brice, Gen, Wager Swayne, Gen. Thomas Ewing,
Hon. Milton I. Southard, Gen. Henry L. Burnett and Warren Higley.

" In conclusion, the committee would congratulate the Society, at the close
of its fourth year, upon the satisfactory work accomplished, and the greater
and better work which lies before it. The work of the past has necessarily been
pioneer work, and its merit lies in the clearness with which it points out the
path for the future. No organization can or should live that has not in it the
promise and potency of good, and no social organization can establish itself
in a great metropolitan city that does not appeal to the highest social interests
and satisfy the best social demands. It must not only meet these requirements,
but it must offer substantial returns for the fealty without which it cannot live.

" Ohio is a talismanic word. Its very euphony charms the ear and cap-
tures the imagination, while its associations answer the most exacting require-
ments of history, sentiment and poetry. The place held by the grand old state
in the movement which culminated in a country free from the blight of human
slavery, and her geographical position as the keystone of the arch of our con-
federation, conspire to dignify and bless the work committed to us. But all
these considerations and impulses cannot of themselves build up an Ohio So-
ciety. That can be done only through labor guided by wisdom and sanctified
by unselfishness.

" S. S. Packard, Chairman Governing Committee."

The report of Leander H. Crall, treasurer, was presented, showing a bal-
ance on hand of $1,951.80.

100

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The report of the entertainment committee was read as follows :

" New York, November 29, 1890.
" To the President and Members of the Ohio Society.

" The entertainment committee takes much pleasure in stating that the
fifth annual banquet, which was held on the 19th day of February (one of our
seven birthdays), at Delmonico's, and sometimes called the ' Bunch of Grapes
Tavern ' dinner, was even a greater success than any of its predecessors. As
this banquet was held during the Lenten season, the committee had many appre-
hensions as to its success, but were agreeably surprised at the attendance, as
226 members and guests were present. After clearing up, the committee found
itself burdened with a surplus of something Uke $300, which worried us a Httle,
so it was decided to work it off by giving the ladies a reception, which was held
on the 30th of April at the Hotel Brunswick. Although the occasion was one
on the eve of moving day, it did not prevent a large attendance, and was greatly
enjoyed by everybody.

" In addition to the above, nine collations were given during the year,
at our regular monthly meetings, at the rooms of the Society to which ladies
were invited. The result of this experiment has been most gratifying, not only
to the committee, but we believe to the Society in general. The entertainment
committee begs to thank the president of the Society and a number of its
members for their hearty cooperation in every suggestion that has been made,
also Mr. R. M- Walters for so kindly placing a piano in our rooms, and to
Mr. Eugene Clarke for supervision of our music programmes. This is the
first occasion where a dinner has been given at our annual meeting, and the
attendance to-night vouchsafes a repetition in the future. Mr. Keech, our
new member from Seneca county, and his partner, Mr. Stafford, whose only
fault is that he was not bom in the United States — of Ohio, deserves the
thanks of the Society. When the committee first applied to Mr. Keech he said
his house was not big enough, but told us he would cut a door and make it
larger, which he did. For a hotel with such hospitable proprietors, decorated
as it is to-night by such a cluster of Ohio beauties, and built as it is upon a
rock and of Ohio stone, should be a thing of substantial beauty and a joy
forever.

*' Homer Lee, Chairman Entertainment Committee.'*

The Society then proceeded with the annual election of officers, and the
gentlemen above named were declared elected for the ensuing year.

Addresses were made by a number of members, and Eugene Clark favored
the Society Avith a tenor solo. The meeting closed with a verse of " Auld
Lang Syne," in which all joined.

101

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The standing committeees for the ensuing year were later announced
by the president as follows: Literature and Art: D. C. Beard, Alexander
Doyle, John M. Guiteau, F. C. Loveland, Franklin Tuttle; Entertainment:
Homer Lee, George Scott, M. I. Southard, Wm. Ford Upson, R. H. Wag-
goner; Auditing: Mahlon Chance, H. A. Glassford, John T. Granger, J. W.
Stout, M. B. Wright; Library: H. L. Burnett, chairman; C. F. Bliss, C. E.
Milmine. At a meeting held on December 8th Bernard Peters delivered an
address entitled " Reminiscences of Ohio." In the governing committee, on
the same evening, Mr. Packard was unanimously chosen chairman for the
ensuing year. He was authorized to order the publication of two hundred
and fifty copies of the constitution and by-laws, with a corrected list of
officers and members and a roll of the dead. When the same body met on
January 12, 1891, it was ordered that the house committee consist of mem-
bers of the governing conmiittee. The three newly elected members of the
governing committee, Messrs. Bodman, Foye and Peet, were appointed a house
committee. In the Society meeting on the same night the regular order of
business was dispensed with, and the president introduced the Rev. Dr. Henry
M. MacCracken, who delivered an address upon " The Scotch-Irish in Ohio
and other States and Territories." A musical programme was rendered,
followed by a collation.

A special meeting w^as held on January 30th for the purpose of giving
suitable expression of sorrow on the sudden death of the late secretary of the
treasury, Hon. William Windom, who was bom in Ohio and had taken a deep
interest in the Ohio Society. Resolutions were adopted in honor of his mem-
ory and a committee appointed to attend his funeral.

The sixth annual banquet of the Society was an affair of rare enjoyment,
although not so marked in its characteristics as some that had preceded it, and
as others that have followed. The date was February 6, 1891, and the place
was Delmonico's.

The details were in the hands of the regular entertainment committee,
constituted as follows: Homfr Lee, chairman; George Scott, Hon. Milton I.
Southard, Wm, Ford Upson and R. H. Waggoner; and they were ably
assisted by Andrew J. C. Foye. On the reception committee were: Col.
William L. Strong, chairman ; John D. Archbold, C. N. Hoagland, Albert W.
Green, Frank M. Gillett, H. L. French, John A. Smith, T. D. Critten, Charles
B. Peet, George P. Tangeman, Henry K. Enos, S. B. Elkins, H. A. Glassford.
Curtis H. Harraman, S. D. Brewster, Mahlon Chance, D. Pritchard, H. L.
Burnett and Frederick C. Train.

The story of the banquet as told at the time by a newspaper chronicler,*

* New York Tribune, Saturday, February 7, 1891.

102

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

was prefaced by these appreciative words : " It is popularly believed in Ohio
that the site of the Garden of Eden is in Ohio. It is popularly beheved in
Ohio that if Goldsmitli's citizen of the world had had his own way, he would
have surrended his nomad note-taking career, and would have been a citizen
of Ohio. It is popularly believed in Ohio that the hub of the universe is in
the centre of the state. It is popularly beheved in Ohio that the millennium
will begin there. All these beliefs had their earnest expounders last evening at
the sixth annual dinner of the Ohio Society of New York. The motto of
Ohio is ' imperium in imperio,' an empire in an empire. The annual reunion
of the exiles of Ohio in New York was a dinner of dinners.

" The enthusiasm of the Buckeye boys who crowded the principal room
of Delmonico's was all but roof-raising. It certainly made the walls ring.
A real Ohio cheer is something worth hearing, and when heard will never be
forgotten. The principal cause of the enthusiasm was Ohio. A supple-
mentary one of liigh degree was the presentation to the Society, by J. Q. A.
Ward, the well-known sculptor, of an old oil-picture of William Henry Harri-
son, the log-cabin and cider-barrel Ohio president of the United States. This
portrait was painted by a celebrated French artist about the time of the birth
of Benjamin Harrison."

On the face of the menu card was a representation of the old swinging
sign of the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston. On the next page was a beau-
tiful engraving of George Washington, who was a surveyor in Ohio before the
Revolution. Above his picture was the motto, " Great Buckeyes from Little
Grapevines Grow," and below it, in golden letters, was the following quota-
tion : " If we are overpowered, we will retire to the Valley of the Ohio, and
there we will be free." — Washington at Valley Forge.

On the back of the menu card was a picture of the first log cabin built
at Marietta, in 1786, and nailed to the cabin door, " The same old coonskin,"
where it was hung up to dry. The wine card was printed in gold and blue,
and on the back of it was engraved a map of Ohio.

Each guest found beside his plate, in addition to these handsome card
souvenirs, two real buckeyes with little printed pasters on them, telling tlie
uninitiated that they were " Fer rheumatiz."

The Ohio men sat in the most democratic and brotherly fashion possible
at five parallel tables running almost the entire length of the dining-room.
The tables were alphabetically named, and at the head of C, the middle one,
sat Gen. Wager Swayne, the president of the Society, while opposite him at
the foot of the table was Stephen B. Elkins. At table B, on the right of the
presidents, H. L. Burnett presided at one end and Charles B. Pcet at the other.
At the head of table D, to the left of the president's, was Col. William L.

103

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Strong, and at the other end was Milton I. Southard. Gneorge Milmine had
the presiding place at one end of table A, and ex-Judge Warren Higley sat
at the other. At table E, J. Q. A. Ward and Gen. Thomas Ewing faced
each other from the ends.

Letters of regret were received from many men who had been invited
to attend and who could not be present. President Harrison wrote :

" Executive Mansion,
" Washington, January 26, 1891.

Mr. Homer Lee, New York City.

" My Dear Sir : — I beg to acknowledge the invitation, which you con-
veyed orally on behalf of the Ohio Society of New York, to its annual banquet
on the 6th of February, and to say that it will be impossible for me to leave
Washington on any social errand while Congress is in session. I recall with
great pleasure the evening I spent with your Society two or three years ago,
and would have been glad if the circumstances had been favorable to renew
that pleasant experience. With the best wishes for the success of your Society,
I am very respectfully yours,

" Ben J. Harrison."

Letters were also read from John Sherman, Grover Cleveland, James
Whitcomb Riley, Murat Halstead, Gov. William E. Russell, of Massachu-
setts ; J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture ; W. S. Rosecrans, Calvin S.
Brice, S. L. Clemens, better known as " Mark Twain " ; Chauncey M. Depew,
Gen. R. A. Alger and others.

Gen. Wager Swayne, in his introductory speech, told, for the benefit of
the people present who did not know it, if there were any such, and to the
delight of those who knew all about it, the origin and history of Ohio's em-
blem, the buckeye. Continuing, he said:

" When Ohio began making presidents, she put in nomination William
Henry Harrison. Some little great man of that day remarked, ' Why, Harri-
son is more fit to sit in a log cabin and sip hard cider than to rule in the White
House of Washington.' The people of Ohio wanted no better challenge than
that. They covered Ohio with log cabins, each one with a barrel of hard
cider at the door, and strings of buckeyes hanging up, and they asked in
verse the question:

' Oh, what, tell me what,
Shall be your cabin's fate? *

104

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" And the answer was :

' We'll send it on to Washington,
And set it up in state,
As a token and a sign
For the noble Buckeye state.'

" We have special cause to bring that to mind to-night. In the fore-
most place among the artists of this city we are glad to recognize one of our
vice-presidents, J. Q. A. Ward. This night out of the fulness of his heart
he has presented to the Ohio Society of New York the best extant contem-
poraneous portrait of the greatest Buckeye of all, William Henry Harrison."

The picture was held up to view in the music gallery and there was tre-
mendous cheering, followed by three cheers for MJr. Ward. Then President
Swayne introduced Gov. James E. Campbell, whose rising was the signal for
fresh cheering.

Governor Campbell made a speech picturesque by reason of its versa-
tility. He would be a well versed Ohioan, indeed, who could name a topic
connected with the state on which the Governor did not touch. He said many
witty things, some of them inspired by the friendly fire of comment which at-
tended his remarks. He was never found wanting. For instance, he said:
" I see before me many men who, both in peace and war, added to the glory
of Ohio before they saw fit to shake the dust of it off their feet. I don't know
exactly what you say to each other when you meet upon these occasions."

An Ohioan voice — " Take a drink."

The Governor — " I accept the proposition," and he did.

Governor Campbell went on to claim for Ohio about everything in the
heavens above, the earth beneath and the waters under the earth ; and this he
did keeping his countenance admirably grave amid the laughter which his
cool, calm, take-it-for-granted manner evoked. He did not forget, with all
the fun and jollity, to pay an eloquent tribute to Ohio, spoken seriously and
oratorically, which was received with tremendous cheering.

The next speaker was ex-Governor Lounsbury, of Connecticut, who thinks
a good deal of the Nutmeg state, and who didn't allow the " 0-O-Ohioans " to
forget it. He was received with much applause, and by what he said awakened
much responsive cheering and laughter. Part of it was as follows :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen : — I am not one of the three contending
governors of the state of Connecticut; I am simply an ex-governor. I re-
ceived a few days ago an invitation from your worthy president to be present
upon this occasion, and as a slight consideration for the evening's entertain-
ment, he would deem it a marked kindness if I would say a few words con-

105

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ceming the relationship of Ohio to Connecticut. Not long since a dis-
tinguished statesman of Ohio said in my presence that he had often wondered
how in the world it was that this country managed to get along during the
time when there was no Ohio. I wonder how such a man of intelligence could
have wondered. The reason the United States got along before the exis-
tence of Ohio was simply because Connecticut was to the fore. The next best
thing to being the son of Connecticut is to be her grandson, a son of Ohio.
And if I could noj; have been bom in the Nutmeg state, better known as the
land of steady habits, and could have been consulted as to where the event
should have occurred, I would unhesitatingly have chosen the Buckeye state.
And if any one ever expects or dreams of desiring poHtical preferment, Ohio
first and every time.

" You are doubtless aware that your ancestors from Connecticut were a
modest, generous, unselfish, peace-loving people, but whenever they were called
upon to maintain what was righteous, like yourselves, they have never yielded.
As I have said, it is because the earlier settlers of Connecticut were a generous
and unselfish people, that is the reason, and the only reason, why the place in
which I am now standing is not in the state of Connecticut instead of the state
of New York. The territory of colonial Connecticut extended to the great
waters of the West. Whether those waters were the Hudson River or the
Pacific Ocean the historians have failed to tell us. Peace-loving Connecticut
gave to her more ambitious sister all that she asked. Hence this is the city of
New York. Grateful, indeed, are we that we had territory enough left out
of which sprang a race of stalwart men, whose sons leaped across the state of
New York and founded a new Connecticut in the state of Ohio.

" Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut ! Why this should be the order
in which you name your parents I cannot comprehend, unless it be on account
of your Sriptural education, which taught you that the first should be last
and the last first. Connecticut has no reason to complain of the generous wel-
come her sons have always received from the hands of Ohio, and with the joy
that springs from this is mingled admiration for Ohio's homes, her fertile fields
and her unexampled prosperity. We in the East have seen your star and re-
joice to know that from the first you have nurtured that redeeming principle
of liberty that has filled the land from ocean to ocean and become the hope of
the whole western world.

" It is right that Ohio should feel a noble pride in her grand success.
But she must not forget the tribute of gratitude that she owes to her parent
states. That desire for bettering one's condition which is so God-given that
it lies at the root of liberty — that, indeed, you caught up from your grand-
sires who braved the storms of the Atlantic and from your fathers who trod the

106

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

path of the wilderness. You have made the fair face of your state to blossom
like a rose, and in the vast fields beyond your borders you have carried and
planted successfully the seeds of your success; for have you not inherited
that indomitable pluck and sublime endurance that surmounted every obstacle?
When the people of New England entered into the field of action they found
freedom an accomplished fact, and in the glad knowledge that slavery had
not poisoned the life-blood of their state, they sought not to enter where its
malaria had been destroyed in the light of conscience or the winds that come
down from the mountain peaks of eternal wrath. God creates freedom and
not slavery. And in the light of this knowledge our brethren from the South
now grasp our hands.

" With eyes no longer looking reproach, we gaze upon the fields of the
future. It is folly to ignore the logic of the century and childish to forget
the lessons of the conflict. We cannot safely ignore the teachings of the past,
whether they have been written in the lessons of our own experience or
that of some less fortunate sister state. Not by generous blood, nor cordial
manners, nor charm of culture, but in righteousness, is a nation exalted.

" We want protection to the citizen, to his life, his labor, his liberty.
It is an eternal law for all the nations that for every injustice there must be
full expiation. No state can be so stable in its position or so firm in its
strength that it can afford to overlook or to forget to right the wrongs of
tlie humblest and the lowest class of its citizens.

" I am one of the few New Englanders who cannot trace their lineage
to William the Conqueror. Ohio! You do well to honor your ancestors. It
was upon their virtues that the great state of Ohio was built up, and it is
by the inspiration of their example that it must be preserved."

Hon. Leroy D. Thoman, who was the president of the Ohio Society of
Chicago, spoke like a good Chicago man, as well as a genuine " Buckeye,"
because when he didn't praise his native state he " boomed " the World's Fair.
He said in part :

" There may not be much of New York in Ohio, but there is a wonderful
sight of Ohio in New York. I think it is a beautiful tribute to the character
of the fathers and the mothers who were the early settlers in Ohio that their
sons and their grandsons are brought back to New England and the seaboard,
to mingle in and to become part of the great interests for which this portion
of our common country is conspicuous. Wherever you find activity, enter-
prise, pluck and steady development you find an Ohio man. The Ohio Societv
of Chicago will be only one year old next April, and yet I could recite the
names of many prominent men connected with it, whose birthplace was Ohio,
that would make you feel proud of the progress we have made out West in

107

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

that line, as well as in all other lines. Governor Campbell says that he came
six hundred miles to be present at this dinner. With the same object in view,
I have traversed the continent to the extent of one thousand miles."

Attorney General David K. Watson was introduced as a typical repre-
sentative and champion of the legale fraternity of Ohio. He said :

" Not expecting to be called on to-night, I am, Mr. President, embar-
rassed by the situation. For I assure you I can be embarrassed, even if
I came but yesterday from Ohio. I do not propose to eulogize Ohio, for,
like Massachusetts of old, she needs no eulogy. But I may be pardoned if I
speak in terms of praise of some of the men whom Ohio has produced in my
own profession. In doing so I must refer first to him who was first and fore-
most, Mr. Chairman, him who was the highest up — your own great father.
For profound and comprehensive knowledge of the principles of law no man
was more eminent than Thomas Hewitt. In the analysis and apphcation of
those principles Henry Stanbury is the peer of any. Ohio has produced states-
men as broad as any in the world. She started out to capture the nations of the
earth with her great men and she has done it. You will pardon the remark,
and Governor Campbell will swear to it, that out in Ohio we feel that we
govern this republic. We have not only furnished presidents, but we have
more yet to furnish and you will hear from them before long." (Cheers, and
cries of " Campbell.")

Clark Bell, the president of the Saturday Night Club, bespoke New
York City's welcome to Ohioans. Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, of Brooklyn,
as the representative of the Ohioans in Brooklyn, was received with round on
round of cheers. He closed his address with a touching and eloquent tribute
to Secretary Windom, which the Society, rising, applauded to the echo. Gen.
Henry L. Burnett spoke the last words as a representative of the Ohio Society,
and the singing of " Auld Lang Syne " by the entire assemblage closed the
evening's programme.

At the meeting of February 9th, Hon. Abner C. Thomas, a member of
the New York bar, dehvered an address on " Ohio as Viewed by an Outsider."
A progranmie of music was then presented.

A memorial meeting in honor of Gen. William T. Sherman, who had
passed away, was held at the rooms of the Society on February 17, 1891.
The renowned soldier had been an honorary member of the organization.
The rooms were filled with members, and deep feeling was exhibited. The
following gentlemen were appointed a committee for the preparation of reso-
lutions expressive of the Society's sorrow and sympathy: S. S. Packard,
Warren Higley, Henry A. Glassford, T. M. Guiteau, Ralph H. Waggoner.
The resolutions presented were unanimously adopted, as follows:

108

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

A number of eloquent and heartfelt speeches were made. John M.
Guiteau spoke of General Sherman as one of the saviors of the country, to
whose genius and patriotism we are indebted for our liberties and our greatness
as a nation more than to any man living.

President Swayne pointed out how thoroughly were joined in the life of
General Sherman two family currents of influence that went to make up the
greatness of the state of Ohio, the Shermans and the Ewings.

General Swayne then referred to Sherman's life and services at some
length. He had enjoyed for years an intimacy with the great general, and
the number of men who had enjoyed such intimacy was one of the surprising
features of a wonderful life. At his death it became plain with regard to
many men that each had supposed himself to be perhaps the most intimate
friend of Sherman. Tlie truth was that the General's great wealth of af-
fection and of sympathetic interest had enabled him to lavish upon each of
many men what it would have required the whole breast of another man to
supply. The range of his acquaintance was equally remarkable. A short
time since he had shown to the speaker twelve large volumes, bound and in-
dexed, of letters received from friends. The writers were in every field of
science, literature and life. A publisher had offered $50,000 for them, but
of course the offer was only amusing to the General. The varied occupations
of the writers indicated the breadth of General Sherman's sympathies — as
broad as humanity itself.

Col. L. M. Dayton, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was ad j utant- general of
the army of Sherman on his march to the sea, said he had been closely asso-
ciated with General Sheraian for eight years, the most eventful of the republic.
He said : " I knew the General intimately, served with him as liis chief of
staff during the most exciting strain he probably ever had in his eventful
life. He followed to the end as cheerfully and as courageously as any man
ever did liis work. With all his sternness and possible severity, a tenderer and
kinder heart no man ever possessed. He was the best man that I ever knew."

The resolutions adopted on that occasion were by order of the Society
engraved in a most artistic manner and published in a small monograph,
which also contained the remarks above quoted and the speech delivered by
General Sherman at the banquet of the Ohio Society at Delmonico's, on
Febiniary 20, 1890, which has been already quoted. On the outside of this
small book appeared the one word, " Sherman," while the title page was as
follows : " Tribute of the Ohio Society of New York to the memory of Gen,
William Tecumseh Sherman, February 17, 1891."

The governing committee, at the meeting of March 9th, ordered that the
names of the following Ohioans be placed upon the roll of honorary mem-

115

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

bership, the requirements of the by-laws having been complied with in each
case: Benjamin Harrison, Allen G. Thurman, James E. Campbell.

General Burnett appeared before the committee and on behalf of the
library committee requested, first, that a correct list of the books now in the
Society's library be prepared for the information of the library committee;
second, that from three to five hundred copies of said hst be printed; and,
third, that means be provided for keeping the books of the library under lock,
and that the removal of books from the Society's rooms be prohibited. The
subject was referred to the house committee with power. When the Society
met on the same evening the president announced the unavoidable absence of
Hon. J. M. Ashley, who was to have read a paper, and called upon General
Burnett, Hon. Mahlon Chance and Professor Packard, who each favored the
Society with a short address, after which there was the usual musical enter-
tainment. The letters that follow were received, at a later date, in accept-
ance of the election to honorary membership above noted:

" Executive Mansion,
"Washington, April 10, 1891.
" Gen. Wager Swayne, New York City.

" My Dear General : — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 6th inst., advising me that I have been enrolled as an honorary member of
the Ohio Society of New York. Please express to your associates my appre-
ciation of the honor they have done me, and say to them that I accept with
gratification this evidence of their esteem.

" Very truly yours,

" Ben J. Hareison."

" State of Ohio, Office of the Governor,

Columbus, April 10, 1891.

*' My Dear General : — I cannot too cordially express the pleasure with
which I accept the honor conferred upon me by the Ohio Society of New
York. I beg to assure you, and through you the Society, that I esteem it
one of the chief gratifications of my life to have received this mark of respect
and kindness from my former fellow citizens now in the great metropolis.
Will you do me the kindness to convey to the members of the Society, in 3'our
own happy manner, my high appreciation of their courtesy .f*

" Sincerely yours,

" James E. Campbell,.

*' Gen. Wager Swayne, President Ohio Society of New York."

116

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

At the meeting of April 13th, Hon. Warren Higley deHvered an in-
teresting address upon the " Western Resei'\'e, Its Origin and Settlement,"
at the close of which General Swayne made a few remarks in his usual happy
vein. A number of musical selections were rendered.

The Society gathered for a dinner of an informal nature lit the Hotel
Imperial on the evening of May 11th. It was the last meeting before separat-
ing for the summer season. The attendance was large. Gen. Wager Swayne
was toastmaster and performed the duties of the office in his usual satis-
factory manner. Tlie first person he called upon was S. S. Packard. A
great surprise had been promised for the members. Only a few knew the
nature of this surprise beforehand, but Mr. Packard " gave it away," so to
speak, as it was intended that he should do. The surprise was in the form of
a fine portrait of General Swayne, the president of the Society. It was the
work of George R. Boynton, and was presented by a number of the mem-
bers for the decoration of the rooms.

General Thomas Ewing accepted the portrait for the Society in a few
pleasant remarks, and then General Swayne told what he thought about it.
He said that, as notliing that in the least resembled him could be a thing of
beauty, he was afraid the members would not find the pleasure he wished
them in looking upon his picture. Other speakers were Mahlon Chance, E. M.
Boynton and Homer Lee.

The opening meeting for the fall of 1891 was held on October 12th, and
the following gentlemen were named as the committee for the nomination of
officers to serve for the ensuing year : Henry A. Glassf ord, chairman ; Alex-
ander Doyle, John M. Guiteau, Theodore W. Sterhng, David Pritchard, J.
F. Holloway, Dr. H. Sisson. The president introduced INIrs. E. A. Connor,
who delivered an address upon " Ohio in New York." Mrs. Harriet Webb
recited " The Defence of the Bride," and musical selections were rendered by
Eugene Clarke, Miss Beatrice Maltman and Mr. Will Rising.

The president, in calling the meeting of November 9th to order, made
a few remarks relative to the condition of the Society, and referred to the
gratifying evidence of good will toward it as shown by the contributions that
were beginning to drop into the library, and announced that a " History of
Ohio," by Henry Howe, had been presented by Mr. E. C. Bodman : a complete
set of the reports of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, by Mr. Sidnev
D. Maxwell, and the " Memoirs of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan." He then
introduced the Hon. James M. Ashley who delivered an address upon " The
Proposed Changes in the Constitution of the United States." The report of
the nominating committee was then read as follows : President, William L.
Strong; Vice-Presidents, Henry L. Buniett, George Milmine, J. Q. A. Ward,

117

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

C. N. Hoagland, S. S. Packard; Secretary, Wm. Ford Upson; Recording
Secretary, H. H. Hobb; Treasurer, Leander H, Crall; Trustees to serve
three years, John D. Archbold, Henry H. Vail, John W. Harman.

Tlie annual meeting of 1891 was held on the evening of November 30th.
Secretary Higley reported the membership as follows

The number of Resident members is . 224

" " " Non-resident members is 62

" " " Honorary members is 3

Making a total of 289

The report of the Secretary continued : " As the entertainments for
our regular meetings have been arranged by the president and secretary, it
may not be inappropriate for me to say something of them in this report.
It was decided that our meetings should have more of the literary and social
character than formerly, and that ladies should be invited to attend — con-
sequently a speaker was provided for each meeting and an excellent pro-
gramme of instrumental and vocal music was rendered under the direction
of Mr. Eugene Clarke. The vocal part that came after was promoted by a
tasteful collation, served by Mazzetti. These meetings have so grown in in-
terest as to tax the capacity of our rooms to accommodate the number attend-
ing. They have grown to be very popular and exceedingly enjoyable, and
the ladies, especially, are enthusiastic over them."

The report recapitulated the entertainments of the year and concluded in
these words : "But most of all are we indebted for the charm of these meet-
ings, and the prevalent good feeling among the members and the prominent
place we occupy among the societies of New York, to our honored president.
Gen. Wager Swayne, who has been present at every meeting, and ever been
active in forwarding the best interests of the Society."

Mr. Crall, treasurer, presented his report, showing a balance on hand
of $2,151.08.

The annual report of the governing committee recapitulated a number
of events already mentioned and continued:

" There was a decided feeling in favor of adding to the attractions of
the Society's rooms, with a view to making them a pleasant place of resort,
both for members and Ohio people who might be sojourning in the city. A
beautiful crayon portrait of President Swayne, presented by the artist under
the auspices of the treasurer (Mr. Crall), and which now adorns our walls,
was accepted as a proper movement in this direction, and the procurement, by

118

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Foye, of a marble bust of Thomas Ewing, kindly loaned by the family of
General Sherman, was received with special favor by the committee as it has
been by the members of the Society at large.

" As will appear in the reports of the treasurer and corresponding sec-
retary the status of the Society as to membership has been kept up during
the year, with some few changes as to individuals. The Society has lost by
death during the year one honorary, three resident and one non-resident
members.

" The death of General Sherman, which occurred on the 14th day of
February, was especially noticed by the Society, both in attendance upon the
funeral services and in the preparation and presentation of a suitable
memorial to the family. A reproduced copy of this memorial, containing also
a report of the meeting authorizing the same, and an extract of General
Sherman's last speech before the Ohio Society, has been presented to each
member of the Society. This speech had a special importance to Ohio people
in that it emphasized the known fact that the three great generals of the civil
war were Ohio men ; and the preservation of the memorial in the hands of
the members and in the archives of the Society, was thought to be a sufficient
import to warrant the expense. In fact, the committee have felt that to
keep the Society along the lines of permanent growth and vitality, it is of the
•first importance that the lives and services of distinguished citizens of the
state should be kept prominently in the foreground. In the report submitted
by this committee at our annual meeting last year it was thought proper to
dwell at some length on the policy of the Society as emphasized in its history.

" We had but recently passed through an important crisis involving the
question of a club as against a society. Efforts had been made with some
show of success to secure a club-house, and a permanent home for the Society
and its friends. A reaction had come; the club idea been abandoned, and the
lines laid down for a departure in the direction which has been assiduously
followed during the year. While it was thought best to retain our present
rooms and even add to their attractiveness, there has been no movement and
no desire expressed in the hearing of the committee looking to the establish-
ment of a club. Under the inspiration and through the kindly efforts of our
president the monthly meetings have been maintained on the plan fore-
shadowed in the last report. At the first monthly meeting since the vacation
a delightful address was made by Mrs. Connor upon Ohio in New York, and
at the meeting in October a paper was read by Hon. J. M. Ashley upon
' The Proposed Changes in the Constitution of the United States.' On both
of these occasions the rooms were filled with members and their wives, and
great enthusiasm prevailed. During the year, through the kindly services of

119

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Eugene Clarke, musical and dramatic entertainments have been given, and
on other occasions addresses and discussions by the president and other mem-
bers of the Society. Taking it altogether, the sentiment of the committee
and of members who have been positive in their expressions, has been that the
monthly entertainments have reached a high average of excellence.

" There has been a feeling often expressed that it would add to the zest of
the Society if a few informal dinners could be had during the year, with the
good fellowship wliich such meetings always invoke."

The election of officers then ensued, and those suggested by the nomi-
nating committee, as before quoted, were elected.

Colonel Strong, being called upon, addressed the Society briefly, and
expressed his thanks for the honor conferred upon him by his elevation to the
presidency, and expressed the hope that the Society might continue to prosper
under his administration as it had under that of his predecessors. Mr. Lee
stated that the Ohio Society of Chicago were holding their annual banquet in
Chicago, and moved that the Ohio Society of New York, through its president,
send cordial greeting to the Society at Chicago. Carried unanimously, and
messages were at once sent.

The following resolutions, on motion of General Burnett, were unani-
mously adopted:

" Resolved, That this Society express here and now its grateful and sin-
cere thanks to General Wager Swayne for the able and polite manner in which
he has presided over its dehberations during the past three years.

" Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the Society be also tendered to the
secretar}^, recording secretary, treasurer and chainnan of the governing com-
mittee for the faithful manner in which they have performed their duties dur-
ing their respective terms of ofiice."

John D. Archbold became chairman of the governing committee for the
ensuing year, and the house committee, consisting of A. J. C. Foye, E. H.
Bodman and Charles B. Peet, were continued for the same period. This action
was taken at a meeting held on December 7th.

At the meeting of the Society on December 14th A. J. C. Foye, acting
for the chairman of the entertainment committee, reported as regarded the
annual banquet that Friday evening, the 22d of January, 1892, could be
secured as an open date when it could engage the banquet hall at Delmonico's.
On motion of General Burnett, it was resolved that the rooms be secured for
that date, and that the 22d day of January, 1892, be the date fixed for the
holding of the banquet and that the entertainment committee be insructed to
act promptly and vigorously.

Mr. George E. Wingate, of the Twilight Club, favored the Society with

120

Hon. William I-. Strong
President from November 29, 1891, to Xoveiuber 29, 1894

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

some interesting remarks as to the desire of his association to unite with other
societies in engaging meeting rooms, homes, etc. Mr. Harriman read an inter-
esting paper giving his views as to what the Society needed to give more enjoy-
ment to members. Music and refreshments followed.

A special meeting was held on December 30, pursuant to the call of the
president, for the purpose of considering a change of date on which to hold
the annual banquet. After a discussion of the matter the following resolution,
offered by John M. Guiteau, was adopted : "Resolved, That the coming annual
banquet be held February 19, 1892, instead of January 22, as previously pro-
posed, and that the place of holding the same be Sherry's instead of Del-
monico's."

It was ordered that a committee of twelve be appointed to take charge of
this banquet, five of whom should be selected to serve as an entertainment com-
mittee for the coming year. The following gentlemen were named by the
president: Wager Swayne, Thomas Ewing, Henry L. Burnett, S. S. Packard,
Calvin S. Brice, Wilham L. Brown and Samuel Thomas. The entertain-
ment committee for the ensuing j'ear and members of the annual banquet com-
mittee, as per above resolution, were Warren Higley, Homer Lee, A. J. C.
Foj^e, Henry A. Glassford and C. G. Harriman.

In the meeting of February 8, 1892, the newly constituted entertainment
committee began its career by several suggestions: That it was especially de-
sired that members volunteer to prepare papers on appropriate topics to be
read at the regular meetings ; also favorably as to the propriety of having the
rooms opened for ladies ; also favorably as to the continuing of musical enter-
tainment. A letter was read from the Ohio Society of Detroit, Mich., asking
for a copy of the constitution and by-laws, and the secretary was directed to
send the same.

The seventh annual banquet was held on the evening of February 20th,
one day later than that proposed in the above resolution, at Sherry's, on
Fifth avenue and Thirty-seventh street. It was referred to on the following
morning * in these words :

" Ohio has been described by a wit as a state which is high in the middle
and round at both ends. That was precisely the condition of the New York
assemblage last evening. They were high in the middle, with General Wager
Swayne as presiding officer, and they were round at both ends, to such an ex-
tent that one of those present was easily pushed from the hall. It seems almost
incredible that any one who appreciated the importance of a gathering of Ohio
men should have to be expelled by force, though such was the case last evening.
General Swayne described the man as a ventriloquist. He probably was. Dur-
* New York Tribune, February 21, 1892.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing the progress of General Swayne's speech there were interruptions which
appeared to come from certain groups and opposite walls. ' You bet ! ' ' Good
for Ohio ! ' ' Ohio leads the way,' and so on, were the words uttered in a
mysterious manner, and these followed throughout the address of Congress-
man Outhwaite. All at once there was a commotion, and then the shiiflfling of
an individual along the aisles, until the outer door was closed upon him.
General Swayne, in explanation, at the close of Congressman Outhwaite's
speech, said the man was not an Ohioan; that no seat had been assigned him
and he was an intruder, and had been ejected as a disturber of the peace; and,
from all appearances, it was a thoroughly proper act, though his disappearance
did detract somewhat from the amusement of the occasion."

Col. WilHam L. Strong, the president of the Society, was unable, on
acount of illness, to be present. The secretary of war, Mr. Elkins ; the secre-
tary of the interior, Mr. Noble; the secretary of agriculture, Mr. Rusk, and
Senator Brice did not appear as it was expected they would.

Congressman Outhwaite responded for " The State of Ohio." His ad-
dress was a defence of the natural modesty of the Ohio man, wherever he is
found ; and there was an appreciative cheer in the throat as well as an apprecia-
tive smile on the countenance of every Ohio man present. It is only fair to say
that there was an entire absence of partisanship displayed, and the appearance
of Mr. Outhwaite was greeted with as much applause as the mention of the
name of William McKinley, Jr.

Ex-Govemor Campbell responded for " The Governors of Ohio," and
his address continued for forty-five minutes, thus establishing the fact that,
in the opinion of a Democratic ex-governor of the state, that high office is
entitled to respectful consideration; and everything that ex-Governor Camp-
bell said was appreciated because of the pleasant way in which he introduced
his commendations of the character of the men who have gone before him in
that important office, irrespective of party affiliations. Indeed, ex-Governor
Campbell said many pleasant things of men in both political parties of that
day, and his address was listened to with close attention. He touched
gently upon the fact that his native Ohio modesty had not secured for him suc-
cess in the contest with Major McKinley, but that he was not too modest to
say that " the governors of Ohio have been men of standing, culture, ability
and honor to their generation and to the great state of Ohio," and the applause
which followed the announcement proved that everybody present thought just
as the speaker thought, even though he included himself in the list. His refer-
ence to the position which Ohio has attained in the matter of the national
judiciary brought forth an enthusiastic response.

The other toasts were: "The Congressman Abroad," to which Murat

122

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Halstead responded in a pleasant manner. Captain Hugh R. Garden, of the
Southern Society, was present, and spoke patriotically for the best elements
south of Mason and Dixon's line. Congressman Harter, of Mansfield, Ohio,
who came from Washington fresh from his contests with Mr. Bland on the
silver question, was splendidly received when he arose to respond to the toast.
Col. James M. Varnum, of New York, spoke for " The Ordinance of 1787."

The dinner was well served, and the taste in art employed in the prelimi-
naries was worthy of praise. The menu-card was attractive, suggestive of
pioneer endeavor in the construction of a great state. There was much enjoy-
ment, good-fellowship and manifestation of patriotic unity throughout the
entire programme.

The following letter of regret was received by General Swayne and read
at this gathering :

" United States Senate,
" Washington, D. C, February 19, 1892.

" Hon. Wager Swayne, New York.

" My Dear Sir : I am laid up in my room with a disorder in one of my
eyes, so that I cannot accept your exceedingly attractive invitation to the Ohio
banquet. It is always a pleasure to me to hear about Ohio or to talk about
Oliio. It would be especially delightful to do this in the company of so many
of her famous sons as will gather at your banquet. The importance of what
was done at Marietta in 1788 is not likely to be overstated even by the most
affectionate and reverent of her sons. Its consequences grow in importance
with the growth of the nation, with the mighty life of constitutional liberty
itself. Tlie dwelling house of Rufus Putnam, where he and Tupper sat up all
night to frame the plan of the Ohio Company, and from which in the early
morning went forth the call for its first meeting, still stands unchanged in
Worcester county, Mass., about twelve miles north of the populous city of
Worcester. It is a simple wooden dwelling, but it ought to be treasured and
presei-ved as a shrine second only to Mt. Vernon itself.

" I shall be hungry to read the proceedings of j^our gathering and am,
faithfully yours,

" Geo. F. Hoar."

The regular meeting of the Society was held at Morelli's on March 15th,
and Col. William L. Strong occupied the chair at both the business meeting
and the informal banquet which followed.^ The subject of club rooms was
taken up, and after discussion a motion was offered by General Swayne that
possession of the club rooms, No. 236 Fifth Avenue, be given up. This was

123

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

carried, and the matter of procuring new quarters was referred to the gov-
erning committee, with power to act.

President Strong informed the members that he had cabled to the Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, minister to France, on behalf of the Society, tendering him a
reception on his return to this country.* He also offered a resolution to the
effect that the Society shoiild give a banquet to Mr. Reid on or about the
7th of April, the exact date to be determined later. On motion of Mr, Crall,
it was ordered that the banquet committee which served at the last annual ban-
quet, should act in a similar capacity at the Reid dinner, and that Greneral
Swayne be chairman of said committee.

* There is an interesting bit of inside history connected with this event. Several of
the members of the Oiiio Society learned that the Union League Club were contemplating
a banquet to Mr. Reid. The fact was communicated to President Strong, who did not wait
for the mails. He made the offer by cable, and once more Ohio was the first in the field.

124

CHAPTER IX

1892-1894.

THIS banquet in honor of Mr. Reid, a member of the Society, was given
at Delmonico's on the evening of Saturday, April 9, 1892. The names of
the committee in charge were as follows : Wager Swayne, chairman ; Wil-
liam L. Strong, Calvin S. Brice, W. L. Brown, Henry L. Burnett, Leander H.
Crall, Tliomas Ewing, Andrew J. C. Foye, Henry A. Glassford, Curtis G.
Harriman, Warren Higley, Homer Lee, S. S. Packard, Samuel Thomas, Wil-
liam Ford Upson. The spirit which actuated the Society in this gathering,
and the reason why it occurred, were well set forth in a New York newspaper
of the following day,* which said:

"About tliirty years ago there was a young man in the town of Xenia,
Ohio, who possessed in abundance those traits which the natives of that state
are proud to think the pecuhar characteristics of the Oliio young man — en-
ergy, fidelity, perseverance, perspicacity and commanding ability. He was a
young newspaper writer, and he used his talents so well that he became suc-
cessively the first writer on the foremost journal of his state, a noted war cor-
respondent, a writer for a New York daily, then its editor and guiding spirit
and finally United States Minister to France. That was Mr. Whitelaw Reid.
Last night at Delmonico's the Ohio Society of New York, of which Mr. Reid
was the first vice-president, celebrated the triumph of the traits of the Ohioan
in his career, to voice the applause of his fellow citizens at his diplomatic suc-
cesses and to give him, as their honored son, the right hand of welcome home
at a great banquet."

A distinguished company assembled in the large banqueting hall, to join
with the Ohio men in doing honor to the distinguished guest. Two members
of the cabinet of the United States sat with many eminent public men and
journalists of New York and other cities on the speaker's platform. Among
the six hundred guests at the other tables were some of the foremost New
Yorkers and some who had come from as far as Cincinnati to be present.

Gen. Wager Swayne presided, in the absence of President Strong, who
was detained by a family affliction. At his right, beyond Mr. Reid, were
Charles Foster, secretary of the treasury ; Warner Miller, George W. Childs,
of Philadelphia ; Chas. A. Dana, Frank R. Lawrence and D. O. Mills. At the

* New York Herald, April 10, 1892.

125

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

chairman's left were Stephen B. Elkins, secretary of war; A. K. McClure, of
Philadelphia; Chauncej M, Depew, jNIurat Halstead, Vicomte Paul d'Absac,
Consul General of France in New York ; St. Clair McKelway, Ballard Smith
and Gen. Thomas Ewing. Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Swayne, Mrs. D. O. Mills and
other ladies had seats in the gallery.

At the six other tables were W. W. Bostwick, Henry W. Cannon, Richard
Butler, Russell B. Harrison, Richard Smith, Sr. ; ex- Judge Noah Davis, ex-
Judge John F. Dillon, Horace White, Gen. Horace Porter, B. H. Bristow, Col.
John A. McCall, Frankhn Edson, the Rev. Dr. Henry M. Field, Albert Bier-
stadt, Gen. Thomas T. Eckert, Col. John J. McCook, and Robert E.
Bonner, etc.

The banquet began at half-past six o'clock. Ohio was not forgotten
in the decorations of the occasion. Her coat of arms was emblazoned on the
gallery fronting the speakers and reappeared on the elaborately engraved
menu cards. The flags and arms of the American and French republics were
intertwined on these cards.

It was after nine o'clock when Gen. Swayne arose to call the assemblage
to order and to introduce the speechmaking of the evening. He began by
saying:

" There once was a time when Horace Greeley signalized himself by say-
ing to a certain young man, ' Come East, young man !' and so our guest of
the evening did as many of you have done. If it be true that this night the
great soul of Horace Greeley contemplates us, we may be sure that his great
soul joins with ours in this greeting. No man could be so truly the forerunner
of those friends who will come to the World's Fair next year as our returning
minister, Mr. Reid."

General Swayne then, in a few graceful words of compliment. Introduced
the guest of the evening, Mr. Reid, who was received with most enthusiastic
applause. The entire company arose and cheered for several minutes, while
the air was white with fluttering napkins.

When the enthusiastic Ohioans were ready to hear him IVIr. Reid spoke
with a hearty emphasis that showed the sincerity of his appreciation as fol-
lows:

" Me. Chairman : No greeting could touch me more profoundly than
this. No words could go stralghter to my heart than yours, and when I re-
member what honor your father brought our state, and the nation, I am
doubly glad that, in the regretted absence of its president, it is by your voice
the Ohio Society receives me back.

" This Is Indeed an Ideal welcome. It gives the first hand grasp from
the metropolis which is our home and our pride, and at the same time it car-
ries me really home — to that fairest of lands that lies between the lakes and

126

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the beautiful river — to the dear, gracious mother of us all. When she stretches
out her hand the joy of return is complete.

" No other applause can ever be so sweet to a man as that which comes
from those who have known him earliest and longest. Better, to many a tired
man of the world, the cheer of his native village than more stately honors from
the most powerful of communities. Believe me, Mr. Chairman, in retiring
from public office there can be no compliment more grateful than an assurance
like this with which you honor me to-night, that your old friends and neigh-
bors have not been ashamed of you.

" And next, it is pleasant to be made to feel once more that those to whom
you were sent were not tired of you. Two weeks ago, at a banquet like this,
I had the honor to say goodby to the high members of the French government,
and tq^representative Frenchmen who were kind enough to say they were sorry
to have me go. To-night I find my friend, the Viscount d'Absac representing
the same government here, to add another grace to the warmth of this most
charming of greetings to a returning townsman. In the large banqueting hall
of the Continental, in trying to express to the great American colony and to
the Frenchmen about me the conflicting emotions by which I was possessed, I
told the simple truth in saying that while I was eager, even to homesickness, in
my desire to get back to New York, I did not in the least want to leave
Paris.

" Who that has ever passed under the spell of the City of Light — the
one city of the world — can fail to understand or to sympathize with the truly
Irish perplexity? Who that has ever known France or the French will not
join with me in urging the duty, not merely of perpetual friendship, but of
the warmest appreciation for that fascinating and chivalric people who have
for many centuries commanded the admiration or the wonder of the world, and
who are now well entered on the second century of an unbroken and most help-
ful friendship for us ? I never met a Frenchman, from the Elysee or the Fau-
bourg St. Germain to the forests of Auvergne, who did not, as soon as he
found I was an American, receive me without question as a friend. We shall
see more of them here during the next year, and I hope every American to
whom the opportunity may come will exert himself to make them feel as much
at home among us as we have always made ourselves and been made at home
among them.

" Those of us who have entered the fifties have learned that there is no
great happiness in this world without attendant pain. To-night the joy of
coming back is marked by finding such gaps in your ranks. Tlie numbers, to
be sure, are not diminished ; but, ah ! what faces we miss. I cannot speak in
the Ohio Society after a three years' absence without one word of tender and
reverei;tial regard for the memory of your greatest member. Rough on the

127

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

surface, sometimes, as a chestnut burr, but always sweet and tender inside
as the nut ; that is the man as one loves to recall him. We had occasionally the
sharpest differences of opinion, and yet, from my early manhood till he said
goodby to me on sailing, he had honored me with his friendship. Not a syl-
lable do I care to utter to-night of his public career. The w^orld has long
known that by heart. I only wish, as I recall the kind parting and the kinder
messages and letters sent over seas, and as I now note the vacant place, to
pause before it for a moment and salute the mighty shade. What glories the
future may have in store for the Ohio Society we know not, but the past, at
least, is secure. We have had Wilham Tecumseh Sherman.

" We have had another, too, whose absence strikes sadly on a returning
son of the State. He had guided the finances of the country through a most
critical period — Ohio has had a specialty of great finance ministers^ from
Ewing and Chase and Sherman to Foster. He had achieved a brilliant suc-
cess. Mr. Windom stood to the financial world as the champion of sound meas-
ures and as the pledge of national solvency and faith and honor, and in that
moment, in a supreme effort, he fell. When in a foreign land I read the story,
grief for the great loss was almost swallowed up in pride for the splendid end
this son of Ohio had made.

" There is no occasion to-night to call the roll of our Ohio worthies. We
have never been charged, even by our worst enemies, with ever neglecting the
duty to celebrate ourselves. But perhaps you will permit me a single reminis-
cence. On one of the last occasions when I had the opportunity to act in the
office with which you honored me as vice president of the Ohio Society I found
an occasion, in presenting to you a gentleman who had been recently dropped
from the Senate, and had thereupon described himself as a ' dead statesman,'
to put out that, nevertheless, he had in him the material for an uncommonly
live President. Well, gentlemen, I haven't yet seen the necessity of apolo-
gizing for any mistake made in that prediction as to the future of that par-
ticular member of this society.

"Now, it is said that the other party is looking about for a candidate.
But why should it have the slightest difficulty? Here Is the first president of
the Ohio Society ready to its hand — statesman himself, and the son of a states-
man, and although he has the proverbial shyness of both the politician and the
lawyer, I will undertake to be responsible that he will answer quite soon after
his name is called.

" It has been sometimes said that there are two kinds of men in this coun-
try— those who were bom in Ohio and those who wish they had been. A bril-
liant example of the latter class is with us to-night; and very pleasant it is
for tired eyes to rest on the familiar features of this prince of orators
and of good fellows. His genius and versatility have accomplished wonders

128

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Hon. Whitelaw Reid

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

in the way of acquiring nationalities ; but this is a shining height he has not
reached. He has, on a hundred occasions and to the entire satisfaction of thou-
sands of auditors, announced himself as a Dutchman, a Puritan, a Huguenot,
a Scotchman, a native of Peekskill and a bit of an Irishman. But he has
missed the crown. He was never born in Ohio — and now I am afraid he never
will be.

" Nevertheless, the Ohio man continues to be prevalent. In the present
cabinet, for example, out of the eight members four of them are from Ohio —
and two of them are here to-night to explain the circumstance. When these
four Cabinet officers vote together and the President joins with them the rest
of the concern must feel lonely !

" Mr. President, I forbear. The trend of feeling seems to be toward
levity. And yet nothing could be further from my purpose. I am most
happy to find myself so thoroughly at home — so completely surrounded by
those I know the best and prize the highest. I am most grateful for the care
which has assembled here so many whom it is a pride and pleasure for me to
meet again — Howells, almost the oldest and certainly one of the dearest of
my friends, with whom I lived in the same house nearly a third
of a century ago, when he paid his board out of a salary of
$15 a week, and I out of one a good deal less; Ward, who
made statues in those days, while we made newspaper articles, and whose early
wares have lasted better; the gentlemen of my own profession — Mr. Childs,
who is the friend of all of us ; Colonel McClure and Mr. McKelway, who lend
to the wrong side such potent and persuasive pens ; my old master in the news-
paper business, Mr. Richard Smith, and my old opponent, Mr. Murat Hal-
stead ; Mr. Gilder, who has made one of the most successful magazines in the
world; the delegates of the club which for fourteen years endured me as its
president ; these representatives of the government — national, state and city —
and this whole brilliant and imposing assemblage. I am touched beyond words
that you should have shown me this kindness. I am happy to have escaped in
apparent safety from public service and to be received among you again, and
I close as I began with a heartfelt expression of my profoundest and most
grateful thanks."

There were again three cheers and a tiger when Mr. Reid closed speak-
ing, and his health was drunk once more with great enthusiasm.

General Swayne, in introducing the next speaker, said that it was in the
room in which they were assembled that Benjamin Harrison was first nom-
inated for President of the United States. The President was not with them,
he was sorry to say, but he was represented by the ranking member of the Cab-
inet. He called upon the Hon. Charles Foster, secretary of the treasury, to
respond to the next toast, " International Commerce."

129

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

An enthusiastic round of applause greeted Mr. Foster as he rose in an-
swer to this introduction. When the cheering had subsided he said :

"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: If I have paid my dues I am a
member of this Society. I am not quite certain about that. But I ought to be
a member in good standing.

" I have been a member of the Society from the beginning. I am here
to-night, as your president said, as the ranking officer of the Cabinet of Pres-
ident Harrison, to testify to you to the great success of Minister Reid while
representing the United States at the court of France.

" Mr. Reid had considerable to say about Ohio. We never do forget to
glorify ourselves. While I was Governor of Ohio I was often called upon,
upon occasions somewhat similar to this, to respond for the State of Ohio. It
began to be irksome. I began to study why Ohio had distinguished herself
beyond all other States. I found a peculiar condition of things — a condition
that existed in no other state. I found that our manufactures, our mining, our
agricultural and our industrial enterprises existed there in more equal propor-
tions than in any other state.

" New York and New England are largely manufacturing sections and
the South and the West are agricultural. Now, all these great forces oper-
ating upon the minds of the people of Ohio as equally produce a level headed-
ness, while in New York and New England these forces, not operating equally,
produce a lopsidedness. Our institutions are peculiar. We believe them to be
the best of any country on earth. Certainly here every man, be he rich or
poor, has an equal chance in the race for life. We believe in rotation in office —
but not just now. i

" We have no class of people until recently — perhaps we may get some
in the civil service — who hold their offices. Yet in other countries in Europe
in the diplomatic service the diplomats are trained from boyhood and remain
in that service all their lives. In this country we pick up our diplomats from
our lawyers, our merchants, our newspaper people, and we send them abroad
to discharge their duty. Now I undertake to say that from Benjamin Frank-
lin down to the present time our diplomats have been as able and as successful
and, I think, more so, in the discharge of these duties than the trained men
of other countries. And, I think, my friends, that one of the finest illustra-
tions we have of the success of the newspaper fraternity exists in that of Mr.
Reid."

General Swayne next introduced, to answer to the toast "Our Foreign
Relations" the secretary of war, Stephen B. Elkins, who was received with
great enthusiasm as he rose to respond.

Mr. Elkins said that as a member of the Ohio Society he felt honored
at taking part in this reception and expressing respect and regard for a fel-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

low member who, by his ability in the untried field of diplomacy, had gained
new laurels and added to his fame and distinction in this and other lands.

On behalf of the administration it was the speaker's most pleasing duty
of saying to Minister Reid in this presence that the chief executive and those
associated with him in administering the affairs of this great republic sent him
words of cordial greeting and a warm welcome on his return home. Mr. Elkins
then continued :

" You went abroad taking with you the esteem and affection of many of
the leading men of your country. You had already risen to distinction, and
your name, your ability and your varied accomplishments were widely known
and appreciated. You return decorated with the confidence and approbation
of the two great leading republics of the world, by reason of your great serv-
ices to both. It will be remembered by many here that at the first annual
dinner of the Society the distinguished gentleman now President of the United
States was an invited guest. Our guest, then our Vice President, in fitting and
graceful terms, called on General Harrison to respond to a sentiment, and in
his remarks ventured to suggest that it was among the possibilities that an-
other Harrison might some day fill tlie Presidential chair. From this happy
allusion some members of the Ohio Society claim they saw in the speaker, as
he responded with that clearness, power and strength wliich always character-
ized his graceful oratory, what his countrymen later on discovered, that he was
fitted for the high office of President, and to which by their choice he was soon
after elevated.

" As Oliio men we are proud of our Ohio President. He enjoys the con-
fidence of his countrymen everywhere. He has shown to the country and
world in point of integrity, intellectual force, power of administration and
ability to deal with large and difficult questions that he will stand among the
first of the great Presidents of the Republic. It is a source of pride to the
society that the state of Ohio has given to this administration the President
and four members of his Cabinet, an event not likely to occur again in the
history of any state in the Union. The administration rejoices in Minister
Reid's success. His services to his country in his high office are among his
best assets. The great secretary under whom he sei'ved reports that he is de-
tained at Washington and prevented from joining in this reception. He
could and would tell you were he here with what ability, zeal and satisfaction to
him Minister Reid always discharged his duties and the beneficial results he
secured to his country."

Mr, Elkins concluded his address by paying an eloquent tribute to the
gifted wife of Minister Reid.

After Mr. Elkins, Hon. Chauncey M. Depew was the next speaker. His
appearance was greeted with a salvo of applause which must have warmed the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cockles of his heart. The toast to which he responded was "New York's Wel-
come." Mr. Depew said:

" Gentlemen : It is a rare pleasure and privilege to participate in the
event we celebrate to-night. Both the absence and the return of our guest are
fortunate for himself and his country. Abroad he conferred honor upon
the republic and gained distinction for himself. By returning he adds to the
happiness of his friends.

" During the last ten years it has fallen to my lot on many occasions to
deliver a eulogy upon some distinguished son of Ohio. In every instance he
was dead. It created an impression in my mind that there was a mysterious
relation between an eminent soldier or citizen of Ohio and the grave. It is an
inspiration and a tonic for both my nerves and my spirits to be able to speak
of a son of Ohio whose fame is international and who is very much alive. If
there be any doubts on that question it will be dissipated through the columns
of the New York Tribune during the coming months of the Presidential can-
vass. It will be discovered that this accomplished journalist has not lost the
art of occasionally criticising his party friends when they deserv^e it, and con-
tinually scorning his party enemies because they always deserve it.

" The one act of President Harrison which has received the greatest
criticism has been his appointment of journalists to diplomatic places. We
lawyers have felt especially aggrieved that after entering upon the legislative
fields, which we have always called our own, they should have assumed to aspire
to places which the lawyers have always regarded as belonging by right to
them. ' What,' say the critics, ' can the journalist whose time and mind and
training have been given to the discussion of theoretical politics, practical re-
ligion, sociological questions, of party candidates and responding at innu-
merable banquets to the toast of "Tlie Press" know about international law
and the delicate matters of diplomacy.'"

"Only twice in the history of the relations between France and the United
States as nations has France been prominently and interestingly in the eye and
mind of the American people. First, when she gave us the assistance which
secured our independence, and second, when there was negotiated with her a
treaty which will be of incalculable advantage to the people of this country.
In the first instance our minister was Benjamin Franklin and in the second
Whitelaw Reid, both journalists.

" By sentiment and service we are more closely bound to France than any
other European nations, and yet in the rapidity of our own development and
the crowding events which have brought us in commercial communion or col-
lision with other nations, we have taken little account of and given little
thought to France during the last hundred years. Her fleet, her army and
her credit enabled us to bring our revolution to a triumphant conclusion ; and

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the ideas of liberty absorbed here by the French soldiers and carried back to
France revolutionized the continent of Europe. Upon the lines of civil and
rehgious freedom and of the ideas and the measures which tend to the promo-
tion of the happiness of mankind France and the United States have developed
together. Their friendly relations have been enormously strengthened by the
moral support which we gave the young republic in its struggle for the per-
manence of its free institutions ; by the vigorous, wise and enlightened course
of the American minister who is our guest to-night.

" Our poets, our orators and our great writers, in celebrating the glories
of our Western Empire, have all failed to recognize in epic verse and fitting
phrase that principal and perennial source of our prosperity, the American
hog. He, more than any other agency, has solved the problem of the farm
and the market. When the Western farmer would be compelled to bum his
corn because the price at the seaboard would not enable him to bear the cost
of transportation, this intelligent animal consumes the corn, chemically works
it up in his own person into profitable pork, and then transports himself to
market to clear the mortgage from the farm and add to the wealth of his
country.

" The governments of the Old World have always been jealous of our
growth and prosperity and fearful of the penetrating and propagating power
of American ideas. They could not keep out Yankees, for they go every-
where. They could not keep out Yankee inventions, for their adoption was
necessary if they would keep pace in industrial competitions. They could not
keep out American wheat, because their fields were insufficient to raise their
own supply.^ But in self-preservation and with marvelous unanimity, and
backing up the effort with the whole force of their great armaments, they
banished and then prohibited the re-entrance of the American hog. For eleven
years this great staple of our country has been denied admission. The popu-
l^T sentiment was so strong in favor of the prohibition that any attempt to
remove it threatened to hurl the government of the day from power. It was
to this most difficult task that Mr. Reid applied his ability and his energy.
His success has moved the torpid pulse of the Chamber of Commerce to en-
thusiastic gratitude, and has done more for the commerce and wealth of our
country than any single diplomatic transaction of the last decade.

" It is an old saw that every good American goes to Paris before he dies.
It is generally admitted that the visit hastens that desired or lamented event.
Paris is known to our countrymen as the metropolis where their women are
gowned and their men bankrupted. For the last three years we, which means
virtually the majority of the American people who travel, have found in Paris
a model American home, whose perfect appointments made us proud of our
country, and whose generous hospitality made us feel at home.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" The position of an American minister among the ironclad customs and
inflexible traditions of the diplomatic service in the older countries is not a
happy one. According to immemorial usage the ambassador, in the absence
of his sovereign, is the sovereign in person, or if his state is not monarchial he
represents the sovereignty of the commonwealth. Immemorial usage assigns to
the minister only the dignity of a diplomatic agent. At the great capitals
like Paris all the Powers of Europe and Asia send ambassadors, the republics
of South America and the Isthmus send ambassadors, and Hayti is represented
by an ambassador. Whenever the representatives of these governments call
upon the Foreign Minister of France the obsequious attendant throws open
both doors of the Foreign Office to the ambassador ; he opens one door to admit
the American minister. At state receptions, official functions, Presidential
dinners, the American minister decorates the rear of the diplomatic procession
and sits next to Hayti at the foot of the table.

" Our adherence as a nation to this Spartan simplicity decorates the
rhetoric of the Fourth of July orator as to the prestige and power of the
great republic, and degrades among his official associates the representatives
of the great republic. The American minister, who is thus officially handi-
capped and who has a proper patriotic appreciation of the dignity and posi-
tion which his government rightfully holds among the nations of the earth,
has a most difficult and delicate task. But it can be truthfully said by every
one who was on the spot to observe that with tact which was never at fault, and
dignity which compelled recognition, and assertiveness which was never offen-
sive, and a pride which was never arrogant, the grandeur and glory of the
republic of the United States so pervaded all official assemblages when the min-
ister was present that for the last three years wherever the American minister
has sat has been next to the head of the table.

"New York stands to the people in all parts of our country as does a
great university to its young men. The student who has won academic honors
in Ohio or California, in Idaho or Indiana, comes to Yale or Harvard. There-
after for the rest of his life he is known as an alumnus of Yale or Harvard.
So the man who has grown too large for his neighborhood or his state in the
West, the South, the East or the North, comes to New York. Here he is wel-
comed without ardor and given such equal chance among the Knickerbockers,
or finds himself crystallized among the ' four hundred.'

" It is this cosmopolitan spirit which gives New York an Ohio Society
larger than any to be found in any city in Ohio and a Southern Society
stronger than any organized in any city in the South. It is in this spirit that
we have more Germans than in any German city save Berlin, and more Irish
than in any city in the Emerald Isle. It was this attraction which brought
to us Ohio's great son, General Grant, and caused him to request that he might

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

be buried upon our island, a request which I trust will soon be honored by a
monument erected over his grave worthy the great captain and the great me-
tropolis. It was the multiplied charms of New York which drew here the most
attractive soldier of our time and made him loved by us as he loved us, another
of Ohio's grand contributions to the glory of the republic. General Sherman.
New York welcomes the children of her adoption, when they are worthy of her
recognition, with the same unstinted and generous gratitude or honor as she
does her children to the manner born. I speak for her best impulses, for her
vigorous manhood, for her broad and catholic judgment, when I say on her
behalf to Whitelaw Reid : ' Welcome ! thrice welcome, back to New York !' "

" The Molder of Public Opinion " was the toast to which Col. Alexander
K. McClure, editor of the Philadelphia Times, was called upon to respond.
During the course of his speech he said:

" This is to me a most pleasant occasion. I have known the distinguished
guest of the evening for thirty years as a journalist; remember liim well as one
of the most brilliant of the remarkable galaxy of war correspondents developed
during the Rebellion and have noticed his rapid advancement to the very front
rank of his profession, not only with the pride that I have always felt in those
who dignify the newspaper calling, but also with the gratification that ever
comes to us all when cherished friends attain exceptional success. There is
eminent fitness in this gathering of distinguished sons of Ohio to do honor to
Whitelaw Reid, who is now a leading figure in American progress as journalist
and diplomat, but whose name will be cherished chiefly, not only in this but in
other lands, as one who has shed the richest lustre upon American journalism.

" What is journalism in this great republic? In England it has been
called the fourth estate; in the free institutions of America, where the people
are sovereign and where the newspapers are the chief educator of those who
govern the land, the press is the first estate. Like all great elements of power
it has its shadowed aspects. It has many teachers of its o\vti creation that are
dicreditable to the great calling and a reproach to the most intelhgent people
of the earth; but discounted by all its imperfections the press of the United
States is the best the world has ever known and is the most potent of all the
varied factors in our free government.

" I regard the editorial chair as the highest public trust of our free in-
stitutions. Presidents, Cabinets, Senates, representative bodies come and play
their brief parts and pass away, many of them into forgetfulncss, and great
parties rise and fall in the swift mutations of the political efforts of a free
people. Journalism not onl}' survives all the varied changes of our political
sj'stem, but its duties and responsibilities multiply with each year as it becomes
more and more the great teacher of the people in their homes.

" When President Harrison came into power he honored himself by nom-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

inating to three of the four first class missions of the government distinguished
representatives of American journals — Whitelaw Reid to France, Charles Em-
ory Smith to Russia and Murat Halstead to Germany. High as was the com-
pliment paid to journalism by the President, the highest comphment of all was
paid to Mr. Halstead when he was rejected by a Senate of his own political
faith, and an exceptional compliment was paid to Mr. Reid, the honored guest
of the evening, by his narrow escape from rejection by the same body. There
was not an objection urged against the confirmation of either of these eminent
journalists that was not inspired by resentment for the best journalistic efforts
of their lives. It was the manly, fearless criticism of public men and public
measures, the exposure of the infirmities and perfidy of those who pose as repre-
sentative statesmen of the republic, that honored Mr. Halstead by refusing
him the mission for which he had been nominated, and that paid a rare tribute
to Mr. Reid by grudgingly assenting to his appointment. The cowardly, sub-
missive journalist is innocent of antagonisms; the aggressive, fearless, faithful
journalist commands the highest distinction of malignant hostility from all
who make politics a trade and prostitute statesmanship to mean ambition and
jobbery.

" I recall also with great pleasure the fact that the two great editors who
were confirmed to fill first class missions have both voluntarily resigned to re-
sume their newspaper duties. We are here to-night to welcome Mr. Reid back
to his high public trust of journalism, and in Philadelphia we shall soon be
able to welcome Mr. Smith, who has resigned his mission and will resume the
great calling of his life. These leaders of our profession have learned the
httleness of official trust when compared with the highest of all public trusts —
the direction of a great newspaper.

" Need I remind this intelligent assembly of Horace Greeley, confessedly
the ablest of all the many able journalists our country has produced.'* He was
often more potent even than the President, and no man ever accomplished so
much in the education of the people in all that was beneficent and just. He
cared not for the honors or emoluments of public office, but he had fought the
battles of the people. He had braved obloquy in his tireless eff'orts for the
oppressed and lowly and his great sympathetic heart, that ever beat responsive
to the cries of the oppressed, craved the grateful recognition of the people to
whose cause he sincerely devoted his life. A brief term in Congress proved to
all, as it must have proved to himself, that while the great editor was a master
in criticising the imperfections of public men, the Congressman who had crit-
icised his fellows through his own newspaper columns was a dismal failure. At
last the great dream of his life gave promise of fulfilment as he was nominated
for the Presidency ; but the clouds came, his hopes perished, and, smitten in
all that he loved or dreamed of, his death was welcomed by his friends as end-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

iiig the fitful life that had settled in a starless midnight of mental darkness.

" And Raymond, whose name is spoken with reverence by every American
journalist; the only man whose lance was never shivered in his many conflicts
with his great master, is now hardly remembered as legislator, Speaker, Lieu-
tenant Governor and member of Congress. He was a leader of leaders in
politics. He was at the baptismal font of republicanism, and he penned the
platform of Pittsburg in 1856, that crystallized the greatest party of Amer-
ican history and made the most heroic achievements of any civilization of the
world. I have seen him calm in a turbulent National Convention ; call it to or-
der and method, and guide it to the great results of its mission ; but who re-
members him as Congressman save as the target of the matchless invective of
Stevens, or as having recorded failure after failure in statesmanship.

" Dana, the Nestor of American journalism, dated his great success and
power as a newspaper man when he indignantly declined a second place in the
Customs of your city, tendered to him by a President whose election he had
favored. Thenceforth he was free from the thongs of political expectation,
and no one has more pointedly illustrated the difference in distinction and
achievement between the editor who puts journalism before party and party
honors and the editor who struggles for party success to share party spoils.

"The elder Bennett has grandly illustrated the true theory of journalism
by the assumption that a great editor could never be an acceptable popular
candidate for any party, and I have reason to know that he regarded it as the
crowning distinction of his life that he had the opportunity to decline, as in-
compatible with his journalistic duties, the same mission from which our hon-
ored guest of to-night has just returned.

" The time was when journalism was confined to party organs and when
newspapers were a luxury. Public office was then measurably compatible with
the public trust of journalism; but that age has passed away never to return.
To-day the newspaper is the educator of the home, and is read in almost every
family in the land. It is the daily lesson to our children ; the daily monitor to
those who exercise the sovereignty of our government. It is constant in its
duties and its achievements. On great occasions it arouses public sentiment to
aggressive action; in common times it is ceaselessly fulfilling its mission as
gently as the dews which jewel the flowers of the early morning, and it is the
one calling of our free land that cannot be dependent upon the whims of party
leaders or the resentments of those who control official positions. It must be
' unawed by influence, unbribed by gain.' Such is the true mission of the
journalist where journalism is so inseparably interwoven with the sovereignty
of the republic, and it is to this high trust and duty that we welcome back the
honored guest of the evening."

General Swayne said that a welcome home to New York to ex-Minister

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Reid would be incomplete without a word of greeting from. Brooklyn. He
therefore called upon St. Clair McKelway, of Brooklyn, to say a few words.
In the beginning of his speech Mr. McKelway intimated that " Mr. Reid had
returned home perhaps to receive a greater honor in connection with his party's
nomination for the Vice Presidency," a suggestion that was received with the
greatest applause.

Mr. McKelway said that he spoke for the press of New York, and in that
capacity he dwelt at length upon Mr. Reid's career as a newspaper editor in
New York, his methods, the ideas he sought to introduce in his own journal
and his influence upon journalism generally. He paid a very high tribute to
Mr. Reid's journalistic abihty, and particularly commended the high moral
character of the paper he conducted. He praised Mr. Reid for assisting to
put a stop to personal contests in editorial writings and closed with a eulogy
of his services as Minister to France. He said :

" Mr. Reid in France has worthily honored an office in which Franklin,
Washbume, Dayton, McLean and Bigelow and John A. Dix won for them-
selves a lustre as bright as the day and as long as time. He brings back the
gratitude of all Americans abroad with whom he has been in contact, and he
meets here not only the greetings of his friends around these tables, and not
only the congratulations of his fellow laborers in all the newspaper offices of
the English speaking world, but the salutations of his countrymen and their
best wishes for his happiness and prosperity, either on the lines of his resumed
profession or on the paths of any higher duties that events in their unfolding
may solicit or require him to tread."

Ex-Senator Warner Miller made a brief response to the sentiment, " Our
Commercial Facilities."

Frank R. Lawrence, Mr. Reid's successor as president of the Lotus Club,
welcomed Mr. Reid home as the spokesman of a numerous delegation from the
Lotus Club, who were among the guests.

Then the merry company dispersed with three cheers and a tiger for
Whitelaw Reid.

Among the many letters of regret from eminent men who had been invited
was the following from the French Minister to the United States :

" The Legation of the French Republic,
" Washington, D. C, March, 1892.
" General, : You liave done me the honor to invite me to take part in
the banquet that your society has tendered to Mr. Whitelaw Reid after his
arrival in New York on the 9th of April. I hasten to thank you for your
courtesy and regret that it will not be possible for me to accept, as I already
have another engagement for that day. I regret this all the more because dur-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing my stay in Paris I had occasion to appreciate the extreme courtesy of the
honorable representative from the United States, and because I should have
been very happy to associate myself with this occasion of expression of esteem
which is given to Mr. Reid by his compatriots. Accept, General, the as-
surances of my most distinguished consideration. Patenotee.
" To Gen. Henry L. Burnett, No. 45 Cedar Street, New York."

Vice President Morton wrote as follows :

" Vice Peesident's Chamber,
"Washington, March 31, 1892.

" My Deae General, : I very much regret that previous engagements
deprive me of the pleasure of accepting the invitation of the Ohio Society to be
present at the banquet to be given the Hon. Whitelaw Reid on the 9th of April.

" Mr. Reid has discharged his duties as the representative of his country
to our sister republic of the Old World with conspicuous ability, in a manner
alike honorable to his country and himself, and it would be a source of great
gratification if I could join the membei-s of the society of his native state, and
present in person my cordial congratulations, a hearty greeting and a warm
welcome to our distinguished guest on his return to his native land.

" Thanking the Society for the courtesy extended, I am, with renewed
regrets, very faithfully and truly yours,

" Levi P. Moeton.

" Gen. Wagee Swayne, New York."

Other letters were from Senator Frank Hiscock, Senator Joseph R. Haw-
ley, of Connecticut; ex-Minister to England E. J. Phelps, George William
Curtis, Secretary Rusk, who was detained at Washington ; Col. John Hay and
Frank Hatton.

A number of ladies were present at the meeting of the Society held on
April 18th. Vice-President Henry L. Burnett occupied the chair, as President
Strong was absent on account of the death of his mother. ISlr. Crall, treas-
urer, reported that the financial part of the Reid banquet, like all other parts
of it, had been a success. With Vice-President Packard in the chair, General
Burnett entertained the Society with a most interesting address, relating his
services at Washington under the great war secretary, Stanton, immediatelv
after the assassination of President Lincoln. Then followed a progi*amme of
music under the direction of Eugene Clarke. A collation was sem'ed. At the
meeting of May 9th Mr. Foye reported for the governing committee that the
present rooms of the Society had been engaged for another year, at a reduction

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of $700 in rent. The report was accepted. The treasurer reported a balance
on hand of $2,900. General Swayne offered the following resolution, which
was adopted:

" Whereas, New York city has shown a most hospitable welcome to Ohio
men, and has many times given generously to Ohio public and educational pur-
poses, and,

" Whereas, New York city at this time is giving liberally to a memorial
of a son of Ohio, General Ulysses S. Grant, and,

" Whereas, The chancellor of the University of the City of New York, a
member of the Ohio Society, has interested several of our members in the
establishing of a memorial tribute of an educational character, to bring to-
gether in a pleasant manner Ohio and New York,

" Resolved, That a committee of seven members with President William L.
Strong as chairman, be appointed to confer with Chancellor MacCracken on the
subject, and that power be given them to add the endorsement of the Ohio So-
ciety to such plan of the character above named as they may approve."

President Strong subsequently appointed the following committee to act
with himself in accordance with the above resolution: Hon. Whitelaw Reid,
General Wager Swayne, John W. Ellis, Gen. Samuel Thomas, A. D. Juilliard,
William H. Caldwell, S. S. Packard. As alternates : J. D. Archbold, C. N.
Hoagland, C. S. Brice, Thomas A. Edison, John W. Harman, J. Q. A. Ward.

General Ewing gave a most interesting account of experiences in Kansas
before the war, under the title, " The Struggle for Freedom in Kansas." By
resolution, the Society asked General Ewing to furnish a copy of his speech
for printing.

The story of the " Ohio Field " of the University of New York is interest-
ing, and as it is a part of the history of the Ohio Society of New York, the
steps taken subsequently may be here recounted.

Upon the presentation of the above action of the Ohio Society to the
council of the University, at its meeting, May 27, 1892, action was taken as
follows :

" Resolved^ That the council welcomes cordially the committee appointed
May 9, 1892, by the Ohio Society to confer with the chancellor of the Uni-
versity as to the establishing of a foundation of an educational character, in-
tended to bring together in pleasant association Ohio and New York, this com-
mittee consisting of the following fourteen gentlemen, seven being principals
and seven alternates, in addition to Col. William L. Strong, president of the
Ohio Society, as chairman. (Here follow the names above given.)

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" And the council authorizes the committee on needs and endowment, with
the chcancellor, to settle in conference with this committee the conditions upon
which the University may be enabled to establish a trust which shall associate
Ohio and New York in an important educational benefaction."

The committee of the Ohio Society met at the Society's rooms on October
17, 1892, the following gentlemen being present: Col. William L. Strong,
chairman ; C. N. Hoagland, Gen. Wager Swayne, WiUiam H. Caldwell, Prof.
S. S. Packard, John W. Harman. After careful consideration the following
action was taken :

"The committee of the Ohio Society approve the solicitation from mem-
bers of the Ohio Society, and from other Ohio men, of a fund to be given to
the University of the City of New York, to aid in the purchase of new grounds
selected for the University at University Heights. A new station to be estab-
lished on the New York and Northern and the New York Central Railways,
midway between the present stations of Morris Heights and Fordham Heights.
This fund is to be given upon the conditions expressed in the following form
of subscription, which is hereby approved :

" The undersigned agree with the University of the City of New York,
and with each other, that we will pay to the treasurer of the Unhersity, on or
before January 1st, 1893, the amount of money set opposite to our names,
respectively, upon the following conditions:

" 1 . That it may be used to secure for athletic purposes a part of the new
grounds of the University of the City of New York.

" 2. That the University agree, in case $50,000 be subscribed in like
manner, that it will set apart and definitely mark, within one year after pur-
chasing the new site, not less than four acres thereof for an athletic field.

" 3. That this field shall be permanently named the Ohio Field.

" 4. That if ever the Universit}'^ devote such land to other than athletic
uses, it will invest the above amount of $50,000 in another athletic field, or in
buildings, or in both, which shall bear the same name and memorial character.

" 5. That the University further agree, for each subscription of $2,000,
to found a graduate scholarship, to be named after an Ohio college such as the
giver or givers may designate, which scholarship shall provide tuition to the
amount of $100 a year in the University Graduate Seminary for such grad-
uate of the college named, as its president may recommend to the Chancellor
of the Universit}^ Such graduate student may hold the scholarship for three
years, or until the president of the college appoint his successor, but he shall
be subject to such rules as are prescribed for the other graduate students of

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the University. These graduate scholarships shall be perpetuated, at the least
until the year 1931, which will be the centennial of the University.

" 6. That the University will make full announcement in each annual
catalogue of these scholarships, with their titles and conditions, and with the
names of their respective founders."

A further declaration made by the committee was as follows:
" Further, the committee of the Ohio Society suggest that subscribers, in
naming Ohio colleges whose alumni may receive the graduate scholarships, may
appropriately name any one of the eighteen colleges of Ohio which are admit-
ted to membership in the Ohio College association, according to the minutes of
its meeting in Columbus, December 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1891. One or more
graduate scholarships in the University of the City of New York for alumni
of each of these colleges will prove a most fruitful benefaction to the cause of
learning. The following eighteen colleges are members of the Ohio College
Association. The year of the foundation of each is given:

1. The Ohio University, at Athens, 1804.

2. The Miami University, at Oxford, 1809.

3. The Kenyon College, at Gambier, 1824.

4. The Adelbert College of the Western Reserve University, at Cleveland, 1826,

5. The Denison University, at Granville, 1832.

6. The Oberlin College, at Oberlin, 1833.

7. The Marietta College, at Marietta, 1835.

8. The Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, 1844.

9. The Wittenberg College, at Springfield, 1845.

10. The Otterbein University, at Westerville, 1847.

11. The Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, 1852.

12. The Baldwin University, at Berea, 1856.

13. The Mt. Union College, at Mt. Union, 1858.

14. The Wooster University, at Wooster, 1866.

15. The Hiram College, at Hiram, 1867.

16. The Ohio State University, at Columbus, 1870.

17. The Buchtel College, at Akron, 1870.

18. The University of Cincinnati, at Cincinnati, 1870.

The committee proceeded to point out the valuable returns certain to come
from this investment of $50,000. It would aid a noble institution of learning.
The Ohio Field would be a perpetual benefaction to University students who
come from Ohio and other states. It would honor and benefit the city of New
York, the adopted home of the donors. It would be a satisfaction to Ohioans
visiting New York. Continuing, they declared :

"Equally important returns will come from the Ohio graduate scholar-
ships. They will emphasize the true relations between universities which main-
tain graduate work or professional schools, and undergraduate colleges. The
fonner should avoid taking freshmen away from the territory of the latter.
They should encourage Ohio students to attend Ohio colleges. But a univer-
sity in New York city may fairly invite young men who have completed un-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

dergraduate work to embrace whatever it has to offer of graduate instruction
and of professional training. The Ohio graduate scholarships will say to
Ohio 3' oung men : ' Go through an Ohio college ; win an opportunity, if you
desire, to study afterward in the metropolis.' The principle involved here may
be made very fruitful in establishing better relations among American univer-
sities and colleges. Besides the effect upon the relations between colleges, each
graduate scholarship may be a great benefit to some deserving student. Last
year the New York University enrolled in its graduate seminary fourteen men
from eleven colleges farther west than Ohio, and two men from Ohio, one from
Baldwin College and one from Adelbert College. These graduate scholarships
may add to these two many a young man who will be greatly helped by a year
of advanced study in the metropolis."

The compiler of this record has asked Dr. MacCracken to relate the steps
subsequently taken in this matter, and he has done so as follows, under date of
May 6, 1905 :

" On February 12, 1894, New York University credited the following
gifts to Ohio men:

William L. Strong $2,500

E. C. Bodman 2,500

A. D. Juilhard 2,500

J. D. Archbold 2,000

H. M. MacCracken 11,000

Solomon Loeb 2,500

Charles T. Barney 4,000

C. M. Hoagland, M. D 500

Making a total of $27,500

" Further, it gave credit for an additional estimated value of certain tem-
porary buildings at $15,000, or over.

" It further acknowledged ' An agreement entered into by Messrs. Juil-
liard, Strong, Bodman and Archbold on the one part and H. M. MacCracken
on the other part, that the proceeds arising from the investment by these four
gentlemen in a part of University Heights, North, will be paid to the Univer-
sity.' Whereupon, the corporation the University resolved that ' The Univer-
sity does hereby establish the Ohio Field according to the agreement of Octo-
ber, 1892, as if the entire $50,000 had been contributed.' The proceeds to be
paid over will probably sum up from $8,000 to $10,000.

" The above is substantially the history of the financial side of the estab-
lishment of Ohio Field. The plan of Mr. J. Q. A. Ward for some terminal

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

statues has not been carried out, simply because moneys have not been pro-
vided for the execution of the same under Mr. Ward's supervision. The way is
still open for the setting up of these terminal statues. The Ohio Field repre-
sents an outlay for land and improvements of over $150,000."

The suggestion of Mr. Ward, as embodied in the official announcement
of the Ohio Field committee was as follows : " Mr. J. Q. A. Ward, the sculptor,
of whom Ohio is justly proud, when asked to help the plan of an Ohio Field,
particularly by suggestion, repUed that he would advise the marking off of the
field from the remainder of the University campus by terminal statues, such as
were set up in ancient times by Greeks and Romans. Further, he would con-
tribute his labor in supervising the modelling of a number of terminals in
simple form, giving each a plan column, ending in the head of some noted ath-
lete of the old time — Hercules, Achilles, or the like. He would also supervise
the cutting of the same out of Ohio native stone. Upon each column should ap-
pear sufficient of the leaves or berries of the buckeye or like designation to mark
the Ohio origin of the monument."

The only further mention of this matter in the minutes of the Ohio Society
occurs under date of October 14, 1895, when Col. W. L. Strong urged the
members to attend the dedication on Saturday, October 19th, of the Ohio Field,
" which had been given by members of the Ohio Society to the University of the
City of New York, the chancellor of which. Dr. MacCracken, is an honored
member of the Society. It was moved and seconded that Judge Higley be
appointed a committee of one to make arrangements for a suitable representa-
tion of the Society at the dedication. Carried." The minutes have nothing
further to say upon this matter, and Judge Higley recollects that the Society
was officially represented at the exercises.

Forsaking this extended diversion into an " Ohio Field," we find that a
meeting of the Society was held at Morelli's on the evening of October 17,
1892, at which a dinner complimentary to the members was served, and no
business was transacted. At the gathering of November 14th it was moved
by Mr. Crall that the entertainment committee be instructed to provide another
dinner complimentary to the members on the occasion of the first annual
meeting. Carried. Franklin Tuttle read an excellent and entertaining paper
on " Oxford and Cambridge, as Seen by an Artist," for which he received the
unanimous thanks of the Society. The secretary was instructed, on sugges-
tion of General Swayne, to request the Rev. W. T. Rice, of New York, to read
before the Society his paper, entitled, " Journey of a Bethlehem Boy to Ohio
for his Bride in 1808."

At a meeting of the governing committee on November 29th Andrew J. C.
Foye was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The annual meeting of the
Society was held at Morelli's on the same night. A dinner was served. Presi-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

dent W. L. Strong occupied the chair. Speeches were made by the president
and by General Henry L. Burnett, David Homer Bates, L. C. Hopkins,
Thomas Ewing, Jr., John D. Archbold and Robert W. Tayler. From the re-
port of the governing committee it appeared that twenty-seven new members
had been enrolled during the year, and that only one death had occurred. The
treasurer's report showed a cash balance on hand of $2,571.90. The annual
election was then held and resulted in the choice of the following officers : Presi-
dent, William L. Strong; vice-presidents, Henry L. Burnett, J. Q. A. Ward,
Silas S. Packard, Milton I. Southard and John Dickson ; secretary, William
Ford Upson ; recording secretary, Thomas Ewing, Jr. ; treasurer, Leander H.
Crall ; trustees for three years, A. D. Juilliard, George P. Tangeman and John
W. Stout.*

At the meeting of December 12th it was ordered that five additional mem-
bers be added to the entertainment committee to form a banquet committee, the
five to be appointed by the chair. The president then introduced D. C. Beard,
who gave an address on " The Anatomy of an Angel."

The proceedings at the meeting of the Society on February 13, 1893,
were of so important a nature, and the speeches made were so eloquent and
full of valuable information, that they were taken in full stenographically at
the time. The result was a small monograph, published by order of the
Society, upon the cover of which are these terse descriptive words : " An Ohio
Night." Tlie title page was as follows :

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ON THE

Occasion of the Presentation by Its President,
Colonel William L. Strong,

OF THE

PORTRAIT OF GEN. W. T. SHERMAN

AT THE CLUB HOUSE, 236 FIFTH AVENUE
FEBRUARY 13, 1893.

* There is no record In the minute book of this annual meeting of November 29, 1892,
except in a brief printed extract from the New York Tribune, pasted in and endorsed
" Approved, Dec. 12th." There is no attest to the records of the meeting of December 12th.
After the meeting of December 12th there appear in the book three blank pages, and the
next meeting recorded is that of March 13, 1893. It is noted in that meeting of March
that the minutes of December 12th, January 13th and February 13th were read and
approved; but there were no minutes for the two dates last named in the book. The pro-
ceedings of two of these meetings must, therefore, remain a blank in this record.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Opposite this page was a handsome reproduction of the portrait of Gen-
eral Sherman, which became the property of the Society on that night.

The proceedings of the evening were as follows : President W. L. Strong
was in the chair. After the reading of the minutes had been dispensed with
the president said : " The next business will be the consideration of resolutions
which have been moved by the Society in memory of ex-President Hayes, who
was an honored non-resident member of this Society, and who has passed away
since our last meeting. I have asked Judge Higley to prepare these resolutions
and he will now read them; after which any remarks will be in order." The
resolutions, as read by Judge Higley, were as follows :

" The Ohio Society of New York, since its last meeting, has met with a
great loss in the death of the Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, one of its earliest
and most distinguished members. After a brief illness he passed away, at his
home in Fremont, Ohio, on the 17th day of January, 1893, in the seventy-
second year of his age. Successful young lawyer, city solicitor of Cincinnati,
the metropolis of Oliio, major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and then brigadier-
general in the late war of the rebellion, twice elected to Congress, and thrice
governor of his native state. President of the United States — honored citizen of
the republic!

" In every position of public trust to which he was called, he served the
people and the nation with that distinguished ability and unwavering fidelity
which result from lofty purpose, masterful industry, and unquestioned in-
tegrity.

" His broad sympathies found forceful expression in noble, persevering
efforts for the downtrodden, the poor and distressed, for the reform of prison
management throughout the world, and for the promotion of virtue, peace,
prosperity and happiness among mankind.

" His private life was as simple and pure and beautiful as his public
career was honored and illustrious. His memory will grow brighter and more
hallowed with time, and future generations will pay homage to his rare worth.

" Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York extend its sincerest sym-
pathy to the bereaved family in their great sorrow, and that a copy hereof be
foi'warded to them.

" Respectfully submitted,

" Warren Higley, Committee."

Gen. Wager Swayne moved the adoption of the resolutions, and in doing
so said : " INIr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : Having been at the funeral
of General Hayes, I will say a word about it. Beginning with the statement
which I am sure will find its response in your own hearts that, while if I know
myself I loved our friend who has passed away, at the same time, searching

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

my heart, I have found no reason to be ashamed of the fact that it was not
in me, it was not the uppermost feehng in my heart, to grieve over the fact of
his death. I had seen him age ten years in as many weeks after his wife's
death, and sweetly and patiently and manfully and truly as he bore it all,
knowing, nevertheless, how sure he was of presently being with her again, and
how very anxious he was that that might be, I feel freer, as I think it will be
a relief to some of you at least to feel entirely free to say in your own hearts,
as I said in mine, ' I thank Thee, for Thy servant departed this life in Thy
faith and in Thy fear.' It was a matter of sincere rejoicing that such a life
had been ended so completely, and without a blemish. There is an ancient
adage, ' Call no man happy until he is dead,' and if ever that adage had an
application, practical and certain, within the cognizance of our own lives, it was
then and there.

" When we got out to the funeral, it was touching to see very much
such a concourse of people as had been assembled at the time of the death of
his wife. When ten thousand people gathered in Fremont on the occasion of
the death of Mrs. Hayes, it was not to celebrate the death of a great man in
the affairs of state, but it was a tribute to personal worth and loveliness of high
and rare degree. The same concourse, at least of the same character, seemed
to me to be gathered out of neighborly feeling to pay the same sort of tribute
to that same sort of attributes that, if you will pardon me, I find and enjoy
here among you, and that we find and enjoy among ourselves here, if I rightly
understand it.

" Now when it came to his being laid away and we were allowed to pass
by and look into his coffin, there was nothing sad there. The features had taken
a fixed look which gave their dominant aspect a larger prominence than is
found in the mobile play of countenance of the living. The face had a fixed
look, but there was nothing doleful about that, for all that look was peace,
and those of us who knew him, those of us who cared for him, those of us who
cared to remember him, those who knew him with less intimacy and yet cared
for him and cared to cherish a fixed idea, will fix in our own hearts and carry
as our permanent recollection of the man that he went out of tliis world in
peace."

The resolutions were unanimously adopted.

The president called attention to the fact that Col. William L. Tidball,
a member, had passed away since the last meeting. Homer Lee gave an ex-
tended account of Colonel Tidball's career, and on motion of General Swayne
a committee was appointed to prepare resolutions in honor of his memory.
Said committee consisted of General Swayne, Homer Lee and A. J. C. Foye.

The president then called S. S. Packard to the chair. On assuming it
that gentleman said : " Colonel Strong has called me to this chair, and so I

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

obey, because he is my superior officer, and because it is one of the rules of the
Ohio Society that subalterns must obey their superior officers. Besides, as we
all see, the colonel has the rheumatism, and I am the only vice-president in the
room. There is at least that much fitness in it; but being here, what am I to
do.f* We have been told, with some iteration and not a Httle impressiveness,
that this is to be a surprise party ; and since I have been here and had a chance
to nose around a little, I learn that everybody is to be surprised, except Colonel
Strong and Brother Foye (and the people whom he has employed to help him
keep the secret), and Homer Lee, and the announced speakers, and a few other
members whose nerves were not strong enough to bear the strain. Especially
is it to be a surprise to me. When I was called to the chair I thought that
might be it; but have since concluded not. I thought possibly my friends
might desire to give me a surprise similar to the one given to BiU Nye by the
Clover Club of Philadelphia. The Clover Club, as you know, makes a practice
of calling men to their feet in order to ' guy ' them down. Bill was invited to
attend one of their dinners, and he went prepared to withstand their jibes. He
shut his teeth tightly together, and fortified himself in every way, and went on
with his speech. It was very funny, but nobody laughed. Nobody moved,
even; but all sat quietly in their seats as solemn as owls: and when he got
through and waited for applause, there was simply funereal silence. He was
the only surprised person in the room. I beg to say that, knowing this story,
I am not to be caught with any such bait. All the same, I find the position a
very awkward one, and I am going to get out of it by calling upon a person
who is already ' in it,' and whom you are always delighted to hear. I will ask
our beloved friend and ex-president. General Swayne, to touch the button in
his own way. Ladies and gentlemen. General Swayne."

Gen. Wager Swayne : " Ladies and Gentlemen : — The only surprise I am
quite sure that I have in store for you is that which comes to us all the time
when our esteemed and valued friend. Colonel Strong, has something for us.
On this occasion he has commissioned me to present to the Society in his name
and in his behalf a portrait of our late honorary member. Gen. William T.
Sherman. (Portrait unveiled amid long-continued applause.) This is a por-
trait for which he made repeated sittings, and the details of which were per-
sonally supervised by himself with much interest. The interest of the painting,
however, does not stop there. That picture was painted by Mr. James H.
Beard, one of our oldest and most valued fellow-members, one of whose sons
we remember with much affectionate regard, and to another of whose sons we
are indebted for a recent lecture on ' The Anatomy of an Angel,' so highly
entertaining and instructive that it causes all of us a great deal of pleasure to
recall it. Nothing, therefore, could more fully identify this Society than that
present. It is the work of a member of the Society, a distinguished artist. It

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

is the gift of the president of this Society, to whom we are continually indebted.
It represents a man as highly honored and as valued in Ohio as any man who
ever lived there ; a man who did as much as any one man to identify Ohio with
the well-being and the glory of the nation, and it stands to us like the picture of
a mountain near which we have lived, whose scenery is dear to us, and whose
later story is a part of the history of the country. More than that, ladies and
gentlemen, the picture stands to us as in a sense peculiarly the embodiment of
the state. The state gave the artist to the country, the state gave our president
to the country and gave him to this city, gave him to us. Through the artist
and the president, the state gave us the picture. The state likewise gave us
this Society — the state brought us together. Besides that, we may say the
state gave General Sherman to the country. I am glad to see that you applaud
that sentiment — sincerely glad, because in the course of the history of this
Society, and in discussing the status of this Society with others, the question
arises continually, what did the state do.^* The answer is ready and complete.
What did the state do for General Sherman.? The answer is, what the state
did for us, and if we want to know what the state did for us, you may treat the
question in the converse, that what the state did for us is to be seen by what the
state did for him. If we want to know what the state did for him, the answer
is very simple again. What did free institutions do for that man? What
have free institutions done for us.^* The two great distinctive characteristics
of that man were his loyalty to the Union of these states and his military
prowess. What did the state do for his loyalty to the Union of these states.?
What eifect shall we ascribe to the fact that that great chieftain was bom
where to be bom meant hope and opportunity.? That he lived where to live
gives life, the energy of freedom, and where to die admits of opportunities in
contemplation of the future of our loved ones. Those are the things that the
state does for us. That is the measure of our Society to the dead, ^e may
treat it as a fact to which we are alive, or we may treat it as a debt of no con-
sequence to us, but if we treat it as a debt of no consequence to us, the in-
quiry is pertinent, who is it that is dead.? The state or we? Who is
it that is dead? The state? The state yet lives. The state that
still gives hope and opportunity to you, that still gives the strength and
activity of security to manhood for those we leave behind. Is it the state that
is dead, or is it the man to whom those things are dead as being of no present
consequence to him? I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, that it is the state
that lives, the state that is our environment, the state that within the recollec-
tion of some of us and the state that in the history of that man determined
whether or not he should be loyal to the Union of these states, or whether he
should be like other men of great ability in other states who thought the Union
of these states only a rope of sand. Let me say a word to you there. I hope

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

it is not irrelevant, as to the difference — not the difference, but the distinctive
line between the state and the United States. We are apt to ignore that differ-
ence, yet it is constantly of, practical value to us in forming an intelligent
knowledge of current events. The distinction lies here. The United States
takes charge of interstate and international relations. The state takes charge
of all those relations of person and property on which we build our homes, our
fortunes, and our hopes. The states are like a checkered floor upon a concrete
basis. They get their strength and support from the insoluble and indisputa-
ble union lying beneath them for that with which we come in personal daily
contact, that upon which the eye rests, upon whose smoothness and cleanliness
we depend for the accuracy and the convenience and the decency of daily life.
Those squares with which we are immediately concerned, those are the states.
It is the state with which we are concerned continually in our daily life. It is
the state that echoes to our daily happiness, it is the state that determines the
future disposition of our property, and it is the state and not the United
States through which we exert all those humanitarian endeavors which do so
much for the amelioration of mankind in our vicinity. It is the state that sup-
plies and sustains our immediate environment. It seems not too much to say
that the state has more to do with the formation of our individual character,
with its determination and maintenance, almost more to do with it than has
any one individual with whom we come in contact. Now our state produced
this chieftain. What shall we say of him.? What man has shed more lustre
on the recent history of his country ? No man, I may say, was ever more thor-
oughly identified with our state. Among its early settlers was his father in
the north. Among its early settlers in the south was the father of his wife —
two great men in that land. His father was one of the early judges of the
Supreme Court of Ohio, a man of great excellence and worth ; his wife's father
was the greatest man, perhaps, Ohio ever produced — the Hon. Thomas Ewing
— and his father had come with that immortal band who founded the state of
Ohio and founded the Northwest Territory and secured and controlled thereby
the freedom and the prevalence of universal freedom in these United States
under the shield of the ordinance of 1787. That man grew up under these
auspices ; grew up in the state of Ohio. It is enough to say that when the coun-
try came to determine the question of its own union, his life was nothing with
him. There was no weak joint in the armor of his loyalty. The spirit that was
in him repelled every suggestion of secession. No matter where he was, though
he was in Louisiana, there was no man in Ohio whose loyalty was more unques-
tioned, and from that time on to the conclusion of the great war and to the
close of his life, there was no man who more steadily acquired or held in greater
degree, or held with greater certainty, the respect and veneration of the people
of the United States than Gen. William T. Sherman. (Applause.)

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Now I have stated to you that tliis man, this chieftain, was to us — tlie
very picture of this chieftain was to us Hke the picture of a mountain near
whicli we had Hved, with whose scenery we were famihar and which was identi-
fied with all our love of country. More than that. This man not only did we
live near to, but he lived near to us, and he taught me — he taught many a man,
and he may teach all of us, an invaluable lesson of self-respect. He was no
hypocrite. He was no fool. And being neitlier hypocrite nor fool, great as he
was, he saw no inequality between himself and me or you. It was not condescen-
sion on his part that he loved us. Either there was that in his nature which
saw something worthy of respect in us and that was fit to be loved, or else his
life was one long, broad, continuing mistake, because he cared for us. When
he came here he cared for us all. When we met him singly at his house he
cared for us individually.

" I travelled once with him three weeks at a time. We met hun-
dreds and hundreds of men. I never saw a man for whom he did
not care. I never saw him meet a man in whom he did not take a genuine,
spontaneous interest, and there was no condescension about it. Either his
whole life was a continuing mistake, or there was that in all the people that he
met deserving his regard. I think I sincerely loved and venerated him, but I
prefer to think that he found that in me which was worthy his regard, though
I cannot see it myself. I prefer to think that he found that in me which waa
worthy his regard rather than to think of him as continually purblind or con-
descending, because condescending I know he was not. It was not in him. I
prefer to ascribe his regard for you and for me and for the people whom he
met to a great-hearted penetration which looked over, because he was so great,
and looked through, because he was so clear. I prefer that you and I should
think that that was the true lesson of his life, that there is in every one of us
the essence of a godlike manhood and of womanhood that is divine, that found
in that great heart a recognition that, great as it was, was yet not greater than
the truth.

" Before taking my seat, I will take the liberty of moving that a committee
of three be appointed to prepare resolutions expressing the thanks of the
Society to our president for this generous gift and our appreciation of it."
Motion prevailed.

The Chairman : " Before naming the members of this committee, the chair
will assume to speak for the Society in calling upon General Ewing for some
remarks."

Gen. Thomas Ewing : " General Swayne and Ladies and Gentlemen : On
behalf of the Ohio Societ}^ I accept this valuable gift. It is one of especial
interest to us in the fact that it was painted by a member of our Society, who
won fame before the war in Cincinnati, which was then, as it is now, one of the

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

art centres of the Western world, and who came on here seeking a wider field
and larger opportunities. We miss his genial and venerable presence to-night,
as we have missed it too often at our meetings of late. I am sure you will all
join me in the hope that his four-score years will not cut us off from his at-
tendance at many a meeting to come.

" In 1854, or about that year, he painted a portrait in pastel of Minnie
Sherman, the baby daughter of General Sherman, now Mrs. Fitch, of Pitts-
burgh. It was a faithful and fascinating likeness. The child was beautiful,
and the mode of the artist, the material with which he wrought, and the man-
ner in which he wrought — ^which was by rubbing the crayon on the canvas with
the finger — seemed to give a transparency to the complexion which you never
see in life except in a girl baby, and rarely ever see in a portrait painted in oil.
It still hangs in the parlors of a member of our family, admired by all who
have seen it for forty years past.

" This portrait of General Sherman now presented to our Society is, I
understand, the last for which he ever sat, and the latest work — I hope not
the last — of the distinguished artist. He and General Sherman knew each
other in youth. Both started out from Southern Ohio, Beard animated by the
gentle love of art, Sherman by the ruder instinct of war. Each ran a splendid
career; and both met here in old age as members of the Ohio Society, one of
them having achieved distinction, the other immortality.

" This portrait is of a special interest to us also in the fact that it comes to
the Society unsolicited from the ever-generous hand of our president. It
marks his admiration for one of the greatest of Ohio's sons, and it marks, too,
the big-hearted generosity which impelled him to seek out the old artist in his
almost abandoned studio and pay him a large price for his noble work. I
accept it on behalf of the Society because of the love with which it is bestowed,
because of the superb art with which it is wrought, because of the incomparable
genius which it perpetuates and commemorates.

" The history of General Sherman is part of the history of his country
and of mankind. He has been for half a generation one of the idols of the
world ; and unlike most idols, he never received honor that he did not deserve.
Great as is his fame, it has grown only out of great achievements ; there is no
varnish or veneer upon it — it is sohd from centre to circmnference.

" General Sherman was of a highly nervous organization, and was often
fitful and wayward, but only in light and trivial matters. When it came to
anything of consequence to his fellowmen, or to the country, he was as firm and
unshaken as the still depths of the sea. Throughout his life, as boy, as cadet,
as young soldier, as husband, father, friend, citizen, in every relation of life, he
was as constant as that northern star

16g[

OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

Of whose true-fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.

" I do not claim for General Sherman that he was the first captain of the
war. He did not claim, or even admit, that distinction as due to him. He
always conceded to Grant the place at the top of the pedestal. He may have
been wrong; he may have been too modest — many people think he was — but
the general judgment of the Northern people assigns pre-eminence to Grant.
Grant first — Sherman second — and it does not seem probable that history will
disturb this opinion of the relative merits of these great commanders.

" But there was one supreme virtue in which I think Sherman was un-
equalled, in which I know he was unsurpassed, and that was in absolute un-
selfish patriotism. Illustrations of this virtue extend from the beginning
to the end of his pubHc career. The year before the war broke out he was en-
gaged in the most delightful employment he had ever had, with a large salary,
as Superintendent of the Military Academy at Alexandria, La. When that
state took the first step in the general direction of secession, instantly, without
a moment's hesitation or consultation with anybody. General Sherman resigned
his place, returned North, and took a position in a petty street railroad com-
pany in St. Louis. I myself stood by when President Lincoln, before the first
battle of Bull Run, tendered him the position of brigadier-general in the regu-
lar army. He declined it and asked to be appointed to no higher place than
colonel — on the ground that in his opinion there were other men who were
better fitted for the high command than he. When he had held his first promi-
nent command at Louisville, soon after the outbreak of the war, he lost it
because he bluntly told Secretary Cameron — that which he, and he alone, then
clearly saw — that it would require 200,000 men to take and hold the strategic
lines in Kentucky and Tennessee. Cameron degraded him — by assigning him
to a petty duty as inspector at Scdalia, in Missouri — but Sherman went in-
stantly to his post and performed his new duties with zeal, and never a murmur
of complaint escaped his lips.

" WTien he was at the head of the army in Washington, after the war,
during President Grant's administration, he was living in comfort and luxury
in a mansion presented to him by admiring friends — General of the Army,
holding a higher rank than Washington ever held, or anybody but Grant ever
held; but he was driven out of Washington. Why? Because General Bel-
knap, then secretary of war, had demanded that he should place on his staff
a cadet just graduated from West Point, and send back to his regiment a
veteran of the war who on twenty battlefields had earned the high and coveted
staff position. Sherman refused to displace the veteran and thus to set a bad
example to the army. He quietly accepted the penalty, broke up his house in
Washington, sold his furniture, and went back to St. Louis.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" When we came to reorganize the armies of the United States, he had been
restored to his place at Wasliington. He was then nearly sixty years old, in
full health and vigor, intellectually and physically. He believed that it was
best for the service to fix a precise age at which every officer should be retired.
The Army Bill was so prepared, and sixty-four fixed as the age of retirement.
But Democrats and Republicans alike, in the military committees of the senate
and of the house, unanimously determined that General Sherman should be
made an exception to the rule of retirement. He refused to be made an excep-
tion. That position as general was dearer to him than almost any position was
to almost any officer, civil or military, in the country ; for the army was his idol,
and the position at the head of it was the aim and realization of his highest
ambition. The presidency had no charm for him. Nothing was so high as the
place he held. He was as fit to command then as ever, and seemed likely to
preserve his intellectual and physical activity for at least ten or fifteen years.
His friends and family begged him to accept the proffered exemption. They
believed it would add many years to his life. He believed it too; but he was
inexorable. He insisted on accepting for himself the rule that was imposed
with his assent on liis subordinate officers. Think of it, and point me to a
parallel in the history of our country ! Grand as was the example of Wash-
ington in rejecting the third term of the presidency and in declining the re-
newed command of the army, his self-sacrifice was far less marked than Sher-
man's, if it could be considered self-sacrifice at all. Washington longed for
repose and retirement, while Sherman loved action, conspicuity and command.
By insisting on the common lot of retirement, Sherman cut himself off from
a large part of his needed income and from all the delightful occupations of
his high station. I think there is not another instance among our public men
of such stem and patriotic self-sacrifice. In common affairs of life he was as
selfish as the average man, but when it came to a question between him and the
public service, he did not know himself, he did not consider himself. He sacri-
ficed and forgot himself. That's the sort of stuff real heroes are made of.
There is no true heroism in service, however brilliant, or in talent, however
commanding, if the spirit be sordid and selfish. Useless is the example of
genius which excites the wonder of mankind, if accompanied by the grasping
and greed of Marlborough, or the self-centred egotism of Napoleon. It is only
the Christ-like spirit of self-sacrifice which, when joined with great senace and
great character, causes the heart of youth to leap and soar in noble emulation.
Such was Sherman's character. His is and will be an example to American
youth forever and forever, as one of the greatest of generals, the most un-
selfish of patriots, the noblest of men." (Much applause.)

The Chairman : " Ladies and Gentlemen : I am sure the question will
never be asked again, ' For what was the Ohio Society formed? ' * What does

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

it represent? ' It seems to me that to-night there can be no question that we
have shown one of its great purposes. This is an occasion that we are not
likely to forget: an occasion which I am thankful to know is going on record.
There are others in the room from whom we would like to hear ; and still we are
not to forget the fact that a presentation has been made by our honored presi-
dent, and that some rem§,rks have been made thereon; and it seems to me en-
tirely proper that he should be called to his feet. (Applause and calls for
Colonel Strong.) I will ask Colonel Strong to respond to this call."

Colonel Strong : " Mr. Chaimian : I thought I had got sufficient talent to
talk for me this evening without being called upon to say anything, and I know
there are two or three gentlemen here who want to make a few remarks.
I want to say just this in reference to the picture. This portrait was painted
by an Ohioan and of an Ohioan, each about equally distinguished; for Mr.
Beard, the artist, stands about at the head of his profession in certain lines of
art, and you know General Sherman stood at the head of the military genius
of the world.

" I think General Ewing was a little modest in his reference to the
two military characters, Grant and Sherman. They were both Ohio men. It is
hardly necessary for us to draw a comparison between the two, but I am well
satisfied myself that the world and the future historian will put General Sher-
man as the master of military tactics and the superior of any military man that
has existed in this century, and perhaps ever in the world. Bonaparte bears
no comparison as a military chieftain to him — and I doubt very much if the
celebrated Von Moltke can compare at all with General Sherman. The field
that Sherman fought over was different from the field that any military man
has ever fought over in the Christian era. There never has been anything just
like it, so that it is impossible to compare the labors and the military tactics of
Sherman with that of any military general on record, so that you must accept
just what was done by Sherman.

" Now having this veneration for General Sherman myself, being an Ohio
man as he was, having his portrait painted by an Ohio man, and knowing that
it was to be sold, it made me feel that that painting should belong to the Ohio
Society. There was no other place for it. There could be no other place foi
it. He could not manufacture a place for it in his own state or in New York
state better than right here in the Ohio Society, and when that Society goes
out of existence, I expect that it will be returned to my heirs, or their heirs.
I trust it will never go out of existence, but if it should, I want it placed on
record that the portrait goes to my heirs." (Applause.)

The Chairman : " In the discharge of his duty, the chairman would name
as the committee on resolutions covering this gift Gen. Wager Swayne, Gen.
Henry L. Burnett and Hon. Mahlon Chance; and in order that the full signi-

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

ficance of this appointment may appear, I am sure the Society would be glad
to hear from Greneral Burnett."

The Chairman : " The meeting will be glad to hear from General Burnett."
Gen. H. L. Burnett: "Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: After
listening to the noble and touching addresses of General Swayne and General
Ewing, no unpremeditated words of mine can add to the interest or charm of
this occasion. This is not a time to attempt a fair admeasurement of the
superb merit of General Sherman ; but we come to acknowledge the beautiful
tribute to his memory by our worthy president, affording an opportunity which
is inspiring. Ohio has given to the fame of the ages a Grant, a Sherman, a
Sheridan. They are not to be contrasted or compared. History cannot be
written, or patriotism illustrated, without their names. It is not the grandeur
of princes or blaze of thrones that makes the glory of this world. Great men,
great names, great deeds are the jewels that light up the dark passages of
human history. General Sherman was a great man — one of earth's noblest,
truest, gentlest, best. He was an ideal soldier, the idol of those who followed
the feathery fringe of the skirmish smoke, winning victories along the advanc-
ing lines as they marched with him from ' Atlanta to the sea,' and when the
final triumph came, the vanquished honored him for the generous spirit which
diplomacy deemed too magnanimous. He alone of all the great military heroes
was absolutely without political ambitions and turned away from the blandish-
ments of place and power. He was a man of trained faculties, accurate knowl-
edge, and remarkable personality ; but above all a loving and lovable man.
Soldier, patriot, citizen ! He needs no shadowy canvas, no enduring bronze,
no sculptured marble. Nothing we can say or do, nothing the world may say
or do, can mar, shadow, or change the fame his own genius won.

" Mr. Chairman, allow me to express my appreciation of the generous
and splendid gift of Colonel Strong, and in so doing voice the sentiment of
every member of the Society. In honoring General Sherman he has honored
Ohio, and endeared himself to every loyal and patriotic heart."

The Chairman : " The occasion is complete as it stands, but I feel sure
that there are others present who might esteem it a favor to render a personal
tribute to the gift and to the giver. And surel}^, as it seems to me, there
should be a motion looking to the publication of the proceedings of this even-
ing. The chair will be glad to entertain such a motion."

Judge Warren Higley : " Mr. Chairman, taking up your suggestion,
which seems to me an exceedingly appropriate one, it gives me pleasure to
move you, sir, that the records of the eloquent and admirable addresses to
which we have been permitted to listen to-night, as well as the expression of
opinion, none too strong, that has been manifested for the person who has

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OHIO SOCTETY OF NEW YORK

given us this magnificent gift, be made a permanent record of this Society, and
that it be printed for distribution." The motion prevailed.

Mr. Lee: " Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ewing, Jr., has a pleasant incident about
this painting that I am sure you would like to hear."

The Chairman : " We are always glad to hear from Mr. Ewing ; and this
evening particularly so."

Thomas Ewing, Jr. : " The artist related a very pretty story about this
picture when I saw it in his studio a year or so ago. It appears that General
Sherman — an old friend of the painter, the friendship dating long before the
war — had often promised to sit for him. A warm feeling of admiration and
comradeship at length moved the artist to write to the general, asking a fulfill-
ment of his promise. He received in answer a rather hastily written and formal
reply, saying:

" ' Dear Mr. Beard : My engagements are so many that I cannot give you
the sittings you ask.'

" Two or three days after that, as the artist was sitting in his studio, he
heard a tap on the door and, the door being thrown open, a brawny hand was
thrust in, grasping that of Mr. Beard, while the general's voice was heard to
say : ' Beard, old fellow, I've treated you badly ! Of course I will sit to you for
my picture.' And notwithstanding the general's well-known restless disposi-
tion, he gave him the sittings required, remaining with exemplary patience and
self-control in the same position for two hours at a time. The general ex-
pressed himself highly gratified with the result."

The Chairman : " There has been a request to hear from Mr. Holloway,
and the chair strongly seconds it."

Mr. J. F. Holloway : " I have not the remotest idea where such a request
came from. I certainly would like to see the person who made it. There is,
however, one thought that has been in my mind while I have been sitting here
and listening to what has been so well said ; and that is, that somehow or other
we have been made to feel as if we had been brought in touch with important
times and important events. As we have listened to speakers who from per-
sonal knowledge have given us fragments of unwritten history in which the
great men of the Republic were actors, who have repeated to us conversations
they themselves had listened to, as they stood beside Lincoln and Sherman, we
seem to be carried back to the scenes of those great events which still stir all
who remember them. Somehow, it has seemed as if we were witnessing the
closing scene of some great drama. Already many of the important actors have
made their exit, while a few still linger on the stage, the descending curtain of
wliich will soon hide all forever. To those of us who lived through the days
about which we have heard so much to-night everything seems real and impres-
sive— to the young people here all this is only tradition or history; but I

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

doubt not it will ever be a pleasant memory to them to have been here, and to
have listened to the splendid encomiums that have been pronounced, not only
on General Sherman, whose portrait is before us, but as well on the great heroes
with whom he was so closely associated in the peist."

A general call for the chairman.

Mr. Packard : " The chairman was placed here to attend to the duties of
the position, one of the most positive of which is not to make a speech. And
yet he would give more than he is likely ever to possess to be able to do it.
Really, I am full of it — that is, of the desire. But the speech that is in me is
wordless. I regret it, for I would hke you to know what is passing in my mind.
I think I can trust myself to say, however, that this is one of the great occasions
of the Society, and will be remembered hereafter as presenting in the best form
its most valuable functions. Not only have we been presented with an invaluable
souvenir — hereafter to adorn our walls — ^but we have done appropriate honor to
the memory of the distinguished dead who were once of our number. And who
are these distinguished dead ? One, a modest citizen of our state, who did honor
to his birthright and to his country in peace and in war; another, who was
not only great as a private citizen, but who served honorably upon the field when
his country was in peril; became the governor of his state, President of the
United States, and was ever known as a man of large heart and unblemished
character. And lastly, we have again had occasion to bring before loyal hearts
the memory of our greatest hero, and to learn from those who knew him most
intimately the delightful things that made up his strong personahty. And it
is not improper that we should ask ourselves who are these friends — of his and
ours — who have made this occasion memorable.'' Members of his family, com-
panions of his childhood, compatriots in arms, honorable and worthy men who
have helped to make the history of the country, and who are the bulwarks of
this Society.

" When we speak of Sherman, how naturally we think of Swayne and
Ewing and Burnett. Can we, in fact, estimate this occasion beyond its historic
value.'' Are we likely to have an occasion more worthy of preservation as a
reason for the existence of the Ohio Society ? "

Following this report in the " Ohio Night " monograph, came this appre-
ciation of James H. Beard :

" Tlie hope expressed by General Ewing that the portrait of General
Sherman, although the latest, was not the last, of the eminent artist, and that
there yet remained for him many years of usefulness, was destined not to be
realized ; for within two short months thereafter he left his work, and is now on
the hst of the illustrious dead ; and it is peculiarly fitting that his last ambitious
work should be a portrait of his great friend, and that it should be in the pos-
session of the Ohio Society.

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

"James H. Beard was born in Buffalo, N. Y., M!ay 20, 1812. His
predilection for art was manifest in early childhood: at first in the form of
charcoal and chalk sketches on kitchen walls and chair bottoms, and eventually
with home-made brushes and personally prepared paint on personally prepared
canvas, reaching up to the ambitious achievement of portraits of Hving people,
done at five dollars a head, and cheap at that. While he was yet a boy his
parents removed to Painesville, Ohio, and here it was that he entered upon liis
great career. He bought some cotton cloth, coated it with white lead for can-
vas, made his own stretchers, tacking the canvas thereon; went to the stone-
cutter for his grinding stone ; smoothed it himself ; made a muUer for grinding
the colors ; constructed his own easel and palette ; selected the bristles and hair
for his brushes, and put them together, and went to work.

" For his first portraits he charged three dollars, then raised to five, and
eventually to ten. Years aftenvard he charged considerably more — and got it.
In his early manhood he went to Cincinnati, where he entered upon his career,
and attained to great distinction as an artist. For his sitters he had such dis-
tinguished men as Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and William Henry Har-
rison. One of the best portraits of Harrison, painted from life in 1838, is now
at the studio of his son in this city. He was specially distinguished as an
animal painter, putting into the faces, attitudes and actions of his figures
human attributes, making the picture tell its own story."

The eighth annual banquet of the Ohio Society was given at Delmonico's
on the evening of February 18, 1893. The following gentlemen served as the
committee in charge: Henry L. Burnett, chairman; Homer Lee, secretary;
Leander H. Crall, treasurer; Wager Swayne, Thomas Ewing, Calvin S. Brice,
A. D. Juilliard, William L. Brown, H. A. Glassford, Andrew J. C. Foye, D.
H. Bates, C. G. Harraman, R. W. Tayler. There were about two hundred in
attendance. The decoration of the room consisted only of a conspicuous dis-
play of the American flag and the coat of arms of the state of Ohio.

William L. Strong, president of the Society, occupied the centre chair at
the table of honor. At his left sat Secretary of the Interior Hon. John W.
Noble, and at his right Congressman Michael D. Harter of the Buckeye state.
Others at the table were General Wager Swayne, Chancellor Henry M. Mac-
Cracken, of the University of the state of New York; ex-Governor James E.
Campbell, Gen. Thomas Ewing, C. C. Beaman, representing the New England
Society; Ellis H. Roberts, the St. David's Society; John Sloane, the St. An-
drew's Society ; John D. Crimmins, the St. Patrick's Society ; Augustus Van
Wyck, the Holland Society ; R. D. Benedict, the Vermont Society, and Hon.
Beriah Wilkins, member of Congress from Ohio.

Mr. Strong, as toastmaster, introduced as the first speaker John W. Noble,
who spoke for " Ohio Men in the Cabinet." This toast It ha,d been expected

159

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

would be responded to by the secretary of the treasury, Charles Foster, but, as
Secretary Noble explained, his associate was undergoing a " gold cure "* treat-
ment, and was unable to be present. Secretary Noble paid a tribute to the
original strain of the line of ancestry of all Ohioans and of William McKinley,
the governor of Ohio, in particular, the mentioning of whose name was met
with a great burst of applause. It was expected that Governor McKinley
would be a guest at the dinner, but at the last moment he was obliged to
cancel the engagement.

The " Annexation of Territory and the Admission of States " was re-
sponded to by Hon. Michael D. Harter. A humorous speech was furnished by
Frederic Taylor in response to the toast, " The Cosmopohtan Metropohs." It
was cosmopolitan in its quality and dramatic in its rendering. Mr. Taylor in-
dulged in spurts of dialect imitation, which were greatly appreciated.

Ex-Governor Campbell, of Ohio, responded to the toast " The Sons of
Ohio." He said in part : " In the absence of that distinguished man who now
presides over the great state of Ohio, the Ohio Society has called upon me to
say something about the sons of Ohio. You all know how great the sons of
Ohio are. You all know that they combine the quahties of the religious New
Englanders, the old Dutchmen of New York, the Quakers of Pennsylvania
and the aristocratic Englishmen of Virginia. The sons of Ohio are the great-
est and grandest people on the earth. Ohio furnished many of the greatest
heroes of the war ; Ohio's sons have filled every important position in the Fed-
eral government, and to-day there is no better, grander and more useful person
than a son of Ohio."

G«n. Willard Warner, of Tennessee, followed ex-Govemor Campbell.
He spoke of " Ohio as a State." The last speaker of the evening was C. C.
Beaman. He responded to the toast, " The Other Societies."

The menu card consisted of three large square cards tied at the top corner
with a scarlet silk ribbon. On the front at the top was a handsome steel
engraving of the new coat of arms of the state of New York. At the bottom
comer appeared the arms of the state of Ohio, with the motto, " Imperium in
Imperio " (An Empire within an Empire). On the inside leaf was the menu,
surrounded by various legends. On the reverse page at the top was a steel-line
engraving of Washington, underneath which was a scarf on which were in-
scribed the words, " Ordinance of 1787," and below this his famous reply to
his soldiers at Valley Forge, when their defeat seemed certain, and they asked
what was to be done : " If we are overpowered, we will retire to the Valley of
the Ohio, and there we will be free." At the bottom of the last page was a
vignette, " The Building of the Empire," which represented a IVIarietta pioneer
felling trees, oxen hauling logs to build the first house in the settlement, which
*A pleasaxit reference to the secretary's especial ofElcial labors at that time.

160 *

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

appears in the distance. The menu card graphically illustrated the progress
of the state from its small beginning to its present greatness.

Under date of March 13, 1893, there is an entry in the minutes of the
recording secretary which says : " The governing committee report the Society
as in flourishing condition ; plenty of money in the treasury, and not a dollar of
indebtedness. The membership is gradually increasing, with flattering pros-
pects of large additions from the eff'orts of General Swayne's recruiting com-
mittee, and also from the ardent circular letter that accompanies the new
manual now being sent out,* in which it is kindly suggested that each and
every member use the blank apphcations that go with it in adding at least one
or more to our membership, resident or non-resident.

" The committee appointed to secure permanent quarters for the Society,
after a thorough canvass of the situation, comparing carefully location, eligi-
bility, accommodations off^ered, amount of rent, etc., came to the unanimous
conclusion that, on the terms they could obtain the present quarters or premises,
it was decidedly best to secure them for a term of years, which they have done,
taking them for five years at a yearly rental of $1,800 per annum, $600 per
year less than formerly paid. This eliminates the trouble and expense of mov-
ing, refurnishing and fitting up, and also preserves our identity of location,
which is very important. We have become known and established here, and as
our first and only home for these many years much that is memorable and dear
to us is associated with these rooms. In fact, the traditions of our Society
almost entirely cluster about this spot. It is proposed to put the rooms in
good repair, make them bright and cheerful, and the committee hope that mem-
bers and their friends will use them freely and frequently."

Dr. MacCracken made a very pleasant speech on the subject, " On a
Change of Chaplain."

The minutes tersely declare that the evening of April 10th " was
devoted to fun; many speeches were made; no business was transacted."
May 8th was ladies' night. Mr. Marion and Mr. Miller entertained the
Society with two very interesting original papers entitled, " The Little So-

* The following is no doubt the letter referred to:

" The Ohio Society of New York respectfully asks from persons who are eligible to its
membership attention to its aims. So long as the Society was in any sense an experiment
this was not done. It is now in its seventh year, was never more prosperous, and has never
been without sustained and active interest in its purpose, or without sufficient means. It
has now a settled home, tried methods, and a demonstrated value to its members. This last
is amply vouched for by its personnel. It offers to young men lately from Ohio an oppor-
tunity for acquaintance. To older persons it supplies renewed familiarity with their own
earlier life. For all its members it preserves the sense of individual history and enlarges
the scope of personal cordiality. As a whole it contributes both here and in Ohio to the
honor of the state, and in so doing pays a debt which by increasing patriotism enriches the
community. To share these things, and to contribute to them, is what this invitation proffers
to those to whom it is addressed.

" For the Society, the membership committee, by

" March 14, 1893. " Wager Swayxe, Chairman."

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

cialist," and " A Thafe and a Robber." Refreshments were served. On
June 12th an adjournment was taken until the second Monday in October.

The first regular meeting after the summer vacation was held at
MorelH's restaurant on October 9, 1893. Dinner was served. The special
subject for discussion was the representation of the Society on " Manhattan
Day," October 21st, at the World's Fair. Speeches were made by President
Strong, Vice-Presidents Burnett, Packard, Southard and others.

The chairman of the governing committee reported an active interest in
the affairs of the Society among officers and members. The following gentle-
men were appointed a committee to report at the next meeting nominations
of officers for the ensuing year: George B. Hibbard, chairman; Franklin Tut-
tle, C. G. Harraman, E. L. Prentiss, John W. Stout, William H. Eckert,
John A. Smith.

At the meeting of November 13th the following ticket was reported by
the nominating committee: President, William L. Strong; vice-presidents,
Henry L. Burnett, J. Q. A. Ward, S. S. Packard, Milton I. Southard,
Andrew J. C. Foye; secretary, Evarts L. Prentiss; recording secretary,
Marion M. Miller; treasurer, Leander H. Crall; trustees for three years,
David H. Bates, George Follett, S. R. Beckwith.

The evening had been designated as " Ladies' Night," and a number of
the fairer sex were present. Judge Higley was called to the chair to act as
master of ceremonies for the literary and musical entertainment. This con-
sisted of songs by Miss Louise Segur and recitations by Miss Gertrude Chase,
" The Little Western Man " and " Back to Old Ohio," and Mr. M. M. IViiller
in " Heracles and Hylus." Following this Mr. Miller gave a talk upon the
pictures exhibited upon the walls of the Society. These were :

Oils: (Sacred subjects), by Spanish masters.

Oils, by Mr. Bruer, of Cincinnati.

Water colors, by Maud Stumm, of Cleveland.

Water colors, by John W. McKechnie, of Cincinnati.

Black and whites, by Maud Stumm.

After a vote of thanks to the singer and speakers, the meeting was ad-
journed and refreshments sensed.

The annual meeting of the Society was held on the evening of November
29th. The report of the governing committee contained the following inter-
esting statements : " Possibly the most memorable meeting ever held by the
Society was that of February 13, 1893, on which occasion our president,
Colonel Strong, presented to the Society Beard's celebrated painting of Gen-
eral Sherman. Some of the notable facts of this presentation were that this

162

OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

picture was the last work of that famous ai*tist ; also that this sitting was the
last that the ' grand old general,' who was, and whose memory is, so dear to
us all, ever gave to any one; and also that it was presented to us by one for
whom we all have such a close affection ; and, lastly, that the painter, the sub-
ject and the donor were all Ohio men and members of this Society.

" In this connection your committee would suggest and recommend that
a relief, or chai'ity, fund be established by setting aside a certain percentage
of our income, say ten per cent., to be used discreetly under proper hmitations,
to aid and relieve worthy unfortunates of our household; for even Ohioans
sometimes get stranded and occasionally wrecked. This would probably in-
volve a change or amendment to our by-laws."

Treasurer Crall reported that all debts had been paid, and that there
remained in the treasury a balance of $2,945.30. The Society then proceeded
to the election of officers, and confirmed the choice of the nominating com-
mittee.

Gen. Thomas Ewing, first president of the Society, was called on for
remarks, and spoke of the foundation of an historical library for Ohio records,
etc., as one of the original purposes of the Society. Milton I. Southard paid
especial tribute to Colonel Moulton's memory for his services at the inception
of the Society. The newly elected officers were called upon, and several
made brief speeches.

The meeting of December 11th was held at Morelli's. Col. William L.
Strong presided at the dinner table. Mr. Foye was introduced as " the orator
of the Society and a newly elected vice-president." Though the schoolmaster,
Mr. Packard, was abroad, Mr. Foye showed himself perfectly at home in a
theme wherein no man could give him coaching. He struck the keynote of
loyalty to the Buckeye state in his story of " Hello for Ohio." Mr. Cald-
well was called upon and told of " The Ohio Man at the World's Fair."
Homer Lee aptly illustrated the pride Ohio takes in her departed sons by the
Ohio statue at the World's Fair.

It was announced by the president that the committee on the annual ban-
quet would be appointed in the course of a week, and at a later date the fol-
lowing gentlemen were named : Henry L. Burnett, chairman ; Thomas Ewing,
Andrew J. C. Foye, Homer Lee, Wager Swayne, Charles B. Feet, L. C. Hop-
kins, S. S. Packard, Warren Higley, C. G. Harraman, W. S. Hawk, Leander
H. Crall, treasurer; M. M. Miller, secretary.

Tlie governing committee met on January 8, 1894. Homer Lee pre-
sented a design for the president's badge, to be composed of a scarf and
jewel, the former being of a ribbon of gray and brown, the colors of the
buckeye, and the latter suspended from the scarf of gold, circular in form,
embodying the grand seal of the state of Ohio, the lettering surrounding the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

coat of arms to be, " Ohio Society of New York — President — Organized
1885." At the top to appear a buckeye, surrounded by partly opened leaves,
and made of a piece of oak from the first house built at Marietta. Above
this appears the rising sun. The design was approved and the decoration
ordered to be made.

164.

CHAPTER X

1894.

THE first meeting of the Society in 1894! was held pursuant to the
following notice : " The next regular meeting will be held at the rooms
of the Society, 236 Fifth avenue, on Monday evening, January 8,
1894. As the official announcement of committees will be in order, each
member will take notice that he has been appointed a committee of one to re-
late a personal adventure in which the ' Ohio man ' did not distinguish himself.
As the date is the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans (Jackson Day),
the ' War Horses ' are especially requested to come prepared."

At that gathering the standing committees, appointed by the president,
and the house committee, appointed by the governing committee, were an-
nounced as follows: Literature and art, Warren Higley, chairman; Daniel
C. Beard, Franklin Tuttle, Alexander Doyle, J. Q. A. Ward; entertainment,
Warren Higley, chairman; Curtis G. Harraman, Andrew J. C. Foye, W. H.
Caldwell, M. M. Miller; library, Thomas Ewing, chairman; Wager Swayne,
Henry L. Burnett ; auditing, Mahlon Chance, chairman ; Frank C. Loveland,
William M. Hoffer, Theodore S. Nye, De Frees Critten; membership, S. S.
Packard, chairman; Mahlon Chance, Henry A. Glassford, D. C. Beard,
William M. Hoffer, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Horace H. Brockway, William H.
Caldwell, H. H. Sisson, Theodore S. Nye, Frederick C. Train, Andrew J. C.
Foye, John W. Monahan, Edw. S. Wallace, Frank L. Fisher, Daniel Pritch-
ard; house, Andrew J. C. Foye, chairman; George Follett, Charles B. Peet.

Speeches by a number of the members followed on various themes; but
the record does not show in what manner the Ohioans made confessions in
accordance with the call.

At the meeting of the governing committee on Febmary 10th it was
ordered that the banquet committee be authorized to publish a book containing
a full report of the speeches and proceedings of the annual banquet, and that
the treasurer be authorized to pay for the same if the cost did not exceed
$150. At the meeting of the Society on February 13th General Swayne
made the occasion memorable by his speech of presentation of the president's
badge to Colonel Strong. Responses of Colonel Strong and General Burnett
followed.

February 17, 1894, was the date of the ninth annual banquet of the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Ohio Society of New York, and Delmonico's was once more the chosen place.
It was in charge of the special committee already named, while the following
gentlemen served as a reception committee : Gen. Anson G. McCook, Albert W.
Green, D. Robison, Jr., Edgar A. Follett, P. B. Armstrong, Lowell M.
Palmer, John F. Rodarmor, H. J. Reinmund, Mahlon Chance, R, C. Kimball,
Thomas Ewing, Jr., D. H. Bates, Jr., H. H. Hobbs, S. C. Lewis, J. Stedman
Converse. The menu card was almost a duplicate of that of 1893. There was
a special guest table, and six others occupied by the members and their
friends. Those who sat at the head and foot of each of these were as follows :
A, Andrew J. C. Foye and Charles B. Peet; B, Milton I. Southard and
Leander H. Crall; C, Henry L. Burnett and William S. Hawk; D, S. S.
Packard and Homer Lee; E, J. Q. A. Ward and Samuel Thomas; F, Warren
Higley and L. C. Hopkins.

Hon. William McKinley, governor of Ohio, was the guest of honor, and
when he was escorted into the dining hall he was greeted with cheers. Hon.
William L. Strong, president of the Society, presided, and those who sat with
him at the guests' table were as follows : On his right, Hon. William McKinley,
Hon. Charles F. Manderson, Hon. Calvin S. Brice, Bishop John M. Walden,
Gen. Horace Porter, George A. Morrison, president St. Andrew's Society;
John D. Crimmins, president Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Charles A.
Deshon, president Southern Society; Gen. Thomas Ewing, ex-president Ohio
Society. On his left were Hon. William B. Allison, Hon. Joseph H. Outh-
waite, Hon. Frank Hurd, Prof. Sylvester F. Scovel, Ellis H. Roberts, presi-
dent St. David's Society ; H. B. B. Staples, president Delaware Society ; John
P. Townsend, president New England Society; Gen. Wager Swayne, ex-
president Ohio Society.

When the dinner, abundantly provided, had been disposed of. President
Strong arose and announced that the intellectual feast of the evening had
arrived.* He said : " Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York : I take
it that the dinner of the Ohio Society at Delmonico's this evening has been en-
joyed by all of you, because I see no one before me but that looks as though
he had eaten, and, if he did drink at all, drank all that he felt he ought.

" Now, gentlemen, for the benefit of the members of our Society who
honor us with their presence only once a year — at our annual banquets — I
want to say that the Ohio Society is sound financially, entirely out of debt.
Owing to the watchful care of our noble treasurer, he does not allow the
governing committee to create an indebtedness for the Society unless he has
the money to pay for it; and, as he is one of that committee, the Society is

* Fortunately for this record, the speeches delivered on that memorable occasion, when
Governor McKinley was the guest of honor, were stenographically reported and published
by order of the Society in pamphlet form. They are here reproduced in full.

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

never in debt. In addition to that, he has a very handsome balance to its
credit in the bank, which is drawing a very fair rate of interest considering
the present crucial condition of the money market.

" The grim monster, death, has dealt very lightly with our Society since
our last banquet. We have lost but four members out of a membership of
about three hundred. The addition to the membership roll has been about as
large as in any of the years preceding since the formation of this Society, so
that now the Ohio Society of New York is on a firm foundation and is an
assured success.

" I am asked very often, What is the reason you Buckeyes kick up such
a row in New York once a year.'' Well, there are a great many reasons for
that. First, Ohio was the first state that was admitted into the Union out of
the broad expanse of territory ceded to the United States Government by Vir-
ginia, and in that celebrated ordinance of 1787 slavery and involuntary servi-
tude, except for crime, was forever prohibited.

" Now, the people, the pioneers of Ohio, that first settled that ' bonnie
Buckeye state,' were an entirely different class of people from any that settled
the states farther west. Their devotion to their cause, their reverence for their
God, and their adherence to a form of government by the people which they
fought for through the Revolutionary war, attracted the brainiest and the
best class of Revolutionary soldiers and their friends that went from the
Eastern states to the West. They and their descendants have left their im-
press on almost every page of history connected with the government of the
United States, from its foundation to the present moment.

" Another reason why we celebrate this day is that it is the ninety-first
anniversary of the admission of our state into the union ; and as Buckeyes we
like to feel that we are again spreading flowers over the graves of the heroes
who have gone before us from Ohio, and we like to hear from such distin-
guished gentlemen as have this evening honored us with their presence how
the gallant old Ship of State is rolling along at home. There is no Buckeye
whose pulse does not quicken at the names of our distinguished men ; particu-
larly such men as Allen and Thurman, Ewing and Corwin, Pugh and Pendle-
ton, Chase and Sherman, Hayes, Garfield and Harrison. Also the last Demo-
cratic governor of our state, and the present governor, Campbell and MJcKin-
ley. And that trio of military heroes, whose names will continue forever, and
glow with increasing splendor as time rolls on : Grant, Sherman and Sheridan.
" Now, gentlemen, there is another reason why we celebrate to-night —
although we have dated ahead a little — the 19th of February being our day,
instead of the 17th. Dating ahead is, as you know, quite ordinary in business
nowadays. By the providence of God, the state of Ohio was admitted into the
Union on the 29th day of November, 1802, but it remained to give us a classic

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

month to celebrate this anniversary in, and when Mr. Jefferson ordered his
secretary of state to affix the seal of the government to a document which
bound us to this Union forevermore, that document was dated on the 19th
of February, 1803; and, gentlemen, when we celebrate the birthday of the
Father of our Country, the immortal Washington, in this month; and when
we celebrate the birthday of the savior of our country, more commonly called
the Messiah of Freedom, Abraham Lincoln, in this month, it is fitting that the
state of Ohio should celebrate its birthday on the 19th of February ; and so we
can only say : ' Roll on, O Ship of State, and let her sons continue to add
brighter jewels to her crown than any that have been put there before, even
in the pages of art, science, literature, commerce, finance, judiciary, or in the
councils of the nation, forever.' And now, gentlemen of the Ohio Society, I
would like you to rise and drink the first toast of the evening, ' The President
of the United States.' " [Toast drank.]

[Music—" The Star Spangled Banner."]

" Gentlemen, the next order for the evening will be the reading of a
poem by Judge Higley, of Cincinnati, now of New York, called ' The Buckeye
Tree.' "

Judge Higley : " Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, I beg to correct the
President in regard to announcing this poem as having been written by Judge
Higley. The poem is by the first poet of Ohio, Dr. W. H. Venable, whom
you all know. It is upon the subject of the buckeye tree, in which we are
all interested from the fact that we have all received at least two of the
products of that tree to-night.

THE BUCKEYE TREE.

BY W. H. VENABLE, Lli.D.

When bluebirds glance the sunlit wing.
And pipe the praise of dancing Spring,
Like some gay sj^lvan prince, and bold.
The buckeye dons his plumes of gold.

When truants angle in the sun.
Or roam the wood with dog and gun.
How tuneful sounds the honeyed tree.
Hummed round by the melodious bee!

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

When boisterous Autumn dashes down
Imperial Summer's rusthng crown,
Beneath the scattered spoils we find
The polished nut in bronzen rind.

The buckeye broom, in times of yore,
Swept for the dance the puncheon floor;
The backwoods beaux, hilarious souls.
Quaffed sangaree from buckeye bowls.

The friendly buckeye leaves expand,
Five-fingered, like an open hand.
Of trust and brotherhood the sign —
Be welcome! what is mine is thine.

Historic now, and consecrate.

The emblem of a loyal State,

A symbol and a sign, behold

Its banners green, its plumes of gold.

Ohio's sons ! their bugles sang,

Their sabres flashed, their muskets rang,

Forever unto freedom true.

The buckeye boys in Union blue!

[Applause, and cries of " Good ! "]

President Strong: " The next regular toast of the evening, gentlemen,
will be responded to by one who needs no introduction to this Society nor to
any other gathering. He dedicated this Society and christened it; he was at
our first banquet and made us a speech then, and some of us were foolish
enough to think that he would be a candidate for the Presidency as long ago
as that. I doubt if he needs any introduction at any banquet that could be
given anywhere on the face of the globe, because there is no foreign country
that sends its wares to this country but knows all about McKinley. WTien
in Chicago last summer, attending the exposition there, I happened to be in
the Russian department, and a representative of the Czar heard that this
man McKinley was going to be at Chicago. He said : ' I will stay here until
next year to see that man. He has the largest income of any man in the
world, four or five times as much as the Czar of Russia. I want to see him.
Any man that collects three or four hundred millions of dollars per annum I

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

want to see. I take off my hat to him.' [Great laughter.] And now, gentle-
men, the regular toast of the evening is ' Ohio,' and I have the pleasure of
presenting Governor McKinley, of that state." [Prolonged applause.]

When Governor McKinley arose he was greeted with applause and
cheers, and his speech was listened to with the closest attention. He said:

" Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York : I have
received the impression through some of the prominent members of this So-
ciety that there is no limitation in expressions of boastful pride, in this pres-
ence, of Ohio men and Ohio character. Indeed, I understand that eulogy is
the chief object of this organization. I understand, too, that those of us
actually living in Ohio who attend these meetings, are expected to spare no
tribute of praise to the Ohio men resident in the city of New York. If this
is not done, we are never invited to return. I want to come back, and there-
fore am prepared to meet any condition or requirement of the Society in this
respect, that I may have welcome to your club and board hereafter.

" I am proud of the Ohio paen in New York. They represent every pro-
fession. They stand in every mart of trade. They are great lawyers, great
doctors, great preachers, great teachers, great editors, great bankers, great
merchants, great manufacturers, great Democrats, great Republicans, great
statesmen, and some of them have been great soldiers. Some of them are on
Wall Street, or were, and still others are members, as I am informed, of the
Tammany Society, and yet others have got into the sacred circle of the Four
Hundred. As I look over this distinguished company I wonder what Ohio
would have been if you had all remained at home. In such an event she must
certainly have been ' paramount.' But then, I reflect, what would New York
have been if you had not come? The stupendous loss to the great Empire
State, I am sure, you feel more than I do, and know better than I can de-
scribe.

"There are ex-Representatives in Congress from Ohio in this great me-
tropolis ; there are no ex-Senators yet. There are ex-Govemors, distinguished
at home and no less distinguished here. It seems to be a favorite place for
ex-Govemors, and the way they get on will encourage others to come after
them. I might have been a member of this Society myself, if my honored
competitor had been kept at home two years ago; and when the exit comes
to me, as it comes to all of us, sooner or later, I may be so fortunate as to be
received by you yet. I know of no better city in which to dwell than New
York, and no better colony of which to be a part than this, outside the sacred
precincts of Ohio. The only disparagement to you is that there are not so
many of you here as there are in ' Greater Ohio ' back at home. You are
just as good, just as true, and just as patriotic men that are here, but you
are not so numerous as those remaining in Ohio. You have converted the an-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YOllK

cient sage advice, ' Go West, young man,' into ' Hustle Down East,' and you
have come and amply demonstrated that the Ohio man can succeed quite as
well in the older as in the newer states. I only speak the voice of the state
when I say : ' Bless you, my children, we are all proud of you.' We will
always feel that we have only temporarily loaned you to this great State and
great city, and that you will all come home again to do us higher honor and
credit than ever. Much as has been done by and for Ohio ; still, as the Pres-
ident said of the nation at the Centennial in Philadelphia, she is great enough
to appreciate how much there remains for her to attempt and achieve in the
future.

" A distinguished Senator from Massachusetts said a few years ago that he
could not help applying to Ohio Pericles' proud boast of Athens : ' Athens, of
all her contemporaries, is superior to the report of her.' Whatever honors
Ohio enjoys here, or elsewhere, I think she has fairly earned them. Her dis-
tinction rests upon what she has attempted and achieved in the domain of in-
tellectual activity, and because she has fulfilled every requirement of duty
to state and nation, doing always her full share to support the government
at Washington in every crisis. The state was early dedicated to liberty. No
slave was ever bom on her free soil, nor serf tolerated within her boundaries.
She has presented the largest opportunity to individual development. She
puts no weights upon her citizenship, no manacles upon either soul or body.

" The people who founded the state of Ohio were master builders. If
Rufus Putnam was the ' father of Ohio,' George Washington, Benjamin
Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were his teachers through the long and se-
vere schooling of the Revolution, from 1775 to 1783. The structure they
erected was greatly to their credit, however much Nature may have done to
assist the pioneers in the labor of love they had undertaken. We are all of
us proud of our state, proud of her place of honor in the sisterhood of states,
proud of her fields and factories, proud of her wealth of resources, proud of
her benevolent, charitable, and educational institutions, and, above all, proud
of our grand old pioneers — ^their pluck, perseverance, and virtue; their moral
and intellectual worth; and, whatever else is said, I always feel like paying
my respects and homage to them.

" It was my privilege a short while ago to have described to me a striking
but rude and unfinished picture, drawn in pen and ink many years ago. It
was the scene at Marietta, the oldest settlement in the state, when the first
laws were posted on the great beech trees of the forest, under the personal
supervision of Governor Arthur St. Clair, in the summer of 1788. Whatever
of art was lacking in this picture, the faces were those of strong, earnest men,
well fitted to build a commonwealth. There, in the impenetrable forest, they
were demonstrating that profound respect for law and order and constituted

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

authority, to which they ever held, and which they transmitted to their de-
scendants, and which those descendants have themselves well illustrated in
every crisis of state and country.

" That they considered this first proclaiming and publishing of the law
an important event, was strikingly apparent, not only by the attentive at-
titude of the little group of revolutionary heroes that were there as our first
state officers, who stood watching the posting of the parchment, but by the
effect portrayed on the wondering faces of the Indian chieftains who were
present. Even the untutored savage saw that this was an event of unusual
significance. The beneficent sway of civilization was not to be gained merely
by clearing the forests, by the building of forts and stockades, or even com-
fortable homes. The possession of food and shelter, of splendid farms and
generous crops, and all the rich returns of good husbandry were as nothing
to these brave pioneers, if their civil and social institutions were not to be
preserved, and the law not to be supreme over all. They would first establish
courts, schools, and churches, before they thought of the sordid considerations
which so often actuated pioneer civilization ; and the subsequent career of the
state itself is the best proof of their wisdom and foresight.

" Ohio was the centre of population for more than two decades, during
which was witnessed the most triumphant period of our own and the world's
annals. Those were decades of mighty struggles, and still mightier achieve-
ments. They record events the most striking and far-reaching in our history.
They record the mighty social and political transformation which changed
the face of the civilized world. We passed during this epoch from a warring
federation of weak and weakening states to a mighty and indissoluble Union
of indestructible states. We emerged from a civilization half slave and half
free to one where all are free ; we passed from unequal to impartial citizenship,
and from division and weakness to unity and power. In our political auton-
omy we were unrivalled in simplicity and strength. During these decades we
were not only the centre of population, but our citizens occupied the centre
of political activity, and contributed masterful forces in the field of war and
statecraft. They were leaders in each, and supreme in both. No great battle
was fought from 1861 to 1865 with which Ohio's name was not linked — no
great victory achieved in which Ohio, or some son of Ohio, did not share the
glory. This period not only witnessed the political and social progress which
I have described, but registered the greatest industrial and material develop-
ment, the widest utilization of our productive forces, and the most wonderful
progress in art, science and invention that the world has ever known.

" It is the fashion for us to boast about Ohio. It may not always be
timely, and sometimes the praise may be too generous; but no unprejudiced
student of our history can hold that it is altogether unjustifiable. The story

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of the early settlers is the story of heroism and sacrifice, of devotion to free-
dom and conscience ; and their sons have wortliily stood, and will forever faith-
fully stand, for the principles of their sires. The story of Tiffin, Worthing-
ton, and Morrow, of Wade, Giddings, and Ewing, of Grant, Sherman, and
Sheridan, of Chase, Stanton, and Brough, and of Hayes, Garfield, and Waite
has been often told, but I do not think too often. It cannot be told without
being helpful to all. No history of the state can be written which would
leave these names out, and no recital of their virtues and achievements can
be made which does not inspire our admiration and create within us higher
and better and nobler aims. But our state has had no lack of material pros-
perity. Geographically, no state has a more advantageous position. Ohio is
the highway between the East and the West ; she is the gateway to the South.
This advantage has been so much boasted by our people that General Grant
once said, in a spirit of playfulness, as well as rebuke, that I have always ap-
preciated : ' Yes, Ohio is a great state. You can't get to Chicago from New
York and back again, on American soil, without crossing it.'

" Ohio is also preeminently a state of workshops. In material resources
and their development, in the variety and extent of her applications of human
skill, in her production of nearly everything necessary for human existence
and happiness, Ohio can be said, without exaggeration, to be ' an empire
within an empire.' In cereals, vegetables, and fruits, she stands at the front
for variety and excellence ; and, to the amazement of her sister states, she took
most of the prizes at the World's Fair for her exhibits of cattle, sheep, and
swine. In the number and variety of her manufactures also, Ohio leads all
the states. She mines not only enough coal for her thousands of furnaces,
but annually exports millions of tons. Owing to her vast commerce on the
Lakes, more iron ore is handled in Ohio than in any other state. Her rank
in manufacturing is equally creditable. Ohio has more manufacturing towns
than any other state. Great states may proudly boast of their cities of New
York, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and St. Louis. It is true
Ohio has no cities to rival these, but Ohio can truthfully claim more pros-
perous manufacturing centres of from ten thousand to one hundred thousand
population than any other member of the Union.

" In educational matters Ohio takes a proud position, as her trophies at
both the Centennial Exposition and World's Fair have proven. Her graded
public schools are not excelled. She expends in a single year for public in-
struction more than any other of the states of the Union, except New York
and Illinois. More than one-tenth of all the money expended in the United
States for school purposes is expended by Ohio; and she has a larger per-
centage of attendance upon insti-uction, according to population, than any
other state of the Union. She is a state of colleges, having between tliirty

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and forty good and flourishing institutions, all firmly established and well
supported. She has no Harvard, Yale or Princeton, but her standard of gen-
eral education, even in the liberal branches, is nearly at the top. Nor is Ohio
satisfied to stand still in educational matters. She is always on the march.
Her common schools are better to-day than ever before, and some time Ohio
will have a state university at her capital far grander and stronger than
Washington dreamed might eventually be established by the nation at large
at its capital.

" Her judiciary has been able, pure, and learned. Its decisions have
commanded confidence in every state and territory of the Union. Hon.
Richard A. Harrison, of Columbus, himself a distinguished lawyer, said not
long ago, on a banquet occasion : ' Is there any state in the Union that ever
had a bar of greater men, either as lawyers or statesmen, than the bar of
which Judge Thurman was one of the most conspicuous members?' Their
names best answer his inquiry. The Ohio bar in Judge Thurman's time was
graced by Hammond, Burnett, Chase, Waite, Ewing, Corwin, Boynton, Swan,
Ranney, Stanton, Swayne, Stanley Matthews, Aaron F. Perry, Groesbeck,
Day, Hoadly, Storer, and many others of exceptional strength and ability.
There have been five men from Ohio upon the Supreme Bench of the United
States, two of them reaching the station of chief justice of the greatest
tribunal of the world, while death claimed a third before he could assume that
exalted station.

" In medicine, science, art, music, poetry, and letters, Ohio has won a
leading place. In journalism she has been conspicuous. The Bulgarian Lib-
erator, as he is called, whose fame as a correspondent is international, whose
life was a chivalrous romance, whose pen was weighted with power and might,
the heroic MacGahan, was a Buckeye boy. His body, transferred from the
ancient seat of Eastern empire now rests among the rugged hills of his native
county of Perry, where he spent his boyhood, and where was spent the boy-
hood of the greatest cavalryman of the Civil War — the dashing and intrepid
Sheridan. Kennan, also, the daring traveler, whose articles and lectures on
Russian cruelty in Siberia have startled two continents, is a product of
Northern Ohio. And Edison, the wizard of Menlo, most practical of scien-
tists and greatest of electricians, first saw the light in an Ohio country village.
The proud old state may well risk her fame in that field upon the work of
this illustrious son, but to Edison she can add Brush, and to Brush the great
Dr. Mendenhall, foremost of professors in electrical science.

" No other state in the Union has made a more indelible impression upon
the Senate of the United States than has our beloved commonwealth. Worth-
ington and Morrow, Tappan and Allen, Ewing and Morris, Corwin and
Chase, Pugh and Wade, Sherman and Thurman, Matthews and Pendleton —

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

what state can boast stronger men? Wade, rugged and resistless in his con-
victions, with his colleague Giddings in the House, stood on the very outpost
of liberty, fearless and defiant. They were the pioneers of freedom ; and
the liberty which we enjoy to-day, and which is so universal in our country,
and which represents more than any other civilization the best hopes and
aspirations of mankind, will be forever associated with their great names.
During the Civil War, Wade was at the head of the committee on the conduct
of the war, in the Senate. Sherman was a member of the committee upon
which rested the duty of raising the vast sums required for the prosecution
of the war. At the other end of the capitol were Schenck and Garfield, Shel-
labarger, Ashley, Delano, and Bingham. Schenck was chairman of the com-
mittee on the conduct of the war, and was a moving force on the committee
on ways and means. Garfield was at the head of the committee on military
affairs; Bingham, chairman of the judiciary committee; and Ashley, at the
head of the committee on territories, under whose administration West Vir-
ginia, Nevada, and Nebraska were admitted to the sisterhood of states —
jointly controlling the important legislation of that most eventful period.
Stanton in the War Office stood hke a sturdy oak, unswayed and unbending.
Upon him Lincoln rested, and his strong nature impressed itself upon the
Union. He moved with but one purpose, actuated by the single motive of
patriotism. That purpose he expressed in 1862, when he said: * For myself,
turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, serving no man, and at
enmity with none, I shall strive to perform my whole duty in the great work
before me. Mistakes and faults I will no doubt commit, but the purpose of
my action shall be single to the public good.' [Applause.]

" Chase was in the treasury department, devising and planning for the
public credit and for the enormous revenue required daily to keep in motion
the operations of the army ; and for a time still another Ohio man. Governor
Dennison, was in the Cabinet of the martyr President. It should not be for-
gotten, also, that when Mr. Chase resigned from the treasury, the first man
in the country to whom President Lincoln turned as his successor was ex-
Governor Tod, of Ohio, who declined the proffered portfolio.

" Ohio contributed somewhat, at least, to bring to Mr. Lincoln the op-
portunity which has made his name immortal. In 1860 the Republican Na-
tional Convention was held in the city of Chicago. The third ballot had
been reached; 465 votes had been cast; 233 votes were necessary to a choice.
Lincoln had 231 1-2, Seward 180, and the remainder were for Cliase and
others. Lincoln lacked one vote and a half to give him the requisite number
to make him the candidate of the party — the second candidate for President
the Republican party had ever named. Supreme silence followed the con-
clusion of this ballot; every voice was hushed, but for an instant only. Dur-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing this instant my former fellow-townsman, David K. Carter (well known
to many around this table), a delegate from Ohio, mounted his chair and
transferred four votes from Salmon P. Chase to Abraham Lincoln ; and amid
the huzzas of that crowded, historic wigwam, Lincoln was made the nominee
of the Republican party. Some other state might have done it, some other
state doubtless would have done it, but the fact remains that Ohio did it.
[Laughter and applause.]

" As Ohio's name is linked with that of Lincoln in the struggles and
sacrifices for the Union, so also is it known in the pathos of the death of
the great liberator. At his bedside stood his faithful secretary of war; and
when, in the gray dawn of that awful morning, the spirit of the immortal
Lincoln ascended, the solemn silence was broken by Stanton, who reverently
said: * Nom he belongs to the ages.'

" Standing in this presence to-night, I recall my former visit here. It
was the first and only time, until now, that I have had the pleasure of being
with you. I remember the distinguished company then assembled. That
illustrious son of Ohio, William Tecumseh Sherman, a zealous member of this
Society, was present. All interest centred upon him, whatever eminent men
surrounded him. All eyes were turned to him, and all hearts were his. I re-
member, in substance, the opening of his little speech : ' The world takes
count of what men do,' said he, ' not what they say ; not where they live, but
how they hve.' This single sentence was a sermon in itself, and well illus-
trates the career of him who spoke it. His fame rests in deeds ; and while
he loved the state of his home and his birth, he loved still more, as all of
us do, the nation which he helped to save.

" This sentiment, too, was in keeping with that grand letter of the old
hero to a Southern paper, as to the proper obligations of an American citizen
respectively due his state and the nation. You will recollect that General
Sherman then said : ' Mathematically, the whole is greater than a part, and
is worthy of more respect and affection. Instead of boasting of the spot
where one is born, by an accident over which he has no control, I should suj>-
pose the boast would be of the former; that is, that every American should
be proud of his whole country, rather than a part. How much more sublime
the thought that you live at the root of a tree whose branches reach the beau-
tiful fields of Western New York and the majestic canons of the Yellowstone,
and that with every draught of water you take the outflow of the pure lakes
of Minnesota, and the drippings of the dews of the Alleghany and Rocky
Mountains!'" [Prolonged applause.]

President Strong : " Fellow Buckeyes, it is not often that we have the
pleasure of being graced at our banquets by the ladies; and I would I'ko

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every member of the Ohio Society to get on his feet and drink to the health
and future happiness of the wife of the Governor of Ohio. [Cheers.]

" When I was a boy in my father's house, we kept what the boys called
a ministerial hotel. All the services we had in those days were in the school
houses. We had no churches in the little town in which I was born. We had
just one place in which to go to school and one place in which to have services
on Sunday, and they were held by the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Pres-
byterians. Those three predominated in our part of the world, and the min-
isters would always come to our house. The most popular minister that came
there was the presiding elder of the Methodist Church. When he rode into
our barn on his horse — he always had the best horse in the country, and
was generally considered the best horse trader — we knew there would be fun
for us children, for the reason that we always had school on Saturday and
Monday, but when the Methodists had their quarterly meetings, and the pre-
siding elder came around, Saturday and Monday were holidays. Another rea-
son why we always likM to have the presiding elder come was that he always
said the shortest blessing, made the shortest prayer, and always told us the
best stories. I give you, gentlemen, ' The Pioneer Preacher, the Circuit-rider
of Ohio,' and have the pleasure of introducing to you Bishop Walden, of Cin-
cinnati." [Applause.]

Bishop Walden : "I have been studying your chairman since I had the
pleasure of sitting by his side, as an instance of the influence of Ohio upon
the boy ; but I have j ust now learned one of the real secrets of why we have
this capital presiding officer — it was the influence of the circuit rider.

" Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York, lovers
of Ohio: To share with you in your annual meeting is to me an esteemed
privilege; to be selected as one of the necessarily limited number of speakers
is a high honor ; to be invited to respond to the sentiment, 'The Circuit-rider
in Ohio' is a recognition of Methodism and my relation to it, at once com-
plimentary to my church and gratifying to myself. Under these circum-
stances I will be expected to speak mainly of the favorable influence of Meth-
odism in our native state as it appears to a Methodist and a Buckeye. So
much is crowded into the century since the first circuit-rider entered the Ohio
territory that it is no easy task to select a few salient facts that may fittingly
engage your attention amid the inspiring eloquence of my distinguished com-
peers who as citizens of Ohio promote her welfare, or who, residing in this
city or elsewhere, reflect honor upon their native state."

Bishop Walden proceeded to give a masterly history of the times covered
by his theme, and in conclusion said:

" Take from the history of the war between the nation and the seceding
states the chapters that record the part borne by Ohio, and what remains

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would be fragmentary if not unintelligible. Three names alone would give
our state an incontestable position — Sheridan, Sherman, Grant; and may I
mention that the last was reared in a Methodist home and was familiar with
the work and spirit of the circuit-riders. And while this great trio was in
the field, the other Sherman and his coadjutors were foremost in Congress.
Review the century, and the galaxy of Ohio statesmen seem to fill the very
sky; five of them called to the highest civil trust, and that after an honor-
able service in their country's defense — the elder Harrison, the hero of Tip-
pecanoe ; Grant, great whether at the head of the army or at the head of the
government ; Hayes, who illustrated his own wise axiom, * He serves his party
best who serves his country best' ; Garfield, the self-made man and chivalrous
leader; the younger Harrison, whose incorruptible administration is the na-
tion's pride.

" As the country now trembles and reels under the unprecedented finan-
cial stress, the eyes of the people are again turning toward Ohio for leaders
whose ability has been tested; and Ohio, proud mother, points each great
party confidently to a very constellation made up of ex-governors, governor,
and senators, and the ex-President and other Buckeyes in other states, and
bids each select its standard-bearer from among her favorite sons. My theme
makes it fitting to refer to the Methodist affiliations of the magnetic Foraker
and others, but I only venture the conjecture that your honored guest. Gov-
ernor McKinley, might have been a popular circuit-rider and become a bishop
had it not been possible for him to serve his country as well or better as a
statesman and — President." [Applause.]

President Strong: " Gentlemen, I am going to present to you a man
whose father was governor of the old Keystone State. He was elected by the
people, for that is the way they elected in Pennsylvania. I do not know that
he ever did any special thing with the exception of getting a boy; and as
the Pullman palace cars have more porters in their establishment born in the
state of Ohio than in any other state of the Union I will introduce to you
General Horace Porter." [Applause.]

General Porter : " Mr. President and Gentlemen : This is not fair.
Your presiding officer promised me this afternoon that if I would come here
and sit, even up on the roof, he would not only not call upon me to speak, but
he would not permit me to speak if I wanted to. I have not anything to catch
on to. I thought I had something during the feast — they served a buckeye,
and I was ignorant enough to mistake it for a chestnut. I suggested that
they might serve that better later in the dinner, and we could make more
effectual use of it. I suppose I shall have to resort to the natural method
as advised by that man in Ohio whose son was elected a member of Congress.
In parting with him he said : ' Now, Jack, when you get into that house you

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just pump your cerebral barrel full of ideas, and when you get onto your feet
knock out the bung and let nature caper.'

" I am still a little puzzled to know just how I got into this Sanhedrim
to-night. History would have us believe that at the outbreak of the Revolu-
tion there was a battle fought on Breed's Hill. It was called the Battle of
Bunker Hill because it was not fought there. I suppose I am here in the
society of the sons of Ohio to-night because I was not born there. Perrin of
France said, after several ineffectual attempts to be elected a member of the
French Academy, that he would write an epitaph to be put on his tomb, and
it read : ' Here lies Perrin. He was nothing, not even a member of the
French Academy.'

" Now, I have just returned from this great state of Ohio, and I bring
you the latest bulletin from the front. I went out to speak at the great Lin-
coln banquet, and I supposed then as now that I might not be called upon
to speak. I went out by invitation of my friend Governor McKinley, and I
thought he might at least have thrown around me some of those great prin-
ciples of protection, but he didn't. He put a duty on me. It was not ad
valorem, or I could have sworn it off. It was specific. Well, I met all of the
great men from all parts of Ohio at that banquet. The woods are full of
them. I met the men from the Ohio and from the Maumee valley ; from the
place where they feed on hogs to the place where they feed on frogs. I met
the men from Cincinnati, where now we understand that they are closing up
the windows of the stores during the day and burning lard lamps, for in the
general fall in the price of commodities lard light is cheaper than daylight.

" There is one reason that Ohio is never talked much of in foreign coun-
tries. A foreigner cannot pronounce that name. I have seen in Europe men
try to pronounce Ohio for an hour at a time, and it ended only in salivation
or lockjaw. You see in that, you have nothing to catch on to. If you lose
your grip you are gone.

" If you want to pronounce that other name, Hi-hi-waii, and you get
tangled up, you can fall back and call it Sandwich Islands. If you want to
pronounce the name of that dusky savage potentate, of evanescent virtue and
volcanic origin, you can call her Lili-cuckoo-alani.

" I had a most comfortable trip through the manufacturing regions of
Ohio — no cinders from stacks smutting and soiling my linen, and no smoke
blackening my face. Now, when Governor McKinley was in Congress he
always made a failure of this sort of thing. He was never a howling success
as an abater of the smoke nuisance. Now, I noticed out there that they did
not make as much distinction of colors in that state as they do in the state
just across the Ohio River. They do not pronounce ' nigger ' with two g^s.
Why, we had a colored bishop at that banquet that made about the best

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speech there. He was so black that charcoal would have made a white mark
on him. He had been a slave. I think he was one of the charcoal sketches
from the hands of the old masters. When I listened to that man's speech I
felt like saying what an old abolitionist of Boston said when Forrest went up
there and blackened up his face and played Othello. This man took a party
down from the country. He Hstened till they were all through, then he said
to the friends who were with him : ' Well, now, as to the merits of them
actors, laying aside all sectional prejudices, dam me, if I don't think the
nigger held his own with the hull on 'em.'

" The redoubtable Jim Fisk once said: ' If you can't be a rich man, just
get as close up to a rich man as you can.' Not being able to be bom in Ohio,
I did the next best thing and was born in the state right alongside of it. I
hesitated for some time, but since I have heard these speeches here to-night
and heard that state cried up in this manner, I see I made a mistake. Henr^-
Ward Beecher once said that the most dangerous thing a man can do is to
be bom. I think, after listening to these speeches to-night that most any one
who was brought up in that benighted region outside of Ohio, would be will-
ing to be bom again if he could be sure he would be landed in Ohio.

" There were certain things in common between those two states — the
dialect. A man from Pennsylvania goes South; they listen to him talk and
they think he is from New England. He goes to New England; they listen
to him there, and think he is from the South. He goes out to Ohio, and it is
more discouraging still — they think he belongs there. Now, I spent nearly
thirty years trying to get away from the reach of Ohio men, and I have not
succeeded yet. I started out in the war with Gihnore from Ohio, and went
up and joined McClellan's staif. He had gone out with a commission from
Ohio — Ohio again. I then planned to go West, and they assigned me to
Rosecrans' staff — Ohio again. Then Sherman's staff — Ohio. Then General
Grant's staff — Ohio man again. Then I thought the only way for m.e to
get out of reach of these people was to leave the army and go into the navy.
I made an expedition down the coast in a gunboat commanded by Commodore
Ammen — an Ohioan. I said then, we will never get this thing fixed until the
war ends. It ended, and we went to electing a President — Grant — Ohio again.
Second term. I said, we will go out to Cincinnati and fix the thing this time —
Hayes. I said, now we will get loose from them at Chicago, and we worked
nine days — Garfield. Tried it again — Harrison. I had a case in the Su-
preme Court. There was Waite — postponed the case. I came over to New
York and joined the Loyal Legion — Commander General Swayne, an Ohioan.
I thought there was no hope for a man on this continent, and I went abroad.
I got to Paris. There was Whitelaw Reid, a minister, from Ohio. Well, now
I am getting used to it. I am going right through with it, and I shall take

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the supreme satisfaction of going to the polls at the next Presidential election
and voting for a man from Ohio.

" Now, with my experience, which you see has not been limited in regard
to these two states, I have divided my attention between them. I feel a little
like that tramp who went a number of nights into Spurgeon's Tabernacle,
South London. Mr. Spurgeon went down and took a look at him — a closer
view — one evening. His dress did not even rise to the dignity of the shabby
genteel. It was evident from his garments that he did not belong to the Lon-
don Four Hundred. Mr. Spurgeon took him by the hand after the service
and said : ' My friend, I hope that these meetings have done you some good.'
The man replied, in a voice husky with gin : ' It has, your honor, it has.
When I first came here I was a reckless and a desperate man. I hated both
God and the devil. Now, coming here and hearing your sermons I love them
both.' I have mentioned all the distinguished Ohio men that I can think of
this evening, thinking they might not be referred to in the spteches that are
to be made.

" Yes, I often in the war used to' look at that state of Ohio on the map.
We used maps more then than we do now. I could see that comparatively
narrow neck of land where the lake swoops down and where the Ohio swoops
up. That was a great gateway through which all traffic and people had to
pass in moving from the loyal East to the loyal West, and was a great centre
and is a great centre to-day of population, of intelligence, equally removed
from the isms that existed in the extreme sections of the country about it.
That little narrow neck of land which forms the gateway between East and
West used to look to me on the map like the waist of some of our young ladies
after they had employed a stout maid and had been lacing for several years.

" Let me say, after participating in this very hospitable feast, that I
can only say before I sit down what was said by an Ohio man when we were
on the march and got to a river and were ordered to wade across it. It had
swamps for miles on each side. The leading regiment — it was an Ohio regi-
ment— Ohio was always in the front — had waded half a day and did not find
any t'other side to the stream, and this man turned round to his chum and
said : ' Bill, I'm blowed if I don't believe we've struck this river lengthwise.'
When I view the length and the breadth and vast extent of Ohio's hospitality
here to-night I feel, for one, that I have struck it lengthwise." [Great ap-
plause.]

President Strong : " The General has given us a full history of the old
Keystone state; but those of us who were bom in log cabins in Ohio — and I
should think by looking around that there are only half a dozen or so of you
— remember well the little log schoolhouse, and just how every man that sent
a child, one or two or half a dozen children, to school had to furnish wood

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

enough to bum all winter. He also had to board the teacher just as long
as his proportion of time was apportionate to the number of children that he
had; and one of the joyous occasions of going to school in a httle log school-
house always came around on Christmas Day. That was the time when the
boys revelled in the anticipation of getting a few decayed apples into the
schoolhouse and getting there early in the morning to build the fire, and bar-
ring the door — bai-ring the master out; and if we could open the port-holes,
which were paper greased over with lard, for windows — if we could open one
of those and fire these decayed apples out at our teacher, we were just the
boys that the girls all fell in love with. And that was what we all liked to
do, to keep our teacher out on Christmas Day, and we were generally suc-
cessful in doing it until about eleven o'clock, when our parents, both fathers
and mothers, would come around, and we had to suiTender, but we surrendered
with the understanding that no birch rods would be used. A boy then that
had an elementary spelling-book, and Kirkham's grammar, and Daboll's arith-
metic, was a millionaire; and if he was bright enough to study his lessons in
daytime he could farm these books out in the evening for five or ten cents a
night for each book, provided he would take it in kites or something of that
kind, and the last day of school was generally the day that all of our troubles
were settled. Now, gentlemen, we have here this evening a professor, a pres-
ident of one of the celebrated universities of Ohio — President Scovil, of Woos-
ter, Ohio, who will give us a dissertation on ' The Early Schools Contrasted with
the Present School System of the State.' I have the honor of introducing to
you now President Scovil, of Wooster, Ohio." [Applause.]

Dr. Scovil delivered an extended and scholarly address upon his theme,
and in conclusion said:

" Our past and our present assure us of the best material the sun ever
shone upon. And the colleges of Ohio, linking hands with the whole secondary
education, are pressing eagerly forward toward the goal of an ideal funda-
mental education of statesmen. In this we are quickened by whatever is new
in the times upon which we are fallen. When the very deepest questions are
coming into view, when ' direct legislation ' proposes to submit to the popu-
lar verdict questions formerly reserved for legislative experts, carrying for-
ward the evolution of ages from aristocratic exclusiveness to democratic dif-
fusiveness, an ample and adapted education is demanded. Much is now being
accomplished, opening the way for more. The one per cent, of college men
the country affords are not found in business (as Carnegie complains), but
they are found where they belong, and where for the good of the country
they must continue to go (while the percentage continues so small) — among
the directing classes. Tliey are telling powerfully on our legislative and
administrative life now, just as they did in the great Constitutional Conven-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tion. The scholar is in politics because the people will have him there, and the
Ohio colleges are supplying an urgent demand in making political scholars.

" In the whole Ohio college policy there is nothing but that which has
come through our great commonwealth's historical development, nothing which
does not already go powerfully toward man-making for private life and public,
and therefore everything to set forward and develop with a generous and
confident loyalty." [Applause.]

President Strong: " Gentlemen, according to an old Ohio soldier, he
always keeps the best troops in the rear, and we have this evening a gentle-
man from Washington, who represents the capital of our state in Congress,
who has come on here to tell us something about ' The Ohio Statesman.' I
have the pleasure of introducing to you Mr. Outhwaite, of Columbus, Ohio."
[Applause.]

Mr. Outhwaite said: "Mr. President and Members of the Ohio Society
of New York : Before responding to the toast, ' Ohio's Statesmen,' I must
express my deep appreciation of the honor conferred by your courteous in-
vitation to attend this ninth anniversary of your organization. Were I a
sojourner in this city, or a resident thereof, I should deem it a high privilege
to be a member of this Society. Since I was bom the population of Ohio, my
native state, has increased over two millions. The number of its inhabitants
is now greater than that of the thirteen original colonies when they declared
their independence ; yet in this very city of New York, one hundred and seven
years ago, the Ohio Company, then but recently organized in the State of
Massachusetts to project a settlement in the Ohio country, after tedious and
lengthened negotiations succeeded in contracting with the Continental Con-
gress for a million and a half acres of land for the Ohio Company at two-
thirds of a dollar per acre. This company then proceeded to make arrange-
ments for the settlement of their newly acquired possessions in the wilderness.
The details are interesting, but I shall not dwell upon them. Two matters to
which the company gave special attention, however, are noteworthy m view
of the programme of this Society to-night, in that it has been addressed by a
venerable divine and an eminent professor. Among the arrangements first
made by the Ohio Company was one to employ a suitable person as a public
teacher, and another to employ a suitable person as a preacher of the gospel,
at the settlement they were about to establish; but the company omitted or
wholly neglected to employ a statesman. Perhaps they thought that with
piety and learning prospering in their midst, statesmanship would spring up
in their community as Minerva sprang fully equipped from the brain of Jove.
But more likely they felt intuitively that every man among those sturdy
pioneers was himself a statesman. The forty-eight persons who disembarked
from the ' Adventure Galley ' at the mouth of the Muskingum, April 7, 1788,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

had come out into the wilderness to lay the comer-stone of one of the greatest
political edifices that has ever sheltered millions of brave, prosperous and hap-
py freemen. They were certainly the progenitors of the state builders of the
great Northwest. Within fifty years of their coming, Ohio had a million
and a half of people, and had already made such rapid strides in its internal
improvement, its systems of navigation, its jurisprudence, and its enlarge-
ment of public education, as to become an example to some of the older states.
In the promotion of those interests of the people, the wisdom of her statesmen
had appeared. While Ohio was thus making a grand and glorious career
for herself, some of her more adventurous citizens were pushing on into
fresher fields of pioneer work, so that in the history of almost every territory
we find evidences of their presence and progress. They helped to form the
constitution of every new state carved out of the Northwest Territory, and to
start and conduct the government thereof. For three-quarters of a century
after the last war with England there was scarcely a Western state that did
not have, either as a representative in Congress or as governor or as a United
States senator, a son of Oliio, native or adopted. Since I have been in Con-
gress, at one time there were thirty-six senators and representatives from
other states who were either natives of Ohio or had lived there in their youth
long enough to have their statesmanship permeated with the essence of Buck-
eye civilization. Among them was one who, in youth, had directed liis course
eastward and then came to Congress as a representative from the granite hills
of New Hampshire; one in the Pennsylvania delegation. Another Ohioan,
' native and to the manner bom,' drawn eastward also, was one of the wittiest
and most eloquent, one of the ablest and best of the legislators that ever came
from this great metropolis into the halls of Congress — Sunset Cox. Other
instances could be given of Ohioans who have represented the older States in
Congress. Our people have not been content to spread out in one direction
only. They have radiated in every direction. That is why there are so many
Buckeyes here this evening. We have already penetrated back into INIassa-
chusetts, where the Ohio Company originated. Governor McKinley, no doubt,
would like to capture Maine early in 1896. There was a New England so-
ciety which used to meet in Columbus, Ohio, when I was a youth. We never
got through learning how much we owed the East. The lesson broke off about
twenty-five years ago.

" Mr. Chairman, I desire to quote here from an Ohio paper issued during
the past week in my own city : ' Ohio has had thirty-nine governors, and the
list is one that an Ohioan may view with pride. There are in the list propor-
tionally as many names that figure in national history as in the same list of
any other state. One of our governors, Rutherford B. Hayes, became Pres-
ident. Three — Thomas Corwin, Salmon P. Chase, and Charles Foster — be-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

came secretary of the treasury ; while two — Return Jonathan Meigs and Wil-
liam Dennison, Jr. — became postmaster-general. Tiffin, Meigs, Worthing,
Brown, Corwin, Chase, and Allen served in the United States Senate; while
Huntington, Morrow, McArthur, Vance, Shannon, Convin, Mordecai Bartley,
Medill, Cox, Hayes, Allen, Young, Foster and McKinley served in the lower
house of Congress.' The editor has inadvertently omitted the name of one
governor who served in the bigger house of Congress, James E. Campbell.
We can further distinguish this list to-night by saying that it contains two
prospective Presidents. Should they be entered against each other, it will
be no scrub race, let me assure you. The last national administration was
chiefly bom in Ohio; that is to say, the President and four members of his
cabinet were. I regret to mention the fact that the present administration
falls considerably below the last one, in this respect. If I say this with a sor-
rowful heart and a sad voice, let no gentleman here suspect that I am thus
moved solely by the refrain of personal disappointment. That one elector of
ours did not count for much.

" If we could collect the names of the sons of Ohio who have been the
statesmen of other states, holding many of their most important state offices,
and those who have represented other states in the Congress of the United
States, and such as, bom or brought up in Ohio, have held high places in the
executive branch of our national government, and add these to the illustrious
names of all that can be truly styled Ohio statesmen, what a galaxy we should
have ! Would the stars in our view in the heavens above us to-night furnish
halos for them all? The statesmen from Ohio always rise to the level of the
grandest occasions. But recently, on Thursday of last week, one of them
proposed in the Senate of the United States to amend the calendar of our
holy days. He rose with dignity and gravity, made a motion to adjourn,
and eloquently alluded to the fact that ' yesterday was Ash Wednesday and
to-morrow Good Friday. Certainly the Senate should adjourn over that
day.' The grave and reverend senators discussed only the question as to
whether there was any precedent for such action, whether the Senate of the
United States ever before adjourned over Good Friday. Two boys were dis-
cussing the subject of Good Friday, and one of them said to the other:
' ^Vhat is all this about Good Friday?' The other in his superior wisdom said,
sneering at his companion : ' Don't you know about Good Friday ? Well,
you had better go home and read your Robinson Crusoe, then,'

" To recall in suitable words the various distinguished statesmen of or
from Ohio, would occupy the whole of an evening, and it would require more
than one grand volume to faithfully portray their noted labors and achieve-
ments.

" Mr. Chairman, in the State of Ohio there are no mountains, but many

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

hills and hillocks ; yet even from the summit of the smallest of these the Ohio
statesman's vision surveys all that lies between him and the distant horizon
of the whole country." [Applause.]

President Strong : " The Ohio Society always observes the Sabbath day
to keep it holy, but before we adjourn we have two or three telegraphic dis-
patches that we would like to read. [Dispatches read.] I hope the Ohio
Society feels, as its president does, that we are under many obligations for
the interesting addresses that have been presented to us this evening by the
gentlemen from Ohio and from Washington. I now declare this meeting ad-
journed."

186

CHAPTER XI
1894—1896

AT the meeting of March 10, 1894, Governor McKinley was elected
an honorary member of the Society. The April meeting, of which
no date is given, and no minutes were taken, consisted of stereopticon
views of Ohio scenery, and General Swayne gave a running commentary on
the views. This was followed by banjo music and negro recitations by the
Misses Leach.

May 15th was ladies' night. The president, in opening the meeting,
mentioned the honor that Ohio had lately received during the dedication cere-
monies of the monument to the mother of Washington, the widow of Chief
Justice Waite, of Toledo, having been called to preside on that occasion.
Judge Higley, chairman of the entertainment committee, took charge of the
evening's entertainment, which consisted of college songs by the University
Glee Club, recitations by Mrs. Harriet Webb, and a picture exhibition of the
works of Rubens and other artists. This was followed by a collation and
social chat. On June 8th Mr. Foye, chairman of the house committee, on
behalf of Franklin Tuttle, presented to the society the portrait of its pres-
ident, William L. Strong. Dr. Beckwith and the recording secretary were
appointed a committee to draft resolutions of acceptance and thanks to Mr.
Tuttle for his generous gift to the Society. It was resolved to authorize Mr.
Foye to arrange with Mr. Tuttle for the painting of a portrait of Colonel
Moulton, one of the founders of the Society, then deceased.

The last regular monthly meeting before the summer vacation was held
at Morelli's, on June 11th. General Swayne, of the library committee, sug-
gested that each member should contribute books especially appropriate for
preservation. The features of the evAiing were two extended and impromptu
yet finished addresses by Dr. Beckwith and General Swayne, the doctor's being
upon the " Influence of Ohio Mothers," and the general's upon the " Eff*ect
of Surroundings and Associations upon Character."

During the summer an invitation was received from the commissioner of
the centennial commemoration of the battle of Fort Defiance, at Defiance,
Ohio, on August 8th, and the following reply sent:

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" New York, July 26, 1894.
" At a meeting of the governing committee of the Ohio Society, held
this day, we unanimously

" Resolved, That the invitation extended to the Society by the Fort De-
fiance centennial committee to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the
battle of Fort Defiance on the 8th day of August, 1794, was received and
placed on file, and while it would be impossible for a committee of gentlemen
from the Society to attend the ceremonies on that day, yet they will be with
you in spirit, and join with the friends of Ohio and patriotic citizens of the
Northwest in preserving the memory of General Anthony Wayne and his gal-
lant associates in their struggle in defence of the Northwest Territory. Regret-
ting that the Society cannot be represented by a body of gentlemen, we remain,

" Very respectfully yours,

" W. L. Strong, President."

At the first fall meeting, held on October 8th, the following gentlemen
were elected to serve on the committee for nomination of officers for the com-
ing year: Chas B. Peet, chairman; George B. Hibbard, Henry B. Wilson,
E. A. Follett, F. H. Kingsbury, John A. Smith, Frankhn Tuttle. The fol-
lowing telegram was read, from S. S. Packard : " Nothing less than the
rupture of an ear drum could keep me from you to-night, and so rejoicing
with you as a strong man to run a race I say peace be within thy walls and
prosperity within thy palaces. — S. S. Packard." November 12th was ladies'
night, and there was a large attendance. The nominating committee offered
the following ticket: President, Henry L. Burnett; vice-presidents, S. S.
Packard, Andrew J. C. Foye, Milton I. Southard, Geo. E. Armstrong, E. C.
Bodman; secretary, Evarts L. Prentiss; recording secretary, Marion M. Mil-
ler; treasurer, Leander H. Crall; trustees, Lowell M. Palmer, Richard J.
Chard, Jerome D. Gillett.

Relative to the honor conferred upon the Society by the election of its
president, William L. Strong, to the office of mayor of New York, telegrams
and letters of congratulation were read from Governor William McKinley,
Senator Sherman and others, and the following resolutions offered by S. S.
Packard were unanimously adopted:

" 1. The Ohio Society of New York feels specialh^ honored in the selec-
tion of its president to be the mayor of New York ; and our acknowledgments
are due, first to the committee of seventy and the anti-Tammany organizations
for recognizing in Colonel Strong the qualities which we have so long known to
exist, and, next, to the thoughtful people of this city — men and women — who
have so gloriously promoted his election.

" 2. We believe that there has been no mistake in this election — that

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Colonel Strong not only possesses the spirit and desire, but the solid qualities
as well, that will justify the expectations and reward the hopes of the people.

" 3. While we are proud to know him as a friend and associate, and
while we appreciate that simplicity of character and modesty of demeanor
that make him ' one of us,' in the truest sense, we feel that the best service
we can render to him and the city is to save him from the annoyance and
embarrassment of personal solicitations or unsought advice and to leave his
hands unfettered and his mind free to act in all the functions of his great
office.

" 4. And so we, the members of the Ohio Society, take this occasion to
pledge to our honored president and friend our moral support in the great
duties that have come to him, and to express our confidence in his abilit}' to
discharge those duties, unswerved by personal considerations, and in the high-
est interests of the people.

" 5. We hail with unalloyed satisfaction the determination of the com-
mittee of seventy and allied organizations — including Dr. Parkhurst — to re-
main intact, and not to cease their vigilance untl the good work so gloriously
begun shall have been so gloriously consummated."

In further honor of William L. Strong as its retiring president, the fol-
lowing resolution, presented by Henry L. Burnett, was unanimously adopted :

" Our president having been asked ' to go higher up,' to be mayor of this
great city and the representative of its good people in their war upon the
corruption, the vice and crime which have so generally permeated and con-
trolled its public life; now, at the close of his presidency of our Society, we
deem it fitting and proper that an opportunity should be given for the mem-
bers to testify their gratitude to Colonel Strong for his long and faithful ser\"-
ices in that office, and their warm attachment and high regard for him as a
man, to take him by the hand and say, ' God help you, and the good God keep
and guide you in accomplishing the great work to which you have been called
by the people.' To this end,

" Be It Resolved, That a complimentary dinner be given to Colonel
Strong at Delmonico's at such time as may best suit his convenience."

In pursuance of the above resolution it was resolved to give the banquet
on Tuesday evening, December 4th, at Delmonico's. The following members
were appointed to make arrangements for the same: Banquet committee, S. S.
Packard, chairman ; Henry L. Burnett, Wager Swayne, Thomas Ewing,
Leander H. Crall, treasurer; Homer Lee, A. J. C. Foye, Charles B. Peet, W.
S. Hawk, L. C. Hopkins, Warren Higle}^, C. G. Harraman, M. M. Miller,
secretary.

The special purpose of the meeting being the presentation to the Society
of the fine oil portraits of the late Col. Charles W. Moulton, one of the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

founders of the Society, and of President William L. Strong, mayor-elect,
Warren Higley, chairman of the entertainment committee, took the chair.
Speeches were delivered by Gen. Thomas Ewing, Chancellor MacCracken, C.
C. Shayne, Gen. Henry L. Burnett, Col. William P. Fogg, and others. A
certificate of Colonel Moulton's membership in the Army of the Tennessee was
presented to the Society by Homer Lee. After a few felicitous remarks by
Colonel Strong, the meeting was adjourned, and a collation served. During
an interval in the social time, the members were entertained with a piano selec-
tion by Miss Nellie Knapp, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

The annual meeting of 1894 was held on November 30th, with President
Strong in the chair. The officers proposed above were unanimously elected.
After a few remarks by the retiring president, which were of a light and
humorous nature, but direct from the heart, he thanked the Society for the
approaching honor, it was to tender him as its retiring president and maj'^or-
elect, in the banquet at Delmonico's. At the conclusion the mayor-elect said :
" If I knew that this Society would tender me a banquet after my course as
mayor, it would delight me beyond measure, for I prize the good opinions of
my old friends in the Ohio Society more than those of any others of my fellow-
citizens, as I have prized the honor of my position as president of this
Society even above that of my new office."

General Burnett, in assuming the gavel of the president, responded in
an equally felicitous manner, engaging himself, to the best of his ability, to
emulate his worthy predecessors in the office. General Ewing, General Swayne
and Colonel Strong. S. S. Packard and Dr. Beckwith followed with some
apt remarks.

Mr. Packard, as chairman of the banquet committee, reported success
in securing prominent speakers, and Mr. Crall, the treasurer, reported assur-
ance of the financial success of the dinner. On motion of C. C. Shayne a vote
of thanks was tendered President Strong for his services to the Society during
the three terms of his office.

The following extracts are from the annual report of the governing
committee, made on this occasion :

" Shakespeare says there are three classes of mortals who are great, namely :
Those who are bom great, those who achieve greatness, and those who have
greatness thrust upon them. To the first class about two hundred and fifty
of our number belong. With St. Paul, we can say : we are Roman bom. To
the second class fifty of our number have risen, having served in Ohio at least
seven years, which, by the way, is but half the length of time Jacob was re-
quired to serve Laban for his Rachel, and, for the great love he bore her,
those years seemed to him but as one day. No doubt our immortals of class
two esteem their sojourn in Ohio (their adopted home) as of similar brevity,

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i V )!

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

because only tlius could they have achieved their present greatness. We have
no third class, although during the past year an ineffectual effort was made
to establish such an order by making eligible to membership in the Ohio
Society those primarily unfortunate beings not bom in Ohio, but who become
fortunate through having married Ohio maidens. Had that proposal carried,
we should doubtless have witnessed an alarming exodus of New York men to
the Ohio land of Canaan for the purpose of capturing the Buckeye girls,
whose honeymoons would have then included a ladies' night at No. 236 Fifth
avenue, provided the governing committee had been able to pass upon so many
applications to membership in this third class thus established.

" Regarding our membership, our worthy recording secretary has fur-
nished the following interesting statistics: Average years of residence in
Ohio of non-native members, 19 ; longest residence in Ohio of non-native
member, seventy years, namely, ex-Senator Henry B. Payne, bom in New
York state; shortest resident in Ohio of native member, two years, namely,
James M. Johnson, of Denver, Col., born in Bolivar, O. The oldest native
Ohio born member is P. D. Hall, formerly of Akron, now of New York city,
who is about ninety years of age. The youngest native Ohio bom member, so
far as can be gleaned from the records, is Paul Worth Smith, of Oxford,
Ohio, age about twenty. Our members come from eighty-four places in Ohio,
as follows : Sixty from Cincinnati, 41 from Cleveland, 19 from Columbus, 9
from Mansfield, 8 each from Wooster and Youngstown, 7 each from Akron,
Marietta, Steubenville and Toledo, 5 each from Springfield and Zanesville,
and 1, 2, 3 or 4 each from the other seventy-two places. The governing
committee is about to lose one of its number — our retiring president — who is
called to higher honors and more important public duties. We lose him with
sincere regret. He Avas our most punctual member, because our regular
meetings have been held in his bank at the close of banking hours, and he
could not get away. Nearly thirty years have elapsed since Ohio saved our
country, for we all agree that she did save it. It has remained for an Ohio
man to save our adopted city, the metropolis of our country. We pray that
God may help him in his herculean task, and we promise him our united and
our individual support in his great undertaking.

" Since the immortal Lincoln's time — thirty years ago — only one presi-
dent of the United States has been selected who was not an Ohio man, and
that one bears the name of one of Ohio's great cities. In all probability, many
persons voted for Cleveland because they had an idea that, bearing such a
name, he was an Ohio man. It looks now, however, as if the Ohio order of
things will be wholly resumed in 1896, when one of our immortals of the first
class will take charge of the White House, for, even if McKinley's star shall
wane, there are many others shining brilliantly, some of the first magnitude,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

as, for instance, Harrison, Thurman, Allison, Campbell, Sherman and Strong,
saying nothing of Ewing and Swayne, Burnett and Brice, Foraker and West,
and, as in Sisera's conflict of old, described in Holy Writ, these bright, partic-
ular, Oliio-bom stars, in their courses, shall fight against the stars from all
other states, and surely one from Ohio's constellation shall eclipse the rest.
In any event, the Ohio Society is prepared to furnish a man on tap whenever
public office seeks the man and when the man does not seek the office, for it is
admitted even by our enemies that Ohio never or seldom takes what she cannot
reach."

The report of the secretary was as follows :

" To the president and mxembers of the Ohio Society of New York : Re-
membering the able and comprehensive report made by his predecessor, the
present incumbent of the office of secretary, after performing for one year its
honorary but not onerous duties, has reached the conclusion that the chief, if not
the only, remaining active function of the secretary's office is that of present-
ing a report. If the report now off*ered seems to any one meagre in its state-
ment of facts, the secretai-y begs that the members of the Society will kindly
attribute that deficiency to those circumstances which have led him to the con-
clusion mentioned.

" Keeping the roll of members is one of the constitutional duties of the
secretary. The few changes which have taken place, except by the addition of
newly elected members, have made this duty easy and pleasant. I apprehend
that this is due in good part to a policy which I believe has been long pursued
by our worthy treasurer, and that is: never to drop a member from the list
if it can be avoided. And whether a man wishes to resign or not, our esteemed
brother is not disposed to consider a member's wishes in this respect, but con-
tinues to revive his flagging interest from time to time by gentle monetary
communications, accompanied by an extract from the constitution. That
extract sets forth the fate of one who becomes delinquent in his dues. Most
of the members have probably never obser\^ed this extract, for our kind-hearted
financier has it printed on the back of his communication, as I am informed,
so that it shall not be seen. By such gracious conduct of his office he makes
light the secretary's duty in keeping the roll of members, and succeeds as
well in making reports with which no other officer can hope to compete.

" Every report, to be a report, should, I suppose, have some figures in it.
Here are a few. The Ohio Society now numbers 4 honorary members, 253
resident members, 69 non-resident members ; total, 326. We have represented
fifty-five counties, Hamilton county furnishing the largest delegation, with
sixty-one members, and Cuyahoga county the next, with fifty-one members.
There are thirty-three counties in Ohio wliich are not, but ought to be, repre-
sented in this Society.

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

" I remember a gentleman reading a paper before this Society, some
years ago, in which he several times made the suggestive and pointed asser-
tion, ' We need more members and we need more money.' That assertion
seems to be quite as pertinent now as it was then ; for the question still remains,
how are we to get more members, and how are v/e to keep them?

" I conceive that the two amendments proposed to our constitution at
the last meeting of the Society would to some extent answer this question.
The amendment by which a reduction would be made in the dues of non-
resident members ought to result in diminishing the number of resignations
from the roll of such members and in adding to it many new names. There
is another amendment providing for a special class of non-resident members,
composed of gentlemen of the Oliio press, who shall furnish us with their
papers or periodicals, this class of members being excused from dues. Such
a measure would, if I am not mistaken, add greatly to the influence and repu-
tation of the Society in Ohio and to its strength and interest here. The ex-
pense would practically amount to nothing more than that incurred for the
extra number of notices and year books which would be required and the post-
age upon the same.

" I found in my last visit to Ohio, and have ascertained from Ohio men
here with whom I have talked, that the Society is quite widely and favorably
known in our mother state. We can say, without boasting, that the past of the
Society is at least secure. For the good of our future, it is important that
the favorable reputation of the Ohio Society of New York should be spread,
and it should be spread on the soil where Buckeyes are planted and grow and
from whence we must transplant them here and in years to come get that tim-
ber which has become so highly prized in the interior adornment of municipal
and federal buildings in the East.

" Many of the friends of the Society beheve that it would gain in each
Ohio editor who would accept the terms of membership an earnest advocate of
its aim and success. Receiving notices of the meetings from month to month,
and having his name enrolled in the year book as one of its members, he
would give the Society frequent and favorable mention in his journal and so
bring it prominently before his readers. Being an editor, and acquainted
with all the news of his locality, he would know the men in his community who,
in Major McKinley's felicitous phrase, propose to ' hustle down East,' and
he would certainly counsel such men, when they get to New York to join his
Society, if they get an opportunity. The amendment proposed off'ers other
advantages to the Society.

" I am told that there are some of our members who call regularly at
these rooms to look at the Ohio papers, which have been sent to us so gener-
ously by our loyal newspaper friends in Ohio. I am sure additional files would

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

attract other members here and would afford frequent occasion for bringing
some of the members together here and for promoting more active interest in
the Society. The country editor we all know is in a sense the historian of his
village and county. An Ohio editor, in the course of an exchange of letters
with me recently, incidentally mentioned the fact that he was the secretary of
an historical society which is one of the oldest in Ohio, and he offered to get
and send to me such interesting historical matter as he could relating to his
locality and his society. I dare say there are other journalists who, if they
were members and advised of the historical objects of this Society, would put
themselves in the way of getting for us interesting historical and descriptive
literature and relics to place upon the shelves of our library and to hang upon
our walls.

" The progress of the Society, in general as well as in detail, having
been faithfully narrated in the reports presented by the other officers and
committees, the secretary asks the Society to exercise toward him some degree
of leniency for having consumed its time in a report which seems to be of
things he has conceived might be rather than of things pertaining to his
office, which he has done or left undone, and he respectfully submits the same
for their merciful consideration.

" EvARTS L. Prentiss, Secretary**

The banquet given by the Society at Delmonico's to the Hon. William
L. Strong, mayor-elect of the city of New York, occurred on December 4,
1894. The gentlemen already named had the matter in charge, and were
assisted by a reception committee constituted as follows : David Homer Bates,
H. B. Brundrett, H. A. Glassford, H. H. Hobbs, H. H. Brockway, Fulton
McMahon, C. C. Shayne, W. H. Caldwell, F. H. Kingsbury, F. C. Train,
A. W. Follett, Frank M. Foye. There were six tables in addition to that
devoted to the distinguished guests. At table A, George E. Armstrong sat
at the head and William L. Brown at the foot; at table B, Andrew J. C.
Foye and Leander H. Crall; at C, S. S. Packard and William S. Hawk; at
D, Milton I. Southard and Homer Lee; at E, E. C. Bodman and Warren
Higley ; at F, D. H. Bates and L. C. Hopkins.

Gen. Henry L. Burnett, president and toastmaster, was flanked on the
right by the following gentlemen: Hon. William L. Strong, Hon. Seth Low,
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, Hon. William J. Wallace,
Hon. Clarence Lexow, Hon. Stephen B. Elkins, Gen. Thomas Ewing. On
the left by Hon. William McKinley, Hon. John W. GofF, Hon. William R.
Merriam, Hon. Calvin S. Brice, St. Clair McKelway, Joseph Larocque, Rev.
Dr. Charles H. Babcock, Gen. Wager Swayne.

This notable gathering of friends to do honor to one of their number

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

who had been elevated to high office after a campaign of great excitement can
best be introduced by the following from the New York Tribune of the fol-
lowing day:

" In periods of political excitement the sonorous and good old Indian
name of the Buckeye state, Ohio, is greatly liked by Republicans, and the
Democrats do not like it at all. But when the Ohio men in this city come to-
gether at dinner, as they do generally once a year in February, political differ-
ences are not much thought of, and Democrats and Republicans alike cheer
each other. The members of the Ohio Society this year forestalled their an-
nual banquet by at least two months, and had a big complimentary dinner last
evening in honor of Mayor-elect Strong. About two hundred of the sons of
Ohio, the great majority of whom do not and never did hold an office, gath-
ered in Delmonico's and cheered with enthusiasm whenever Colonel Strong's
name was mentioned by any of the speakers. At a certain period of the
evening, a little before the speaking began, some ladies came in, among
them Mrs. Strong, and seats were found for them in the orchestra. Their
handsome appearance formed an attractive background to the nicely arranged
display of flags and bunting behind which they sat. S. S. Packard, who
presided at one of the tables, jumped to his feet and waved his handkerchief,
which was a signal for everybody else to do likewise, and this demonstration
of welcome was supplemented by a hearty outburst of cheering.

" The tables were arranged at right angles to the long one, at which
the chairman sat, and at the head of each one of these tables sat one of the
vice-presidents of the Society, and at the other end one of the members of the
dinner committee. Buckeye brown ribbons across the shirt front were worn
by the members of the dinner committee, and a handsome souvenir, to which
was glued an imitation buckeye, was carefully put away by each one as a
memento of the occasion."

The announced list of speakers and toasts was as follows:
President Henry L. Burnett, Toastmaster.
Mayor-elect William L. Strong, Guest.

1. President Seth Low, of Columbia College.

" Can a City be Governed on Business Principles.'"'

2. Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst.

" Eternal Vigilance, the Price of Purity."

3. St. Clair McKelway, of the Brooklyn Eagle.

" The Greater New York."

4. Hon. John W. Goff.

" Let There Be Light."

5. Joseph Larocque, Esq.

" The Committee of Seventy."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The proceedings in full were as follows :

President Burnett : " Fellow Members of the Ohio Society and Guests :

" At the close of Colonel Strong's presidency of our Society, and as he
was about to enter upon his duties as mayor of this great city, a universal
desire was expressed that an opportunity should be given for all the members
to meet him and take him by the hand; to express to him their gratitude for
his long and manifold services to the Society, their esteem and affection for
him as a man, and to declare their faith to the people of this city from their
intimate knowledge of the man, that he wiU resolutely, cleanly and wisely dis-
charge the duties of the important office to which he has been called.

" And our Society feels that under the circumstances it has a peculiar and
special interest in this job — ^this cleaning of the Tanmiany augean stable, and
a good honest business government for our city.

" Coming here from our native state of Ohio, becoming citizens of this
great city and state, rearing and educating our children under the city's
government, its laws and influences, intending to live out our lives and work
out our fortunes in your midst, we feel that we have as deep and abiding an
interest in the prosperity, the good name, and honor of this great imperial
city as any one bom within her walls ; and is it presumption in us to say that
the descendants of the Revolutionary heroes and soldiers who in old Massa-
chusetts formed the first Ohio Society and emigrated to and took up their
homes on the banks of the beautiful river, and carved out their fortunes and
a great empire there ; is it ' cheek ' in us, as our friend Mr. Depew or Mr.
Choate might say, that we now, having returned and taken up our homes
among you, have taken and propose to continue to take actively and earnestly
a hand in the job of securing good government for the city of our adoption?
But taking a hand may mean one thing to the average New York politician
and a very different thing to a member of the Ohio Society. Touching
Colonel Strong's election, one of the first acts of the Society, feeling that we
were all warm personal friends of his, was to pass a resolution unanimously
that no personal appeals should be made to him for office or favor by any
member; that he should not be burdened or annoyed by applications or im-
portunities by any of his friends of his old Society; that our duty and our
work, yea, our pleasure, lay in uniting with all the good citizens in moral sup-
port of his administration, in aiding him to begin and carry through all
genuine reforms, to enforce the law, to strengthen and support his arms in
bearing high the banner of non-partisan and pure municipal government.
We seek no offices, nor solicit them for our friends. Of course, even an Ohio
man cannot help taking an office now and then if it is thrust upon him.

" But, turning from the Society to our guest. Colonel Strong. He is
known well by every member of the Society, and in its nine years of existence

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

no man has been more active or liberal in advancing its welfare, no member
so well known and loved by all the ' boys.' We are all his warm friends, not
only now that high office has been thrust upon him, but during all the time he
has been with us and one of us.

" Some of our members have known him intimately since his boyhood out
in Ohio, some associated with him for years in business. Those who have
known him longest love him best. He has in the Society not one enemy, nor a
lukewarm friend.

" Colonel Strong has in him good stuff for mayor. The committee of
seventy builded wiser than it knew, Mr. Larocque, when it selected him as the
standard-bearer of the great army of the people in their attack upon Tam-
many and storming of their entrenched positions in the offices of this city.

" We who know him well know that he is strong and resolute of will and
tenacious of purpose. He is essentially honest-minded, honest in thought and
action; honest with others, honest with himself; slow and deliberate in his
mental operations; a judgment that waits on information, and yet at times
astonishing his friends by the quickness and accuracy of his intuitions.

" If a question of policy or administration new to him were to be pre-
sented, he would probably be slow to answer. He would hear and like to hear
from men whose intelligence and character he respected all they had to say upon
the subject; and then, well, he'd think it over.

" While in quite a large measure he has something of that equable temper
and stolid sturdy nature of Grant, he can and will at times be impatient and
say ' no ' with vehemence. This will occur when suggestions are made to him
of action or administration that violate or run counter to his conviction of
right; and on questions of right he will not always agree with the theorists.
Like Lincoln, he is no idealist. ' The right which he sees will be a practical
right, a right which can be compassed.'

" He is sturdy, inflexible, honest always.

" His active business life of forty years in this great city has made him
a good judge of men — of character. A busy, active, hard-working merchant
for many years, president of a large bank, director of one of the most im-
portant life insurance companies of this country, and director of one of the
great trunk line railroads, he has been thoroughly schooled in the city's com-
merce, its property interests, its finances, and its transportation. He knows,
as few men know, the city's needs and its resources. He is well equipped for
the work before him.

" Finally, 3'ou will find him warm of heart, a ' kindly man among his
kind,' in close touch and sympathy with the plain people and all who toil ; and
also you will find that in digging out corruption, the vile and vicious from their
lurking places, he will have long and sharp nails, but clean hands. And he

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

has that rare quality most valuable in places of power in public or private life
— uncommon common sense. I introduce Col. Strong."

Mayor Strong said : " About forty years ago, in Ohio, Mr. President and
brother Buckeyes, I attended a little dinner, I think of about twenty-five or
thirty people, and we had nothing to eat but bear meat (laughter), and that
is why the dinner was given. We had got a bear. Now, gentlemen, from the
looks of these tables and the absence of provisions, you have changed the order
— have taken the meat away and left the dishes bare. This is a distinction with
a difference. (Laughter and applause.)

" Gentlemen, I am quite at a loss to know just how to handle myself on
this occasion. You ' boys ' have got the advantage of me. In the first place, I
don't think that I feel in the best humor. I suppose I understand the reason.
As soon as m}'^ nomination was made for mayor, this Ohio Society had a meet-
ing and elected a nominating committee to name a new president, and no sooner
was I elected mayor than they kicked me out.

" I was one of the charter members of this Society, and, strange as it may
seem, I have been an officer ever since it was formed, until last Friday night,
when, on account of having been elected mayor, I was reduced to the ranks. I
did not know before that an Ohio man is never allowed to take office without
being kicked out of all the societies of which he is a member. I have already
left two, I believe — not left, but quietly been shuffled out just as I have been
out of the presidency of this Society. I never did quite know why this dinner
was gotten up, unless it was to buy me off ! I suspect that one or two of my
friends sitting here on my right said, ' We will give the Colonel a nice Del-
monico banquet, and that will make it all right.'

" But, gentlemen, the tender recollections that will hover around the Ohio
Society while I am in the ranks will not make me any the less zealous for its
success. I shall be delighted always to have the pleasure of being with you at
your meetings, for I know of no place where a real genuine Buckeye can have
quite so good a time as he can at 236 Fifth avenue.

" I am rather inclined to think that after the fulsome discourse of your
president, my mouth is pretty well sealed. I cannot afford to say much. My
own impression is that in about three years from now you gentlemen will be
mighty sorry that you gave me this dinner. (Laughter.) In olden times, as
you remember, they put laurel wreaths on the brows of their heroes when they
returned from battle; and when the statesman had accomplished some great
good for the state he was similarly honored. But you have reversed the order.
And more than this, you seem determined to dine and wine me until you make
me entirely unfit to take the position to which you have elected me. I say
' you,' for I have not seen a man in the Ohio Society who did not vote for me.
In fact, I have seen but two men in the city of New York who said they didn't !

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Now, 3^our president referred to a resolution gotten up by my friend,
Mr. Packard, and unanimously adopted for the purpose of not embarrassing
me after I got into the office, saying in substance that no member of the Ohio
Society should ask for an appointment either for himself or for another. Well,
you will remember there was one gentleman who hurried out before that resolu-
tion was read, and came back and voted for it. He had seen me; but as all
applications that have been made to me have been made under the sacred seal
of confidence, I shall call no names.

" During the campaign there was a little thing occurred that I will relate
here. I may have mentioned it to some of my friends of the Ohio Society ; and
I am sorry our friend is not here to testify to its truth. He was making a
speech at Cooper Institute, and was describing the immense hospitality of his
candidate for mayor, as he had enjoyed it down at the seashore. He said we
sat on the piazza with the broad ocean before us and about two fingers of
sarsaparilla in our glasses. Well, the next morning, there were four or five
gentlemen from the East Side who came to the bank, and one of them said,
' Now, look here, Mr. Strong, you must call that man off.' ' That man ' was
Mr. Fred. Taylor. ' You must call him right off. No more sarsaparilla in
this campaign. It may do well enough to run a bank, or a dry goods business,
but when you get into the mayor's chair, you must have something a little more
tony than sarsaparilla.' (Laughter.)

" Gentlemen, it is useless for me to try to express my feelings on this occa-
sion. I could not do it. The compliment you have paid me is more than I can
stand." (Cheers and much applause.)

President Burnett: "In the early days of Louis XLV., to those who
doubted his future Cardinal Mazarin declared ' that they did not know him,
and that there was stuff enough in him to make four kings and an honest man.'
I think we may say of Colonel Strong that he has in him the stuff for four
ordinary mayors and always an honest man left over.

" In the experiment of the government of cities upon business principles,
there has been one eminent example in this country. That was Brooklyn,
under the administration of a gentleman present with us to-night, and to all
students of municipal administration that example has been pointed out as one
conspicuous in its success — as successful as was possible under the great body
of law under which that municipality had to be administered, a body of law not
formed for independent or business government, but passed by each party when
in power more or less in its own interests. Of that administration and the ex-
perience of that gentleman, we shall hear to-night. There has been added to
the wealth of our hoardings his citizenship — he has become a part of New
York, thank God ! (Applause.) He is now at the head of our great institution
of learning, Columbia College, and he gives to it the wealth of his knowledge

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and experience — not only that, but is training up our young Americans, the
heirs presumptive and the heirs apparent of this great repubhc, who are so soon
to enter into their royal inheritance, and teaching them high standards of civic
duty.

" I have the honor to introduce President Low."

Seth Low said : " Mr. President and Glentlemen of the Ohio Society : It
is very good of you to permit a mere New Yorker to be present on this occasion
of your rejoicing, and yet I must remind you that New York, cosmopolitan
New York, was true to her best self when she followed the leadership of Colonel
Strong to victory a week or two ago. It is at once the strength and the glory
of this city that she takes that which is good from all other parts of this Union
and makes it a part of her own life and her own power.

" I confess, gentlemen, to being surprised at one thing that I have heard
since being here. I do not know how it may be with college students, but
college presidents who are worth anytliing are always ready to learn. And I
have learned with amazement that the Ohio Society has determined that no
other Ohio man shall hold office in the city of New York. I had supposed
that the Ohio man went into his back-j^ard every day and put his ear to the
ground to see if he could not hear his country calhng him. (Great laughter
and applause.) But it is evident that we of New York only partially under-
stand the Ohio man, even now. Nevertheless, I knew him well enough, Mr.
President, to be confident, when I learned that Colonel Strong was an Ohio man,
that he would be elected. A long and careful watchfulness of political events
in this country had led me to believe that the ordinary man who faces a man
from Ohio, either in battle or in a pohtical contest, deserves the comment of the
locomotive engineer who observed a bull charging his engine. He said, ' I
admire your pluck, but I must condemn your judgment.'

" But, gentlemen, I have been asked whether it is possible to conduct a
city upon business principles. If I shall not discourage the mayor-elect, I
should say in some senses j^es, and in some senses no. To try to make clear the
sense in which other elements come into such a task than those which a man is
accustomed to in business, I must recall a conversation that I had with Mr.
Beecher after I had sat in the mayor's office of Brooklyn for two or three
years. He said, ' Well, Mr. Mayor, how are the politicians feeling.'' ' ' Well,'
I said, ' Mr. Beecher, I do not know that I am very good authority on that
point. If I were to make a guess, I should say that those who are in office feel
all right, and those who are out are a little discontented.' (Laughter.) Well,
he laughed, and said it reminded him of what he used to see in Indiana when
he was located there. In those days large droves of hogs wandered around,
and in winter-time ate the mast, the acorns that fell from the trees ; and when
cold weather came they all gathered up into a bunch. ' Now,' he said, ' Mr.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Low, it is most singular, but I never saw such a bunch of those interesting ani-
mals where the inside hog did not appear to be perfectly quiescent and satisfied,
while the whole outer ring was in a state of discontent.' Of course, if I had not
heard of the resolution passed by the Ohio Society, I should not have ventured
to tell the anecdote in this presence. (Renewed laughter.) That is to say,
gentlemen, that in the government of a city elements do enter — whether they
should or not, they do enter — into the problem that do not attach themselves
to the conduct of a private business. What seems to me to differentiate public
life from private in any capacity is this, that in public life there exists an
organized opposition that tries to make you fail just as much when you ought
to succeed as when you deserve to fail. It does not want you to succeed, because
if you succeed you gather prestige and power that may be dangerous to the
opposition. Now a business man has competition to face, but he does not have
that ; and it is an influence that necessarily affects public life and differentiates
it in some respects from any private occupation. I found that public life was
a life of Rembrandt effects. The lights are very strong and bright. What
can be more stirring to the heart of a man competent to feel it than the applause
of a great metropolis like this.'' On the other hand, what is more trying than
the criticism of your neighbors ; the falsehoods that often circulate about men
charged with difficult and responsible duties.'' One has to steel himself against
it, to bear himself as though he were absolutely unconscious of all these false
things that are being said, and that is why I say that it is a life of Rembrandt
effects. The shadows are dark because the light that casts them is very bright.
But there is a sense, gentlemen, in which a city can be administered on business
principles, I am sure. But before I approach that let me try to make clear
to you by a historical survey what I conceive to be the overwhelming signifi-
cance of the election of our friend. In 1814 the mayor of the city of New
York was not an elective officer. He was appointed by the State Council of
Appointment, a body that consisted of the governor of the state and of four
senators chosen by the lower house of the legislature. A body so composed re-
moved from the mayor's office of New York city in 1814 so considerable a man
as De Witt Clinton, who a few years later constructed the Erie Canal. They
put into his place the then president of the Tammany Society, under an ar-
rangement by which that gentleman was to receive in a few weeks from the
national government the appointment of surveyor of the port of New York,
when he was to be succeeded by still a different man. The bargain was carried
out to the letter. In other words, away back there in 1814 the city was used
as a pawn in the game of national politics. That was at a time when the mayor
was not elected, therefore it did not involve universal suffrage ; it was at a time
when there had not been any very great and marked immigration, therefore it
did not involve the question of the foreign vote. It simply illustrates how deep-

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seated among Americans is the habit of allowing their cities to be second in
their thoughts — or rather it showed the habit of that day, of using the city, as
I said, as a pawn in the game of national politics. Now what followed? That
incident and others like it led men to say, ' Well, this State Council of Appoint-
ment will do such a thing because it is not local to the city, but if the city
could select its own mayor, then the interests of the city would be paramount.'
So in 1821, when the constitution of the state was revised, they gave the election
of mayor to the common council. But lo ! when the mayor was chosen in that
way the common council did the same thing — the city was second. It was
always an influence, a ' make-weight ' in some national or state enterprise, and
so men said, ' Well, if the people of the city were to choose their own mayor,
then the interests of the city would be paramount indeed,' and so in 1835 the
mayor of the city of New York was elected by the people for the first time.
Then what happened.'' Why, precisely the same thing went on, and from that
day until the last election the people of the city of New York have subordi-
nated the welfare of the city to their interest in state or national politics ; and
therefore the great significance of our victory on election day, it seems to me,
is this, that for the first time in the history of this city large numbers of the
majority party have said, ' We are going to stand for the welfare of New
York city if it wrecks our party in the state and nation forever.' ( Applause. )
Just think of it! Two years ago the Democratic party gave their candidate
for mayor a majority of over 70,000, and Colonel Strong is elected by 45,000.
(Cries of ' Good! ') I want to say, gentlemen, that that gives the new mayor
a great opportunity and lays upon him an equal obligation. For the first time
the people of New York at the ballot-box have said to their mayor, ' You must
be mayor of New York before you are a partisan.' (Applause.) It is the
very first time that this great city in all its history has delivered that message
to its chief magistrate.

" I hope that in this presence and on this occasion I may venture to illus-
trate the rest of my theme out of my own experience. I think I knew the busi-
ness of Brooklyn during the period of my mayoralty as well as A. T. Stewart
knew his business. The foundation of that knowledge was this device to which
I resorted. I opened a complaint-book in my office. Whenever I received a
complaint from any citizen, high or low, it was acknowledged by a postal-card
saying that the complaint had been received and had been refen*ed to the
proper department for investigation. The complaint was then forwarded to
the department with a request that they would examine and report. If the
answer stated that the complaint was either not well founded or admitted of no
remedy, the citizen who made it was given that information, with the oppor-
tunity to point out to me, if he pleased, in a conference whether the department
was right or wrong in its judgment. If the department said that the complaint

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

would be attended to, the citizen who made it received a postal-card saying that
such and such a department had said his complaint would be attended to and
the trouble remedied in a few days ; would he be kind enough to report to the
mayor's office whether it was done or not? Now under that system I knew
whether the street-cleaning was well done, just as the barometer shows the
pressure of the air. The whole population of the city was on watch. I am
sorry to say that the street-cleaning was not always well done, but, neverthe-
less, the complaints varied, and they varied as to tlie section of the city they
came from just in proportion to the thoroughness and effectiveness of the work
that was being done at that time by the department. It gave me the judgment
of the city, the current judgment of the people, as to the actual working and
efficiency of the department. That is something that can be done by any man.
But I had one advantage which Colonel Strong has not yet, by law, but which
he will have, I am sure, if the will of the people is carried out. I had the oppor-
tunity to appoint every head of department, and therefore I was able to make
an administration which I was not only willing to be responsible for, but for
which I was obliged to be responsible. The heads of departments met in my
office every Wednesday to go over the minutes of the common council. Not a
resolution was passed by that body during all my term that was not subjected
to the criticism of the entire city government, and it was not an infrequent
thing that one department would throw a side-light on a matter touching an-
other. This charter brought about unity in the city government. It made it
work as one, instead of expecting efficiency from a machine that consisted of so
many separate departments. Now let me point out to you that under such a
charter as New York has at this moment the Tammany Society, wuth its control
of all the departments, has been the only force making for unity and efficiency
in the city government. How could you conduct a great mill, how could you
conduct a great business, if the head of every department w^as free to, do his
will without any reference to the next man, perhaps engaged in an amiable
effort to thwart him just when he ought to succeed? I have known departments
to be attacking each other in the public press because each commissioner felt
himself supreme in his owm sphere. I have sometimes thought that the so-
called boss justified his existence more in that direction than in any other, in
that by his common control over all the officials he has brought unity to the
administration of the system. But it is a far better way to get your unity
hand in hand with responsibility, and not put it into the pocket of an irrespon-
sible party chieftain. (Applause.) That is why the mayor of a city ought to
have the power to appoint his heads of departments and the power to remove
them; because, just as soon as you put a department into the hands of a man
out of sympathy with the chief executive, your machine begins to inin like a
stage-coach with a shoe on the wheel. You might as well expect the heavenly

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bodies to keep out of collision without the law of gravity as to expect unity
and efficiency in administration' from a charter that divides up administration
into a lot of departments, the head of everyone of which feels independent of
the mayor and of everybody else. Just look at the situation as it exists.
Assuming that no such law is possible, how can Colonel Strong carry on the
city government with every department in the hands of men attempting to
thwart him at every step.'' Therefore, it seems to me that if you are to have
business principles in the conduct of the mayor's office, you have got to
organize your city government on business principles. Those principles are
very simple as they apply to this case. Wherever executive work is to be done,
put it in the hands of one man. Our forefathers did not make a non-partisan
commission to administer the war department ; they did not do it to administer
the post-office department ; they did not do it to administer the treasury depart-
ment. They acted in accordance with that principle which the experience of
mankind has universally sustained. Why, the Romans had eleven aqueducts
to supply their city with water, and all of those aqueducts were under the
charge of a single man. No people have ever illustrated magnificent adminis-
tration in affairs of government better than they. There is another principle as
simple as that: that in a multitude of counsellors there is wisdom. Wherever
the work is discretionary rather than executive, have a board ; but where it is
executive in the main, have one man. I see it stated that we cannot have a
single head for the police department, because they have charge of the elec-
tions. Don't let them have charge of the elections, then, and appoint a board
for that purpose, and let it be a board that has no other business ; then it can
be watched effectively; and let the pohce commissioner run the poHce. The
two things do not necessaril}'^ go together. They do not go together as matter
of fact in Brooklyn ; and they need not go together in New York. Now, gen-
tlemen, if we expect a successful administration from our new mayor — and we
do expect it and pray for it, and we will help you to effect it. Colonel Strong —
if we are to take that attitude, let us see to it that the mayor has a business
charter to administer, and give him conditions under which business principles
can be expected to work out good results." (Much applause.)

President Burnett: " Our banquet committee knew who were our friends
and friends of the people. Mr. Packard, Mr. Foye, Mr. Crall and Mr. Lee
exercised a very wise discretion when they said to themselves, * There are many
men in this city who at this time will have a message to dehver to the people,
and this will be a fitting occasion for that message to be delivered.' And we
thank President Low for that message which he has delivered to the people of
New York and this state.

" I am sorry to find that President Low, like many Eastern people, has
not yet quite comprehended an Ohio man. While it is true we have passed a

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resolution that we will neither for ourselves nor our friends add to the burden
of our friend and late president by soliciting favors from him, we have not
passed on to that point where we have said that when the good people of New
York come in a body and ' snatch an Ohio man by the scruff of his neck ' as it
were from his retirement, and say, ' You must serve us,' that he will refuse.
Oh, no, that's not the kind of patriots we are.

" In the great powers of government the second, if not the first, power in
the state is the press. We little, perhaps, comprehend how much our daily
action is governed by what we read in our daily papers, how much our actions
ai'e based and our ideas formed upon what we there read, and I am sorry to say
that the editors of papers — papers are not turned out merely by machinery, but
with some great informing mind behind each sheet — do not comprehend the
power they wield or the duty that rests upon their shoulders. In modem days,
I am glad to say, many of the great papers of the country are rising to the
occasion and are independently and honestly trying to lead and inform the
people. Conspicuous among those editors, it is honor due to state, there has
been one independent editor in Brooklyn who has independently voiced the de-
mands of the people. That editor is with us to-night, and from him we would
like to hear upon one special subject, and a Httle upon the subject I have just
spoken of. We have thought here in New York that New York ought to be
before the world as great as she is in fact, one of the great imperial cities of the
world. We have held out the hand to Brooklyn to come in and be a part of the
Greater New York. Brooklyn, for some reason which we have not quite com-
prehended, has been coy in this mating. Why this has been so we do not quite
understand, and our friend and great editor, St. Clair McKelway, will tell us
something about it." (Much applause.)

Mr. McKelway said : " Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :

" When Mr. Packard, the man with the marble brow and the glad hand,
summoned me to this duty, and when I read that General Burnett was to pre-
side on this occasion, I said, ' I have always been able to deal with my tra-
ducers, but for once I will be at the mercy of my introducers.' The tribute
which the General pays to the editor of the morning newspaper can be endorsed
by me because I am the editor of an evening newspaper. He says very truly
that the newspapers are not brought out merely by machinery. In truth, if
machines had their way newspapers would not be brought out at all. (Laugh-
ter.) A citizen of Brooklyn — a citizen, as I may say, of East New York —
addressing the Ohio Society in West Brooklyn, feels that sense of geographical
derangement which an applicant for the far too hasty naturalization until
lately disbursed at the City Hall felt when he unhesitatingly swore without
the fear of the Lexow committee or its counsel before his eyes, that he was the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

son of an Irish mother and a French father, who was born on a Dutch sloop
under the Spanish flag in Chinese waters. (Laughter.) Such a juxtaposition
of ethnological circumstances is like the Ohio idea in New York. Now, if that
great state is not satisfied, what in the world does it want.'' It has the mayor-
alty of the metropolis ; it has the third senator from this commonwealth
(laughter), and when Colonel Strong pathetically spoke about the election of a
new president. Governor McKinley loudly applauded. With such a cinch as
this in possession and in perpetuity, all the real estate should belong to the
Buckeye commonwealth, because the meek shall inherit the earth.

" I remember, gentlemen, the first output of the Ohio idea in this city.
It was on the morning of the l-ith of April, 1865. I then, as a law student in
the office of Samuel Blatchford, mingled with the thousands — I might say with
the millions — that crowded these streets, heart beating against heart, eye inters
rogating eye, because of a calamity that had fallen on our nation. No longer
was a President going to power amid the falling pillars of a dissolving Union.
The Union had been saved, but the magnitude of the achievement, in the death
of a great President, had been forgotten. Many were the words that were
spoken in front of the custom-house that day, whose pillars patriotic hands
had before covered with emblems of mourning. Some of them were words that
lashed the heart to fury, but the words that were most appropriate were those
words spoken and to be recalled now of one man, himself so little known that
his name had to be told by Mr. Wadsworth, the chairman, to the throng, and as
he stood there, master of his mind and, therefore, master of men's souls that
day, he said that the act of a bravo was not the crime of a section, that although
the President was dead, God reigned and the government at Washington still
lived. And from the pronunciation of that Ohio idea, men went away heavy
of heart, but with reason redominating them at that time. Some years after-
ward, that very man, for the offence of desiring to place an agent of his own
choice in that building from whose steps he had stilled the wrath of men, was
himself violently assassinated. That was the chmax of the spoils system in
America. Last November was the climax of the anti-spoils system in the city
of New York. Will the people of New York resent dictation to their mayor-
elect from political bosses, as they were prepared to resent dictation to the
President, had not death sealed his efforts on the threshold of his office.'' I be-
lieve that with Colonel Strong's motto of bear and forbear his administration
will be a success, especially if in sarsaparilla only he keeps loaded for bear
during the three years of his office.

" I was surprised at your chairman declaring that the function of a col-
lege president was to teach young ideas how to shoot. Manifestly it is to teach
them how to kick. But I was not surprised when President Low solemnly
warned the mayor-elect not to look for any office. The next governorship is

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

reserved for the other side of the river. Thus, by easy stages, I approach
my text.

" I have been asked to talk about Greater New York. New York is al-
ready great. The achievements of New York energy almost equal Brooklyn
Heights. New York can be made and kept greater, can remain and become
Greater New York. This project and this duty have nothing whatever to do
with consolidation. Great is a word of moral, and not of material import. It
has become associated with consolidation by a lust for largeness, by a beatifica-
tion of bigness, by a sometimes maudlin and a sometimes morbid mouthing of
the meritoriouness of mere magnitude. It may or it may not bring about
consolidation, but whether or not it does on that ground, it will not bring it
about with the most commendable motive. There may be moral reform and
economic arguments for consolidation that I shall here neither affirm nor deny,
but I have to say that this lust for mere largeness which I have spoken of is
not sentimental, but sordid. It is characteristic more of speculators than of
statesmen, more of demagogues than of wise politicians. The populous cities
of this world have been inland cities — ^London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Old
Rome, of the magnitude of which, and of the home-rule principle of one-man-
power in which, President Low has spoken; earlier than that, Babylon and
Nineveh — perhaps earlier than that Jerusalem and the other cities in the Holy
Land. This may or may not be a law. If it is a law, a temporary spurt
against it will not permanently avail. My own duty toward consolidation I
shall consider where it meets me, where I live. My object in addressing you
to-night is to show that great New York can become Greater New York mainly
if not only by what New Yorkers do in New York and for New York. That
may he retarded or opposed at Alban}^ It cannot be long defeated there. It
may be retarded or interfered with by politicians. They cannot long stand in
the way of it. There is only one thing additional to what you have now that
you really need in the way of laws, and that is a home-rule charter, giving your
mayor the power to appoint all heads of departments as we have in Brooklyn ;
giving your mayor, as we have not in Brooklyn, the power, for cause and on
hearing, himself to remove all heads of departments, with no appeal from his
act except to the people who made him. There is a duty that you owe to this
man, and that is the duty of organization, of continued organization, of moral
and sympathetic support. Your enemies will teach you a lesson in that respect.
They are as well organized now for the next fight as they were for the last
fight. The devil always sleeps, if at all, with one eye open. The spoilsmen
are alwaj's ready and always organized. Good men generally dream or snore
between elections. If you will systematize, organize, perpetuate, and in all
moral and earnest ways keep alive the enthusiasm and the energy which you
displayed in November, the future of New York beyond the three years of the

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term of this man will be as secure as during the three years you have elected
him to large duties, to great opportunities, to corresponding obligations, and
to immense responsibilities. You can fritter away your triumph. One way
will be a dispute between the Seventy and the Good Government Clubs as to
which did the more to gain the victory. It was gained by both ; it was gained
for neither. ( Cries of ' Good !' ) It was gained for all the people. It was
gained as truly for those who opposed it and whom it delivered as it was for
those who won it and who thereby dehvered themselves. Now they say you
are going to have opposition at Albany. You probably wiU. A Brooklyn
man speaking to an audience hke this feels like a member of the church trium-
phant addressing the members of the church militant, and thus addressing your
militant spirit let me teU you only to want what is right in Albany, and then
if you apparently are not to get it there, don't waste much time there. Come
down to New York, call mass-meetings in Cooper Union and Chickering Hall.
Put your best speakers to the front and demand the reason why the best
thought, the best character, the best capacity of this delivered city cannot have
its way through the law-making power of the state. Make the political exist-
ence of the leaders dependent upon their right doing, and you will find that
they will prefer submission to suicide. Another way by which you may weaken
your victory will be prematurely to strive for the eviction of pubhc trans-
gressors— ^to do so too soon, by getting the wrong man to bring the wrong
charges before the wrong functionaries for the eviction of their fellows or of
other fellows from place. The theory that the clown of the menagerie can in-
duce the tiger to change some of his stripes is of all delusions the extreme. He
doesn't gather grapes from thorns, nor figs from thistles, nor reform grapes
from Tammany roots. This mistake, but for the Providential brevity of the
time between sentence and its execution, would be serious. The inrush at Al-
bany of fresh air on the 1st of January will dispel divided purpose and bring
the sunlight of united action. Old things will have passed away, and all things
wiU have become new. The mere existence of good government as a fact will
be an advantage you can hardly exaggerate. The force of that fact will be
Strong. The influence of that fact will constantly augment. Now there is
one thing that you must have, and that is you must have a backbone govern-
ment. I trust and believe that this man of your choice has a backbone. (Cries
of ' You are right ! ') If he hasn't, let him advertise for one. And talking of
advertisements, I am here for business. He owes everything to all the people
and nothing to any one of them. [Cries of ' Good ! '] He helps them all when
he best satisfies his own consciousness and his own judgment. [Cries of
' Good!'] He is iinder obligation to all and under dictation to none. Now
when you have cleaned house, when you have swept and garnished your apart-
ments, when you have permanently prevented the return of the more than

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

seven evil spirits that would make your last estate worse than the first, when
you have appreciated what must be done to keep New York great, and to make
your city Greater New York, consolidation will not be out of order, and may
I be there to see ! " [Applause and cheers.]

President Burnett : " You see now the power that is in the press and how
important it is to the people that a clear and clean intellect should inspire and
inform its pages.

" For the great achievement and victory that has come to the people of
New York there have been many agencies at work. The representatives of the
press and the pulpit were almost unanimous in their efforts in behalf of the
right as against the wrong. The committee of seventy did a great work, but
perhaps there was no single agency more potent than that power of the state,
the legislative committee sent to this city to investigate and place before the
people of the city the facts, which they would not otherwise have believed to
exist, although they passed by and touched them each day of their lives. The}'
could hardly understand and little believed in the existence of vice and corrup-
tion that had crept into our public life, and would not have believed it had it
not been established by overwhelming evidence. For that work the people
of this city owe a debt of gratitude beyond aU measure and all measurement
to one man, and that man is with us to-night. He brought before that com-
mittee the witnesses who, by their testimony, lifted up the eyes of the people
to the malefactors — and, fellow-citizens, to that instrument of our enfranchise-
ment, who has done this good and great work, the people have said, ' Go up
higher.' I need not introduce to either Ohio boys in New York, or to New
York citizens, John W. GofF." [Cheers.]

Mr. Goff said : " Mr. President and Gentlemen :

" I also received a note from Mr. Packard, he of the ' marble brow ' —
though until now I did not know that the gentle accent, speaking through the
typewriter, was the voice of the man I have heard speak facetiously on several
occasions — and he warned me that if I was not here at a certain hour to-night
I would miss my dinner. It was the most inhospitable warning I ever received
coming to a banquet ; and I did miss my dinner, and I have not had my dinner,
Mr. Chairman. I was detained in court until nearly seven o'clock to-night, and
I have to apologize to the committee for my failure to be here at the time men-
tioned in the note. But I was detained, gentlemen, in a meritorious work, in
my opinion. I was making my best endeavors to help a Tammany commis-
sioner to vindicate himself. And indeed I had some feeling of compassion for
that gentleman when I left the room to-night; but it does not equal my com-
passion for the unfortunate city of New York, since I have heard her so calmly
dissected, her wounds bound up, plaster administered, and the last but not least,
my friend McKelway's spoonful of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. Pity

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

New York! Between Brooklyn on the east and Ohio on the west, where is she?

" We have heard from our eloquent college president, INlr. Low, and as
our president of the evening said New York tries to get everything that is
good, we have tried to get the able Mr. Low. We have succeeded in doing that,
and I think that the time is not very far distant when we will follow up that
advantage by getting over Mr. McKelway. Mr. Low gave us some leaves out
of the book of his experience, meant as an aid to our distinguished guest. Why,
he said, ' Mr. Strong, I wish you to remember this,' in effect. ' I kept a com-
plaint-book, and in that complaint-book were registered the letters and com-
plaints of our citizens upon every conceivable topic of municipal administra-
tion. I could tell how my streets were being cleaned and how our other depart-
ments were being administered just as truly as I could tell the weather by the
rise and fall of the barometer.' I sincerely hope to-night, and I say it with all
sincerity and earnestness, that Mayor Strong will not open a complaint-book
on the Brooklyn principle, because our distinguished President Low failed to
remember this fact, that one of the very best and energetic mayors that New
York has ever had, Mr. Hewitt, opened a very large-sized com plaint -book, and
he was in more hot water than any man has ever been since, or before. And
further, the simile does not follow — New York is not Brooklyn. Why, of
course that complaint-book was well attended to. There could not be
many complaints, however, in the Brooklyn complaint-book, for we all know
that our Brooklyn friends come over to New York to kick, and then go to
Brooklyn to sleep, and even when our junior friends wish to select a stamping
ground after business hours they come over to New York, and it is from there
all the complaints arise. Why, one speaker has said to-night that Brooklyn
was coy in joining her municipal destinies with New York. Did any of you
gentlemen ever notice one of the charming, handsome women of Brooklyn when
they arrive at Fulton Ferry or at the Bridge? They invariably gather their
skirts about them, fearing to be touched by New York mud. Of course Brook-
lyn is coy ! And all the married men of Brooklyn want her to remain coy, be-
cause if there was consolidation, what in God's name could the married men
of Brooklyn give as an excuse to their wives for remaining out late? I noticed
that our friend, Mr. McKelway, when he came to that point, was exceedingly
non-committal. He said : ' I will meet the question of consolidation in the
proper place ! ' [Laughter.] And mark you that in the same breath with that
he said : ' If there are any advertisements lying around loose I am here for
business ! ' What a beautiful and unconscious illustration of that which we
have often heard in the criticisms of the public press, that the editorial end
of the concern was largely influenced by the business end.

" I remember just now a sentence of Mr. Low, in his classic speech, where
he made an allusion to ancient Rome. He said, ' Why, Rome had its eleven

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

aqueducts.' I presume some of you gentlemen have heard — I know Mr. Pack-
ard has — that story of the speech of Daniel Webster, delivered at a dinner
given to him in Rochester at the Falls of the Genesee? I dare not repeat it here.
But you will remember that, with all those eleven aqueducts, Rome had never
its aqueduct commission ! And then, Mr. Low, in his speech, rather favored
bossism in certain aspects — rather inclined to the view that the boss was a
beneficent being. Students and philosophers lean to the theory, many of them,
and the contention seems to have a great deal of strength to support it, that
the best government on the face of the earth is that of the paternal and benefi-
cent despot. Possibly Mr. Low had that in his mind ; but we cannot have that
government now in New York, not at least for the next three years, because the
government of the most despotic autocrat that ever existed in any city in any
civilized country could not have surpassed the government that we have passed
through in New York for the past two or four years. IVIr. Strong can never
be enthroned as a boss in New York. Bossism has been broken, and let every
true friend of honest municipal government send up a hearty prayer that its
death-knell for eternity in our country has been sounded.

" Coming in the door I caught a few sentences of Mr. Strong's address.
I am becoming very much interested in Mr. Strong's speeches, or rather talks —
they are not speeches, they are talks, delightful, social, confidential talks ; and
he seems to take his hearers into his confidence — and from the first time I heard
him in the campaign, up to this very night, inclusive, he has been improving,
and if he continues he will blossom out into one of the best after-dinner orators
in New York. A delightful little speech I heard him make last Saturday night,
in the presence of an assemblage in which were contained gentlemen of political
power and influence in our city and state. He said with delightful simplicity,
after reciting that the Committee of Seventy laid claim to him, that the Com-
mittee of Thirty of the Republican party laid claim to him; that the Mil-
hollandites laid claim to him; that the O'Brienites told him he belonged to
them ; that the Stecklerites said, ' We own you, body and soul ;' Mr. Piatt
said, ' I have got a great big mortgage upon you ;' the Grace Democracy said,
* We own you completely.' ' Gentlemen, I will be perfectly willing to let you
and each one of you do as you please, provided you let me do as I please.' I
thought that was a pretty good indication of the man. What a delightful
condition that will be ! We all may do as we please, and Mayor Strong will
do as he pleases; and if he does as he pleases I am satisfied that the fear he
expressed to-night, that at the end of his administration you would not give
him a dinner, will not be realized. He said to-night with some feeling, * Pos-
sibly at the end of my administration you may not wish to banquet me.' True
it is we have had in this city mayors who have gone In with great eclat, their
praise sounded, their biographies written, their grandmothers described as the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

handsomest women that ever trod God's footstool, their small vices magnified
into great virtues, and yet at the expiration of their terms they have left the
chair with the malediction of every politician in the city of New York. But
Mayor Strong says, ' If I can do as I please I will let you da as you please,*
and when he said to-night with that sense of feeling, ' I fear you will not give
me a dinner when I get through,' it was a passing sentence at a banquet where
good cheer pervades, but there was pathos in it, because the people, after all,
are frequently fickle. They raise up a god upon a pedestal to-day, and crash
it to the floor to-morrow. Charles I. had a triumphant entry into London,
when several deaths are reported to have taken place owing to the pressure of
the crowd to kiss the hem of his garment; and exactly one year after that
terrible crush deaths also occurred from the terrible pressure of the crowd
to get near him and spear him.

" Popular idols are dangerous things. Popular devotion frequently turns
into popular unrestraint. During these weeks preceding Mayor Strong's ad-
ministration, we are all disposed to join in the acclaim of praise following vic-
tory, but let us resolve ourselves into a committee of the whole, not only to give
praise to Mayor Strong, but to unite with him and hold up his arms through-
out the whole of his term, if he carries out his expressed determination to do
what is right. Aye, even though the Ohio man has to suppress his native-bom
instincts, referred to by Mr. Low, let him do it. I never thought Mr. Low
such a sly joker. I remarked, when he said he never knew an Ohio man but
went out into his back-yard and put his ear to the ground to listen for the
voice of a nation calling upon him, that he gave a sly glance at Governor Mc-
Kinley. Well, if Mayor Strong had his ear to the ground to listen to the voice
of the people of New York calling him, he heard the call, and as has been
well said to-night, for the first time in the history of our city the people called.
One hundred and fifty thousand of the best men in our city, the flower of our
municipal life, a magnificent army, marched to the polls on election day and
gave Mayor Strong a commission such as no mayor has ever had in this city
of New York. Every earnest friend of good government will aid him in the
enforcement of that commission. Even I myself will aid him to the best of
my ability, though at the commencement I had a slight grievance against
Mayor Strong — not personally, but partially of a national character, because
I have heard in this hall eloquent and witty after-dinner speakers on St. Pat-
rick's night say that the Irish had captured New York, and in fact that New
York's name should be changed by the transposition of the letter ' Y.' Put
' C ' in its place and it could be called New Cork. Well, for some years we
have had in our chief magistrate's chair a distinguished representative of my
nationality, of which I am proud — of my nationality, I mean. And in the
early days of the campaign your humble servant's name was mentioned as a

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

candidate for the mayoralty. It looked to me that the old saying that ' God is
good to the Irish ' was yet to be verified. I was suddenly lifted into the realm
of greatness. I began to think that it would be necessary to hunt up my
genealogy and to get out the tree of my pedigree in illustrated magazines,
when all at once and without the slightest indication of his coming, an Ohio
man crossed my horizon, and Ireland was not in it. Will it come to the
mouths of some brilUant after-dinner speakers to say at your next anniversary
dinner that Ohio to come extent has been depopulated by the exodus of its
citizens to New York because one of its sons occupies our chair.? I welcome
Ohioans to New York if we can get them all like Colonel Strong. Let them
come, and, particularly, I open the gate for them as candidates for enlistment
in our reorganized police department !

" If you forget it, gentlemen, I do not — I have not had my dinner yet,
and therefore I must, in justice to my dinner, abbreviate. Let me say here
one or two words touching upon the subject so well set forth by Mr. McKel-
way. While it is true that Mayor Strong does not belong to any faction, yet
it is well that those elements that so nobly and generously fought for his
election shall have their say. I do not believe in men being smothered. It is
because we in New York for several years have been smothered that the boss
has flourished and that the people have been degraded. Let us have good,
healthy sentiment. Let us have the good American rule of men speaking out
in meeting. Is is healthy, it is productive of the expansion of lung-power, and
wherever lung-power has had full expansion, revolutions and cut-throat plots
have never prospered. Secret political societies can never exist where men have
the right to speak out. So long as the men of New York, Republicans, Demo-
crats, Good Government men, citizens of no particular party, but all men join-
ing shoulder to shoulder and going in that grand procession, in that grand
army, to the polls on election day, so long as those men can continue to march
we are safe. I think that the overwhelming sentiment in New York to-day
among Republicans, Independent Democrats, all except those who expect to
go — I think the ovei-whelming sentiment is that Mayor Strong's arms must
be upheld and adequate power given to those arms to carry out the mandate
of the people given at the last election.

" I trust, gentlemen, that if the Ohio Society in honoring the man from
your state — the first from the state that has ever, I believe, occupied our chief
magistrate's chair — that if the men from Ohio wish to determine to aid their
kinsman, if I might so call him, let them join together in the movement to sus-
tain his administration. But we must necessarily have some disputes. We
might as well expect in a Presidential convention the Buckeyes and the Hoo-
siers to agree what state shall name the Presidential candidate as to expect
that we in New York shall keep quiet from discussing the ways and means to

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

obtain the desired end. Let us discuss them, let us talk of them, but let us
keep one thing in view — let it be our guiding star, as fixed in its determination
as the star of the north is to the pole, that so far as we can, irrespective of
party, the degrading, debasing rule of Tammany Hall or its minions will never
again triumph in this city in our generation." [Applause.]

President Burnett : " Associated in the minds of the people in the great
work of arousing public sentiment to the duty of cleaning this Augean stable
is one man who blazed the way and led in the fight. I speak of Dr. Parkhurst.
[Applause.] He expected to have been with us to-night and to have ad-
dressed you, but owing to a death in his family he could not come. We have
from him a letter, addressed to the chairman of the banquet committee, Mr.
Packard, and that letter I will ask him to read."

Mr. Packard : " Mr. President, I am aware that I am asked to read Dr.
Parkhurst's letter, and I propose to do it before I take my seat. Nevertheless,
there is such a thing as a question of privilege, and I avail myself of it.

" Allusions have been made to a resolution offered by me at a meeting of
the Ohio Society, which committed the members of that Society to a certain
course of action, or rather of inaction. The resolution is no longer mine, as it
was passed unanimously, and has become one of our laws. I fear, however,
that its purport may not be quite understood — that even the mayor may get
a wrong impression concerning it. The resolution did not declare that no
member of the Society would accept an office that was properly pressed upon
him ; but that we would not annoy or embarrass the mayor by signing petitions
or writing letters advocating the claims of other people. President Low is
right in assuming that the Ohio man does not stuffs cotton in his ears so that
he may not hear his country's call, and Mayor Strong will do well to bear this
in mind. What we of the Ohio Society most desire is to have a valid excuse
for refusing to advocate the claims of the ordinary office-seeker. And now I
will read the letter:

" 183 East Thirty-fifth Street,
" New York, December 4, 1894.

"S. S. Packard, Esq., 101 East TS^-enty-third Street, City.

" My Dear Sir : Only circumstances that are beyond my control could
have prevented my acceptance of your invitation to the banquet to be given
this evening in honor of the mayor-elect.

" The days through which we are passing are full of pleasant realization
and of large hopes. In pursuance of a special purpose I have been devoting
considerable of my time during the two weeks past to studying the history of
the warfare which our citizens have been waging, and which culminated just
four weeks ago in the election of Colonel Strong as mayor, and there has been

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

steadily growing within me the clearer appreciation of what that glorious vic-
tory means. That which has been gained wins significance and lustre from
the very coarseness and repulsiveness of that from which we have been de-
livered. It seems almost too good to be true. Long lines of meaning run out
from that victory in every direction.

" First and foremost, we have not elected a compromise, but we have
elected a man. We believe in Mr. Strong and we trust him. Our fear had
been that rival elements would not be able to be brought together except at
the expense of putting fonvard as candidate for mayor some equivocal make-
shift, almost too good to be condemned, and a good deal too dubious to be
safe to tie to. The disheartenment and mortification of such a condition we
have been spared. We have won a fusion mayor without any confusion of
principle or sacrifice of self-respect, which is a splendid tribute to the tone of
the citizens and the quality of the candidate.

" I am also confident for the future, because I believe that the forthcoming
mayor will enter upon the discharge of his high duties unmortgaged. He is
nobody's man because he is everybody's man. He was elected to be the servant
of the city, and the platform he was elected on is the platform he will adminis-
ter on. He will not be unsusceptible to influence, of course, but nobody will
own him. The official whom anybody owns is the official that all patriotic and
self-respecting citizens ought to be quick to disown.

" I want, therefore, personally, to pledge to Mayor Strong my loyalty ;
we would like to be of service to him, but shall seek first of all to ser\'e him by
taking pains not to get in his way. There seems to be no necessary obstacle in
the way of our having here in New York three years of quiet, honest, and har-
monious city government that shall be productive of industries and educative
of the higher temper and instincts of our citizenship, thereby laying the
foundation of municipal prosperity and dignity upon which we may expect
an enlightened and contented city to go on building in administrations to come.

" Yours very sincerely,

"C. H. Parkhuest."

President Burnett : " In many feasts the best course is left until the
last. We have fashioned our banquet a little on that plan. Among all the
agencies and forces leading to our victory, there is none that is entitled to more
credit for wisdom of action, for thoughtful planning, than the Committee of
Seventy. That committee selected Colonel Strong as the standard-bearer in
the fight against corruption and to oust Tammany. Its work was efficient. It
has made from the beginning no mistakes. When it selected Colonel Strong
to lead in the fight it followed that up by giving to him its active support, and
by its voice and work did grand service in tlie great struggle. Its work is not

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

yet done. It has been alluded to by Mr. McKelway and by other speakers.
You have heard from Brother Packard, and it is true, that Colonel Strong, as
the law now stands, has the appointment, out of the innumerable offices of this
city, of but ten places. The offices are now filled with the servants, the agents
of that vile body we have tried to destroy. They represent this system of gov-
erning a city by terror and by spoils. That system must be rooted out from
the bottom — its very roots dug out and burned up ; and until you have accom-
plished that you have not regenerated New York. Until you have taken from
every office its Tammany head and Tammany sinecures now fattening on that
office, you have not destroyed the system; and until you plough it up, dig it
up, and cast it onto the offal heap, the garbage of this city, and dump it into
the sea, or take the new methods now of destroying offal, by cremating it, you
have not ended Tammany. [Applause.]

" You remember the story of the old darkey and his pickaninny who were
sitting on the pier fishing, and the little nigger fell into the sea. The old
darkey promptly jumped in and rescued him, and after he had brought him
to land the policeman congratulated him upon his courage and heroism. The
old darkey replied : ' Oh, da's all right ; had to sabe dat nigger ; dat boy got
all de bait! ' [Laughter.] Now the effort of Tammany will be to preserve
their big and little niggers, because they have got the bait, and without bait
as a reward for votes, and without a corrupt police to terrorize and tyrannize
over the people, Tammany would be powerless in your city.

" In the work of reforming the law so as to give Colonel Strong the
power of appointment, making these places vacant, and (like Sheridan in the
great Union Army) bring his eyes and his hands to seek out and grapple with
the enemy, to find the places where they lurk and are entrenched, that Com-
mittee of Seventy can do a great work, and to its efficient and clear-headed and
clear-sighted head, Mr. Larocque, we appeal to form and help carry through
such remedial legislation and to go forward with such departmental investiga-
tions and reformations as shall remedy the ills under which we suffer. I pre-
sent Mr. Larocque." [Applause.]

Mr. Larocque said: "Mr. President, Colonel Strong, and Gentlemen of
the Ohio Society:

" It gives me great pleasure to be with you to-night to join with you in
the tribute of respect to the guest of the evening, and to rejoice with you in
the change which has come over the condition of our city. The morning of the
6th of November found the city of New York bound hand and foot — every
office in the hands of the adherents of a political organization that had fastened
upon its vitals and controlled every motion of its system. Abuses had grown
to such an extent that when the city of New York was mentioned in the pres-
ence of one of its citizens, he involuntarily hung his head with shame, and so

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

great and so widespread had become this power that the courage to resist
seemed to have departed from our people. The evening of the 6th of Novem-
ber saw this condition, if not reversed, in the way of reversal, and to-day, for
the first time in years, the citizen of New York, whether born in Ohio or in
the state itself, can, as I say, raise his head when the city is spoken of, look
frankly into the face of his interlocutor, and say : ' Yes, I am a citizen of
New York, and the citizens of the city of New York, as shown by this vote
at the polls of the majority of its people, have arisen to a sense of their op-
portunities, and have overthrown by their votes the power that has so long dis-
graced them.' "

The speaker followed with an extended and eloquent elaboration of the
thought outlined in the above.

President Burnett: "Fellow-members of the Ohio Society, I am under
a promise not to call Governor McKinley to make a speech. [Cries for Mc-
Kinley.] I was about to add that, although I am under that pledge, I am
your servant. [Laughter.] Your orders I will obey. Wherever Ohio boys
are gathered together, and Mr. McKinley, Governor McKinley, of Ohio, is in
their presence, they would not go home and sleep well could they not hear his
voice." [Cries of "Good!"]

Governor McKinley said: "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio
Society :

" I have no purpose to interfere with the programme of the evening, or
with the order of speaking as it has been arranged by the president of the So-
ciety. I counted myself fortunate to be in the city on this occasion when my
kinsmen from the state of Ohio, represented in this association, were assembled
to do honor to their old president and to the mayor-elect of the city of New
York. I come to join with them my tribute of respect to one whom I have
known long, have long honored and esteemed as one of my old and time-
honored and much-beloved friends. You have selected him as the mayor of
this great city, not because he is from the state of Ohio ; you have selected liim
for what he is, for what he represents, for what he stands for. He represents
in a long business life honest, clean, manly methods, and I am quite sure to
the administration of the great office to which he has so recently been chosen
he will bring the same clean, business, manly methods that have characterized
every business connection of his life. [Applause.] I want to assure my asso-
ciates of the Ohio Society that Ohio is justly proud of the distinction which
has been given to one of her early citizens. Colonel Strong. And I wish for
him, as every Ohioan does, no matter what his political associations may be, a
successful administration of the municipal government of the greatest city of
the greatest state and the greatest nation under the sun." [Applause.]

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

President Burnett : " Fellow-members of the Ohio Society, these thought-
ful words of thoughtf\il men should sink deep into your hearts.

" There is one great force and factor in the victory that has not been
mentioned to-night. Emotion and sentiment, it is said, play always a very
important part in every great revolution. In that part of our revolution there
was an element that has not been brought to your attention — the ladies of
New York. [Applause.] When they threw themselves on the side of truth
and purity, the chivalry of native-bom Americans was aroused, and they poised
their lances for the fray. I propose the toast of the evening, ' The Ladies of
New York.' To the Ladies, God bless them. And God bless all of you, and
good-night."

David Homer Bates was re-elected chairman of the governing committee
in December. At the meeting of December 10, 1894, President Burnett re-
ported the appointment of the following committees : Literature and art. Ho-
mer Lee, chairman ; J. F. Holloway, L. C. Hopkins, Franklin Tuttle, J. Q. A.
Ward. Entertainment, Warren Higley, chairman ; Thomas Ewing, Jr., An-
drew J, C. Foye, Ctirtis G. Harraman, Homer Lee. Library, David H. Bates,
chairman ; W. S. Hawk, C. C. Shayne. Auditing, Frank C. Loveland, chair-
man; W. C. Andrews, John D. Archbold, P. B. Armstrong, Theo. S. Nye;
Membership, L. C. Hopkins, chairman ; John D. Archbold, Geo. E. Armstrong,
Jas. M. Ashley, Jr., S. D. Brewster, Henry A. Glassford, Wm. S. Hawk,
John Q. Mitchell, Edgar A. Follett, Andrew J. C. Foye, David F. Harbaugh,
Chas. B. Peet, C. C. Shayne, Wm. L. Brown, De Frees Critten, E. S. Wallace,
Wm. H. Eckert, Fulton McMahon, Otis Wilkinson, Peter Zucker.

The president followed this announcement with a few practical remarks
suggesting a plan of campaign in securing new members. He broached the
question of a ladies' reception to be given by the Society during the season,
suggesting that a combination of dinner, entertainment and dance might cause
it to be a novel and notable affair.

The members dined together at Morelli's on January 14, 1895. Mr.
Crall, the treasurer, reported that the balance of the banquet finances amounted
to $404, part of which would be expended in the issuing of a year book of the
Society containing its constitution, by-laws, roster, etc., as well as the proceed-
ings and addresses of the banquet in honor of Mayor-elect William L. Strong.
The preparation of this book had been placed in the hands of S. S. Packard,
chairman of the banquet committee. The meeting of March 11th was held
at the same place. At the end of the courses President Burnett introduced,
in a few happy remarks, William L. Strong, his predecessor, to the assembly.
Colonel Strong reported as a committee of one upon the " pleasures and pains
of city government."

No doubt the fact that the banquet in the December preceding, in honor

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of Mayor Strong, was so large and so important an affair, had much to do
with the omission of the usual festal event in 1895 and the substitution of a
ladies' reception and dinner in its stead.

This was given on Tuesday evening, April 30th, at Delmonico's. The
following gentlemen had the arrangements in charge : Warren Higley, chair-
man; Andrew J. C. Foye, C. C. Shayne, L. C. Hopkins, Leander H. Crall,
Homer Lee, Curtis G. Harraman, Thomas Ewing, Jr.

The fact that this form of an entertainment was an innovation, in that
ladies were included, and the further fact that the time of giving it was very
late in the season, caused some anxiety and spurred the committee to unusual
activity in their preparations. But the ladies responded generously to the
invitation of the committee to assist in the work, and the following kindly con-
sented to serve on the reception committee, viz. : Mrs. Henry L. Burnett, Mrs.
William L. Strong, Mrs. Thomas Ewing, Mrs. Milton I. Southard, Mrs. L. H.
Crall, Mrs. A. J. C. Foye, Mrs. Warren Higley, Mrs. W. C. Andrews, ]\frs. S.
S. Packard, Mrs. Homer Lee, Mrs. David H. Bates, Mrs. Murat Halstead,
Mrs. C. C. Shayne, Mrs. Geo. E. Armstrong, Mrs. L. C. Weir, Mrs. Thomas
Ewing, Jr., and Mrs. Allison R. Hopkins.

The dining room was arranged with small tables, at each of which one
of the above named committee of ladies presided, and the guests were so ar-
ranged as to bring relatives and friends together at the same table. This made
the banquet a very delightful and charming occasion. After dinner the large
hall was cleared and the dance commenced, and this was enjoyed by all. The
committee in reporting the event to the society made use of the following com-
mendatory language : " We are pleased to report that this reception and
banquet was a great success ; that it was pronounced by those in attendance as
a very joyful and happy occasion, and the committee are of the opinion that
the Society will do well to consider the giving of a similar banquet annually
hereafter."

At the May meeting President Burnett read a letter from Senator Calvin
S. Brice, giving an account of a plan proposed for the preservation, in the
hands of his daughter Katharine, of the estate of the late Chief Justice Salmon
P. Chase. A committee consisting of A. D. Juilliard, chairman; Wager
Swa3'ne, Thomas T. Eckert and Calvin S. Brice were appointed to co-operate
with the president in the presentation of the plan to the members of the So-
ciety and the solicitation of individual subscriptions. A letter was also read
from Senator George F. Hoar, of ^Massachusetts, appealing to the sons of
Ohio and of New York to contribute to the preservation and care of the house
of Gen. Rufus Putnam in Rutland, Mass., where the scheme of the Ohio Com-
pany was evolved. The matter was referred to a committee to be appointed
by the chair. In the June meeting it was ordered that the rooms of the Society

219

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

be opened to the families of members and ladies introduced by them, from 10
A. M. to 7 P. M.

The following nominating committees were chosen at the meeting of Oc-
tober 14, 1895: Frankhn Tuttle, F. H. Kingsbury, Dr. S. J. Converse, W.
H. Eckert, E. A. Follett, J. F. Holloway, David H. Bates, Jr. The meeting
of November 11th took the form of a dinner at Morelli's, and the main busi-
ness transacted was the presentation of the following ticket : President, Henry
L. Burnett; vice-presidents, S. S. Packard, Milton I. Southard, Andrew J. C.
Foye, George E. Armstrong, A. D. Juilliard; secretary, Evarts L. Prentiss;
recording secretary, Noah H. Swayne 2d; treasurer, Leander H. Crall;
trustees, to serve for three years, Henry B. Wilson, Warren Higley, T. H.
Wheeler.

After the regular business had been transacted, the president, after some
happy remarks, called upon a guest of the Society, Mr. Haskell, of Ohio, who
responded with the praise of the Buckeye state, especially that portion known
as the " Black Swamp." Mr. McMillan, the newly appointed park commis-
sioner, gave reminiscences of his early life in the Mahoning valley. The de-
scription of this region was supplemented by W. C. Andrews' account of the
iron industries. Messrs. Southard, Packard and Chance made running re-
marks appropriate of the reminiscences suggested by previous speakers, Mr.
Chance ending with an eloquent eulogy of the " Old Roman," Senator Allen G.
Thurman, prostrated by illness. In accordance with this feeling Judge John M.
Guiteau presented the following resolution : " Resolved, That the Ohio Society
tenders its sympathy to Mrs. Thurman and his relatives during the illness of
the ' Old Roman.' " The motion was carried.

At the annual meeting held on November 29th the gentlemen above named
were elected. It was ordered that the banquet be held on January 11, 1896.

David Homer Bates, chairman of the governing committee, reported upon a
number of matters, and, continuing, said : " The treasurer is the only officer
of the Society who can furnish data concerning resignations. In fact, the un-
written law which governs that subject is just the reverse of that which applied
in the case of the Irishman's wife who had died. The question was put to him,
* Was she resigned? ' ' Bedad,' says Pat, ' she had to be! ' Brother Crall,
however, considers that as long as there's life there's hope of getting him to
pay his dues, and thus it is we seldom or ever hear of a resigned Ohio man.
The particular attention of the members of the Society is called to the fact
that our membership is not increasing as rapidly as should be the case, to com-
pensate for inevitable losses. Let each one of those present to-night resolve
that he will bring in at least one new member before the annual banquet, or say
before February 1, 1896. This would insure real growth. Some of us have
sons, brothers or other relations or near acquaintances, who would probably

220

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

join our ranks for the asking. During the year we held two general meetings,
first the banquet to Mayor-elect Strong on December 4, 1894, and the ladies'
reception on April 30, 1895. Both were eminently successful, as those who
had the pleasure of attending can testify, and we are now eagerly craning our
necks to see when our next banquet will occur and what will be its peculiar
character. We can, however, depend on the committee having that matter in
charge giving us something that we shall all be proud of, particularly in view
of the fresh high record made by Ohio in the person of our worthy past
president. Mayor Strong, in his most excellent speech at the Atlanta
Exposition."

The report of the secretary was as follows :

" It seems proper that the Society should require each active officer to
annually render an account of his stewardship and of the various talents in-
trusted by it to his care.

" The duties assigned to the secretary by the by-laws are of five sorts. In
the first place, he is to conduct the correspondence of the Society. During the
past year such correspondence has been very limited in volume and has con-
sisted chiefly of answers to inquiries by members, of the announcements of
changes of residence or of the resignation or death of members. The matters
contained in these communications which seemed to be of common concern have
been from time to time laid before the Society. The notices of all meetings,
required by the by-laws to be issued by the secretary, have been so issued and
mailed to all the members at the addresses supplied by them. The roll of
members has likewise been kept and that has been an easier clerical task than
the secretary would wish it to be, for the roll, while of goodly proportions, is
not so long as it ought to be. With all the changes it undergoes by resigna-
tion, death or by accession, it continues constantly near the 300 mark, the
total present membership being 332, divided into : resident, 257 ; non-resident,
71 ; honorary, 4. In looking over that roll, from time to time, the secretary
cannot but be more and more sensibly impressed with satisfaction that so hon-
orable a duty has been his, and he can but wonder whether any other society in
this city can boast a roster so brilliant or one upon which the names stand for
so much in all that constitutes success.

" The most comprehensive duty required of the secretary under our by-
laws is the one which provides that he shall ' furnish information on call of any
of the committees and discharge such other duties as may be assigned to him by
the Society or the president.' While the secretary has been at all times ready
and willing to furnish on call such information as his limited capacity would
supply, he is gratified to report that the call upon him during the past year
has been fittingly moderated to the supply. He may also report that the other

221

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

duties assigned to him by the Society and the president have been assigned with
signal forbearance, but such duties as have been so assigned he has endeavored
to perform. " Respectfully submitted.

" EvAUTS L. Prentiss, Secretary."

On December 8th the president appointed the following committees for
the ensuing year: Art and literature, Homer Lee, J. Q. A. Ward, Daniel C.
Beard, J. Stedman Converse, Franklin Tuttle. Entertainment, S. S. Packard,
S. R. Beckwith, D. H. Bates, Jr., Samuel McMillan, C. Q. Harraman. Au-
diting, L. C. Hopkins, H. A. Glassford, C. W. Moore, Thomas Ewing, Jr.,
Warner Ells. Library, C. C. Shayne, Thos. S. Nye, Mahlon Chance, H. F.
Waltman. Membership, Edward S. Wallace, H. H. Brockway, Theo. Rick-
secker, J. Q. Mitchell, R. J. Cliard, T. C. Campbell, Daniel Pritchard, C. C.
Shayne, Frank C. Loveland, Nathan Guilford, Quinton Corwine, Henry De
Mult, Otis Wilkinson, John F. Rodamor. Banquet, W. L. Strong, Wager
Swayne, L. H. Crall, A. G. McCook, Wm. L. Brown, F. H. Kingsbury, Wm.
S. Hawk, John D. Archbold, Mahlon Chance, Homer Lee, Thomas Ewing,
Samuel Thomas, J. J. McCook, Calvin S. Brice, Warren Higley, Milton I.
Southard, S. S. Packard, A. J. C. Foye, George Milmine, E, B. Thomas.

On December 7, 1895, D. H. Bates was re-elected chairman of the gov-
erning committee, and Messrs. Foye, Follett and Peet were again chosen mem-
bers of the house committee. The first gathering of 1896 was at the Windsor
hotel, on January 13th, a dinner being served and a number of ladies being
present. Speeches were made by President Burnett, Mayor Strong, General
Swayne, Mr. Packard and others.

A sad and memorable gathering was the special meeting called for Jan-
uary 22, 1896, to take action upon the death of Gen. Thomas Ewing, the first
president of the Society, one of its most energetic friends and supporters in
the formative period; a man who had won fame as a soldier in the Civil War
and as a statesman in civic affairs. A sad accident had cut him off in his days
of greatest usefulness ; and while the Society mourned the loss of its first pres-
ident, each individual member felt that he had lost a personal friend.

President Burnett called the meeting to order and in a few heartfelt and
eloquent words referred to the loss that had befallen them. A. J. C. Foye
moved that a committee be appointed to draft suitable resolutions and report
to the meeting before adjournment. The following gentlemen were named as
that committee: Wager Swayne, chairman; William L. Strong, Milton I.
Southard, S. S. Packard and Andrew J. C. Foye. The committee retired, and
after a time returned with a series of resolutions that were unanimously
adopted. It was also resolved that the members of the Society attend the
funeral as a body. Eulogistic speeches were made by Colonel Strong, Dr.
Beckwith, General Swayne and others. The resolutions follow:

222

At -k
g,l>ECIAL MEETING

OF TH iC

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HON.T^IOMAS BWING

First President

Tl), That THE ACCIDENT WHICH HA5 RE-
SULTED IN THE DEATH OF

Hon. Thomas Ewing

HAS CLOSED SUDDENLY A LIFE OF USEFULNESS AND
HONOR, TO THE DEEP REGRET OF A MOST OF FRIENDS
TO THI5 SOCIETyiS DETRIMENT AND SORROW, AND TO
ni5 FAMIL.Y.5 IRREPARABLE LOSS.

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CHAPTER XII
1896—1897

THE tenth annual banquet* of the Ohio Society was given at Delmonico's
on the evening of February 8, 1896. It was in charge of the gentlemen
who have been already named as a committee for this occasion. At the
centre of the speaker's table, just beneath the shield of Ohio, draped with the
flag of the Union, sat Gen. Henry L. Burnett, the president of the Society.
Bishop Henry C. Potter sat at his right, while Gov. Asa S. Bushnell, of Ohio,
occupied the seat at his left. Four members of the governor's staff, Adjutant-
General H. H. Axhne, Col. Henry H. Prettyman, Col. C. B. Wing and Col.
C. E. Burke, occupied seats at the head table, together with Joseph H. Choate,
Judge A. C. Coxe, J. M. Richardson, ex-Secretary of the Treasury Charles
Foster, Robert E. McKisson, mayor of Cleveland; P. Tecumseh Sherman,
Gen. Wager Swayne, Wilson M. Day and Hon. James H. Hoyt.

At six long tables sat more than two hundred members of the Society,
presided over by G. E. Armstrong and Mahlon Chance at table A; A. J. C.
Foye and Col. W. L. Brown at table B ; A, D. Juilliard and L. H. Crall at
table C; Mayor Strong and Homer Lee at table D ; S. S. Packard and E. B.
Thomas at table E; and Hon. Milton I. Southard and Geo. W. Perkins at
table F.

Letters of regret were received from a number of prominent persons. Ex-
President Harrison wrote:

" Hon. W. L. Strong, New York City.

" My Dear Mr. Mayor : I have your invitation to attend the annual ban-
quet of the Ohio Society of the State of New York and to make an address. I
regret to say that it will not be possible to accept this kind invitation. Sin-
cerely yours, " Benjamin Harrison.'*

From ex-Gov. William McKinley came the following telegram:

"Hon. W. L. Strong, New York city.

" My Dear Mr. Mayor : I would be delighted to be with the members of
the Ohio Society on the evening of the 8th inst., but it is impossible for me to

* It will be noted that the dinner and reception in honor of the ladies in 1895 was not
counted among the annual banquets.

231

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

do so. I beg that you extend my grateful acknowledgments to the officers of
the Society for their invitation, and I trust that the anniversary will be the
most successful in the history of the Society. Very sincerely,

" William McKinley."
Ex-Gov. J. B. Foraker expressed his regrets thus :

" Hon. W. L. Strong, New York city.

" My Dear Sir : My other engagements are so numerous and so exacting
that I find it impossible for me to go to New York on the 8th inst., and for
that reason I regretfully conclude that I must forego the pleasure of meeting
with the Ohio Society until some future occasion. Sincerely wishing you a
successful and enjoyable time, I remain, very truly yours, etc.,

" J. B. Foraker."
United States Senator William B. Allison, of Iowa, wrote as follows :

" Washington, D. C, Feb. T, 1896.
"Hon. W. L. Strong, New York.

" Thanks for your friendly letter. I wish I could meet and greet you
and other friends at the banquet to-morrow night. An important engagement
makes it impossible for me to have the pleasure. W. B. Allison. "

Letters of congratulations were also received from ex-Gov. James E.
Campbell, Attorney-General Judson Harmon, United States Senator G'corge
F. Hoar, George C. Tichenor, and others.

Each member of the banquet committee wore the colors of the buckeye.
Each member of the city government present received a present of a fancy
napkin inscribed with some appropriate sentiment. The author of these
" poems " was unduly modest and insisted upon remaining anonymous. One
of the ditties referred to Theodore Roosevelt, police commissioner, and the first
four lines of it ran thus :

" Hist ! Hist ! Hist ! Here is the bogy man.
Be careful how you drink with him ; he'll catch you if he can.
His smile is frank and open as the side doors used to be ;
He wears plain clothes on duty — ^he's on it now, you see."

All the sentiments were in the same playful vein, evidently intended to
help " digestion wait on appetite."

The president, in rising to offer the usual words of welcome to the mem-
bers and guests, was received with applause. Regarding the Ohio Society of
New York, the president was glad to tell them, he said, that the association

232

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

financially and in members was sound and strong. Whether or not General
Burnett in thus emphasizing the state of the society as strong meant any
allusion to the mayor was not apparent, but whatever his intention, the
members of the Society alighted on the word instantly, and finding a refer-
ence in it to Mayor Strong, rose in a body and chorused three cheers for the
mayor, wliich the latter was forced to acknowledge. Proceeding, General
Burnett said that every man of Ohio was imbued deeply with love of his
state and love of his nation, and filled with honest fellowship of man to man.
He believed that the Society and its sentiments would continue to grow. Con-
tinuing, he said :

" This banquet of to-night, held on the 8th day of February, is the
seventy-sixth anniversary of the day of the birth of one of Ohio's greatest
sons. General Sherman, and it is only right that we, the children of Ohio,
should do honor to him because no American has done greater service for his
country than General Sherman. Of all the great heroes of the civil war he
was second to none in strategic ability, in fighting qualities and in victorious
achievement. (Renewed applause.) In individual character of life he was
pure and noble, and as was said of an exalted one of the older time, he was of
' passing stout courage and of invincible fortitude.' "

General Burnett then proposed the toast of General Sherman, which
was drunk by all present standing and in respectful silence.

Governor Bushnell, who was introduced with graceful words by the
president, spoke next. After the applause, which had greeted the mention of
his name, had subsided, he opened with a sly allusion to the necessity of cur-
taihng his remarks, because of the strictness with which the 12 o'clock closing
rule was enforced, and then proceeded to instance the phenomenal growth
of the state of Ohio in ninety-three years, from a small colony of only forty-
eight people to a vast, populated state of no fewer than four millions of
people. Its influence, and its people, as well, were, moreover, not confined
to the state of Ohio, as was evidenced by the fact that in almost every large
city of the Union were to be found enough sons of the state to form a sub-
stantial and numerically large Ohio Society. Speaking of the achievements
of his state. Governor Bushnell said that when a call was made for soldiers to
defend the honor of the flag, Ohio gave to the service of the country 310,000
men, and although New York, in proportion to population, gave as large a
contribution, he trusted his hearers would agree with him when he maintained
that the loyalty of Ohio gained the admiration of the whole people of the
United States. It is needless to state that this contention was received with
unbounded enthusiasm, which burst forth again and again as Ohio's gov-
ernor, in enumerating the celebrated soldiers and statesmen of Ohio birth,
mentioned the names of Hayes, Garfield, Waite, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan.

233

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Nor was the volume of enthusiasm diminished when the governor came
by easy stages to describe the quahties of the living lights of his state. In
rapid sequence he cited name after name of well-known public men from
Ohio, and came eventually to the name of McKinley. For a few moments fol-
lowing the sons of Ohio, not content with giving full vent to lung power,
jumped on their chairs, waved their handkerchiefs, and in many other ways
vented their feelings, until a climax was reached by Col. Charles B. Wing, of
the governor's staif, who sat at the end of the platform, precipitating him-
self and his chair from the raised dais to the floor of the dining-hall, two or
three feet below. Many friends rushed to the assistance of the embarrassed
colonel, whose enthusiasm succumbed to the force of gravity, and in the
general laughter that ensued the McKinley cheers were allowed to die away.
The governor had little to add to the words which led up to so great an ex-
uberance of the feelings of the sons of Ohio, but he continued long enough to
pay an earnest rebuke to the man in the senate who recently spoke in such dis-
respectful terms of the highest officers in the nation. " If such a man," he
said, " has no respect for the chief magistrate, let him at least have some re-
spect for the highest office of the land."

In terms of high tribute the president next introduced Hon. Joseph
H. Choate. The cordial reception which was accorded to Mr. Choate was fully
as unanimous as in the case of the previous speakers. At the outset he
hastened to inform the Society that he was not familiar with the sons of Ohio,
and he felt himself obliged to confess that there was only one of this band
whose course he had watched with anything approaching earnest solicitude
and anxious prayer. It was unnecessary for Mr. Choate to tell his hearers
that Mayor Strong was the object of his remark. The laughter of the
members forestalled him. " I never understood," said Mr. Choate, " how
in the face of adverse circumstances our mayor always sustained undoubted
courage. No matter what happens nothing can disturb his serenity. And no
matter how his chosen servants may fail to achieve success and triumph in the
popular mind. Mayor Strong continues unmoved. But when I look at the
motto upon this menu, which is signed by George Washington, and also, I
notice. Mayor Strong, I am shown why he always keeps up such an undoubted
courage. The motto says, ' If we are overpowered we will retire to the fold
of Ohio, and there we will be free.' So, gentlemen, we see by the direct
application of the motto the reason for his display of such continuous
courage."

This sally was received with unbounded laughter, in which the mayor
himself joined. Leaving the facetious strain, Mr. Choate proceeded to speak
of the advance of Ohio in the last few years, and said it could no longer be
looked upon as a Western state, but must be identified with New York and

234

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

New England. In the near future, he said, the great Eastern states would
not be able to command the influence they had hitherto exerted by force of
numbers. Whatever influence it would be left to their province to put for-
ward, he premised, would be that of force of character alone. From this senti-
ment Mr. Choate went on to draw deductions from the lives of Sherman and
Grant, and, speaking of the direction in which the personal feelings of these
two men tended, he said they were ever advocates of peace. He closed as
follows :

" They sleep in their last resting places, one on the banks of the Hudson
and the other on the banks of the Mississippi, and knowing, as I am persuaded
they do, that, as they look down upon us to-day, there is nothing that could
excite more opposition or more condemnation on their part than the attempt
of any party or of any men to excite an unjust and unnecessary quarrel with
our sister-nation of England."

Mayor Strong, James H. Hoyt and other guests also spoke.

At a meeting held at about this time Hon. Asa L. Bushnell, governor of
Ohio, was elected an honorary member, and acknowledged the honor in the
following words:

" Office of the Governor, Columbus, O., May 29, 1896.
" Noah H. Swayne, Recording Secretary, Ohio Society of New York.

" My Dear Mr. Swayne : It gives me the greatest pleasure to acknowl-
edge receipt of your valued communication of May 27th, informing me that
at the last meeting of the governing committee of the Ohio Society of New
York I was accorded the distinguished honor of being elected an honorary
member of the Society.

" You are probably aware of how greatly I appreciate the action of the
committee. The Ohio Society of New York has always commanded my entire
admiration and respect, and since the meeting in February, at which I had
the privilege of being a guest, it has enlisted my love. I shall never forget
the pleasant greeting then accorded me, and I can assure you that the re-
newed honor you have paid me will always be most higlily esteemed. Will
you please advise me whether there are any formalities with which I have to
comply.? It will give me sincere pleasure to qualify in any way that you may
suggest, and I beg that you will notify me, so that I will not appear un-
mindful of my duty. Hoping that you are very well and asking you to con-
vey my respects to your associates of the Society, I am

" Very cordially yours,

" Asa S. Bushnell."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The following gentlemen were named, on October 12th, as a committee
to present nominations for officers for the ensuing year : W. H. Eckert, Ralph
W. Carroll, George B. Hibbard, R. J. Chard, D. H. Bates, Franklin Tuttle
and Charles W. Morris. This committee, at the informal meeting held at
Morelli's on November 9th, reported through Mr. Chard the following nomi-
nations : President, Henry L. Burnett ; vice-presidents, S. S. Packard, Andrew
J. C. Fbye, Milton I. Southard, George E. Armstrong, A. D. Juilliard ; sec-
retary, Evarts L. Prentiss; recording secretary, Noah H. Swayne, 2d; treas-
urer, Leander H. Crall; trustees, F. H. Kingsbury, Colgate Hoyt, Anson G.
McCook.

Henry B. Wilson announced a gift from the Hon. Whitelaw Reid of
handsomely bound volumes of the donor's interesting work, " Ohio in the
War." Resolutions of thanks were adopted as follows:

" Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Hon. Whitelaw
Reid with the compliments of the Ohio Society, and its best wishes for the
long continuance of a life uniformly devoted to the best interests of our com-
mon country, so illustriously exemplified in the fields of journalism and na-
tional diplomacy."

General Wager Swayne announced that he would speak at length to the
Society in regard to several matters. He voiced the affection of the members
of the Society for Mr. Crall, its treasurer, and their sympathy toward him
in his recent affliction, and, at the speaker's suggestion, silent expression of
that sympathy was given by those present rising in their places.

General Swayne paid appropriate tribute to the memory of the late ex-
Governor James M. Ashley, calling especial attention to his labors in the
passage of the constitutional amendment, which forever excluded slavery
from the United States, and to the very able address by the governor before
the Society upon the history of that amendment. At the conclusion of Gen-
eral Swayne's address a series of resolutions in honor of the memory of Gov-
ernor Ashley were adopted.

General Swayne, continuing, spoke of the recent honor that the Ohio
Society had received in the election of Major William McKinley to the presi-
dency, and proposed the following resolution as expressing the unpartisan
sentiments of an unpartisan Society. It was received with emphatic applause,
and seconded with generous approval by Mr. Foye:

" The Ohio Society of New York, existing for the purpose of maintain-
ing kindly memories of its members, individual relations to the state, and cher-
ishing a fellowship inspired by those relations, enjoys the fact that once more
the state has contributed to the well-being of the country in the person of
William McKinley, a citizen to whose past career and present attitude the
people of the United States have given their own majestic verdict of approval.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

As an expression of this feeling, the Society extends to the president-elect its
sincere and respectful congratulations, earnestly wishing him great success in
commanding the respect and admiration of the country in the discharge of the
great trust to which he has been called.

" Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the presi-
dent-elect."

While the question was before the Society, General Swayne took occa-
sion to define the present political situation in the United States. He charac-
terized the socialistic features developed in the recent campaign as one phase
of an important movement in society all over the world, having for its ulti-
mate end a contraction of individual liberty, and the establishment of a form
of goverament in which the powers now in the beneficiaries of government,
that is, the people, were to be turned over to the trustees, that is, the sovereign.
In closing, he pointed out as the true remedy for such conditions the im-
provement of the trustee. He suggested that in the Ohio Society existed a nu-
cleus for effective action in the application of such remedy, and maintained
that it behooves us to exercise our powers to that end.

The president called attention to the necessity for prompt action in rela-
tion to the next annual banquet, and urged that definite plans be made at the
next meeting, November 30th. Professor Roberts gave two recitations for the
entertainment of those present. Mahlon Chance, C. C. Shayne and President
Burnett recalled some interesting experiences and anecdotes of the recent
political campaign.

The annual meeting was held at the rooms of the Society on November
30th, 1896, the president in the chair. Mr. Bates, as chairman of the govern-
ing committee, reported that monthly meetings had been held throughout the
year, with the exception of the summer months ; that the attendance at the
meetings had been regular, and that the members had acted throughout the
year in perfect harmony and accord. Mr. Bates also called attention to the
fact that the number of deaths of members during the past year had been
eighteen, as against forty-two for the previous nine years of the Society's ex-
istence, which was a very marked increase in the death rate. He read the list
of those who had died, and called attention to the fact that there were among
the number United States senators, congressmen and state governors. He
stated that as an offset to the large number of deaths the Society had been in-
creased by the election of thirty-eight new members during the year. Mr.
Prentiss, the secretary, reported as follows :

" It is one of the duties of the office with which the Society has honored
me to keep the roll of its membership. That roll must be returned at the end
of this year, bearing the erasure of many names. Some of them, names which
have been identified with the foundation and success of our Society; some of

237

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

them, names which will remain always impressed upon the history of our na-
tive state, as well as upon the history of our country. Scarcely a meeting has
been held since the new year at which the death of one or more of our mem-
bers has not been announced. The records of the Society, while they bear
tribute, in graceful phrases, to our formal appreciation of their friendship
and worth, must also emphasize in our hearts the regret that more of our
words of praise had not been said to our friends while they were living rather
than in their memory.

" Our Society has been characterized as an organization having for its
purpose the praising of Ohio men and their deeds. If that is true, I believe
we make no mistake. The fulfillment of such a purpose may make Ohio men
more happy, it cannot make them less worthy or less loyal.

" The report of the chairman of the governing committee presents one
view of our membership roll which is most hopeful. The fact that thirty-
eight new names have been proposed for enrollment and that twenty-five dif-
ferent members appear responsible for their proposal speaks well for the
efforts of those members and for the future of the Society. These additions
to our membership suggest, too, the inquiry whether we do not owe it to those
who are coming in with us, as well as to those who have long been members,
that we make more vigorous efforts toward fulfilling the first object of the
Society as stated in its constitution, * the cultivation of social intercourse
among its members.'

" The Society not being conducted as a club, its benefits and advantages
are comprised for the most part in its meetings and social functions. It is
true that we can, and do, maintain most friendly and cordial good feeling
when we assemble merely for the purposes of business, but a considerable
number of our members will not attend a simple business meeting. In order,
then, to cultivate social intercourse effectively and generally, I believe we
ought to come together more frequently for that purpose. The surplus in
our treasury shows the result of skilful and prudent management. It also
indicates that we might perhaps, safely and wisely, expend a larger sum each
year in promoting the objects of the Society, and for the benefit and pleasure
of those who maintain it. I believe that if we had more frequent gatherings
of a social nature, we would add attractions to membership and unity and
strength to the Society.

" Respectfully submitted,

" EvARTS L. Prentiss, Secretary."

The treasurer, L. H. Crall, rendered his annual report, showing the bal-
ance in the treasury. C. C. Shayne, chairman of the library committee, re-
ported the addition of forty volumes during the year. He mentioned as con-

238

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tributions of special importance certain books from Senator Harper, of Mt.
Vernon, Ohio ; " Men of Columbus and Familiar Faces of Ohio," from Governor
Asa L. Bushnell; twelve volumes of the work of Thomas Hardy, from the
publisher, Peter F. Collier ; " Ohio in the War," from the author, Hon. White-
law Reid, and several volumes on various subjects from Dr. E. B. Foote.

Under the head of miscellaneous business. General Swayne called par-
ticular attention to that part of the report of the secretary which recom-
mended more earnest cultivation of social intercourse among its members, and
moved that $25, in addition to the usual sum, be placed at the disposal of the
entertainment committee for use at future meetings of the Society. Carried.
The election of officers being next in order, General Burnett called upon
General Swayne to take the chair. In taking the chair. General Swayne re-
marked that General Burnett's unwillingness to preside over an election in
which he was a candidate was another of the frequent instances of " the in-
ordinate modesty of the Ohio man," C. C. Shayne moved that the recording
secretary cast the ballot of the Society for the candidates presented by the
nominating committee. Carried. The secretary reported the unanimous elec-
tion of the gentlemen who had been named. The chairman said that the
scarcity of candidates must be regarded as still another instance of the mod-
esty of the Ohio man. General Burnett was recalled to the chair. He called
upon the mayor for a report as to the condition of the city of New York.

Colonel Strong reported that since the Ohio Society had assumed the
government of the city the laws on the statute books had been rigidly en-
forced ; that the streets had been kept thoroughly clean, and that the city was
in a better sanitary condition than ever before; that during the life of the
Society the death rate had been reduced one-half, and that since the election
of an Ohio man to the presidency of the United States, the death rate of this
city had been reduced to the lowest figure in its history. The mayor reported
further that during the life of the Ohio Society the number of arrests had been
reduced forty-six per cent., and that the decorum of the city had materially
improved during the last year. He stated that although there had been a
nominal increase of drinking places under the Raines law, nevertheless, it was
one of the best laws ever passed, although it needed certain amendments.
He expressed his firm conviction that all of the city departments were doing
their best to get one hundred cents in value for the city for every dollar ex-
pended. He closed by expressing his intention to be present at every meeting
of the Society which it was possible for him to attend. The president stated
that he felt it his duty to say to the mayor that the people of the city of New
York felt for the first time that they had a clean, honest and efficient govern-
ment. He congratulated the city and country in having Ohio men as chief
magistrates.

239

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

When the new governing committee convened, Lowell M. Palmer was
elected chairman and Messrs. Foye chairman and B. H. Wilson and Franklin
Tuttle members of the house committee. Some days later Mr. Palmer notified
the committee of his inability to serve as chairman, and Richard J. Chard
was unanimously chosen in his stead. At the meeting of December 14th the
president announced the following committees: Entertainment, Warren Hig-
ley, chairman; Colgate Hoyt, Mahlon Chance, Putnam Bradlee Strong, D.
H. Bates, Jr. ; library, Henry H. Vail, chairman; Rush Taggart, S. S. Pack-
ard, William Collett Carr, D. F. Harbaugh; art and literature. Homer Lee,
chairman; J. Q. A. Ward, D. C. Beard, Franklin Tuttle, H. F. Waltman;
auditing, H. A. Glassford, chairman ; F. C. Loveland, Cary W. Moore, J. Q.
Mitchell, E. A. Follett; banquet, Anson G. McCook, chairman; Henry L.
Burnett, Calvin S. Brice, William L. Strong, Wager Swayne, Samuel
Thomas, John D. Rockefeller, Murat Halstead, A. D. Juilliard, Colgate
Hoyt, E. B. Thomas, Samuel McMillan, J. Q. A. Ward, Peter F. Collier, Mil-
ton I. Southard, Thomas Ewing, Jr., T. H. Wheeler, William L. Brown,
Homer Lee, Andrew J. C. Foye.

The president read a letter from President-elect McKinley in acknowl-
edgment of the congratulatory resolutions passed by the members of the
Society.

The Society was entertained, on January 11, 1897, with singing and
recitations by Miss Clara A. Stutsman and ^Irs. Harriet Webb. General
Swayne and General Burnett spoke upon topics of general interest, and a
collation was served.

The eleventh annual banquet was given at Delmonico's on Saturday
evening, January 16, 1897. As there had been some changes in the com-
mittee responsible for the event from that announced above, the names of those
who ser\'ed in that capacity are here given: Anson G. McCook, chairman;
Henry L. Burnett, William L. Strong, Wager Swayne, Calvin S. Brice,
Samuel Thomas, S. S. Packard, Colgate Hoji:, Milton I. Southard, Peter F.
Collier, T. H. Wheeler, William L. Brown, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Murat Hal-
stead. Andrew J. C. Foye, Homer Lee, secretary. The reception committee:
Warren Higley, George P. Tangeman, W. H. Caldwell, Quinton Coi-wine, H.
T. Ambrose, P. S. Jennings, D. H. Bates, Samuel McMillan, Rush W. Tag-
gart, John A. Fordyce, Charles A. Clegg, Frank C. Loveland. The members of
the banquet committee wore a buckej'^e brown badge, and those of the recep-
tion committeee a blue badge.

It was an occasion of rare interest. Said the New York Tribune on the
morning following : " The annual dinner of the Ohio Society of New York has
ever been a joyous occasion since the first one was held ten years ago. Since
then the Society has added greatly to its strength and numbers, but its charac-

240

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ter remains unchanged. Now as then, the annual dinner is a jovial and cheery
gathering of the New York men who were once Ohio boys. Now, as then, the
chief employment of the diners is to sound the praises and compare the rela-
tive merits of the only two states on earth. Delmonico's could not comfortably
have held more of the children of Ohio than were gathered there last evening ;
nor could it have sheltered a more congenial company. Men of all political
stripes discarded their political animosities and the lion and the lamb sat
down together."

The president of the Society, Gen. Henry L. Burnett, sat beneath the
shield of Ohio and presided over this love feast. Upon his right sat the gov-
ernor of Ohio, Asa S. Bushnell, who had come with his staff in order to be
present, and who announced that he would travel a thousand miles any time
to repeat the performance. United States Senator Joseph R. Hawley sat upon
the president's left, and his remarks gave rise to the most interesting demon-
stration of the evening. The Senator had just finished begging his hearers
to give Congress more credit for disinterested motives, when he added that his
heart was full just then of other national matters that he would love to talk
about. This assurance evoked plenty of enthusiastic requests that the senator
should unburden his mind, and this he proceeded to do. He mentioned the
arbitration treaty just signed by Secretary Olney and the British ambassador,
and added that he had about made up his mind to vote for it. This statement
brought out such a roar of cheers as left no doubt of what the Ohio Society
thought of the matter.

" I'm naturally glad you approve of my intentions," said the senator,
" but I should hate to put it to a vote."

" Vote ! vote ! " cried half a hundred voices at once.

" All those who favor the treaty," said the senator, " will please rise."
Not more than a dozen men kept their seats, and there was another storm of
cheers.

" Those who are opposed," went on Senator Hawley, " or who do not want
to rise can keep their seats."

General Horace Porter sat by Senator Hawley, and there were also at the
guest table Senator Calvin S. Brice, Congressman Charles H. Grosvenor,
James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland; George R. Blanchard, John W. Vrooman, rep-
resenting the Holland Society; the Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Eliot, Hon. R. W.
Tayler, and eight members of Governor Bushnell's staff, namely, General H.
H. Axline, General W. P. Orr, Col. H. H. Prettyman, Col. C. E. Burke, Col.
H. L. Kingsley, Col. R. C. McKinney, Col. Alexander Gordon and Captain
R. E. Burdick.

The members who sat at the head and foot of each of the other tables
were as follows; A, A. D. Juilliard and George Milmine; B, Andrew J. C.

241

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Foye and William L. Brown; C, S. S. Packard and Homer Lee; D, W. L.
Strong and Anson G. McCook ; E, Milton I. Southard and Samuel Thomas ;
F, George E. Armstrong and C. N. Hoagland.

The menu made a charming souvenir of the occasion, faced as it was
with the brown of Ohio and the seal of the state pictured at the top. The bal-
cony sent down sweet sounds of instrumental harmony during the progress of
the dinner, and afterward it contained a number of the wives of the diners.
Among them were Mrs. W. L. Strong, Mrs. Henry L. Burnett, Mrs. Homer
Lee, Mrs. S. S. Packard, Mrs. A. J. C. Foye, Mrs. Colgate Hoyt, Mrs. James
H. Hoyt, Mrs. Anson G. McCook and Mrs. Sanford.

The Rev. Dr. Eliot said grace before the guests sat down and the brevity
of his prayer was startling in the extreme. " As God was with the fathers, so
may He be with the sons. Amen," said he. In astonishment the company
broke into applause.

General Burnett, in calling the guests to order, referred to the gathering
as an expression of love toward their native state. " But the love of our native
state," he said, " does not lessen our loyalty to the state of our adoption. We
are proud of her greatness and her imperial position among the states of the
land." General Burnett then called for the company to drink to the president
of the United States and to the flag. The toast was drunk standing. At once
the band began to play " The Star-Spangled Banner," and all of the two hun-
dred and fifty guests took up the song, accompanying their vocal efforts with
the waving of handkerchiefs and napkins.

In introducing Governor Bushnell, General Burnett referred to him as an
anomaly in that, although he was a native of New York, he was governor of
Ohio. The governor of Ohio got an extremely hearty reception as he rose to
speak. " From the cordiality of my reception," said he, " I can see that we
are all friends. You see I take you into partnership and say ' we.' Sometimes
it is more difficult to form partnerships. There was once a young fellow who
worked in a country clothing store. One morning he got to the store early
and as he was washing the windows his employer came up. ' I guess we shall
have rain to-day,' said the boy. His employer looked at him with a scowl.
* Since when did you get into the firm.'' ' said he. New York and Ohio are still
neck and neck, for while you have given the country a president for four
years, we shall give it one for the four years to come. (Applause.) In still
another thing honors are even. The chief executive of Ohio is a New Yorker,
but the chief executive of New York is an Ohioan."

(Here Mayor Strong tried to look as if he were deaf.)

Governor Bushnell went on to name some of the great men of Ohio and
New York and to glorify them in the true spirit. He finished by saying that

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the Oliio Society could have him at its dinner any time it would let him know
when the dinner was to take place.

Senator Hawley, who was well received, after referring to the names of
many prominent men of Connecticut who had served their country well in the
national legislature, went on to ask that a more charitable spirit should be ob-
served by the American people toward Congress and the government. For
twenty-two years, he said, he had been in the halls of legislation, and he could
bear testimony that not in the world was there a more faithful, steady or honest
body of legislators than the men who composed the Congress of the United
States. He challenged his hearers also to point out any instance during the last
hundred years where any foreign rulers had shown more honor, patriotism and
efficient administration than the presidents of the United States.

By gradual stages Senator Hawley found his way to the subj ect of the arbi-
tration treaty. Its first mention was greeted with loud cheers, which drew
from the senator this remark : " I think I could get a vote here on this question,
but I doubt if two-thirds would vote " The remainder of Senator Hawley's
sentence was lost in cries of " Vote, vote ! " which was so prolonged that at last
he shouted : " Well, I will take a vote : those in favor of arbitration will please
stand up." Then occurred the incident already described.

" I should vote for the ratification of the treaty," continued Mr. Hawley,
" largely because I don't think there can be any harm in it. But I am free to
confess that I should like to have precede it a declaration on the part of Great
Britain that she will cease that doctrine of extension, seizure of land and rob-
bery of territory that she has avowedly pursued for many generations. If you
read Prof. Seely's work on the expansion" — Senator Hawley got no further
with his sentence. His mention of a name that has been on the lips of New
Yorkers for the last two or three weeks (the Seeley dinner of not pleasant fame)
seemed to strike his auditors with a particularly humorous force. And when he
described the guests as " irreverent and unappreciative of the subject at issue,"
the laughter broke out afresh. Continuing at length, he said: " Arbitration!
Why is it ever necessary to coax the United States to arbitration? We are
always ready for arbitration. But I would ask you to pause and consider those
words of Lord Chief Justice Russell, who, when speaking during his recent visit
at Saratoga, stated there were questions that no self-respecting nation could
arbitrate. It is almost comical that in this very treaty there is left out one of
the most serious questions that should claim our attention, and that is the
boundary of Alaska. After all, this treaty is only for five years, but I warn
you that if any wrong arises, or if any serious insult is given to the American
people, they will fight to the death."

The Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Eliot spoke next, and in part he said :

" Ere yet the Empire state yields the sceptre to her Western sister, let this

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

be said, that if the new administration finds the country at peace with foreign
nations ; with a substantial gold reserve in the treasury, and a reformed civil
service, it will owe that advantage chiefly to the steady will and sound sense of
a son of New York. If the incoming president finds the executive chair securely
based, it will be because it has been held down by an outgoing president whose
moral courage and imperturbable Americanism have stood the test of hostile
abuse and partisan spite. If William McKinley finds us a state worth govern-
ing it is chiefly due to the downright honesty of purpose, the clear grit of
Grover Cleveland. He has enjoyed the beatitude of malediction — an honor
gained only by men who refuse to answer the multitude according to their idols.
Let it not be said that American citizens, of whatever party allegiance, fail to
do justice to the immovable purpose and the iron nerve that have preserved
our financial integrity and maintained the true dignity of our national honor.

" Gentlemen, the incoming president will need, as seldom man has done,
the hearty support of all intelligent and well-disposed citizens. The new admin-
istration will, in deed, be confronted by momentous problems. In the support
of the great principle of business integrity in the financial operations of the
government, we are all one. Against the extravagant wastefulness of our con-
gressional log-rolling, and all demoralizing jobbery, let us oppose a protest of
simple lives and thrifty habits. Against the greed of selfish monopolies, seek-
ing to fatten on the unnecessary taxation of the many for the benefit of the
few, to enrich one producer at the expense of a thousand consumers, let us op-
pose the irrefutable logic not only of justice, but of clear political expediency."

When Dr. Eliot resumed his seat. Senator Hawley arose, and, alluding to
that part of the former's remarks about opposition to the arbitration treaty as
being due to personal spite on the part of some senators, protested against the
use of the term. " I represent here to-night," Senator Hawley said, " the sen-
ate and my brother senators, and can say that no question of spite enters into
our deliberations. I hope our friend. Dr. Ehot, does not attribute spite either
to myself or other senators. We are sent there for the express purpose of keep-
ing cool, weighing everything calmly, and to wait to see what the other side
does."

Hon. James H. Hoyt was introduced with encomiums by the president,
and he was warmly received. In the course of his address he said:

" Our next President, with all the power of his office, and with all his
shining qualifications of mind and heart, cannot accomplish much without
the support of the people of the United States. This is a critical period in
American history. Sometimes we may well doubt whether our government has
passed beyond the experimental stage. Free institutions are on trial. The
next four years must necessarily be eventful, history-making years. I do not
speak of causes, but of facts. Our revenues are insufficient ; our monetary sys-

m4i

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tern is defective; our poor are too envious of the rich, and our rich are too
unmindful of the poor. Combinations, both of labor and of capital, threaten
the peace of the republic. Our civilization is splendid, but it is selfish. Our
business interests langush; our laborers are unemployed; we are threatened
with serious complications not only at home, but abroad. Our people are dis-
contented and unhappy. Our next President is confronted with towering dif-
ficulties. It remains to be seen whether, in this crisis of the republic, the
American people, as they have been in other crises, will be unselfishly patriotic.
If they are, our next President can accomplish much ; if they are not, he can
do nothing. We need his leadership, but, above all, he needs our help. Let
us forget private interest and think only of public interests. Let us forget
self and remember the State."

Among the other speakers were Gen. Horace Porter, Hon. Charles H.
Grosvenor, Judge Charles H. Truax and Hon. R. W. Tayler.

Before the governing committee, on February 8th, Homer Lee, on behalf
of the art committee, suggested that the rooms of the Society be fitted up for
an art exhibition. After some discussion Gen. Burnett moved that the art
committee be empowered to prepare the rooms as desired, provided that the
money therefor be raised by private subscription, and that the Society be not
called upon to bear any share of the expense ; and, further, that the art com-
mittee be authorized to anange for three evening entertainments, to be held
under the management and direction of the entertainment committee ; the sole
expense to be not more than fifty dollars for each of these evening entertain-
ments. The motion was carried. Mr. Lee, at the meeting of the Society on
the same night, reported this action and explained that it was proposed to
have one smoker and two nights of receptions to the ladies. The exhibition
was held in acordance with these arrangements.

The meeting of April 12th took the form of a dinner at Morelli's.
Judge Higley reported for the entertainment committee that a ladies' recep-
tion and dance would be held at the Waldorf on the evening of April 22d.
The price of tickets for members and their guests was fixed at $2.50, which
would cover the charges of the Hotel Waldorf, and that the Society would
bear the expense of music and printing.

After business was over the president called upon ex-Mayor Otis, of
Cleveland, for a speech. Mr. Otis delegated that duty to Col. William L.
Brown, who responded in a very happy speech, the burden of which was that
he owed no man anything except good will. General Swayne was called upon
and dwelt with emphasis upon the duty of the members of the Society to
participate in the movement looking to the purchase of the house of Rufus
Putnam, and setting it apart as a memorial of the Ohio Company, which
started from the house to found the new state in 1788.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The ladles' reception was pronounced a success, in the report made by
the entertainment committee to the Society on May 10th, here quoted:

"Gentlemen : Your entertainment committee, by direction of the Society,
and under the approval of the governing committee, made all the necessary
arrangements for the ladies' reception and dance, given at the Waldorf on
Thursday evening of Easter week, April 22, 1897.

" This form of entertainment was decided upon after careful inquiry
and due deliberation, and the Waldorf was selected as being the most desirable
place for the entertainment to be given. Arrangements were made with the
Waldorf for the use of the large ballroom and the smaller ballroom for that
evening, and an extensive collation to be served at small tables, beginning at
11 o'clock and continuing through the dance, for $2.50 for each person, un-
der a general guarantee that there should not be less than 150 attending.

" To the entertainment committee were added the reception and the floor
committees, and to these two committees we are greatly indebted for the pleas-
ures of the evening. The floor committee did admirable service in arranging
the most excellent and attractive order of dances, giving the music for each
and in managing the dances to the delight of all who took part.

" The reception was held in the large ballroom from 9 to 10 :30, where
members of the Society and their guests were cordially received by the host-
esses of the evening — Mrs. Henry L. Burnett and Mrs. William L. Strong.
Mrs. Calvin S. Brice was expecting to be present and assist, but owing to
sudden illness was prevented from doing so, I may be permitted to say that
the active interest manifested by Mrs. Burnett and Mrs. Strong contributed
largely to the success of this entertainment, and the thanks of the Society are
due to them for their good offices in this behalf.

" There were something over 200 who attended this reception and dance.
I think the facts will bear out the assertion that the entertainment was from
every standpoint an eminent success.

" The lateness of the season militated against a larger attendance. Some
of the members had already gone to Europe who would otherwise have been
present; others had gone to the country, and then the winter had been filled
with various entertainments until the people had in many instances become
satiated. Still the attendance was good, being over 200, and the entertain-
ment was up to the Ohio standard.

" Should the Society decide to give similar entertainments in the future,
the committee strongly recommends that they be given before the Lenten sea-
son, when, with the same preparations and eff'oi'ts made and put forth in this
last entertainment, we could well look for the number of 500. The Society
has never made a mistake in the ladies' receptions and entertainments it has

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

thus far given. They have always been dehghtful to the ladies and the
gentlemen alike.

" Respectfully submitted,

" Warren Higley, Chairman Ent. Com."

The committee referred to in this report were constituted as follows:
Entertainment committee, Warren Higley, chairman ; Colgate Hoyt, P. Brad-
lee Strong, Mahlon Chance, David Homer Bates, Jr. Reception committee,
William L. Strong, chairman ; Wager Swayne, Calvin S. Brice, Wallace C.
Andrews, William L. Brown, Samuel Thomas, John D. Archbold, Frank C.
Loveland, Wan-en F. Leland, David H. Bates, Henry Hobart Vail, George
P. Tangeman, Emerson McMillan, L. C. Hopkins, Frederick C. Train, D. F.
Harbaugh, Wilham S. Hawk, with the officers and governing committee.
Floor committee, David Homer Bates, Jr., chairman ; Andrew Ernest Foye,
P. Bradlee Strong, James Alfred Chard, Charles F. Bostwick, Allison R.
Hopkins, Emmet B. Wheeler, William H. Caldwell, Henry B. C. Plimpton,
Peter H. Burnett.

The following was the concert program:

Overture — ^Lustspiel, Kela Bela.

Selection — ^Wizard of the Nile, Herbert.

Concert Gavotte — Hearts and Flowers, Tobani.

Selection — Rob Roy, De Koven.

Cavalleria Rusticana — Intennezzo, Mascagni.

Selection — ^Lady Slavey, Kerker.

Steps were taken in the early summer of this year (1897) by the gov-
erning committee looking to a more desirable home for the Society. On June
23d it was ordered that a committee to consist of Henry B. Wilson, T. H,
Wheeler and Andrew J. C. Foye be appointed to examine rooms at the new
Astoria Hotel* for the use of the Ohio Society, and report to the governing
committee. At the meeting of October 11th Mr. Foye made a preliminary
report for the committee, and stated that they had negotiated a lease for a
suite on the fourteenth floor of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, with service, light
and heat, and with the privileges of the hotel generally ; and, particularly of
the billiard room, restaurant and roof garden, with easy access to the rooms,
at an annual rental of $2,600. He stated that the lease would begin May 1,
1898. Tlie report was approved, and the president was authorized and in-
structed to sign the lease.

Judge Higley presented a photograph of Gov. Asa L. Bushnell and his

staff, and offered the following resolution:

*Tr wall be recalled that the Hotel Waldorf was first constructed and opened, and that
the "Astoria" end of the house was an after consideration.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York accept with thanks the
large and beautiful photograph of Gov. Asa L. Bushnell and his staff, with
the assurance that it will ever after hang upon our walls as a pleasant re-
minder of our noted banquets of the years of 1896 and 1897, and of the
distinguished honor they conferred on us by coming all the way from Ohio
to be our guests and to enjoy with us those happy occasions.

" Resolved, That the recording secretary be instructed to forward a
copy of this resolution to Gov. Asa L. Bushnell and to Colonel Burke of his
staff."

The following response was received from Governor Bushnell:

" Office of the Governor, Columbus, O., Nov. 12, 1897.
" Noah H. Swayne, Recording Secretary Ohio Society of New York.

" Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your esteemed favor
of November 8th, in which you communicate the resolution adopted by the
Ohio Society of New York, relating to the photograph of the staff and my-
self. Permit me to offer my thanks to the Society and yourself for the honor
thus accorded and to say that we retain the most pleasant recollections of the
hospitality shown us by the Ohio Society of New York. Trusting that at
some time in the future I may have the pleasure of meeting yourself and your
associates, I am, " Very cordially yours,

" Asa S. Bushnell."

The following gentlemen served as the nominating committee selected this
year: F. H. Kingsbury, R. J. Chard, E. A. Follett, W. H. Eckert, D. H.
Bates, A. D. Houston, Ralph W. Carroll. At the meeting of November 8th
Mr. Chard reported that they had prepared the following ticket: President,
Henry L. Burnett; vice-presidents, S. S. Packard, Milton I. Southard, An-
drew J. C. Foye, George E. Armstrong, A. D. Juilliard ; secretary, Evarts L.
Prentiss ; recording secretary, Noah H. Swayne 2d ; for treasurer, Leander H.
Crall; trustees, Thomas Ewing, Samuel McMillan, J. C. Hoagland.

The president announced that the annual meeting would be held at Mo-
relli's on November 29th, and that a dinner complimentary to the members
would be furnished at that time.

The president then called upon Prof. Packard to take the chair, and
then referred to Mayor Strong's remarks at the dinner given in his honor
three years ago, to the effect that " My own impression is that in about three
years from now you gentlemen will be mighty sorry that you gave me this
dinner," and proposed that the next annual dinner be a testimonial for Colonel
Strong. This proposition was enthusiastically received, and the president
announced that he would advise that the dinner be held as soon after January
1st as possible.

At the annual meeting, held on the date above named, Mr. Chard, as

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

chairman of the governing committee, presented the annual report to the ef-
fect that twenty-five resident and ten non-resident members had been elected
and had qualified during tlie year. Mr. Crall presented his annual report as
treasurer. The report of the secretary was as follows :

" To the president and members of the Oliio Society of New York, the
secretary has the honor to submit the following report: The by-laws pre-
scribe that the secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Society, issue
notices of all meetings, keep the roll of members, furnish information on call
of any of the committees, and discharge such other duties as may be assigned
to him by the Society or the president. Pursuant to such regulations, notices
have been issued announcing eleven meetings or entertainments since the last
annual election. It may not be out of place to recite rapidly the occasions of
our coming together. The first meeting was held at the rooms of the Society
on December 14, 1896, when the committees were announced and arrange-
ments made for the annual banquet. This meeting was followed by a ladies'
night on January 11th. On the 16th of the same month the members of the
Society and their guests gathered about Delmonico's tables at the eleventh
annual banquet and our last feast in that old place of entertainment. A
musicale given by the College Alumni Quartette at the Society's quarters dis-
tinguished our gathering on the second Monday of February. From the 26th
of February to the 8th of March a notable collection of pictures by American
artists was on exhibition at our rooms and was viewed by a large number of
members and their friends. We assembled for an informal dinner at this
place (Morelli's) on the 12th of April, and on April 22d the entertainment
season of the Society ended with a reception and dance at the Waldorf. We
last convened before the summer on the 10th of May at our rooms. The first
meetings of the present season were held at 236 Fifth avenue on the second
Mondays of October and November. The entertainments of the Society dur-
ing the past season, by reason of their variety and character, gave unusual
pleasure to all who participated in them and were creditable to the organiza-
tion and to the committees having them in charge.

" Announcements of the meetings and entertainments enumerated have
been given through the mails to the members at the addresses furnished by
them. The practice has been to post the notices so that a member living so
far distant as Chicago might receive word in season to attend the meeting
which they announced. Observation of the workings of the city mail ser\'ice
has discovered the fact that we erred in our calculations. A notice mailed at
the Madison Square branch on the 4th of October arrived at its destination
in Wall street on the morning of the fourth day afterward, about the time
required to travel leisurely from New York to Chicago and back again. A
notice mailed November 1, 1897, arrived at the same destination on the 4th

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of November. After further observation and experiment the facts were called
to the attention of the postmaster, who has investigated the matter, and we
are promised more satisfactory service in the future.

" The membership roll has shown a steady and encouraging growth in
the past two years. Thirty-eight candidates were proposed for membership
during the year ending November 29, 1896, and 41 proposals were received
during the year just past. The proposals during 1897 were made by 19
different members. Since the last annual meeting three of our number have
been called away. We have on our membership roll at the present time 278
resident members, 88 non-resident and 4 honorary members, making in all 370
against 337 in 1895.

" It is worthy of note that through the efficient management of the
house committee and of our custodian, the rooms of the Society and the
collections they contain have presented always a most pleasing and orderly
appearance. Thirty-five portraits of members and of distinguished Ohioans
have been obtained during the year through the efforts of the custodian and
added to the large number already collected by him and arranged upon the
walls. Through Judge Higley a finely executed photograph of Gov. Asa S.
Bushnell and his staff was presented to the Society.

" The record of visitors has been carefully kept by the custodian and
shows that during the year over eighteen hundred visits have been paid at the
rooms by members, their friends and Ohioans sojourning in the city. This is
about four times the number received during the year preceding. In addition
to this number eight hundred and more persons were received during the art
exhibition. These figures and facts seem to show a wider interest in the So-
ciety and greater attractions in its abiding place.

" The outlook seems auspicious. Probably before the next annual meet-
ing the Society will be situated in its new home at the Waldorf-Astoria. More
pretentious quarters and an environment most convenient and superb can
scarcely fail to invite a better and more regular attendance of members to
our rooms and make membership in the Ohio Society of larger advantage and
value than it has ever been.

" Respectfully submitted,

" EvARTS L. Prentiss, Secretary."

The election of officers being called for, the secretary was unanimously
instructed to cast one ballot for the gentlemen proposed by the nominating
committee. The Society was entertained by remarks by Gren. J. Warren
Keifer, ex-speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and by Mr.
Chance and Mr. Southard. Mr. Crall moved that the secretary be instructed
to send the cordial greetings of this Society to the Ohio Society of California

250

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and the Ohio Society of St. Louis. Carried. The president announced the
following banquet committee, with the statement that he had not included in
it any of the beneficiaries of the mayor: Calvin S. Brice, Whitelaw Reid,
George Hoadly, Jno. J. JMcCook, Wager Swayne, Abner McKinley, J. Q. A.
Ward, E. B. Thomas, Leander H. Crall, Andrew J. C. Foye, Geo. E. Arm-
strong, A. D. Juilliard, Colgate Hoyt, S. S. Packard, Milton I. Southard,
Wm. L. Brown, Warren Higley, D. H. Bates, Mahlon Chance, Emerson Mc-
Millan, P. F. Collier, W. S. Hawk. Mr. Hawk resigned later, and Mr. Pren-
tiss was selected by the committee to fill the vacancy.

At the meeting of December 13th Mr. Chard moved that a resolution of
condolence to the President of the United States, upon the death of his mother
be adopted by the Society. The chair appointed Messrs. Chard, Higley and
Wilson, who later in the evening presented the following:

^^ Whereas, The Ohio Society of New York has learned with the deepest
regret of the passing away of the aged and revered mother of an honored
member of our Society, the President of the United States ; therefore,

^^Resolved, That this Society extends to President McKinley the expres-
sion of its sincerest sympathy and condolence in this hour of his great be-
reavement."

The report was adopted, and the secretary was instructed to forward a
copy of the resolutions to the President. The president announced the stand-
ing committees as follows: Literature and art. Homer Lee, H. T. Waltman,
J. Q. A. Ward, Wm. S. Hawk, Geo. W. Perkins. Entertainment, Warren
Higley, P. Bradlee Strong, David H. Bates, Jr., Noah H. Swayne 2d, Wm.
H. Caldwell. Library, P. F. Collier, C. C. Shayne, Abner McKinley, Daniel
Pritchard, Jno. D. Archbold. Auditing, Henry A. Glassford, L. C. Hopkins,
F. C. Loveland, H. H. Brockway, J. Stedman Converse.

The following acknowledgment of the above resolutions of sympathy was
received at a later date :

" Executive Mansion, Washington, Dec. 28, 1897.

" My Dear Sir: At the request of the President and in his behalf I beg
leave to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 21st instant, transmitting
a copy of the preamble and resolutions of the Ohio Society of New York in
regard to the death of the President's mother. The President wishes me to
assure you, and through you the Society, that the words of tender sympathy
contained in these resolutions are gratefully appreciated by him and will be
lastingly remembered. " Very sincerely yours,

" John Addison Porter, Secretary to the President.
" Mr. Evarts L. Prentiss, Secretary Ohio Society of New York."

251

CHAPTER XIII
1898

THE twelfth annual banquet of the Ohio Society was given, as has been
already indicated, in honor of Hon. Wm. L. Strong, who had recently
retired from the office of mayor of New York. It was the first one given
by the Society at the Waldorf-Astoria. The date was Saturday, January 8,
1898. The dinner was held in the beautiful Astor Gallery, one of the show
rooms of the big hotel, and was attended by about two hundred members of
the Society and a number of their guests. The numerous small tables at
which the guests sat were luxuriantly decorated with roses and green things
of various sorts, most of which eventually found their way into the galleries
where sat many of the wives and sisters of the Ohioans, to view the festivities
below. '

Gen. Henry L. Burnett, president of the Society, sat in the centre of
the guests' table, and at his right sat Colonel Strong, the guest of honor. At
his left sat Bishop Potter. Others at the table were ex- Attorney-General Jud-
son Harmon ; James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland ; ex-Senator Calvin S. Brice, John
W. Vrooman, E. M. Harmon, Charles W. Mackey, Edward S. Wilson, Wil-
liam Lyall, General Wager Swayne and Chancellor MacCracken. Among
those present in the gallery were Mrs. W. L. Strong, Mrs. Henry L. Burnett,
Mrs. Homer Lee, Mrs. S. S. Packard, Miss Packard, Mrs. A. D. Shattuck,
Miss Abom, Mrs. E. S. Wallace, Mrs. T. H. Wheeler, Mrs. Bealle, Mrs. An-
drew J. C. Foye, Mrs. Southard, Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Freeman Ward, Mrs. Pen-
field and Mrs. McMillan.

The menu cards were singularly artistic and appropriate. Upon the
face of the document was the buckeye in fac-simile, and beneath it were the
lines:

The friendly buckeye leaves expand,

Five-fingered, like an open hand

Of trust and brotherhood the sign —

Be welcome! What is mine is thine.

Inside the leaves was an excellent portrait of Colonel Strong done in
half-tone. The menu card was so popular that the supply was not equal to the
demand.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The members of the Society and their guests began to find their way to
the Astor Gallery at 6.30 o'clock. They were greeted by the reception com-
mittee, which consisted of the following gentlemen: William Ford Upson,
chairman ; George P. Tangeman, Edward S. Wallace, H. H. Waltman, Quin-
ton Corwine, W. H. Caldwell, H. R. De Milt, Homer Lee, Paul D. Cravath,
Charles F. Dean, James G. Newcomb, Samuel McMillan, Edgar A. Follett,
Henry B. Wilson, Frank Brainerd.

An inforaial reception was held in the spacious ante-chamber, and soon
after 7 o'clock the guests sat down to dinner. From that time on the succes-
sion of good things was incessant and jollity and good feeling ran high. The
band in the gallery varied its " all the popular tunes of the day" with an oc-
casional old-fashioned or patriotic song, in which the guests joined heartily,
being assisted oftentimes by the soprano voices in the gallery. The ladies,
while spectators, were by no means neglected, and there was an almost con-
stant procession of the diners from the floor to the galleries, where a second
informal reception was in progress.

The Ohioans never do things in a half-hearted fashion, and, having de-
termined to show their appreciation of the manner in which their fellow-
member, Colonel Strong, guarded the tremendous trust imposed upon him
by the citizens of the city of New York, they did it in their characteristically
thorough fashion.

Colonel Strong was besieged during the course of the dinner by friends,
who wished to grasp his hand, and all the speakers, higlily eulogistic as they
were, only voiced the sentiments of the guests who loudly applauded their
words.

G^eneral Burnett set the keynote of the dinner when he said, in calling
the guests to order : " We come here to-night to say to our comrade and com-
panion who has served for three years as mayor of New York: 'You have
done well, you have faithfully discharged your duties and you have laid aside
the robes of office upon which there is neither spot nor soil.' "

Secretary Sherman, Senator Allison and Abram S. Hewitt were at first
expected to be present, but were unavoidably detained. The speakers who
were present, however, including Bishop Potter, James H. Hoyt, ex- Attorney-
General Harmon, General Burnett and others, expressed the esteem in which
the Society held its guests in graceful and clever after-dinner fashion.

Gen. Henry L. Burnett called the guests to order at 9.30 o'clock, and in
opening the after-dinner exercises spoke as follows :

" Fellow members of the Ohio Society and their guests : To the guests
we give greeting and welcome, and we will not forget the ladies. We welcome
you to this, our twelfth annual banquet, and permit me to say to the mem-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

bers of the Ohio Society that the last year has been the most prosperous finan-
cially and in increase of numbers of any year of our existence.

" We are strong, loyal to each other, prosperous in all material respects
and look forward to a prosperous, happy and loving future. We found our
quarters on Fifth Avenue small for our numbers, and as you see we had these
buildings erected for us. (Laughter and applause.) We had them reason-
ably and artistically decorated and furnished. These are now our headquar-
ters, where we receive and welcome all of our Ohio friends without money and
without price. Others may come who are not so fortunate as to be members
or bom in Ohio and pay the price.

" Our friend and manager, our steward, Mr. Boldt, takes charge of these
quarters for us and we are reasonably well satisfied with his management.
Mr. Boldt intended to be bom in Ohio. He started from Belgium or Germany,
his parents did, but by some little mistake in the date he was born in Pennsyl-
vania and did not reach Ohio. He has spread, as you see, throughout the
various rooms some plants that he thought were buckeyes. They are not;
they are palms. But when you assemble here again all these rooms now called
palm rooms will be filled with buckeye trees and you will feel quite at home.

" Now, my friends, in assembling here to-night, at this, our twelfth an-
nual banquet, let us commence our exercises seriously by sending to our com-
rade, companion in this order, the man, William McKinley, our sympathy
and greeting over his late bereavement. Our hearts go out to him in deep
love and sympathy in that greatest trial any human soul ever knows, the sev-
erence of that tenderest and purest relation that exists on earth, the love of
mother and son. To him we send our love and sympathy.

*' And now, friends, to your feet, and to the President of the United
States, and to the flag of our country we give our first toast. (Cheers and ap-
plause; "America" sung.)

" Before passing from the question of our Society I desire to say that
our example here, to our comrades, has been followed by sister societies having
been formed in Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco. The youngest of the
sisterhood is the San Francisco Society, and from them I have a little mes-
sage that I desire to read : ' On behalf of the Ohio Society of Cahf omia I
acknowledge the receipt of your cordial greetings and thank you. We know
of no way to give expression of our good will better than to wish you the
perpetuation of your past. The advice of Emerson to hitch your wagon to
a star we have adopted. Our star is your Society.' (Cries of "Good" and
applause. )

" Three years ago and a little more, when our president was about laying
down or ending his term of office, Colonel Strong (much applause), there was
a general expression on the part of the members to have an opportunity to

254

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

meet him and to express to him their esteem and their love for him as a man,
to take him by the hand as he was about to enter upon the new office to which
he had just been elected, mayor of the city of New York, and to say to him,
* Godspeed,' ' God be with you,' and to express to the people of New York
our confidence that they had elected a man who would honestly, fearlessly,
cleanly administer the affairs of this great city; that he was of that stuff of
which good officers are made, and therefore and then we gave him a banquet
and sent him on his new way with our blessing and with expressions of our con-
fidence. On that occasion Colonel Strong took occasion to say, ' This banquet
is well enough, but perhaps at the end of my official career you will not be
quite so free and willing to give me a banquet.' To that doubt of his this
night is the response. (Applause.)

" We come here to-night to say to our companion and comrade of this
order, to the man who has sei-ved three years as mayor of New York, elected
by its people, ' You have done well,' ' You have faithfully discharged your
duties,' ' You have laid off the robes of office upon which there is neither spot
nor soilure.' ' You have administered your trust faithfully in the interests of
the people, the citizenship of New York, and we welcome you back into our
ranks with outstretched hands and with warm hearts.'

" I cannot detain you because it is not the province of the toastmaister
to take the time of the guests and of the members. Colonel Strong, perhaps
by reason of his native modesty and his not being used to much public speak-
ing, would not like to immediately respond to this toast, and therefore to
Mayor Strong's administration and Mayor Strong as our guest to-night I
bid you all rise and drink. (Much applause. All present arose and drank.)

" Now, I do not propose to ask Colonel Strong immediately while the
blushes are still suffusing his face, to respond to this toast, and in place of
Colonel Strong I call upon one whom I fancy there is no man who observes
the physical life of New York, its material prosperity with closer, keener eye,
and no man who has in his heart the welfare, spiritual and moral, the uplifting
of the better part of all the life of New York, than the man whom I now pre-
sent, Bishop Potter of New York."

Bishop Potter said : " According to the instructions, gentlemen, which
I have received from the chairman I am to make Colonel Strong's speech.
There are difficulties in the way of the discharge of that task, for the Colonel
has a facility in the use of emphatic language (laughter), which if I were
to indulge would hardly be regarded as canonical. When he began his task,
knowing his characteristics in that direction, I assured him privately that I
would issue to him a license for what was called the power of anathema within
discreet limits. I am not sure that he has always confined himself to these
limits, and I am quite free to say, now that I am permitted to address him

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

unofficially, that I am not at all sure that if I had been in his place I should
have done any better.

" On one occasion, in the house of bishops of which I am a member, a
very brilliant man, known, I fancy, to a good many in this room should I
mention his name, and who has now gone to his rest, had the misfortune, which
is quite possible, let me say, to bishops as well as other men, to lose his temper
and indulge in language which was not altogether parliamentary, and for
which the next morning he felt constrained, when the house of bishops as-
sembled, to apologize. He did so in a most noble and manly way. But then
he added : ' I feel constrained to say that in view of the irritations to which
one is subjected who has a seat in this body, that I think that this Right Rev-
erend House should set forth a form of words to be used by a Christian man
under circumstances of great provocation.' It was in accordance with the
spirit of that protest and entreaty that I gave to my friend the Colonel the
license to which I have referred.

" I am extremely glad to be permitted in any sense to reply for him
to-day. I have a relation to Ohio, though I was not born in it, or, as some-
body who has spelled the word ' bom ' with the addition of a letter ' e,' borne
from it, for in my early ministry I was honored with an invitation to become
the president of Kenyon College. I was not able to accept it, but somebody
said to me many years afterward : ' What is the reason that you always
speak of Kenyon College in such an extremely tender manner?' 'Well,' I
said, ' I suppose my attitude toward Kenyon College and Ohio is very much
that of the young woman who has received an offer of marriage. She may
have felt constrained to decline it, but she always entertains a great admira-
tion of the good taste of the man who made it.' I think you will see, gentle-
men, that I have ^ very personal reason for loving Ohio, and if I had not I
confess I love it for what Ohio has given to New York. As one looks over
this room to-night he must be impressed as I have been, and as I said to my
friend on the left, with the physical qualities of the men who are made in
Oliio. They build you large there, gentlemen. I do not mean Hoyt par-
ticularly, except at this end (pointing to the head) ; it is as Mr. Hoyt said,
the contrast between the physical aspect of a body of men at the New Eng-
land dinner and at this dinner is significant, and that Mr. Boldt under these
conditions should have met your expectations, gentlemen, does him great
honor.

" But there is still another reason why I am glad to come here to-night
and express my gratitude to Ohio. Ohio gave us, gentlemen, our most dis-
tinguished guest of this evening, and in his lineage there has been mixed two
strains which I think have had a pre-eminent value in the building of the
civilization of the land of which you and I are citizens. I have been cate-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

chising the Colonel as to his ancestry to-night, for he is under my spiritual
jurisdiction, and he tells me that his father was bom in Connecticut, and that
the mother was born in Pennsylvania, but was Holland Dutch. There are
two of the three strains that have made our civilization from its early history.
They were Huguenot, they were Dutch, they were Enghsh. The land that
gave us our language, the people who settled in Connecticut, and the land
that gave to Colonal Strong his mother gave to us the men who have laid the
foundation of New Amsterdam, and out of these two strains, pre-eminently, I
venture to say, have come a great deal that is best and noblest in our American
civilization. We are glad that it has given us the man who sits here to-night,
who, I think, illustrates some of the best and finest qualities of that civilization.

" Mayor Strong has his infirmities. One of them I have already alluded
to. (Laughter.) The other I should be disposed to say was his weakness
for tea (laughter), but if you will observe closely, gentlemen, in the immediate
neighborhood of the place at which he sits to-night there is no tea there. When
it comes to dining with a body of Ohio men he don't want it. On the con-
trary, we remember to-night, and I venture to say that I speak for the intel-
ligence and character and substance of the city of which I am proud to be a
citizen to-night, we remember those distinguished virtues which have adorned
his official career, and which, I think, crown it with a distinct and exceptional
lustre.

" A Celtic gentleman speaking of a fellow countryman who had been an
alderman in the town in which they both lived, said of his predatory habits :
' Bedad, sor, if he should land on an uninhabited island and be met on landing
by a tribe of naked savages, he would have his hand in the pocket of every
one of them before sundown.' (Laughter.)

" I wonder if it has ever struck you as it has struck me that from the
beginning to the close of his stainless administration, nobody has ever dared
to insinuate that the man who has held for the last three years the office of the
mayor of the city of New York was going out one single copper richer for it.
(Great applause.) No most audacious or unscrupulous foe has ever for one
instant ventured to suggest it. What a tribute to the quality of the man !
To his absolute singleness of purpose, to his entire consecration of himself and
his best gifts to a great public. With what patience he has administered that
office, with what singular and scrupulous courtesy he has received everybody
who has come to him — I hope tradition and courtesy will not vanish from that
office — ^with what invariable gentleness he has listened to every one!

" My wife said to me once : ' How much happier we would all be if you
had a temper like Colonel Strong.' (Laughter.) I have no doubt that Mrs.
Strong knows the difference. We cannot all have tempers like Colonel Strong,
but I venture to think that we may aspire to have an integrity as fine and

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as high as his is, to give to a great office our best gifts with constant unfal-
tering devotion ; to let no gout — I wonder where he got it with that ancestry ?
— to let no twinge of the gout ruffle liis temper or impede his faithfulness to
public duty, and to sit here as he has done to-night with the consciousness of
whatever may be the future of New York. God bless it, say we all; he has
given the service of a clear, vigorous mind and of trained powers, and of a
high order of intelligence to advancing its best interests, and absolute and
utter unselfishness. Now what is the one conviction which the experience of
such an office has taught him? I confess for myself that among the things
I admire and love there are few that I admire more than the quality in him
of being taught by great place and recognizing the significance in its highest
aspects of the responsibilities of public office. I do not forget that he is a
Republican. So am I, my dear mayor. I do not think you have always beheved
it. I do not forget that he has striven to be loyal to the party of which he
has always been an honored member. But I was profoundly impressed the
other day in reading an interview in which he said that the conviction with
which he was going out of office, as to that office itself, was that it was a
position which required business ability and that the business of being a good
mayor was substantially the business quality of being a good man of business
anywhere. In other words, that the public had a right to look for honesty,
fidelity, capacity in great public officers. When you have said these three
things, you have stated the qualities of a gi'eat public officer, and when the
city and state and the nation have gotten hold of those three principles
they are precisely the same qualities that we have come here to-night to honor
and rejoice in.

" I notice, gentlemen, and I call the attention of the angels who grace
the upper airs (laughter and applause at the reference to the ladies in the
balcony), who have been looking down upon us to-night, to the fact that a
few moments ago they apparently have removed them largely, the tables
other than this one were adorned with red roses, but when it came to the table
at which our guest was seated, my dear and honored friend on the right, the
rose which was placed at his plate and which appropriately he wears at this
moment upon his breast, was a white rose, true symbol of his stainless integ-
rity and his pure and noble record."

President Burnett said : " At our former banquet, to which I alluded,
we had present with us the governor of the state of Ohio, who had known Colo-
nel Strong long and well, and he had this to say in a brief speech which he
gave us that evening. The words seem to me especially fitting to what Bishop
Potter has just said: ' I counted myself fortunate to be in the city on this
occasion when my kinsmen from the state of Ohio, represented in this asso-
ciation were assembled to do honor to their old president and to the mayor-

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elect of the city of New York. I come to join with them my tribute and
respect to one whom I have known long and have long honored and esteemed
as one of my old and time-honored and much beloved friends. You have
selected him as the mayor of this great city, not because he is from the state
of Ohio ; you have selected him for what he is, for what he represents, for what
he stands for. He represents in a long business life honest, clean, manly
methods, and I am quite sure to the administration of the great office to which
he has been so recently chosen he will bring the same clean business, manly
methods that have characterized every business connection of his life. I want
to assure my associates of the Ohio Society that Ohio is justly proud of the
distinction which has been given to one of her early citizens. Colonel Strong,
and I wish for him as every Ohioan does, no matter what his political asso-
ciations may be, a successful administration of the municipal government of
the greatest city of the greatest state of the greatest nation under the sun.*
Those were the words of the then governor, now our great President, William
McKinley. (Applause.) I think the spiritual strength which Colonel Strong
has now received both from the bishop and otherwise will enable to respond
to the toast of our guest of the evening. Colonel Strong." (Cheers and ap-
plause as Colonel Strong arose.)

Colonel Strong said: "Mr. President, our guests, ladies and fellow-
members of the Ohio Society: I think I ought not to say anything to you
boys to-night. The bishop has given me all the absolution necessary for one
evening, and it does not seem fitting hardly for me to make any comment
further, but I want to say one thing to the boys here, that I was quite sur-
prised when I was informed by the president of your Society that they in-
tended to pay me this compliment. They came to see me some five or six
weeks ago, and I felt then singularly queer that the Ohio Society should think
of paying this compliment to me. Three years ago, on a similar occasion, if
the banquet given then to me had been at the close of my official career, I
should have felt that what I had done in the city of New York would have
been endorsed thoroughly by this Society, and I would have then rejoiced that
you intended to give me this banquet. Now that I have become a private citi-
zen, and this Society asks me for the second time to be its guest, fills my heart
and soul with that thankfulness that words cannot express — a deep feehng of
gratitude that I shall always feel towards each member of this Society. There
are occasions when the heart is too full for utterance, and this is one of them,
notwithstanding the suiToundings are so delightful. There are friends to
the right of me, friends to the left of me, and hosts of them in front of me,
all joyous and happy in the enjoyment of this delicious dinner, served so
bountifully by this, the grandest hostelry in the world, the pride of the city of
New York, which is to-day the second city in population on the globe, and the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

peer of London in Its educational advantages, and general care of its citizens,
whether rich or poor. The position which I have held for three years has
brought me in close touch with the great charitable institutions in the city,
as well as the city's care of its own poor, and, notwithstanding the large num-
ber of people that have been out of employment during the last three or four
years in this city, necessitating additional expenditures of money by the au-
thorities, as well as additional drafts on the open-handed charities of this city,
yet when we compare the results with London and other large cities of the
world, there is no citizen of New York but who can feel proud of the work
done. ( Applause. )

" The distribution of money by the different departments of the city of
New York to the public contractors and for their own work during the last
year has averaged about $50,000 per working day, and that has all gone to
the laboring classes of the city of New York, and it will ever be a living monu-
ment to the different departments of the city government, in my opinion.
My own duties in the mayor's office I shall not speak of, only to call your
attention to the good work done by the heads of departments in reducing the
death rate in the last four years a little over five points. To the improvements
in the Correction Department, particularly in tearing down the old Tombs,
which has been a menace to the city of New York for the last ten or twelve
years, and which has been presented by every grand jury that has met once
a year in the last ten or twelve years. To the changes in the Charities De-
partment, making changes in all the buildings on the island used for charita-
ble purposes, and re-creating, nominally, Bellevue Hospital. To the Park
Department, for the increase in the number of parks in the congested parts
of the city, both on the East and West sides, and the great increase in the
public school buildings, sufficient to give every child in the boroughs of Man-
hattan and the Bronx a seat. To the Public Works Department, for the
additional asphalt pavement in the avenues and side streets, and especially for
laying two forty-eight-inch water mains from the Central Park reservoir to
the lower end of the city, which will ever be a crowning work of this adminis-
tration, furnishing from ten to fifteen millions of gallons of water per day
below Canal street. To the Dock Department, for the magnificent work
started in building piers sufficiently large to take in the largest steamships
that float on the Atlantic, and giving us four or five recreation piers on the
water fronts, which will be one of the greatest boons to those who are com-
pelled to reside in this city during the hot months of summer. To the good
work of the Fire Department, and last, but not least, for the condition of our
streets on the 1st of January, 1898, as compared with their condition on the
1st of January, 1895 (applause), and many other extensive enterprises that
have been started, such as the new East River bridge and the location of the
public library on Reservoir square.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" I am not going to say anything about the Pohce Department, because
that speaks for itself, and has been speaking for the last three years. We
have had a jolly time with them, and for the first time I beheve in the history
of New York city you have had a quiet time for the last three or four months.
You have had a chief that even the present administration has selected to con-
tinue as chief, and with five thousand pohce officers belonging to the borough
of Manhattan and the Bronx, and two thousand in the other boroughs, a
force of seven thousand men, I believe there is no such pohce force on the face of
the earth. All of these different enterprises must be criticised by others.
There are some pleasant duties, however, that I have been called upon to in-
dulge in, the visiting of our public schools in their hours of study, and to see
the interest the principals and their lady teachers take in their work, interest-
ing each scholar in his or her duty to the city, state and nation, and engender-
ing a spirit of patriotism in the young minds which will probably continue
with them through their lives, and I fully believe that the condition of our
public schools to-day in the city of New York has no superior in any city of
the world. A visit to our many charitable institutions will amply repay any
of you who has not had that pleasure, and see for yourselves the manner in
which the money that is appropriated to these different institutions is ac-
counted for by them, and among the regrets that I shall carry with me into my
private life was the inability to satisfy all the demands made upon me by
those who had seen better times and had become impoverished by misfortune
and nominally without friends to help them.

" Then again the dark clouds would roll away, and a gallant young
couple appear at the desk, anxious to have the marriage ceremony per-
formed, and that, the bishop has said to me, was where I interfered with him,
and my reward for the service would be a sweet kiss from the bride. (I.augh-
ter.) And then quite often a few of the good ladies of New York would
honor me with a visit about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, or half-past 4, when
we would take a cup of tea. Some of these young ladies would look up with
their bright and smiling faces and say, ' Mr. Mayor, this is really tea and
nothing else.' (Great laughter.)

" Now, one word about the election of 1894. The platform was busi-
ness, not politics. I have endeavored to adhere to that pledge. I have not
injected politics into any act of mine. I selected gentlemen from all avoca-
tions and parties that were in favor of a business administration, and in doing
so was quite sure that the real politicians would be dissatisfied with that course,
but to me it seemed that I was pledged to just that very thing, and it was a
pleasure to me to carry out that pledge. The result of the work is before you,
and having retired from the office, and commenced picking up the threads of
business again, I take additional pleasure in joining my old friends in the

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Ohio Society in promoting its interests and its pleasures." (Great applause.)

President Burnett said : " I do not know that there can be better testi-
mony given to the administration of Mayor Strong than that of his predeces-
sor in that office — a very able man and a Democrat — ^Abram S. Hewitt.
We expected him to be with us to-night and he confidently counted on being
here, but his health did not permit, and he sends this message : ' I can assure
you that I am very grateful to the Ohio Society for the privilege of testifying
my respect to my friend, ex-Mayor Strong, whose administration will always
be regarded, I think, as the culmination of the effort of many men to introduce
better methods into the municipal government of this city. The work actually
accomplished is stupendous. The mayor was fortunate in having not only the
opportunity but the power to carry his ideas into effect, and his memory will
always be identified with the improvements in the streets, the docks, the
schools and the charities for which good citizens had long prayed in vain.'

" Companions, we have with us to-night one of Ohio's greatest living sons,
the recent attorney-general, Mr. Harmon, and its gives me peculiar pleasure to
present him to you."

Judge Harmon said : " Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen : When
a Buckeye from home is invited to address Buckeyes who have been trans-
planted— Buckeyes abroad, as it were — he is usually expected, I suppose, to
talk about Ohio. Her origin and history do afford many tempting themes.
So do the union in her people of the best strains of the human race and her
position at the centre of this great commonwealth of states, allied by blood
and interest with all sections, but belonging to none. But I have noticed
that those are most given to talking about themselves who feel more certain
about the past and the future than they do about the present. We can afford
to be silent about Ohio. Besides, when fitness compels us to break this silence
now and then, though we merely mention a few well-known facts, we are ac-
cused of boasting. I have, therefore, chosen another subject. It is historic,
but it is not confined between the river and the lake. It may be called pre-
historic as to Ohio."

Judge Harmon's address was replete with historic information, regard-
ing the growth of Ohio and the nation, and of the ideas out of which they
grew.

President Burnett said : " There is a message and a thought for the sons
of Ohio in New York that they may well ponder and patriotically work out.
It seems to me a great thought. At our former banquets there appeared from
Ohio one who gave us peculiar pleasure, and when this banquet was first sug-
gested, almost unanimously you petitioned your president and the chairman
of your banquet committee. Senator Brice, that he should not be omitted. He
had touched our hearts ; had aroused our enthusiasm to a pitch seldom reached

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

bj any speaker. Tliat man is with us again to-night out of his grace and mag-
nanimity, and I present to you one of Ohio's most briUiant sons in that of James
H. Hoyt."

Mr. Hoyt said: " Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I confess my sur-
prise when Hstening to the very eloquent address of the bishop of this diocese,
who is admired for his eloquence, beloved for his tolerance, and also very highly
esteemed because he is able to keep up with the times, that when he was dis-
charging his vicarious functions so gracefully and beautifully he expressed
himself as unable to discover where it was that our very esteemed friend, Mr.
Strong, got the germs from which the bodily ailment to which he referred
came. (Laughter.) I am surprised at this statement on the part of the
bishop, and regret that he should have so publicly admitted that he is not quite
abreast with the science of the day because, having known that Mr. Strong
was interfering with him in his matrimonial business, and competing with him,
as he has publicly announced to-night, by simply kissing the bride, the bishop
should have known that science tells us that there is very great danger of the
worst germs being transmitted to us by the most platonic osculations.

" I sympathize greatly with Mayor Strong to-night. The bishop, when
he referred to his vivid English and picturesque vocabulary, put him under a
disadvantage. He is on his good behavior to-night. He is somewhat in the
situation of the Irish lady who went to the confessional. She went on a Satur-
day, and having told the father confessor of some few things that she was
ready to admit, and concealed from him others which it was perhaps better
that she should confine to herself, and having been put to a state of grace by the
confessor until the following Tuesday, who informed her that any dereliction
from duty would make his absolution, for which she had paid a handsome price,
worthless. As she came out of the box she was met by Bridget, with whom she
had had considerable trouble in the past. She said to her : ' Mary Maloney, if I
had known it was you there, being a hard working girl, I would have brought
my work, because I cannot waste the whole day sitting around here while you
are concealing from the father what you have done and confessing only a por-
tion of your crimes.' Mary was completely overcome, and replied : ' Bridget,

you know I can't talk back to you, for I am in a state of grace, but d you,

wait till Tuesday next and then I will talk to you.' (Much laughter.)

" If I may be permitted a paradox, there are present here to-night some
sturdy Buckeyes whose roots are still firmly embedded in the fertile soil of that
favored region in which a bountiful and all-wise Providence first planted the
fruitful seed from which we have sprung. We have hitherto resisted all at-
tempts to transplant us. Those of you who at one time grew alongside us and
mingled your brilliant foliage with our own, but are now, moved by philan-
thropic motives, of course, affording grateful shade in other sections, or orna-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

meriting other landscapes, know how eager and insistent the efforts to uproot
us must have been and are ; for the Msculus glabra, that is, the fetid, or Ohio,
buckeye, is a tree which no community seems well able to get along without.
But we have loyally remained where God in his infinite wisdom originally
planted us, and where, it is safe to assume, he intended us to stay, since he made
us indigenous to the soil. Our tap-roots still suck refreshment from the sleep-
ing waters of the great lake, and of the rolling Ohio, and of the beautiful
Muskingum, to say nothing of the rich and varied nutriment they derive from
the glacier-like Cuyahoga. To such Buckeyes the occasion we are here cele-
brating is not one of unmixed joy. To adapt the words of the old song, our
spirits have only been kept up by pouring spirits down. Your applause and
laughter seem to us somewhat incongruous, if not wholly out of place.

" There are two reasons for our melancholy. In the first place, you may
have heard that there is a very high wind prevailing in Ohio just now, and we
much fear that some of our most imposing Buckeyes will be uprooted and others
somewhat disfigured by it. We have withstood stiff gales before, but this is
assuming cyclonic proportions, and I regret very much to say that there are
no present signs of its decreasing in violence, either. We are told that cyclones
clear the atmosphere and blow away mists ; but, unfortunately, they clear the
earth also, and blow away more substantial things quite as completely. It is
not much consolation to a man who stands among the ruins of his home, with
crops destroyed, and buildings demolished, and with fences blown down and
John Sherman not by to fix them, to find the sky clear above his head. (Ap-
plause. ) He would naturally prefer to be covered by his roof, however humble,
rather than by the vaulted heavens, however cerulean. He cannot help regret-
ting that his habitation was in the track of the storm at all. He cannot help
wishing that the cyclone had stayed out in Kansas, or Illinois, or in Missouri,
where they have cyclone cellars and hardier stock, and are better prepared to
endure such violent atmospheric disturbances.

" You perhaps remember the story of the Missouri mule, which was bodily
carried by a cyclone from one county to another. When the storm struck him
he was quietly grazing in one river bottom, and when he was found he was
quietly grazing in another. It turned out that he had been carried sidewise ; and
the editor of the local paper triumphantly announced that ' Even a cyclone
knew better than to fool around the hind legs of a Missouri mule.' (Laughter. ) •
We are very much afraid that Ohio will not be quite as desirable a place of resi-
dence in the immediate future as it has been in the past, for cyclones have an
uncomfortable habit of sometimes recurring, and, besides, Ohio is so important
a part of the United States, and her interests are so interwoven with the inter-
ests of other localities, that it makes all apprehensive that the catastrophe which
has smitten us may result in damage to other portions of the country. There is

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a force or influence, derived from prior character or deeds and an expectation
of future accomplishments, based on past achievements, and they both make up
a definition of what men call prestige. We are not carrying about as much pres-
tige with us this year as we did last. We are just a little shy of it. Our prior
deeds are all right; but our expectations of what our future accomplishments
will be are not quite as dazzling as they have been, and so to-night it is a Httle
difficult for us to

" 'Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth.'

" But that is not all that troubles us to-night. To put it mildly, we are
regretfully sui-prised that the citizens of this metropolis, rich in art, in accumu-
lated capital, in tall buildings, in refinement and in intercepted, not intercept-
ing, sewers, are apparently utterly unable to appreciate and hold on to a really
good thing when they have once grasped it. When you have had for your chief
executive an Ohioan, and especially such an able, broad-minded, patriotic, ob-
stinate, or, rather, I should say, determined, and non-partisan an Ohioan as the
appropriately named Mr. Strong, the fact that you have not seen fit to continue
to avail yourselves of his conspicuous services, when you could have retained
them, undoubtedly for a very inadequate sum, fills us with a sorrowful chagrin.
(Great applause.) Your substitution of the Tulip for the Buckeye startles us.

" As I have said, under all circumstances, this occasion is not one of un-
mixed joy to us Ohioans, and it reminds me of a story of a German gentleman
who had the good sense to leave his native Hanover and settle, not only in
Ohio, but in the northern part of it. He did this some years ago, however. A
few months ago his first wife died, and within three days from the time when he
had planted her remains with appropriate ceremonies, and had thus tearfully
and sorrowfully done his best to put her in the way of a glorified resurrection,
he married again. His friends and neighbors, in order delicately, but unequiv-
ocally, to convey to him a distinct impression that his second plunge into the
troubled waters of matrimony had been, in their judgment, a trifle premature,
surrounded his dwelling on the evening of his wedding day and made the cir-
cumambient ether eloquent with emphatic but rather unmusical sounds. The
widowed bridegroom, not panoplied for war, rushed from the nuptial chamber
out upon the porch and thus addressed them : ' These noises is shame-
ful. You don't got any manners at all. You forgot gombletely that it ain't
a week since in this house some one has already died! ' (Laughter.)

" Up to three years ago I spent the major portion of my leisure time in a
diligent but ineff'ectual search of historic records in order to discover the pre-
cise language which General Washington used when he rebuked Lee on the
battlefield of Monmouth. There had been sudden and critical emergencies in
my experience when I sadly felt the need of a richer, more vigorous and more

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sonorous vocabulary than a Christian training had permitted me to acquire. I
had often found myself in the condition of the Maine farmer, the tailboard of
whose cart had been pushed upward by a bad boy at the bottom of a long hill,
and who found, when he an'ived at the top, that although he still had his
wagon with him, his load of potatoes had not accompanied him up the incline.
When asked by a friend who happened to come along that way why he did
not relieve his pent-up feelings by profanity, he replied, ' My eddication's been
so durned limited that I don't know a single cuss word that'll do this here land-
slide justice.' (Laughter.) I therefore endeavored to find out the exact
phraseology which Washington used on that historic occasion, so that I should
not in future be hampered by the lack of expressions sufficiently lurid to ade-
quately express my meaning and relieve my feelings when occasion arose, and
yet, at the same time, silence the reproaches of those near and dear to me by
being able to assure them that I was exactly, not only in spirit, but in word,
following the illustrious example of the Father of my Country. All my efforts
to thus improve myself were, however, unavailing. But, thanks to the honored
guest of this evening, this limitation has been entirely removed during the last
three years, for whenever I found it needful or soothing to ornament my speech
by the use of virile adjectives I have been able to do so with perfect impunity
and satisfaction, and have at once disarmed all hostile criticism by the mere
statement, when I have been brought to book, that I was only quoting the
words of so eminent and worthy an authority as the great and good Mayor
Strong. I feel sure that Mr. Horr had his honor in mind when he said that
' swearing is the unnecessary use of profanity.' I am sure, at any rate, that
if his honor, worn out by the importunity of some unworthy office-seeker, or ex-
asperated by the incompetence of some public official, has ever, as has been re-
ported, let fall a good mouth-filling oath, in his case, as in the case of Uncle
Toby, ' The accusing angel, which flew up to heaven's chancery with tlie oath,
blushed as he gave it in ; and the recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped
a tear on the word and blotted it out forever.' Mr. Strong no longer occupies
his official position, but he will nevertheless not only be still addressed, but al-
ways considered by good citizens everywhere, as 'His Honor.' (Cries of
"Good.") His administration in one sense is over, but in another very real
sense he will still continue to execute the will of the patriotic people of New
York. The appointments not only of his immediate but of his remote successors
will be better because his in the main have been so good. They will be more effi-
cient in the public service because he was so zealous and earnest. His example
will be not only a stimulus but a goad. The fumes of his historic teapot no
longer cut the close atmosphere of the mayor's office with their pungent fra-
grance (laughter), but the simple hospitality he so graciousl}^ dispensed, which
strengthened his supporters and revived even the di'ooping spirits of unsuc-

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ccssful applicants for his favor, will not soon be forgotten. The curtain has
indeed been rung down on the drama, but the recollection of how well the lead-
ing actor did his part will be long fresh in the minds of his audience. He has
stood for that which is best in American citizenship, for firmness, not for arro-
gance ; for good business, not for mere partisanship ; for an energetic and prac-
tical honest}', not for sanctimonious pretence ; for efficiency, not for glitter, and
for the people, not for himself. He has dropped a very large pebble into the
ocean of public opinion, and the wave it has made will beat upon far-distant
shores." (Great applause.)

President Burnett said : " We who live in New York feel the force of what
has just been said. Colonel Strong has ' paced ' the machine that is to follow,
and the speed must be kept up or that machine will fall out of the race. Those
we have known best, the citizens of New York, will not be content with what is
less, that which is not so good, and if that high administration, that pure and
just government he has given us, is not still with us, then will be aroused* in this
city and throughout the land a public opinion that will sweep any administra-
tion that undertakes to administer the laws of this great city out of power.
Tallyrand once said to Napoleon when boasting how strongly he was enthroned,
' There is a power in France more omnipotent than you and all your soldiers,
and that is the power of public opinion.' That power is always at work, always
thinking, always testing, and unless the measure that Colonel Strong gave us of
good government is not maintained, that omnipotent power will sweep any
administration into oblivion. In our Ohio Society we have had a teacher.
He has undertaken to teach Ohio's sons how to make speeches. He has been
at Avork on our Brother Foye for a year or two, and he has brought him up to a
facility where Bourke Cockran and others of our eloquent speakers grow pale
with envy when they hear him. Now he has also been training others, and I
want him to tell our friends here, especially the members of the Ohio Society,
how he has done it. We want to hear a word from Brother Packard."

Mr. S. S. Packard said : " Mr. President, do I understand that you wish
me to claim the credit of our friend's great achievements as a public speaker?
I would dislike to do it before this audience. I am a modest man, and while
I confess to have had something to do in the matter, I think it would be better
to make my claim in private. One thing we will all assent to, viz. : that while
our friend was simply President of the Ohio Society we did not know the ex-
tent of his oratorical gift. We simply had not drawn it out. But no sooner
had he become mayor than we began to know him better ; and I state no secret
when I say that during the past three years he has attained to great dis-
tinction, and is now reckoned among the great orators of the country. So far
as my own connection with the matter is concerned I will only say that directly
after his nomination I took him in hand. I gave him his first hearing before

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a West Side Club, and in a year thereafter he appeared before the same club.
On the first occasion he foreshadowed his administration, and on the second he
gave a wonderfully concise and comprehensive account of his stewardship.
Meantime he lost no opportunity to practice his growing gift, at dinners and
on public occasions."

Mr. Packard followed at some length, in his usual happy vein.

President Burnett said : " Now that our banquet may be brought to a fit-
ting close, we of this Society and our friends will be glad to hear a word from
an old president, whose public spirit has made him in quick sympathy with
all things that make for the better order and higher civilization of our city,
and that is our former president. General Swayne." (Applause.)

General Swayne said: "Mr. President and Gentlemen: I am reminded
by this occasion of a very great service which your now president rendered to
the Ohio Society. On the first occasion when it was my duty to preside over
one of 'your annual banquets, when the hour of eleven came and we were hav-
ing such a good time that we were insensible of the flight of time, a little note
from Gen. Burnett was laid at my plate, saying, ' Now is the time to close.'
One good turn deserves another, and he will permit me now at this time and
on this occasion to return the compliment in the same words. (Laughter.)

" The only thing with which I will detain you with reference to the hon-
ored guest whom it is our privilege this night to cherish, is to recall to mind
what has occurred to me as I sat at that table and looked into your faces, and
as I stand now and contemplate you individually, and that is, what does it
mean that this company of old friends and neighbors, this company of men
who are assembled here to keep alive not simply the memory of the State of
Ohio, but to keep alive in our hearts and in our lives and in this community,
the place which the state ought to have; any state in which a man lives and
the state in wliich any man was bom ought to have a place in every man's
heart, if he is to render back any adequate return in his own life for the bless-
ings which the state has showered upon him.

" This gentlemen, has always been the underlying idea of this Ohio So-
ciety. We have been chaffed a good deal for the pleasant things we have said
here in these meetings about our state. They have seemed to other people
sometimes boastful, even windy, but these people have forgotten that we have
not meant to institute a comparison. A man does not need to challenge a
comparison between his own mother and the mother of another man, because
whatever his own mother may be or may have been, beyond all peradventure,
she has been to him the best mother in the world. Now we are gathered here
to-night to celebrate the services rendered to this state in its chief city by a na-
tive of our state, and they who think that meaning inconsiderable had better
follow that excellent custom of sometimes bringing one's own mind up to the

268

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

discipline of finding out what words mean, by going back to find out what
was in the minds of those men, what those men were trying to express who first
brought into use the words, ' Our native state.' Think of nature ! Think of
nativity! Think of nations! Think of all those things and the difference
they make in the lives of men. I think it is appropriately laid down in the
Scriptures that the Lord shall judge the nations and govern the peoples of
the earth.

"Now we are here a Society, organized to keep alive in our own hearts
and in our minds the meaning and the blessing of statehood, the fellowship
which is due from one to another by reason of that idea, and to celebrate in
the person of our own ex-president the blessings which his own administration
has met with upon the state. In the exercise of that duty, in the enjoyment
of that pleasure, in the halo of that honor, we have gathered to cherish and
to honor him, and now this night, in the fullness of all that has been done,
celebrating the career that he has closed and welcoming him back to private
life, and as you and I trust for many and many a year of increasing honor
and enjoyment, we say to him literally and from our hearts, ' Godspeed.' "
(Applause.)

The entertainment committee in reporting, at a later date, upon this ban-
quet to the Society, said:

" Gentlemen: It was a fortunate circumstance for the Society (although
a great misfortune to Greater New York) that we were enabled this year to
make our annual banquet complimentary to our honored fellow-member, ex-
Mayor Strong, When the city of New York, three years ago, honored him
with an election to its mayoralty, the Society bade him godspeed in a most
enthusiastic banquet; and having discharged the duties of his great office
with that ability, integrity and fidelity, which command the respect of every
good citizen, our Society honored itself by honoring him, at the close of his
majority, as at its beginning.

" This banquet was an eminent success from every point of view. Tlie
Ajstor Gallery was never more beautiful or artistic in the arrangement of its
tables, in its floral decorations, and the picture here made complete when the
sons of Ohio and their guests were seated at small tables to the number of
about 225. The souvenir especially designed and gotten up for this occasion
is a work of high art and justly called forth enthusiastic commendation. Tlic
tinted cover embossed with a branch of the buckeye tree showing the ripened
nut in natural colors; the frontispiece with buckeye branches showing leaf,
and flower, and fruit so arranged as to enwreath the centre of our beautiful
state seal; the full page, half-tone portrait of our honored guest, ex-Ma3'or
Strong, taken from a photograph for which he had sat for our use, and the
best picture yet taken of him; and the menu to satisfy the taste of the con-

269

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

noisseur, with its historic teapot illustration thrown in for the benefit of Colo-
nel Strong, together formed a unique and interesting keepsake. The com-
mittee had an extra number of copies struck off, and sent one to each of the
non-resident members and resident members who were not at the banquet, and
also to the principal papers of Ohio. The numerous responses confirmed the
wisdom of the committee in thus distributing these souvenirs. The speaking
was of a high order and well up to the Ohio standard. Colonel Strong,
Bishop Potter, ex-Attorney-General Judson Harmon of Cincinnati and Hon.
James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland, were the principal speakers, and their oratory
held the close attention of their audience. General Burnett presided with his
usual grace and most happily introduced the various speakers. The evidence
of good fellowship among all the members and guests was never more ap-
parent, and it is very safe to report that every one present spent a most en-
joyable and charming evening.

" Great credit is due to the special committee charged with the duty of
arranging the details of the banquet, attending to the printing, sending out
the invitations, circulars, etc., and collecting the money for the tickets, and
settling all bills. The financial result proved quite satisfactory, since the com-
mittee were enabled to turn into the treasury of the Society after all bills had
been paid, the handsome sum of $319.14. In conclusion it may well be said
that this last banquet of our Society, taken all in all, ranks among the most
noted banquets given since the organization. On behalf of the banquet com-
mittee. " Warren Higley."

The meeting of February 14th was held at Morelli's. Professor Packard
opened the social part of the entertainment with a short address, in which he
asserted that it was a characteristic desire of Ohio men always to do the duty
which the occasion demanded, and that while we might miss from our meet-
ings some of those choice spirits, whose presence and voices usually animated
our proceedings, we should feel that they were still with us in spirit, and under
their inpiration we should each perform this duty. He then announced that
the duty and the pleasure which would fall to the lot of each diner would
be to make a short speech, and supplemented this announcement by the state-
ment that he had obtained the names of each one present, and that he had
directed the doors to be barred and no guilty man would escape.

The presiding officer at this point called upon Leander H. Crall to present
a matter in which all the members were certain to take more than a passing
interest. One of the members of the Society had been called to a high position
of honor under the government, and it was thought fitting that the Society
should take notice of the fact.

Mr. Crall then read a series of resolutions prepared by Gen. Wager
Swayne, which were adopted as follows :

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

After the adoption of the above resolution the Hon. Mahlon Chance
was called upon and responded in a hvely vein of reminiscences which ehcited
much applause from those present. A number of other interesting speeches
were then made. When the Society convened on April 11th Colonel Strong
moved that the following telegram be transmitted by the Society to the Pres-
ident of the United States, Executive Mansion, Washington : " The Ohio
Society of New York, at a regular meeting now in session, unanimously en-
dorses and heartily approves your noble and patriotic message sent to Con-
gress of the United States this day." The Society adjourned to enjoy an
entertainment provided by the entertainment conmiittee, by the College Grad-
uates' Glee Club.

279

CHAPTER XIV

1898-1899

A LADIES' reception and dance was given at the Waldorf-Astoria
on the evening of April 20th. It was in charge of the following
gentlemen and ladies : Entertainment committee, Warren Higley,
chairman ; David Homer Bates, Jr., P. Bradlee Strong, William H. Caldwell,
Noah H. Swayne 2d. Reception committee, Thomas H. Wheeler, chairman;
Henry B. Wilson, George E. Armstrong, Frank C. Loveland, Cary W. Moore,
Mahlon Chance, Wilham Ford Upson, Harry C. Grant, R. C. Penfield, Wil-
liam H. Brown, David H. Bates, Samuel Thomas, De Frees Critten, P. F.
Collier, Evarts L. Prentiss, James G. Newcomb, C. C. Shayne, Arthur S.
Hayes, Andrew J. C. Foye. Floor committee, Andrew Ernest Foye, chair-
man; David Homer Bates, Stewart M. Brice, Emmett B. Wheeler, Howard
Elmer Crall, Peter H. Burnett, P. Bradlee Strong, Henry B. C. PHmpton, Eli-
jah G. Boardman. The following ladies served as hostesses: Mrs. Henry
L. Burnett, Mrs. William L. Strong, Mrs. Calvin S. Brice, Mrs. Silas S.
Packard, Mrs. Milton I. Southard, Mrs. Thomas Ewing, Mrs. Wager
Swayne, Mrs. Wallace C. Andrews, Mrs. Andrew J. C. Foye, Mrs. Algernon
S. Sullivan, Mrs. Bernard Peters. There was a large attendance and the
evening was a great success.

At the meeting of May 9th a report was received from the house com-
mittee as to the progress made in furnishing and fitting up the new rooms at
the Waldorf-Astoria. In answer to a question. Judge Higley made a state-
ment as to the privileges of the members in the hotel.

Tlie meeting of the Society on June 13th, was the first held in the new
quarters at the Waldorf-Astoria. The president appointed the following-
named gentlemen as a committee to consider changes in the constitution,
respecting membership, pursuant to action taken by the Society at the last
meeting: Wager Swayne, Willam L. Strong, Leander H. Crall, Andrew
J. C. Foye, Milton I. Southard.

The formal business having been disposed of, the president expressed
the pleasure of the Society on account of the presence at the meeting of an
esteemed ex-president. General Wager Swayne, and invited that gentleman to
address the meeting. General Swayne responded in an entertaining and en-
lightening address, in which he declared the true object of the Society

280

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to be, not the glorification of the achievements of its distinguished citizens, but
rather the perpetuation of the idea of the state and the fostering of those
principles upon which the state had been founded, and which had guided and
characterized the conduct of the state in national crises. After General Swayne
had spoken, the chairman of the entertainment committee, Judge Higley, an-
nounced that a collation would be served at the roof garden of the building,
and the Society thereupon adjourned to that place.

A special meeting of the Ohio Society was Held at the office of the pres-
ident, on October 28, 1898, to take action on the death of Vice-President Silas
S. Packard, who had died on the previous day. A committee were appointed
to prepare resolutions on the death of Mr. Packard, who was one of the
most influential members of the organization. At the annual meeting, on
November 29th, this committee presented a report which was read by General
Swayne, as follows:

" Silas S. Packard was one of the earlier members of this Society. From
the beginning of his membersliip to the end of his life the Society enjoyed his
constant interest and held high place in his affection. How much that means
is best seen by a glance at the manifold objects of its interests and affection
which claimed him as their own; his family, rejoicing in his loving heart and
true and tender life; his friends, who found their own place second only to
his family's in his heart and life; his church and his pastor, in whom he
found good anchorage for his hope for this life and for the glory yet to be
revealed; his pupils, who found in him teaching that instructed the whole
character and stimulated in them every aspect of a valuable life; liis alumni,
who found in after years that to formally organize and cherish a Packard
Alumni Association was but another name for renewing and preserving every-
thing in them that was worth keeping ; his city, state and country, each in its
degree, having its proper exaltation in his heart and life. These show the
man who has been one of us, and who was glad and proud to be such, and
to make his membership a real one to such an extent that for his part we
were members each of one another.

" Mention of all these discloses not merely what he was to the Society
or the Society to him; they go beyond that and disclose the man. He began
life for liimself, seeking for light. With his shoes slung across his shoulders
he trudged his way barefoot from his boyhood home to the Academy at Gran-
ville, sparing not his feet if only he might when among men be decent in ap-
pearance.

" His first choice of a life work was portrait painting, but the insight that
comes of a sympathy soon taught him that he was more fit to mold the plastic
lineaments of heart and life in youth than he was fit for copying with a brush
the features of men's faces.

281.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Having found his right field, he labored in it till he died. It was not
given him to round off his career ; that better thing was given him : to build it
up with full dimensions to the top. He died in the performance of his full
day's work. If the diminished strength of later years caused anything to fall
away, it was only as leaves may fall and leave the trunk and branches unim-
paired. Nothing was lost, for the result was that on meeting him and look-
ing up, we saw not foliage, but the sky ; he became more and more not merely
useful, but also an inspiration.

" His pupils are his monument, but his friends as a wreath carved on a
monument, may add what serves to heighten its expression. We therefore
join with his family, his pupils, and his friends in cutting deep this epitaph:
' The Teachers Shall Shine as the Firmament ; And They That Turn Many
to Righteousness, as the Stars Forever and Ever.*

" Resolved, That a copy of this minute be engrossed and sent to Mrs.
Packard with the Society's expression of personal regard."

The memorial received instant and emphatic approval and a motion was
made by Mr. Chance for its adoption by a rising vote. The motion was unan-
imously carried.

At the meeting of November 14th the nominating committee, chosen in
October and composed of the following gentlemen: D. H. Bates, L. D. Mor-
rison, Colgate Hoyt, H. B. C. Plimpton, Chas. W. Morris, Ralph W. Carroll,
Noah Swayne 2d, reported the following ticket for the action of the Society
at its annual meeting: President, INlilton I. Southard; vice-presidents, An-
drew J. C. Foye, Augustus D. Juilliard, Geo. E. Armstrong, Thomas H.
Wheeler, Warren Higley ; secretary, William H. Blymer ; recording secretary,
Walter S. Sullivan ; treasurer, Leander H. Crall ; trustees, Louis D. Clarke,
Abner McKinley, Peter F. Collier.

Mahlon Chance addressed the Society, devoting his remarks chiefly to
reminiscences of Mr. Packard. He paid an eloquent and glowing tribute to
the love he bore to the Society and to his high character and worth.

The annual meeting was held at Morelli's, where dinner was ser^'ed, on
November 29th. Judge Higley, chairman of the governing committee, pre-
sented the annual report. One ballot was cast, and the officers proposed at the
last meeting were unanimously elected. General Burnett then arose, and after
expressing his high appreciation of the honors he had received at the hands
of the Society, and promising in the future his loyal support in its ranks,
introduced the president-elect, Hon. Milton I. Southard, and at the same
time transferred to him the badge of office. Mr. Southard responded with a
brief address, thanking the Society for the honor which had come to him, un-
expected and unsought, and pledged his earnest eff^orts to maintain the past
high record of the organization.

282

Hon. Milton I. Southard
President from November 29, 1898, to November 29, 1901

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

A letter was read by General Burnett from Capt. John T. Granger,
presenting to the Society a handsome silk banner, a souvenir of the Harrison
and Tyler hard-cider campaign. General Swayne exhibited the souvenir to
those present and moved its acceptance by the Society. In making the mo-
tion he gave a most entertaining description of the campaign of 1840 and of
the origin of the name " Buckeye " as applied to residents of Ohio, stating
that he had discovered that the use of that name dated from the hard-cider
campaign of 1840. The speaker, proceeding, declared it to be his belief that
one of the chief purposes of the Society should be to perpetuate the idea of
the state, not of our state in particular, but of The State, or rather the prin-
ciple and origin of statehood.

Upon motion of Judge Higley the thanks of the Society were extended
to Capt. Granger for the unique gift ; and Judge Higley further moved that
the governing committee have the banner suitably framed and hung in the
rooms.

A call was made for a speech from Mahlon Chance, and that gentleman
responded in a most patriotic and eloquent tribute to the moral virtues and
prowess of the American Eagle.

In December Colgate Hoyt was unanimously elected chairman of the
governing committee. On the 12th of the month, at a meeting of the Society,
President Southard named the following committees, to serve during the com-
ing year: Literature and art, J. Q. A. Ward, Frankhn Tuttle, Dan C.
Beard, Louis H. Severance, S. H. Parsons; entertainment. Warren Higley,
David H. Bates, Jr., Peter H. Burnett, Noah H. Swayne 2d, Andrew Ernest
Foye; library, P. F. ColHer, R. J. Chard, Elijah G. Boardman, W. H. Jen-
nings, Hamilton Busbey; auditing, H. A. Glassford, Henry L. Carr, J. H.
Hewson, C. C. Shayne, James G. Newcomb.

Mr. Crall read an editorial from a Cincinnati paper, dealing with the
question of the date of Ohio's admission to the Union. An interesting discus-
sion followed, in which Mr, Chance, Mr. Crall and President Southard took
part. The Society invited Mr. Chance to read a paper at the next meeting,
setting forth the arguments in favor of November 29, 1802, as the date of
Ohio's admission to the Union. Mr. Chance announced that a Maryland So-
ciety was being formed in an adjoining room, with purposes and aims similar
to those of the Ohio Society, and suggested the appropriateness of the Ohio
Society sending greetings and good wishes for the prosperous and useful
career to the new Society. Mr. Chance was appointed by the chair to convey
to the Maryland Society the fraternal greeting and good wishes of the Ohio
Society.

A special meeting was called on December 16th at the office of General

283

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Swayne, to take action relative to the death of the Hon. Calvin S. Brice. A
committee were appointed to prepare resolutions.

Vice-President Foye, at the meeting of February 9, 1899, made a report
as to the progress of the banquet committee, expressing the hope that the So-
ciety would have the President of the United States present as its guest, at
the coming annual banquet, and stated that President Southard and Colonel
Strong were then in Washington for the purpose of consulting the President's
convenience as to date, etc. At this point President Southard appeared, hav-
ing just arrived from Washington, and reported the regrettable fact that
the President, on account of the approaching close of Congress, and the un-
usual importance of the measures to be presented to him, had reached the con-
clusion that it would be impossible for him to attend the banquet this year,
but that another year he hoped to have the pleasure of being present with
the Society.

The thirteenth annual banquet of the Society was held in the grand
banquet hall of the Waldorf-Astoria on the evening of Saturday, February
25, 1899. The gentlemen here named served as the banquet committee:
Henry L. Burnett, chairman; William L. Strong, WilHam L. Brown, Samuel
Thomas, Abner McKinley, Leander H. Crall, George E. Armstrong, Warren
Higley, Louis H. Severance, Peter F. Collier, Louis D. Clarke, H. B. Brun-
drett, Richard J. Chard, Wager Swayne, Anson G. ]\IcCook, Colgate Hoyt,
Andrew J. C. Foye, Tliomas H. Wheeler, David Homer Bates, John J. Mc-
Cook, J. Q. A. Ward, Thomas Ewing, Jr., C. C. Shayne, H. B. C. Plimpton,
Evarts L. Prentiss. The following gentlemen constituted the reception com-
mittee: Henry B. Wilson, chairman; William S. Hawk, James G. Newcomb,
Samuel H. Parsons, Rollin M. Morgan, Lowell M. Palmer, Charles F. Dean,
L. A. Williams, L. D. Morrison, George P. Tangeman, William Ford Upson,
Frank D. Pavey, Frederick C. Train, Francis B. Stedman, David Homer
Bates, Jr., Francis B. Swayne, Homer Lee, H. H. Brockway, Charles A.
Clegg, Charles S. Hayes, P. S. Jennings.

In view of the fact that William R. Day, president of the Peace Commis-
sion, and Whitelaw Reid, a member of the commission, were Ohioans, the usual
annual dinner was turned into a banquet in honor of the American Peace
Commissioners. It was, as all declared, the most brilliant event in the history
of the Society up to that date.

Nearly 300 members and guests met in the banquet hall. National colors
decorated the walls and American Beauty roses were strewn lavishly over all
the tables. Two of the peace commissioners and the commission's secretary sat
at the head table with Gen. Wesley ]\Ierritt. The governor of Ohio was also
present; his military aids, glittering in gold braid, sat b}' the side of the
victor in the Far East. In the galleries, which were draped in evergreen vines

284

we \f)mi§ioi]er/

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and roses, sat more than a hundred women, who added brilliancy to the scene
and sparkle to the wit of the speakers.

But the distinctive achievement of the banquet was the fact that the
diplomatic silence which has sealed the lips of the peace commissioners ever
since those eventful days in Paris was broken and the position assumed by the
United States made open and clear. This was done by the speeches of Sen-
ator Gray of Delaware, a Democrat, who declared that in this juncture " we
are all Republicans," and of Whitelaw Reid, who was equally frank in his ref-
erences to the work of the commission and its results. Tlie straightforward
declaration of Senator Gray, that " we have got the Phihppines, and have got
them bad," was vehemently cheered by all present.

General Merritt was conspicuous in his civilian dress. Nothing indicated
his high military rank, which was accentuated, however, by the glare and ght-
ter of gold braid all about him.

The banquet was a little late in starting. It was nearly 8 o'clock before
the members and their guests were seated. At the principal table sat the
president of the Society, Hon. Milton I. Southard, and the following guests:
Senator George Gray, Whitelaw Reid, Major Gen. Wesley Merritt, Gov. Asa
S. Bushnell, William R. Harper, ex-Gov. James E. Campbell, John B. Moore,
secretary of the peace commission ; Gen. Wager Swayne, Gen. Wilham P. Orr,
Gen. J. E. Lowes, Col. Charles B. Wing, Col. Julius Flischman, Col. W. L.
Holmes, Col. Robert C. McKinney, Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, Col. C. E.
Burke, Gen. J. Kent Hamilton, Gen. H. B. Kingsley, Charles F. James, and
C. L. Kurtz.

There were absent, however, several prominent men whom the Society was
especially desirous of having at this banquet. These were William R. Day,
president of the peace commission ; Senator Frye, a member of the commission,
and Senator Marcus A. Hanna. Not one of these could be present, but sent
regrets.

As soon as the dinner was over President Southard, who acted as toast-
master, made the introductory address. He said :

" Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : This is our thirteenth annual banquet,
and on behalf of the Society I bid you and our guests, each and all, a sincere
and hearty welcome. I salute the ladies in the galleries and would embrace
them also — in my welcome. (Laughter, in which the ladies heartily joined.)
Once in each recurring year we are accustomed to meet around the festal
board, to interchange personal greetings, to ' eat, drink and be merry,' and,
last but not least, to be entertained by addresses from our distinguished
guests.

" Every now and then at these dinners we have taken it into our heads
to suggest an available candidate for president or vice-president of the United

£85

OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

States, and the suggestion is usually equivalent to a nomination and election.
The choice is apt to fee of a native or citizen of Ohio, and if the candidate,
like McKinley, happens to be a member of this Society, the objection is
promptly waived. We flatter ourselves that McKinley reached the chief execu-
tive chair through the portals of this Society. (Laughter and applause.)

" We do not limit the choice, however, to the sons of Ohio. We are too
generous for that, and too mindful also of the eminent qualifications of the
distinguished sons of other states. What we wish to impress and make clear
is this: that the skies of our banquet are surcharged with presidential light-
ning and it is Kkely to strike a tall statesman at any time.

" Celebrated as Ohio's sons are for learning, virtue and courage, their
chief characteristic is yet to be named. It is meekness. Mr. McKelway, the
brilliant editor of the Brooklyn Eagle^ who is celebrated for his far-reaching
discernment, divined and proclaimed this truth a few years ago at one of our
banquets. And he then drew some deductions from this rare trait of char-
acter, and also made a prophecy. He said : ' The meek shall inherit the
earth.' And behold, straightway McKinley stepped from the governorship
of Ohio to the presidential chair. And as commander-in-chief of the army
and navy, on behalf of the nation, he forthwith took possession of Cuba and
Porto Rico, the fairest flowers of the Antilles, and the far-off Philippines,
brightest gems of the Pacific. One more stride like that and our dominions
will encircle the globe and the prophecy be fulfilled.

" But, seriously, the achievements of the last year read more like dreams
of romance than the chronicles of reality. Who could have foretold the wide
eventuahties of the Spanish- American war.'' And who can now predict the
future consequences upon the nation and upon the world.'' A year ago, in
December, friendly interchanges of relations took place between Spain and
the United States, but the cruel war in Cuba went on ; in February came the
destruction of the Maine and the loss of ^QQ of our gallant and patriotic sail-
ors ; a few weeks of self-restraint and suppressed anger and then the declara-
tion of war. Within less than four months after, the military and naval power
of Spain had been hopelessly crushed, and the brilliancy of the achievements
of our army and navy had startled the nations of the world and made them
realize as they had never done before the matchless power of the great Re-
public of the West. Our countrymen, too, were filled with military ardor and
high civic pride.

" But a new duty now devolves upon the nation, a duty fraught with
many difficulties. Just how it shall best be discharged is yet to be determined.
The obligation to make provision for the government of these newly acquired
possessions devolves upon Congress, and its members have before them the
great charters of our liberties and the lessons and blessings of freedom to

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guide them. Let us hope and trust that the outcome may be one that will
redound to the welfare of our people and to the perpetuity and glory of the
nation as the world's gi'eat exemplar of freedom and right.

" On the signing of the protocol and the cessation of hostilities the work
was not yet done. A definitive treaty of peace must be concluded. The Pres-
ident appointed a commission of five eminent statesmen to perform that diffi-
cult and delicate task. Their labors have been completed, and the result
ratified by the Senate, and, no doubt, will soon meet with the sanction of the
Cortes, and thus become permanently operative upon the two countries.

" Our banquet Is given in honor of these high commissioners, and we
hope during the evening to hear of all their diplomatic experiences. Now
that the Senate has acted upon the treaty, may I not say to our distinguished
guests as did the ancient Greek to the Trojans: ' Lawful be it to sparkle in
the air their secrets all.' "

When Mr. Southard proposed the health of President McKInley it was
drunk standing, amid cheers, the band striking up " The Star Spangled
Banner."

When Mr. Southard introduced Senator Gray the first great outburst
of enthusiasm took place. The applause did not subside until after ex-Mayor
Strong had proposed three cheers for the senator and they had been given
with a will. Senator Gray spoke at some length to close attention and fre-
quent and loud applause. His statement of his views as to the duty of the
hour In the PhlHppines was regarded as extremely significant, and his ut-
terances were warmly welcomed. He said:

" Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : I can only thank
you for this cordial welcome, and say how hard your president has made it
for me to speak, after his compliment so undeserved and so laudatory. I
could best attest my respect for the Ohio Society In New York and my eager
desire to be with you on this occasion by coming at some Inconvenience and at
some threatened neglect of public duties, somewhat suddenly and on some-
what short notice, in order that I might participate with j^ou in this magnifi-
cent banquet.

" Mr. President, you ought to be very proud of their Society, citizens by
birth of Ohio, here on the seaboard, and in this great metropolis of New York,
so strong In numbers and In Intellect and In character. We feel — those of us
who have not that privilege, those of us born outside the sacred pale of Ohio,
that it Is a privilege that does not often come, and that must be appreciated
when It does come, to be your guests. When I look over this assembly of
Ohioans and recollect the history of that great central state of our Union, I
know that you feel, as I have just said, a just pride In your nativity and in
the state to which you all owe the allegiance of birth.

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" But there is another thought that comes with this, that while you are
Ohioans and while you have done so much to illustrate all that is best in Amer-
ican liistory and in American statesmanship, I also belong to your company
by virtue of the fact that I and you, too, are American citizens (applause),
and by that high title I claim to be at home among you to-night. There is
something very grateful to me always in an occasion like this that is dis-
tinctively one springing from state pride and from that love of self-govern-
ment that belongs to our states, something that illustrates to my mind the
strength of our institutions. Stretcliing from ocean to ocean as a nation, we
yet preserve our loyalty to the communities that we govern and to which we
belong, and that must preserve in the future, as it has preserv^ed in the past,
the true glory of American institutions. I am always thankful that the map
of this great country is not painted over with one color; that the states in
every map appear distinctively as self-governed sovereign states, and that
from them up to the pinnacle of national greatness come the springs of our
greatness and the source of all that we hope for as the strength of our
future.

" You have just cause to be proud, my fellow-citizens from Ohio, in the
occasion on which you are assembled to-night, and I can speak to-night with-
out any suspicion or imputation of self-glorification, because it is for me to
bear witness to you to the important part that Ohio has performed in the
great concluding act of this drama of the war with Spain. It is a very great
honor, my friends, that not only did you contribute your citizen soldiery to
the defense of our great Republic, but that you also contributed the character
and the statesmanship and that broad-minded judgment in the persons of two
who on that peace commission appointed by the President, also from Ohio,
have brought to a conclusion the war with Spain by a definitive treaty of
peace. And let me say — because it is a pleasure for me to say it in his ab-
sence— that no state in this Union could have contributed to that function,
or any other great diplomatic function of statecraft, a mind and a character
more equipoised, settled, clear and strong than was contributed by Ohio when
she sent that quiet, sensible, strong statesman, William R. Day, to Paris to
conclude the treaty of peace. Always self-contained, never self-exploitative,
always self-suppressed, yet firm and courageous in the perfonnance of duty
as he saw it, he has illustrated the very highest traits of American statesman-
ship and American character in the work that we brought home with us from
the other side of the ocean.

" I speak of him first because he was the president of the commission
appointed by the President. But Ohio's honors did not cease there. He was
ably seconded by another son of Ohio, who, with untiring zeal and devotion
to his country's interests as he saw them, with the patriotic and single purpose

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to achiieve and promote the glory and honor and safety of his country — your
distinguished fellow-statesman, the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, who sits at my left
— has secured for himself a place in the galaxy of American statesmen that
must ever remain an honor to him and to the great state that gave him birth.

" And now, my friends, your president has said that he hoped to hear
all the diplomatic secrets with which we were supposed to be surcharged, and
that we were to display to-night to you something that would gratify your
curiosity and your patriotism by telling you of things that happened, that
you have a right to know, in those negotiations which we considered so im-
portant and which form such an epoch in the history of our country. Well,
our great secret is, that we have no secret to disclose. Our conduct there was
in unison and in line with American traditions of diplomacy. We knew noth-
ing of intrigue or finesse, but we sought to meet the trained diplomacy of
Europe by straightforward and direct methods of American statesmanship
and American character. ( Cries of ' You did it, too ! ' )

" We were far away, and we felt that we five men — felt it with an in-
tensity that I cannot describe adequately — represented our country and its
interests, its future, and in a measure its destiny, and whatever differences
we had in our own council chamber, and we had many, there was but a solid
and single commission when we were opposed to the enemies of our country.
We recollected that whatever our differences of opinion might be, when we
came to deal with the great interests of the United States as opposed to those
of Spain, that political opinion sank into insignificance before the great par-
amount consideration that we were Americans charged with responsibility for
America, charged with a duty to our country, which we endeavored humbly
in the sight of God to perform.

" There may have been some questions as to the policy of acquiring the
Philippines at all ; there may have been grave doubts as to whether we should
go outside of the declaration with which the war was commenced and confined,
and extend our view outside of this hemisphere to the distant Orient ; but there
came a time in the course of those negotiations — and this, perhaps, is one of
the secrets to which your president alluded — when after four or five weeks
of doubt and anxiety it became apparent that these negotiations must either
be broken off and your commissioners return without a treaty at all, and that
we would be relegated to the necessity of taking not only the Philippines, but
Cuba and Porto Rico, by the ruthless hand of military conquest, or by some
concessions that comported with the magnanimity and greatness and char-
acter of this country ; gain them by the voluntary cession of a treaty of peace.
And, therefore, we believed that it was better for this country, strong in the
hours of its victories,great in the hour of its triumphs,that it should to a beaten
and prostrate foe exhibit that magnanimity of which I spoke, and take from

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them by voluntary cession and by purchase, so to speak, those distant islands
rather than to expose ourselves in the eyes of the world to the playing of a
role of barbaric conquest, and by miHtary power treading the path of mediae-
val rapine and warfare.

" I speak as one, as my friend on my left and colleague on the late com-
mission will bear me witness, who was reluctant to enter this role that we are
now playing. I speak as one who shared perhaps the most conservative views
on this question that anywhere are expressed in this broad land of ours; but
when I find that those who now are or lately have been opposed to the ratifica-
tion of the treaty at all, all with one voice and one accord, from Senator Hoar
down through the ranks of the opposition, declare that whatever might betide
us, we must drive out Spain from the Philippine Islands and keep her out,
then there was but one plain path of duty before those who thought as I did,
and I could form no other opinion then, as I have no other opinion now, than
that it was our duty to take those islands and hold them in trust for the great
purposes of American freedom and American liberty, guided by all of our his-
tory that lies behind us, and moving forward to a goal that must bring hap-
piness, with law and liberty, to peoples who never before had known what they
meant.

" How idle, in view of the opinion thus formed, must seem the criticisms
of those who are invoking the Declaration of Independence and the time-
honored maxims to which we all adhere, that all just government rests on the
consent of the governed! Why, don't we know that, after all, the achieve-
ment of liberty, ordered and governed by law, is a practical thing and not a
thing of phrases? Don't we know that it would be absolutely impossible that
those people who for 400 years had known no government but that of Spain,
who had no realization of civilization except what had been filtered down
through the oppressions of a conquering race? Don't we know that it was
impossible for them to conceive, much less achieve, the notion of American
liberty until the strong hand of American power had established the law and
the order which would give place and opportunity for the blessings that are
spoken of when we so apostrophize the Declaration of Independence and lib-
erty ?

" Now, another thing and you will pardon me, because this Is becoming
a very practical question, and fills all our hearts and minds, I know, with anx-
iety and with thoughtfulness in regard to the future — we are thinking about
it, and talking about it in our homes and in our offices and places of business —
I want to call your attention to this fact and to this consideration : After the
signing of the protocol, on August 12 last, by which an armistice and truce
were brought about between Spain and the United States, Manila, its harbors
and bay, were occupied by the forces of the United States, and General Mer-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ritt, commanding the force and gallant army then in those waters, landed and
proceeded to hold in strict obedience to the terms of that protocol that city,
with his colleague, Admiral Dewey.

" Spain's power had been broken ; her fleets had been destroyed ; her
ai-my had been surrendered, and there we stxDod, the guardians of those people
that we had just rescued from the despotism of four hundred years. There
we stood, with our flag and our soldiery and our sailors, as the guarantee of
American honor and American liberty to those poor people. And now what
was to happen? And what has occurred? Before the armistice is over, with-
out a single departure from the strict obligation imposed upon the United
States and its armies by that armistice, before the treaty of peace was ratified,
and while we stood there with arms at rest guarding those people, having
driven out their oppressors, waiting for the definitive ratification of the treaty
with their enemy and ours, they exhibited their idea of Hberty, their idea of
obligation, by attacking without provocation the army that had come to de-
liver them and the fleet that had co-operated with it and brought about the
conflict which is now, unhappily, being waged in those distant islands.

" What have we got to say about the Declaration of Independence? Are
we to stop while our soldiers are being shot down and our sailors staining the
decks of American men-of-war with their blood, and preach to them the Dec-
laration of Independence, and the saying of Thomas Jeff'erson, that all just
government rests on the consent of the governed? Let us have, at least, op-
portunity— and we say it in the presence of the world which is to pass upon
our conduct, and we invoke the public opinion of the civilized nations of the
earth as to the justice of our position — let us have at least the opportunity to
show those people what we meant and what we intended, before we commence
to talk to them about government resting upon the consent of the governed.

" What analogy is there between their position and ours in the Revolu-
tionary War? I have heard it over and over again on the floor of Congress
and in the Senate of the United States, with vociferous iteration, asserted that
they had as much justification in taking up arms and shooting down American
citizens and American soldiers as had the patriots of '76 in resisting the
forces of King George. Why, for 150 years prior to the Revolution of '76
we had lived under English government, had protested against its injustice,
had formulated our grievances, and had petitioned for their rectification and
adjustment, and then only went to arms when all others means failed. Men
of their own race, men as capable of self-government as the governing power
itself. And here are a people who never knew self-government, who have
groaned iiiider Spanish oppression in all these centuries ; and for the first time
in all their history they have had a gleam of light brought to them by the
flag carried by Merritt and Dewey. And yet they are compared to the pa-

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triots who in '76 were driven to arms against King George and his forces on
the continent of America. It is absurd, and it is stuff and nonsense to talk
about there being any kind of comparison between the two historic epochs. I
want, as much as any one, to illustrate American character and American
principles wherever the American flag floats ; but give us the opportunity,
and stop shooting American soldiers and American sailors, and we will tell you
then what we will do.

" Then what are we to do now.'^ To-night, in the face of this great
crisis, for such it is, we are all Democrats and we are all Republicans, and,
more than all, we are all Americans. Let us see to it that what we have un-
dertaken in the sight of the world is carried out, and let us not turn our backs
upon a duty that is so plain that no man can mistake it. Let us tell these
poor people that we have come to give them the liberty they are fighting for,
and which they can never attain except with our aid. Why, we were their
allies, and they have shed our blood. And yet, with it all, I bespeak for them
a patient and long-suffering consideration that is becoming the greatness and
the power and the precepts of the great nation to which we belong. We will
give them better government than they have ever dreamed of having. We
will give them liberty governed by law, and we will do it at all costs and at
all hazards, and we will not go back on American manhood and American
citizenship and the principles of American Hberty in doing it.

" We cannot retreat. We cannot sail away from those islands now.
However we might have done so in October or November, we cannot do it in
Februarys in the year of our Lord, eighteen ninety-nine. And so, my friends,
we are here to-night, considering for a moment on this festal occasion these
grave duties and these grave responsibilities that belong to this great nation
of ours, and to its citizenship and to every individual citizen among us.

" Thank God that no American hand ever wielded a sword or pointed a
gun that behind that hand there was not an American conscience. Thank
God that every American conscience is awakened, and that this matter is de-
bated at every crossroad in this great land of ours, and that when America
makes up her mind and has debated and has satisfied herself that her cause is
just, then nothing can impede her way or stop her progress in achieving the
results at which she aims.

" We did not go to war until the American conscience was awakened.
We bore and forbore for many long years a condition of affairs in the neigh-
boring islands of Cuba and Porto Rico that had become abhorrent to the
sense of American justice and to American humanity. And it was only after
all that, until the great provocation of the loss of our battle-ship ]\Iaine and
the sacrifice of 266 gallant American sailors, that at last the indignation of

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this country was aroused and we declared that housekeeping so outrageous
should not exist right next door to us.

" My friends, we all owe a duty to our neighbors, and I always liken the
situation of our country in tliis matter of Cuba and the difficulties in Cuba
to that of a law-abiding citizen living in one of our civilized and orderly
American communities. Because, not only are the citizens law-abiding, but
this country is law-abiding, and when that law-abiding citizen finds right
next door to him there is an ill-governed, ill-regulated household — ^the head
of the house beating his wife and starving his cliildren — he bears it day after
day, because he is a law-abiding citizen, until at last the outcry becomes so
great and the outrage so enormous that he can bear it no longer, and he goes
in and takes his neighbor by the throat and says : ' This thing must stop ! '
and he does it because he is his neighbor.

" And that was our attitude in the war with Spain. But war was de-
clared, and no one can tell what the consequences of war, once entered upon,
are to be. It may set the whole world aflame. But if we went into it right-
eously, if we went into it with an awakened conscience, if we went into it with
a justification that satisfied the moral sense of the American people, then,
come what may, as American citizens and as American men, we will face
them, whatever they may be.

" And now, my friends, this is not the time to talk to the Philippines, or
to give promises to the world as to what we are going to do wdth these people
after we have established orderly government among them. We cannot do it
while the crack of Mauser rifles is ringing in our ears. We must, because we
believe we have the right, put down this opposition and this destructive attack
that is being made upon our country and upon its arms and navies in those
distant waters. We cannot reason with those people now. It is not now to
preach to them the eternal doctrines of liberty and of freedom, or to read to
them the Declaration of Independence. We will do that by and by. I grant
you that the situation is serious. I grant you that the difficulties
on the path we are treading seem to me very great indeed; but
because duty is difficult and dangerous even, it cannot be avoided or
evaded by many men. We must face our duties and look them squarely
in the face. We have got those islands, and we have got them bad, and we
are going to live through it, and, with or without foreign interference, we
will so regulate, I confidently believe, our conduct as that we will give no
just cause of offence to any power, people or potentate in the world ; and, so
doing, we may let the consequences take care of themselves.

"Now, that is the way I feel about it, as perhaps the most conser\'ative
and the most loth of all the citizens of this country — I won't say of all the
members of the commission — to have anything to do with the Philippines at

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all. But if, as the opponents of the ratification of the treaty said, and as I
said before, we must drive out Spain, then, surely, having driven her out, we
cannot leave those islands derelicts on the wide Pacific ocean, to be picked
up by any aggressive, grabbing European power that chooses some fine morn-
ing to sail by and plant its flag there.

" There is one thing certain, that however unwise it may be said our
conduct has been, and however deleterious to our best interests it may have
been, it can bring nothing and has brought nothing to the people of those
islands but blessing and the promise of blessing such as they never had the
opportunity to hope for in all the centuries that have passed.

" We know we are doing them no wrong. We know that they are better
for all that has happened, and for all that will happen; and, if it costs us
priceless blood and untold treasure, then it is a sacrifice that high civilization
owes to inferior civilization, and we will lift them up at any cost and give them
an opportunity for that self-government about which we hear so much.
Never in all their history has that opportunity come for those people before.
Whether they are capable of it or not, I do not know. If they are not capable
of it, then we must remain there long enough to illustrate American power
and American manhood and American statesmanship.

" When we are convinced that they are capable of it, in God's name hand
them over the islands and let them govern the islands themselves !

" But we have not only driven out Spain, their oppressor, but we intend
to drive out anarchy and barbarism and the half-civilization that is now so
destructive to American soldiers and American sailors in those islands. We
are going to deliver them from themselves and give them some measurable de-
gree of decent white man's government.

" Now, these are not secrets of diplomacy. Thank God ! American diplo-
macy includes the whole citizenship of seventy millions of people, and their
secrets are the secrets of all. As I said before, there can be no settled policy
toward these islands adopted by the government of the United States that does
not meet the approval of the thoughtful, liberty-loving. God-fearing people
of this country. It will be debated, as I said before, at every crossroads, and
in every schoolhouse, and a judgment will be formed which in action will be
as irresistible as an avalanche in Alpine mountains, and it cannot be evaded,
and it cannot be escaped from.

" I believe that in the present crisis — for it is a crisis — that we should
act as we acted in the war with Spain. We should relegate our political dif-
ferences until such time as we may, without a sacrifice of American manhood,
consider them. I believe that we should with one voice and one mind stand
together, shoulder to shoulder, until tranquillity and peace are restored in
the Orient, and then we will talk about the Declaration of Independence, and

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then we will preach the principles of American liberi:y, and, God helping us,
we will achieve for the worid and for civihzation a triumph greater than has
ever been achieved in all the ages that have preceded us.

" So acting, not giving up our ideals by any means — for no country can
afford to trample upon its ideals — but always mindful of them, we will go
ahead on the path that duty marks out for us, and, if needs be, we will put
those people in possession of the land that they inhabit and leave them to
govern it, if we can leave them safely to our interests to do so and to the
interests of themselves. By so doing we will achieve a triumph for American
civilization and for American traditions more valuable to us than all the
islands of the seas.

" Now, apologizing for having detained you so long, if an apology is
necessary — (cries of 'No, no!') — You are very kind in encouraging me to
go on ; but my apology must be that I know that this matter now is on your
hearts and mind, as it is on my heart and mind, and it will continue to be on
our hearts and minds until a settlement consistent with American honor and
with American glory and with American conscience and morality is achieved
in all parts of the world."

Whitelaw Reid was welcomed with a repetition of the cordiality manifested
when his fellow-commissioner arose to speak. He said :

" You call and I obey. Any call from Ohio, wherever it finds you, is at
once a distinction and a duty. But it would be easier to-night and more natural
for me to remain silent. ' I am one of yourselves, the givers of the feast, and
the occasion belongs peculiarly to my colleagues on the Peace Commission. I
regret that more of them are not here to tell you in person how profoundly we
all appreciate the compliment you pay us. Judge Day, after an experience
and strain the like of which few Americans of this generation have so sud-
denly and so successfully met, is seeking to regain his strength at the South.
Senator Ftye, at the close of an anxious session, finds his responsible duties in
Washington too exacting to permit even a day's absence; and Senator Davis,
who could not leave the care of the treaty to visit his state even when his own re-
election was pending, has snatched the first moment of relief since he was sent to
Paris, last summer, to go out to St. Paul and meet the constituents who have
in his absence renewed to him the crown of a good and faithful servant.

" It is all the more fortunate, therefore, that you are honored by the
presence of the patriotic member of the opposition who formed the regulator
and balance-wheel of the commission. When Senator Gray objected, we all re-
examined the processes of our reasoning. When he assented, we knew we were
on soHd ground and went ahead. It was an expected gratification to have with
you also the accomplished secretary and counsel to the commission, a man as
modest and unobtrusive as its president, and like him equal to any summons.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

In his regretted absence, we rejoice to have with us the most distinguished
mihtary aid ordered to report to the commission, and the most important witness
before it — the Conqueror of Manila.

" So much you will permit me to say in my capacity as one of the hosts,
rather than as a member of the body to which you pay this gracious compliment.

*' It is not for me to speaJc of another figure necessarily missing to-night,
though often with you heretofore at these meetings — ^the member of the Ohio
Society who sent us to Paris ! A great and shining record already speaks for
him. He will be known in our history as the president who freed America
from the Spanish blight; who realized the aspiration of our earlier statesmen,
cherished by the leaders of either party through three-quarters of a century,
for planting the flag both on Cuba and on the Sandwich Islands ; more than
this, as the president who has carried that flag half-way round the world and
opened the road for the trade of the nation to follow it.

" All this came from simply doing his duty, from day to day, as that duty
was forced upon him. No other man in the United States held back from war
as he did, risking loss of popularity, risking the hostility of Congress, risking
the harsh judgment of friends in agonizing for peace. It was no doubt in the
spirit of the Prince of Peace; but it was also with the wisdom of Polonius,
' Beware of entrance to a quarrel ; but, being in, bear'st that th' op-
posed may beware of thee.' Never again will any nation imagine that it
can trespass indefinitely against the United States with impunity. Never again
will an American warship run greater risks in a peaceful harbor than in battle.
The world will never again be in doubt whether, when driven to war, we will end
it in a gush of sentimentality or a shiver of unmanly apprehension over untried,
responsibilities, by fleeing from our plain duty, and at the same time giving up
what we are entitled to, before we have even taken an opportunity to look at it.

" But it must be confessed that looking at it during the past week has
not been an altogether cheerful occupation. While the aspect of some of these
new possessions remains so frowning there are faint hearts ready enough to say
that the Peace Commission is in no position to be receiving compliments. Does
protection protect? is an old question that used to be thrown in our faces —
though I believe even the questioners finally made up their minds that it did.
Does peace pacify ? is the question of the hour. Well, as to our great antagon-
ist, historic, courageous Spain, there seems ground to hope and believe and be
glad that it does — not merely toward us, but within her own borders. When
she jettisoned cargo that had already shifted ruinously, there is reason to think
that she averted disaster and saved the ship. Then as to Porto Rico there is
no doubt of peace ; and as to Cuba very little — although it would be too much
to hope that twelve years of civil war could be followed by an absolute calm,
without disorders.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" As to other possessions in the farther East, we may as well recognize at
once that we are dealing now with the same sort of clever barbarians as in the
earlier days of the Republic, when, on another ocean not then less distant, we
were compelled to encounter the Algerian pirates. But there is this difference.
Then we merely chastised the Algerians into letting us and our commerce alone.
The permanent poHcing of that coast of the Mediterranean was not imposed
upon us by surrounding circumstances, or by any act of ours — it belonged to
nearer nations. Now a war we made has broken down the only authority that
existed to protect the commerce of the world in one of its greatest Eastern
thoroughfares, and to preserve the lives and property of people of all nations
resorting to those marts. We broke it down, and we cannot, dare not, display
the cowardice and selfishness of failing to replace it. However men may differ
as to our future policy in those regions, there can be no difference as to our
present duty. It is as plain as that of putting down a riot in Chicago, or New
York — all the plainer, because we have until recently ourselves been taking the
very course and doing the very tilings to encourage the rioters.

" A distinguished and patriotic citizen said to me the other day, in a
Western city : ' You might have avoided this trouble in the Senate by refusing
title in the Philippines, exactly as in Cuba, and simply enforcing renunciation
of Spanish sovereignty. Why didn't you do it? ' The question is important,
and the reason ought to be understood. But at the outset it should be clearly
realized that the circumstances which made it possible to take that course as to
Cuba were altogether exceptional. For three-quarters of a century we had
asserted a special interest and right of interference there as against any other
nation. It is directly on our coast, and no one doubted that at least as much
order as in the past would be preserved there, even if we had to do it ourselves.
There was also the positive action of Congress, which on the one hand gave us
excuse for refusing a sovereignty our highest legislative authority had dis-
claimed, and on the other formally cast the shield of our responsibility over the
island when left without a government or a sovereignty. Besides there was a
people there advanced enough, sufficiently compact and homogeneous in re-
ligion, race and language, sufficiently used already to the methods of govern-
ment, to warrant our Republican claim that the sovereignty was not being left
in the air; that it was only left where in the last analysis and in a civilized
community it must always reside, in the people themselves.

" And yet, under all these conditions, the most difficult task your Peace
Commissioners had at Paris was to maintain and defend the demand for a re-
nunciation of sovereignty without anybody's acceptance of the sovereignty thus
renounced. International law has not been so taught or practiced abroad ; and
it may be frankly confessed that the Spanish arguments on this point were
learned, acute, sustained by the general judgment of Europe, and not easy to
refute.

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" A similar demand concerning the Philippines neither could nor ought
to have been acquiesced in by the civilized world. Here were ten millions of
people on a great highway of commerce, some semi-civilized, some barbarous,
others mere pagan savages, but nothing like a majority or even a respectable
minority of them accustomed to self-government or believed to be capable of it.
Sovereignty over such a conglomeration and in such a place could not be left
in the air. The civilized world would not recognize its transfer, unless trans-
ferred to somebody. Renunciation under such circumstances would have been
equivalent in international law to abandonment, and that would have been
equivalent to anarchy and a race for seizure among the nations that could get
there quickest.

" We could, of course, have refused to accept the obligations of a civihzed,
responsible nation. After breaking down government in those commercial
centres, we could have refused to set up anything in its stead, and simply
washed our hands of the whole business ; but to do that would have been to show
ourselves more insensible to moral obligations than if we had restored them out-
right to Spain.

" Well, if the elephant must be on our hands, what are we going to do with
it.'' That is the next question. I venture to answer that first we must put
down the riot. The hves and property of German and British merchants must
be at least as safe in Manila as they were under Spanish rule before we are
ready for any other step whatever.

" Next ought we not to try to diagnose our case before we turn every
quack doctor among us loose on it ; understand what the problem is before be-
ginning heated partisan discussions as to the easiest way of solving it.'' And
next, we will probably fare best in the end if we try to profit somewhat by the
experience others have had in like cases.

" The widest experience has been had by the great nation whose people
and institutions are nearest like our own. Illustrations of her successful meth-
ods may be found in Egypt and in many British dependencies, but for our pur-
pose probably best of all either on the Malay Peninsula or on the north coast
of Borneo, where she has had the happiest results in dealing with intractable
types of the worst of these same races. Some rules, drawn from this experi-
ence, might be distasteful to people who look upon new possessions as merely
so much more government patronage, and quite repugnant to the noble army
of office-seekers ; but they surely mark the path of safety.

" The first is to meddle at the outset as httle as possible with every native
custom and institution and even prejudice. The next is to use every existing
native agency you can, and the next to employ in the government service just
as few Americans as you can, and only of the best. Convince the natives of
your irresistible power and j^our inexorable purpose ; then of j'^our desire to be

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

absolutely just, and after that, not before, be as kind as you can. At the out-
set you will doubtless find your best agents among the trained officers of the
navy and the army, particularly the former. On the retired list of both, but
again particularly of the navy, ought to be found just the experience, in con-
tact with foreign races, the moderation, wide views, justice, rigid method and
inflexible integrity you need. Later on should come a real civil service, with
such pure and efficient administration abroad as might help us ultimately to
conclude that we ourselves deserve as well as the heathen and induce us to set up
similar standards for our own service at home. Meantime, if we have taught the
heathen largely to govern theemselves, without being a hindrance and menace to
the civilization and the commerce of the world, so much the better. Heaven
speed the day ! If not, we must even continue to be responsible for them our-
selves— a duty we did not seek, but should be ashamed to shirk."

Governor Bushnell, of Ohio, was next introduced, and upon rising was re-
ceived with much enthusiasm. In part he said :

" Whether Westerners or Easterners, Celts or Teutons, Republicans or
Democrats, expansionists or non-expansionists, we are all Buckeyes here to-
night. This is one of the occasions that I could wish that the mantle of one
of the world's greatest orators had fallen on me. But, no such legacy having
been bequeathed to me, what I shall say will in no wise equal the oration of
Mark Antony over the body of Caesar.

" What I shall say will be in praise of our state, in glory of the city of
New York and of the nation in which we live. My speech will be brief, because
I have had the pleasure of being present two or three times on similar occasions
to this festival to-night, and if I attempted to make anything like an extended
address I should be like a friend of mine whose wife was giving a reception one
evening. Just before the guests began to arrive she saw her husband carrying
away all the umbrellas from the hat-rack. She said to him: ' Why, my dear,
you don't need to take those umbrellas away. Our guests will not steal any of
them.' ' Oh, that's not what troubles me,' he replied, * I am only afraid the
guests will recognize them.'

" There has been something said by the president to-night ; about the state
of Ohio. It is always a pleasure to me to come here and meet old citizens of
Ohio, and not only that, but this is the grandest city of our country, and
there is no place on the face of the globe where one can come and meet better
friends or find more enjoyment than in this great city of yours.

" You expect me to say a word or two about Ohio, and I will do so with
the proverbial modesty of the Ohioan. Ohio has furnished all the Republican
presidents save the first and the greatest of them, and has plenty of timber left
to furnish more. That is not sajang that there are not plenty here in New
York who would not make able presidents, but this is a matter we cannot turn

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over to your state. We have a few secrets in Ohio, which, however, I am not go-
ing to tell 3'^ou to-night. But those secrets are nothing against the interest and
glory of the country. There are a few little things that possibly you Buckeyes
had best not know about, at least just now. We will let you know about them
next fall.

" Ohio put the first troops in the field after the call of the president last
spring, and to the glory of Ohio, it may be said that the first American soldier
who lost his life in the Spanish war was an Ohioan. I mention this to let you
know that Ohio is always in the front. You may possible have heard about the
Ohioan who, I think, on one occasion hke this become a little confused in some
way. After the evening entertainment he did not know exactly where he was,
and some friends, in a joke, put him to sleep in a cemetery for the night. In
the morning when he woke up he looked around and saw nothing but tombs
and monuments. * Well,' he exclaimed, ' here's Ohio, the first man at the
resurrection.'

" I can understand why it is that New York city is growing so rapidly.
A great many Ohioans are coming here and interesting themselves in the com-
mercial affairs of New York. They come here to make money, but sometimes
they go home with less than they brought with them.

" You have heard considerable talk about Manila and our new posses-
sions. We hear a great deal of talk about the question in Ohio, but I don't
think they have any well-defined ideas as to what they are to do about it. The
feeling now with the men there is that the Filipinos, for attacking our sailors
and soldiers, should be punished to the extent of teaching them to respect the
American nation and the American flag. When that is done it will be time
enough to decide what course shall be taken with the Filipinos. When the
proper time comes, I have no fear but that this country will act justly, and
that the coming in contact with the Anglo-Saxon race and the Buckeyes who
will go to those islands to start street railroads and other enterprises will have
the effect before long of civilizing the natives and preparing them for govern-
ing themselves.

" But the matter which requires attending to immediately is that these
natives must be taught to respect the country and the flag. When they have
received this lesson then we will tell them what kind of government it will be
to their advantage to have. This is the last time I shall come to join you at
these dinners as Governor of Ohio. But I hope that when I go out of office
you will be willing to extend to me an invitation to the fourteenth annual
banquet, and I can assure you that it will be a great pleasure to me always to
meet you at these dinners.

" Before closing, I may say that I have no fear of our government and
that our Congress and President will be able to meet and manage the diffi-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cult problems that now present themselves with reference to our new pos-
sessions. The proper course for us to take, as the distinguished Senator
from Delaware and his no less distinguished colleague, Mr. Reid, have told
you, is to go forward, and let us show the nations of the world that America
lives to assist those who need it and to redress wrongs wherever they exist."

General Merritt was then introduced, the chairman referring to him as
Admiral Dewey's coadjutor, and the man who had written a chapter in the
history of the United States that will live forever. As he arose three cheers
were proposed and given. He said in part:

" My surprise to-night, after hearing so much about Ohio, has been to
learn that so many Ohioans have come to New York to live. Ohio enterprise
has done a great deal for New York. The Philippine question has been so
ably discussed by Senator Gray and Mr. Reid that there is nothing for me to
add. I am sure if the Filipinos had intelligence enough to understand the re-
marks which have been made here to-night they would be willing to submit.
As it is, we shall have to beat them in on it. When I left Luzon and Manila I
knew that a show of force on our part would quickly result in peace. Delay
has been worse than dangerous. It has resulted in bloodshed, but we are pre-
pared to assert our rule.

" I shall not speak at length of the army, preferring rather to say some-
thing about the navy. If I ever enter another world and should have the
choice of service it would be in the navy. They carry their own houses with
them, and do not have to lie in trenches or fight at short range. Admiral
Dewey is entitled to all praise, and no American will withhold from him his
need. I found in Admiral Dewey a cordial, warm-hearted supporter of any-
thing that the army wanted to do. He was ready to assist in any way it was
required. Admiral Dewey did his duty nobly. He deserves all the honor the
nation can give him.

" I found the American army as it appeared in Manila composed of ear-
nest, cordial, honest and hard-working men. The volunteers had much to
learn. I sent my staff among them and the regulars, and found co-operation.
The men wanted to learn, and they became as good as our regulars before I
got through. I am sure you will be glad to know this, for, though I had no
Ohio volunteers with me, I feel sure that they would have done as well as any
of the others."

The next speaker was ex-Governor James E. Campbell, of Ohio, who
spoke in part as follows :

"Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : I would include the ladies in this greet-
ing, but friend Southard has already embraced them. But it is his privilege,
for old men may do that with impunity, and therefore, you see, I am debarred
from the pleasure. I am moved to say to-night, from being here with our

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

honored peace commissioners, that ' God moves in a mysterious way His
wonders to perform.' I was at a banquet Hke this one about four or five years
ago — an Ohio banquet — and I remember how my friend, Michael D. Harter,
who was one of God's noblemen, said in a set speech that we should not take
the Hawaiian Islands. In an informal speech which I was called for as a vol-
unteer I took issue with him, and I said that, while perhaps we ourselves would
not see it, our cliildren would Hke to see the island east of us and the islands
west of us, the republic north of us and the republics south of us, and every
land from the isthmus to the pole, under the American flag. The Hawaiian
Islands have come to us, I might say, by force of gravity. We have also got
great islands in the East and innumerable islands in the Far West.

" So far the result ought to be a source of pride to every American
citizen. We got Porto Rico without any question, and we will get Cuba just
as we got Texas.

"As to the Philippines, first we conquered them ; second, these gentlemen
beside me bought them. They are ours, and we can do what we want with
them. Our first duty, I say, is to kill the assassins, the bushwhackers, the mur-
derers who have been shooting down American soldiers. And to begin with, I
should take Mr. Aguinaldo's gold collar ofi^ and put on one of another kind.

" And yet, I am not an expansionist. I belong to a party that cannot
even expand over this country, and they are lucky if they get four years at a
time. But I have a deep faith in American liberty, conscience and American
love of justice, and I am sure that these qualities which have made America
great in the world, and so acknowledged by the powers that constitute the
world, will enable our government to cope with this question. I believe that
our leaders can deal with it satisfactorily, and if they cannot the party to
which I belong will do it for them in 1900.

" I am sorry that Judge Day is not here. His career has been that
of a typical American. It could not have come to any one but him. Two
years ago he was a practicing lawyer in a little country town in Ohio. We
have got lots more hke him out there. We have got thousands of them. They
are our Ohio country boys, unambitious and mortal. But they are all Days if
you give them a chance. Judge Day was first made assistant secretary of
state. Then circumstances put him in first place, and he held that post in time
of war and trouble. We are compelled to say as men and as Americans that he
did well. Directly after this he was appointed to the peace commission, and
there he made a record of which we may speak with pride. He was at the
front of that body. He was the leader, and he conducted his negotiations, not
with any underhand backdoor methods, but in an honest, manly, straightfor-
ward way.

" And there is another Ohio boy whom I would call to your attention.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

He was bom in the same district which I once represented in Congress, and he
was born in a county that invariably gave my opponent a majority of twent}'-
five thousand or upward. He is your neighbor and your friend. I always
think of him first in connection with his great work on * Ohio in the War.'
And it is with feeling that I recall his description of the death of Colonel
Minor MilHgan as his greatest personal loss in the war. If Senator Gray's
wife were here I would like to make her ears tingle with what I feel like saying
about her husband. But I cannot say so many nice things before his face. I
have seen a great deal of him in the Senate. We belong, you know, to the
same long-suffering political party.

" These men have come to us, just out of a little war. People did not
know what they wanted before the war began. Some of you New Yorkers did
not want war. There were men interested in stocks that had too many tickers
in their back offices to hanker after war, but ever since the 15th of February,
1898, I have hoped and devoutly prayed for war. Ever since 266 American
sailors went to their death as martyrs on the Maine I have wished to punish
the perpetrators of that black deed. We owed atonement and an avenging to
ourselves and to posterity. And the war came. The army did not have much
chance to show what they could do. They might have had a chance. There's
no telling. But remember that some time ago we spent four years killing
each other, and in that terrific struggle more men were killed than Great
Britain has lost since the time of Norman conquest. A foreign war was
needed to show the nations of the world just what our army was. Well, they
went ahead and cleaned out everybody in sight. I don't suppose they could
have done any more than that. But I know they could have done that with
their ej^es shut and one hand tied behind them.

" And now I come to my toast — ' Our Navy.' How shall I speak of it?
The tongues of angels are needed to give to it an adequate eulogy and worth-
ily portray its glories, for no human tongue can pay a sufficient tribute to
the United States Navy. I speak not alone for our new navy, which has just
made our English cousins find out how nearly related they are to us, and the
roar of whose guns has made the decadents in Paris stop sneering at us. It is
a great navy. I was in Congress when the appropriation was made for our
first battleship, under the greatest of secretaries, your fellow-townsman, Wil-
liam C. Whitney. Its glories are so great that I need not recite them. Who
was the first man killed.'' Was he a soldier.'' No, he was a sailor. He was a
sailor from Ohio, and was buried only yesterday in the churchyard of a Httle
Ohio town. He was James B. McPherson, who was killed off Cardenas. A
few hours later the first officer was killed — Worth Bagley, who was, thank
God, the son of a North Carolina rebel. It was an atonement in blood. The
Civil War was over.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" And George Dewey. What can I say of him? I saw by to-day's paper
that he said he would under no circumstances consider a nomination for the
Presidency of the United States. I thought deeply over that, and I thought
what a mistake it was that he was not bom in Ohio.

" And about Schley and Sampson. I don't believe in controversies. Each
man did his duty. It was one commander's lot not to be at Santiago, and for
him I have nothing but praise. But one of them was there. And his ship
was hit forty-seven times. If the American people do not do justice to that
brave man we must blush with shame forever after."

President William R. Harper, of the University of Chicago, who followed
ex-Governor Campbell, and who began to speak at twenty minutes after 12,
said : " To-day is Sunday, so you'll have plenty of time to recuperate later."
Continuing, he said, in part:

" A new feehng of patriotism has recently come among us. The old feel-
ing was strong, but with most of us not tangible. I say most of us, for the
number of those whose lives were quickened in the Civil War grows less each
day, and while many souls ripened thereby into a high patriotism, in many was
engendered a sectional hate without occasion for the kindling of the patriotic
flame. It lies dormant; but occasion came, and at once the spark shot up.
How quick the response of heart to heart and the warming up of every soul,
as the story of victory after victory passed from mouth to mouth ! It was as
if an electric current had taken hold of dead men and transformed them into
living beings.

" Here and there have been those who did not so share the joy and en-
thusiasm of this new feehng, with their vision of the future bound by the hor-
izon of a past long departed and their apprehension of difficulties increased
beyond all measure of true apportionment. With their conception of the pos-
sibilities of this country based upon a calculation adapted to countries of far
different situation and resources, they have stood and still stand in fear before
the confusion and disaster which they assure us must follow the strange and
sudden burst of popular enthusiasm. These men are patriotic according to
their light, and their light is either the dim and fitful gloom which just pre-
cedes the dawn of day or the dark and heavy shade of night, settling down
upon hearts and minds already under the spell of the despair of a pessimistic
philosophy. In such times as these the thinking man asks himself : What is the
love of country? How comes it and upon what basis does it rest.? What
duties does it impose.'' And what satisfaction does it cultivation bring.''

" Love of country, like father and mother love, is a sentiment in the
growth of which hundreds of centuries have been employed. Its evolution is
easily traced. The savage has no love of country. He is a member of a clan
whose members are related by blood. The wandering nomad is scarcely yet in

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a position to understand the meaning of patriotism. He has no land ; there is
as yet no nation ; it is still the idea of the clan which controls. The agricul-
turist who had taken possession of a track of land may begin to develop the
love of country. Several tribes are joined together and institutions common
to all begin to spring up. Life takes on new forms. With the building of
cities arose the possibility of a patriotism greater in scope than any which
had yet preceded. The incitement of close contract, the momentum of vigorous
co-operation, continued to produce the solidarity that alone furnishes the field
suitable for the growth of patriotism.

" Among the Chinese there is no political feeling, and there can hardly
be said to exist such a thing as national spirit. The controlling factor is the
domestic spirit. Among the Egyptians the national institutions suggested op-
pression, and were of such a nature as not to win the love of the people.
Israel's patriotism was religious fanaticism. Greek patriotism, for the most
part, was something selfish and narrow. The Romans had but one duty —
service to Rome.

" Our patriotism is domestic, and has also a religious feeling. Our pa-
triotism has the unity which characterized that of Rome. From whatever
state or city we come, we are Americans. The unity of Rome, though a single
city, was not greater than the unity of the United States as it finds embodi-
ment in the national government. However distinct and separated the parts
of the whole, the whole is none the less the unity into which the power and
energy of all the parts find entrance. This may have been only partially true
during the last forty years, but the events of nine months have surely removed
any doubts which the world has entertained in this regard."

The menu card and progranmie consisted of a handsome and artistic
folder, nearly one foot square. Upon the front cover was an American fl»g
in colors, surrounded by branches of the buckeye tree. This was followed by
a picture of the American eagle, standing on the North American continent,
with one protecting wing extended over Cuba and Porto Rico, and the other
over Hawaii and the Philippines. The title page was as follows :

THIRTEENTH
ANNUAL BANQUET

OF THE

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

IN HONOR OF THE

AIMERICAN PEACE COIVBHSSIONERS

AT THE

WALDORF-ASTORIA

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1899.

305

CHAPTER XV.

1899-1900

MR. CHANCE, at the meeting of March 13th, presented a paper set-
ting forth the claims in favor of November 29, 1802, as the date
when Ohio was admitted to the Union. A vote of thanks was ex-
tended, and the matter was discussed by several of the members.

The " sixth annual ladies' reception and dance," as it was announced on
the programme, was given at the Waldorf-Astoria on the evening of April 5th.
It was in charge of the entertainment committee, consisting of Warren Higley,
chairman ; Peter H. Burnett, Noah H. Swayne 2d, David H. Bates, Jr., and
Andrew Ernest Foye. The following gentlemen served as a floor committee:
Andrew Ernest Foye, chairman; David Homer Bates, Jr., Peter H. Burnett,
Henry B. C. Plimpton, Howard Elmer Crall, William H. Jennings, Emmet B.
Wheeler. The following ladies consented to serve as hostesses : Mrs. Milton I.
Southard, Mrs. Henry L. Burnett, Mrs. William L. Strong, Mrs. Wager
Swayne, Mrs. Wallace C. Andrews, Mrs. George E. Armstrong, Mrs. Thomas
H. Wheeler, Mrs. Warren Higley, Mrs. David H. Bates, Mrs. Henry B. Wil-
son, Mrs. William L. Brown, Mrs. Anson G. McCook.

The reception committee was constituted as follows : William L. Strong,
chairman; Henry L. Burnett, Wager Swayne, Wallace C. Andrews, Colgate
Hoyt, Peter F. Collier, David H. Bates, Henry B. Wilson, Thomas Ewing,
Jr., Daniel Pritchard, L. D. Morrison, Rollin M. Morgan, Ralph W. Carroll,
Sherman M. Granger, Milton I. Southard, George E. Armstrong, Samuel
Thomas, Thomas H. Wheeler, William L. Brown, Frank C. Loveland, Noah
H. Swayne 2d, Peter H. Burnett, Evarts L. Prentiss, DeFrees Critten, Elijah
G. Boardman, Charles H. Niehaus, Walter S. Sullivan, Samuel McMillan.

There was an elaborate order of dances and supper was served. Like the
previous entertainments of a similar nature, it was a success.

In the April meeting President Southard and Judge Higley were con-
stituted a committee to express to Mrs. General Henry L. Burnett the Society's
appreciation of her gift of a badge to be worn by the wife of the president of
the Society, at all the public functions. It was decided that a committee of
three from the governing committee be appointed by the president to secure a
larger attendance of members at the regular meetings. The president asked
Colgate Hoyt to recount some of his experiences during a trip to Cuba and

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the West Indies in company with ex-Senator Sherman of Ohio. Mr. Hoyt
gave a most interesting narration of the trip and of the transfer of ex-Senator
Sherman to the Chicago, sent to convey him home.

D. H. Bates suggested that ex-Mayor Strong be asked to describe some
of the experiences of his son. Major Putnam Bradlee Strong, in the Philip-
pines. Colonel Strong responded with some stirring experiences of Colonel
Fred Funston and of Major Strong as interpreter, envoy, and officer at the
front, where, by his grave and gallant conduct, he won the commendation of
his superior.

By vote of the Society on May 8th word was officially sent to the mem-
bers that each Monday evening had been set aside as its time when " the Ohio
Society would be especially at home in its rooms." The governing committee,
in the same month, passed a vote appreciative of the hospitality of Colgate
Hoyt, who had given the members of the committee a delightful outing on
board his yacht " Tide." The last meeting of the season took the form of a
dinner at Morelli's, where short speeches were made by Messrs. Hoyt, Hopkins,
Granger, Lefler, Doyle and Chance.

In the meeting of October 9th a committee consisting of Judge Higley,
Mahlon Chance and Colonel Strong were authorized to express the thanks of
the Society to Mrs. S. S. Packard for the gift of a portrait of her deceased
husband. The following gentlemen were chosen as a nominating committee
to select officers for the ensuing year: Thomas Ewing, L. D. Morrison, J. D.
Gillett, Colgate Hoyt, H. C. Plimpton, J. W. Jennings, F. F. Ward. On
November 13th the committee reported the following ticket: President, Milton
I. Southard ; vice-presidents, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas H. Wheeler, George
E. Armstrong, Warren Higley, Colgate Hoyt ; secretary, William H. Blymer ;
recording secretary, Walter S. Sullivan ; treasurer, Leander H. Crall ; trustees,
Francis B. Stedman, Evarts L. Prentiss, R. C. Penfield.

The annual meeting, again in the form of an informal dinner, was held
on the usual date, November 29th. The secretary was instructed to cast one
vote for the candidates proposed, and they were all declared elected. Speeches
were made by Flamen Ball Candler, Colgate Hoyt, G«n. Henry L. Burnett
and Charles A. Winter. Mr. Crall, treasurer, made his annual report, show-
ing a clear balance of $5,761.57. The annual report of the governing com-
mittee was presented by Colgate Hoyt, chairman, who said, among other
things :

" Gentlemen : Another year, one replete with interest and that speaks
volumes for the welfare and prosperity of the Society, has come and gone.

" Fifty brother Buckeyes have been elected to membership in the Society
within the year, thirty-three of them being resident and seventeen non-resident
members. The grim reaper. Death, has not spared us in the year just closed,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

for nine honored members have been added to the list of those who have passed
into the great unknown. First among them was the Hon. Calvin S. Brice, one
of the founders of the Society, followed by Mr. John Dickson, Colonel A, L.
Conger, Mr. Warren F. Leland, Wallace C. Andrews, Esq., another one of
the charter members, whose sad fate and that of his estimable wife and relatives
is still fresh in the minds of all; Mr. William Kraus, Mr. Phillip A. Bond,
Warren H. Coming, Esq., and Major John A. Logan. Committees were ap-
pointed to draft suitable resolutions and testimonials, copies of which were sent
to the families of the deceased, and also spread upon the minutes and made a
part of the records of the Society.

" It is one of the characteristics of the Ohioan to hold on to a good thing
when he has it, but several have departed from that rule and tendered their
resignations as members wliich were accepted, while a few others have so far
forgotten themselves as to fall in arrears for dues and have consequently been
dropped from the rolls. The membership, however, is at present very near
the ' four hundred ' mark, and a little exertion on the part of our members
will bring it up to the half thousand before another year has ended.

" The growth of the- Society has been remarkable and is steadily on the
increase and it ranks to-day as one of the leading organizations of its kind in
the country. The home of the Buckeye is now and ever will be one of the at-
tractive features of the metropolis.

" Respectfully submitted,

" Colgate Hoyt, Chairman."

Thomas Ewing was elected chairman of the governing committee, and An-
drew J. C. Foye, Francis B. Stedman and RolHn M. Morgan became members
of the house committee. The president announced the following committees :
Literature and art, Charles H. Niehaus, chairman ; Mahlon Chance, Alexander
Doyle, Noah H. Swayne 2d, William L. Hawk ; entertainment, Warren Hig-
ley, chairman; Andrew Ernest Foye, Henry C. Plimpton, Putnam Bradlee
Strong, Albert F. Hagar; library, Daniel Pritchard, chairman; William H.
Caldwell, Charles H. Clegg, Lovell H. Carr, Warjier Ells; auditing, Henry
A. Glassford, chairman; David H. Bates, Frank C. Loveland, Richard J.
Chard, De Fries Critten.

At the December meeting Major Putnam Bradlee Strong, a son of ex-
Mayor Strong, delivered an interesting account of his experiences as a soldier
in the Philippines.

The first meeting of the Society in 1900 was held on January 8th at the
St. Denis. William H. Blymyer, secretary of the Society, delivered an en-
lightening and entertaining address on the work of the "Word's Peace Con-
ference," based upon his personal observations and studies at The Hague dur-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing the sessions of the commissioners. Mr. Blymyer put into marked contrast
the frank and open spirit of our representatives, and the indirect methods of
their associates, remarking that all propositions advanced by the United States
with the purpose of creating an agreement which would be binding on the pow-
ers, were, in the end, rendered ineffective or nugatory by quahfying conditions.
The speaker was of the opinion that the adoption of the proposed agreement
by the United States would retard the establishment of an effective treaty of
peace. The address of Mr. Corey, who was the American consul at Amsterdam
at the time the Peace Conference was proposed, furnished a fitting complement
to the discussion of the subject by the preceding speaker. Mr. Corey
gave a picturesque account of the Dutch people and their characteristics and
spoke at some length of their great desire for peace and of the efforts that
had been made by the Dutch ladies especially, through the establishment in
the kingdom of Peace societies, which possessed great influence and efficiency.
Mr. Corey took an optimistic view of the results of the peace agitation in
progress in Holland, and put an interpretation upon the Czar's proposal for
the peace conference, which was most fair and generous to the sincerity of that
monarch's intention. " The fact of such a conference being held," he said,
" was a great step toward peace." The American idea of diplomacy, which
was discovered in the deliberations of the American commissioners, produced an
impression upon the other powers represented, which was salutary, and in his
opinion would be far-reaching in the direction of universal peace in the future.

At the February meeting David Homer Bates read an interesting paper
on personal reminiscences of President Lincoln. A number of members re-
lated interesting incidents in the life of the martyred president.

The banquet of 1900 was a memorable event in the history of the Ohio
Society. It not only had the President of the United States, himself an Ohio
man, as its guest of honor, but also entertained a future President of the
United States in the person of the then governor of New York, Theodore
Roosevelt. The occasion was made still more memorable because President
McKinley, in his speech, sounded the keynote of the presidential campaign
soon to open. There also sat at the guests' table a number of other eminent
men, comprising a governor and ex-governor of Ohio and Senator Marcus A.
Hanna of Ohio, and his successor, the Hon. Charles Dick.

This fourteenth annual banquet was given at the Waldorf-Astoria on the
evening of Saturday, March 3. It was in charge of a committee composed of
the following gentlemen: Henry L. Burnett, chairman; William L. Strong,
William L. Brown, Samuel Thomas, Whitelaw Reid, Leander H. Crall, Henry
B. Wilson, Warren Higley, Emerson McMillin, F. H. Kingsbury, Louis D.
Clarke, Rollin M. Morgan, Richard J. Chard, Wager Swayne, Milton I.
Southard, Anson G. McCook, Colgate Hoyt, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas H.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Wheeler, David Homer Bates, Mahlon Chance, J. Q. A. Ward, Thomas Ewing,
Jr., Thomas A. Edison, Flamen Ball Chandler, William H. Blymyer, secretary.
The following gentlemen served as a reception committee: Putnam Bradlee
Strong, chairman ; William S. Hawk, Francis B. Stedman, Raymond C. Pen-
field, Wm. Ford Upson, Defrees Critten, Lowell M. Palmer, J. A. Fordyce,
James G. Newcomb, Daniel Pritchard, Wade Chance, Andrew Ernest Foye,
Henry C. Plimpton, Evarts L. Prentiss, Samuel H. Parsons, Albert Francis
Hagar, Addison W. Gilmore, Warner Ells, A. D. Houston, Peter H. Bur-
nett, H. B. Brundrett, Walter S. Sullivan.

The menu card was an elaborate and beautiful souvenir of the occasion.
It was enclosed in a covering of hand-made carmine colored paper tied with
silken cords and impressed with buckeye leaves. Upon the first page of the
nine leaves were grouped the portraits of the presidents that Ohio had given to
the country — ^William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B.
Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley. Be-
neath the group was this title :

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL BANQUET

OF THE

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

IN HONOR OF THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

AT THE WALDORF-ASTOEIA
SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 1890.

There followed two pages of quotations from famous men, bearing upon
the history of Ohio and of the nation, accompanied by illustrations that illu-
minated the historic texts.

When President McKinley accepted the invitation to be present, he in-
sisted that he should not be called upon to speak. He was persuaded, however,
after he arrived in New York, to forego that proviso, and, in consequence,
responding to the toast of his health he permitted himself to dwell briefly upon
the problems which tlie nation's Spanish war had left with the country.

The American people, the President asserted, must choose between manly
doing and base desertion. Partisanship, he contended, could hold few against
public duty, and with a fervor that carried every one of his hearers with him,
he declared that it was not possible that seventy-five millions of American free-
men could not establish liberty and justice and good government in the new
possessions of the United States.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Although President McKinley took the precaution of reading his speech,
Httle effect was lost in its delivery. He was frequently interinipted for a full
minute, while his auditors rose to their feet in a body, cheering and waving
handkerchiefs and table napkins.

The banquet hall of the Waldorf-Astoria was a brilliant scene of light
and color. Upon the floor of the hall fully five hundred diners were seated,
while in the galleries above there was a large gathering of women, whose cos-
tumes added to the general picturesqueness of the festival.

In a box specially reserved for her, facing the guests' table, Mrs, IMcKin-
ley sat. She came in before the last course was served, and was greeted with
tumultuous cheering. Springing to their feet, the diners cheered her for sev-
eral minutes, while Mrs. McKinley stood bowing her acknowledgments. Ac-
companying her were ]Mrs. Abner McKinley, Miss Mabel McKinley, Miss
Barber, George Barber, William S. Hawk and Dr. P. M. Rixey. " Among the
occupants of the suiTounding boxes were Mrs. Perkins, of Akron, Ohio ; Mrs.
Kingsley, Mrs. John A. McCaJl, Mrs. Milton I. Southard, Mrs. Andrew J. C.
Foye, Mrs. H. L. Burnett, Mrs. William L. Strong, Mrs. Warren Higley,
Mrs. Thomas H. Wheeler, Mrs. John H. Langstreet, Mrs. John S. White,
Mrs. R. C. Penfield, Mrs. Sydney J. Smith, Mrs. A. B. Wilson, Mrs. William
Ford Upson, Mrs. and Miss Beer, Mrs. George Howes, Miss Jessie Hoyt, Mrs.
A. D. Houston, Mrs. William H. Blymyer, Mrs. Defrees Critten, Mrs. S. H.
Parsons, Mrs. E. T. Clishing, Mrs. E. I. Benner, Mrs. S. C. Byrd, Mrs. Rus-
sell-Groves, Mrs. Winchester Fitch and Mrs. E. H. Fitch.

The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, governor of New York, did not reach the
hotel until about 10 P. M. As he made his way to the president's table he
was heartily cheered. A seat was given him next to President McKinley, and
until the speaking began the President and the governor were engaged in
close conversation. No one who saw them together forecast the liistoric and
tragic events through which in so short a time they should pass together.

Before the dinner a reception was held in the Astor Gallery, where an
opportunity was afforded to the members and guests of the society to meet
the President.

Shortly after 7 o'clock the President was escorted to the banqueting room
by President Milton I. Southard, his entrance being marked by the playing
of " Hail to the Chief." Seated with Mr. Southard and the President at the
guest table were Henry R. Towne, Julien T. Davies, Tunis G. Bergen, John
Barrett, Charles Dick, Pension Commissioner H. Clay Evans, Adjutant-Gen-
eral H. C. Corbin, James H. Hoyt, Lieutenant-Goveraor Woodruff, ex-Vice-
President Morton, Governor Roosevelt, Governor George K. Nash, of Ohio;
Cornelius N. Bliss, Senator Hanna, ex-Governor James E. Campbell, of Ohio ;
Solicitor-General John K. Richards, Judge Addison Brown, George B. Wil-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

son, Gen. Wager Swayne, Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard, the Rev. Edwin H.
Krans, Judge James A. O'Gorman, and Charles G. Dawes, controller of the
currency.

In his address of welcome Mr. Southard, as toastmaster, said :

" Gentlemen : It is my pleasant duty to welcome you to another annual
banquet of the Ohio Society of New York. And this welcome is extended to
the ladies also who grace us with their presence. I trust I may be permitted
to salute them as the gallant Judge Vamum saluted their great-grandmothers
at the first Fourth of July celebration, in 1783, at Marietta, Ohio, as ' the
amiable partners of our dehcate pleasures.'

" We are fortunate, gentlemen, in having with us this evening, as our
guest of honor, the President of the United States. We honor him as the chief
executive of the nation, as a native Ohioan, and for his genial character and
great achievements. We are glad to welcome him here, and our welcome is
spontaneous, sincere and most cordial.

" And to the first lady of the land, who has seen fit to favor us with her
gracious presence, we extend our most hearty greetings. We feel honored by
her presence, and our grateful esteem will go with her always.

" We are told that the pioneers of Ohio spread their banquets in the wil-
derness, with a menu of

' Bear meat, johnny cake and whiskey.'

" That was indeed strong diet, but we must remember that it fed strong
men. They were stalwart in brain and brawn, and ate and wrought heroically.
They felled the trees; they built the cabins; they repelled the savages, and
they founded a state, with hearts as cheery and souls as free as ever danced in
the sunlight of luxury. They dispensed a generous hospitality of such as
they had, and made no apologies for their crude surroundings. Indeed, they
were proud of the buckeye cabin. They joyed about its fireside; they set it to
poetry ; they made it the party shibboleth of a Presidential campaign.

Oh, where, tell me where.

Was your buckeye cabin made.''
'Twas built among the merry boys

Who wield the plough and spade,
Where the log cabins stand

In the bonnie buckeye shade.

" This buckeye tree is remarkable in many ways. It possesses aesthetic,
medicinal and utilitarian properties, as well as a large nomenclature. It is
* hetock ' in Indian, ' Ohioensis ' in botany, ' buckeye ' in English and ' Pres-
idents ' in politics.

" Behold in our souvenir what superb presidential fruitage it bears !

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" But, gentlemen, an occasion like tliis is fruitful of more serious thought.
As we assemble to commemorate our native state, the great deeds of our pioneer
ancestors come up before us and awaken inquiry. How was the great North-
west Territory acquired.'' How was it settled and reclaimed to civilization?
What manner of men were the participants in it.'' From whence did they
come.'' How has it grown and developed into a vast empire of wealth and pop-
ulation.'' How has it influenced the history and destiny of the United States.''
Wliat will be its potency on the future welfare of our beloved country? How
will it speak as a factor on the great problems thrust upon us through the ac-
quisition of far distant island possessions? All these inquiries and more crowd
upon the mind and struggle for utterance. But they cannot be answered
within the limits allotted to me. Permit me, however, to state in a word the
four cardinal features upon which this magnificent structure rests. They are
union, liberty, education and religion. Tliese beneficent principles were firmly
established in the earliest ordinances and statutes and have ever since been
sacredly cherished and heroically maintained. No blight of slavery, of caste,
of bigotry or of intolerance was permitted in the beginning, but all the founda-
tions of free government were then laid as secure and perfect as the fruits of
after study and experience could possibly make them. And in this grand in-
ception of government Ohio and her four sister states stand without a parallel
in the history of the world."

Mr. Southard closed by proposing the toast, " The President of the
United States !" The toast was drunk standing, and when President McKin-
ley arose to respond he was greeted by cheers again and again repeated.

It was on this occasion that McKinley perpetrated one of the best of his
few public jokes. Looking at Mr. Southard reproachfully, he said: " I came
to this banquet on the express promise that I should not be asked to make a
speech." He paused for a moment and then continued : " Therefore, I have
carefully prepared myself."

It was on this occasion that McKinley perpetrated one of the best of his
speech. He said : " Mr. Toastmaster and Gentlemen : I appreciate your
welcome and thank you for this renewed expression of your good will. It is
proper that I should say that the managing board of the Ohio Society has
kept the promise made to me that I would not be expected or required to speak
at this banquet. I shall not be guilty of reflecting on their good faith or
breaking my own resolution not to speak if I indulge in some observations while
expressing in the briefest manner the pleasure which I have in greeting my old
friends of the Ohio colony in New York. There is a bond of close fellowship
which unites Ohio people. Whithersoever they journey or wherever they dwell,
they cherish the tenderest sentiment for their mother state, and she in turn
never fails of aff'ectionate interest in her widely scattered children.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" The statement which has so often been made is not far from the truth,
' Once an Ohioan always an Ohioan.' It has been some years since I was your
guest. Much has happened in the meantime. We have had our blessings and
our burdens, and still have both. We will soon have legislative assurance of
the continuance of the gold standard, with which we measure our exchanges,
and we have the open door in the Far East, through which to market our
products. We are neither in alliance nor antagonism nor entanglement with
any foreign power, but on terms of amity and cordiality with all. We buy
from them all and sell to them all, and our sales exceeded our purchases in the
last two years by over $1,000,000,000. Markets have been increased and
mortgages have been reduced.

" Interest has fallen and wages have advanced. The public debt is de-
creasing. The country is well to do. Its people for the most part are happy
and contented. They have good times and are on good terms with the na-
tions of the world. There are, unfortunately, those among us, few in number
I am sure, who seem to thrive best under bad times and who when good times
overtake them in the United States feel constrained to put us on bad terms
with the rest of mankind. With them I can have no sympathy. I would
rather give expression to what I believe to be the nobler and almost universal
sentiment of my countrymen in the wish not only for our peace and pros-
perity, but for the peace and prosperity of all the nations and people of the
earth.

" After thirty-three years of unbroken peace came an unavoidable war.
Happily, the conclusion was quickly reached, without a suspicion of unworthy
motive or practice or purpose on our part and with fadeless honor to our arms.
I cannot forget the quick response of the people to the country's need, and the
quarter of a million men who freely offered their lives to their country's senace.
It was an impressive spectacle of national strength. It demonstrated our
mighty reserve power, and taught us that large standing armies are unneces-
sary when every citizen is a ' minute man ' ready to join the ranks for national
defense.

" Out of these recent events have come to the United States grave trials
and responsibilities. As it was the nation's war, so are its results the nation's
problems. Its solution rests upon us all. It is too serious to stifle. It is too
earnest for repose. No phrase or catchword can conceal the sacred obligation
it involves. No use of epithets, no aspersion of motive by those who differ will
contribute to that sober judgment so essential to right conclusions. No politi-
cal outcry can abrogate our treaty of peace with Spain or absolve us from its
solemn engagements. It is the people's question, and will be until the deter-
mination is written out in their enlightened verdict. We must choose between
manly doing and base desertion. It will never be the latter. It must be

314.

President "William McKinley

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

soberly settled in justice and good conscience, and it will be. Righteousness,
which exalteth a nation, must control in its solution.

'-' No great emergency has arisen in this nation's history and progress
which has not been met by the sovereign with high capacity, with ample
strength and with unflinching fidelity to every honorable obligation. Partisan-
ship can hold few of us against solemn public duty. We have seen this so
often demonstrated in the past as to mark unerringly what it will be in the fu-
ture. The national sentiment and the national conscience were never stronger
or higher than now. There has been a reunion of the people around the holy
altar consecrated to country newly sanctified by common sacrifices. The fol-
lowers of Grant and Lee have fought under the same flag and fallen for the
same faith.

" Party lines have loosened and the ties of Union have been strengthened.
Sectionalism has disappeared and fraternity has been rooted in the hearts of
the American people. Political passion has altogether subsided and patriotism
glows with inextinguishable fervor in every home of the land. The flag has
been sustained on distant seas and islands by the men of all parties and sec-
tions and creeds and races and nationahties, and its stars are only those of radi-
ant hope to the remote peoples over whom it floats.

" There can be no imperialism. Those who fear it are against it. Those
who have faith in the Republic are against it. So that there is universal abhor-
rence for it and unanimous opposition to it. Our only diff'erence is that those
who do not agree with us have no confidence in the virtue or capacity or high
purpose or good faith of this free people as a civilizing agency; while we be-
lieve that the century of free government which the American people have
enjoyed has not rendered them irresolute and faithless, but has fitted them for
the great task of lifting up and assisting to better condition and larger liberty
these distant people who have through the issue of battle become our wards.
Let us fear not. There is no occasion for faint hearts, no excuse for regrets.
Nations do not grow in strength and the cause of liberty and law by the doing
of easy things. Tlie harder the task the greater will be the result, the benefit
and the honor. To doubt our power to accomplish it is to lose faith in the
soundness and strength of our popular institutions.

" The liberators will never become the oppressors. A self-governed people
will never permit despotism in any government which they foster and defend.

" Gentlemen, we have the new care and cannot shift it. And, breaking
up the camp of ease and isolation, let us bravely and hopefully and soberly con-
tinue the march of faithful service and falter not until the work is done. It
is not possible that seventy-five millions of American freemen are unable
to establish liberty and justice and good government in our new possessions.
The burden is our opportunity. The opportunity is greater than the burden.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

May God give us strength to bear the one and wisdom so to embrace the
other as to carry to our distant acquisitions the guarantees of ' life, Hberty and
the pursuit of happiness ! ' "

The next speaker was Lieutenant-Governor Timothy L. Woodruff, whose
toast was " The Empire State." He said :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen : Great, indeed, is the privOege on any
occasion to respond to the sentiment, ' The Empire State,' but to-night, sur-
rounded by the members of the Ohio Society of New York, the President of
the United States, the governor of our commonwealth, and many other distin-
guished guests, it is an honor which I deeply appreciate.

" The Ohio Society flourishes here in the full vigor of its native clime, in
obedience to the inflexible laws of nature. While not indigenous to our soil,
this flower of state societies is not an exotic. Slipped from the rugged stock
of the original states, the tender plant has extended into mighty proportions on
the banks of the Ohio, to be here re-engrafted for the strengthening of the
parent stock from which it sprang. Ohio is the daughter of New York. She
is just as good as wheat — ^the wheat she gamers in generous sheaves each
golden autumn. Like wheat, many of her illustrious sons have been carefully
cradled, sometimes threshed, and are now the flower of the national family.

" In the creation of New York nature was in her most generous mood.
She made it indeed the Empire state. On the west she set two inland seas of
sapphire and bound them rough wrought together by the rapids and cataracts
of Niagara, a symbol of national majesty and power. Then she spun a broad
silver river, dotted with a thousand isles, for a northern confine, buttressing
the east with the mountains of New England and flanking the south with the
forests of Pennsylvania. In the heart of the state she planted a health-giving
forest of evergreens — a sportsman's paradise — in the shaded seclusion of whose
mountain slopes rises the American Rhine, grand and picturesque as it breaks
through the mountains of the Catskills and flows along the base of the Pali-
sades toward this metropolis of the nation, where in the plenitude of her
bounty nature has brought the sea to the feet of tlie Empire state.

" Having finished this mighty task, Dame Nature left the settlement of
the paradise she had here created to the denizens of earth — the farmer, the
merchant and the manufacturer. Intrusting to their care the Empire state,
she then turned her attention to Ohio, and peopled it with statesmen — occa-
sionally a farmer, a merchant, a manufacturer, but mostly presidents.

" As I listened to his able speech a week ago before the Michigan Club in
Detroit, on the subject of the Northwest Territory, I noted with jealous regret
the omission by Governor Nash of Ohio to mention that New York was the first
of the Thirteen Colonies to cede to the general government her right, title and
interest in the Northwest Territory, of which Ohio was a part. This cession

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

was made even two years before the close of the War for Independence, and
four years before Massachusetts could be induced to relinquish her interest in
this territory. New York again demonstrated her friendship toward Ohio by
being the first among the states to advocate her admission into the Union in
1803. This fact is clearly brought out by the speech of the governor of Ohio
at tlie inauguration of work on the Ohio canal on the Fourth of July, 1825.
The central figure of this assemblage was Governor De Witt Clinton of New
York, who, fresh from the completion of his great Erie canal, was there to turn
the first spadeful of earth in this important undertaking. Addressing him,
Governor Morrow said : ' In no small degree, owing to your espousal as a sena-
tor in Congress of her cause, did Ohio gain admision to the Union.' The Erie
canal and the great canal system of Ohio, completed in 1842, were of inestima-
ble benefit, each to the other. Connected by Lake Erie, they estabhshed a con-
tinuous waterway, by which the products of the Buckeye state were transported
to New York, opening to her farmers and merchants her vast territory and
markets, elevating her, through New York's aid, to a position among the
states of the Union of which her sons have ever since been justly proud.

" In view of the timely support which New York has rendered in these
three instances, it is not surprising that Ohio has been able in every national
Republican convention, except one, since the close of the Civil War, to name
as candidate for President of the United States a man bom or living within
her territory. Some men achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon
them, and some are bom in Ohio !

" The people of the Flowery Kingdom express the morning salutation
' 0-h-i-o.' Should not, then, the neighboring inhabitants of the islands of the
Philippine archipelago hail the protection of the flag of a nation whose Presi-
dent combines a suggestion of both the Flowery and Celestial Kingdoms in
his home, Ohio and Canton.'' As our ever growing commerce knocks at the
door of the unlimited trade of the Orient, may we not find an omen in the
fact that the Yankees of the East greet one another by the name of our Presi-
dent's native state? Under the wise and progressive foreign policy now pro-
claimed and rapidly expanding under the master hand of our national govern-
ment, the day will soon dawn when in place of the fonnal greeting ' 0-h-i-o '
the words ' United States of America ' will become the open sesame throughout
those lands whose peaceful conquest we shall yet achieve.

" With sincere and mighty acclaim do the people of this great commercial
metropolis of the nation welcome the President under whose administration all
the forty-five gems in Columbia's diadem have become more resplendent than
ever, polished by the attrition of patriotic rivalry in all parts of our common
country, and now embellished by the Pearl of the Antilles and freshly adorned
by the jewels of the Orient. Since March 4, 1897, our country has become a

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

world power, so that to-day the man who occupies the place of President of
the United States exercises a more potent influence than any ruler among men."

Hon. James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland, followed Mr. Woodruff, his toast
being " The Man of the Hour." He said :

" The members of this Society have reasons for congratulation. We are
living in a most auspicious time. Since I last had the honor of addressing you
(only two short years ago) events the most momentous and deeds the most
heroic have happened and been wrought. Civilization has made a long march
forward, and in this grand advance that branch of the dominant, sturdy
Anglo-Saxon race to which we belong has had the right of the line. When
the history of this scant but epoch making interval is fully written, its pages
will be fairly crammed with records of achievements in statesmanship, in
diplomacy, in battle, on sea and land, and in devotion, the bare and unadorned
recitals of which will quicken the pulses of all true Americans, lift their patri-
otic ideals, and fill their hearts with gratitude and pride that the good God
has given them, if only by right of birth, or even by adoption, a share in the
shining glory of which the flag they love is the fitting and lustrous emblem.
We cannot, indeed, all be McKinleys, or Deweys, or Sampsons, or Wain-
wrights, or Lawtons, of fragrant memory ; or Mileses, or Shafters, or Garret-
sons, or gallant old ' Joe ' Wheelers, or indomitable and irresistible ' Teddies.'
We may not even be numbered among the thousands and thousands of others
who, in legislative halls, in administrative offices, in diplomatic fields, in the
crash of battle, or in other acts of patriotic sacrifice, have done so much, not
only for the ultimate adding of new stars to the flag, but in making the old
stars shine so much the more brilliantly; but, at any rate, we are all Ameri-
cans ; and, provided only we ' set aside every weight — ^like Pettigrew or At-
kinson, for instance — and the sins — of timidity and faint heartedness —
which do so easily beset us,' and ' run with patience the race set before us,'
and ' press forward toward the prize of our high calling,' then there will be
' an abundant and exceeding weight of glory ' for all of us in this.

" But the members of this Society have a peculiar and distinctive reason
for congratulation to-night, for of all the heroes bom of tHis epoch of emer-
gency, of trial and promise, a ' simple but great one ' from the state of Ohio
is the most conspicuous and the most illustrious, and he is our honored guest
this evening. Our President is not only the first citizen of the Republic by
right of office, but by right of accomplishment. He leads, not merely because
he has his place, but because he fills it. The commanding officer of any army,
even though not on the firing line, is nevertheless entitled to the largest meas-
ure of credit for success, as there will be visited upon him the largest measure
of censure for failure. Upon the shoulders of him whose brain conceives and
whose voice directs rests the most crushing burden of responsibility, and upon

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

his brow, if all goes well, should shine the brightest crown. That was indeed
an unequalled performance of the great admiral. Unequalled, because by his
genius and courage he turned the most dismal and foreboding prophecies into
glorious realities. Unequalled, not only for what he did, but for what he
dared. Unequalled also for what he gained for his country, not only in pres-
tige, but in possessions. But who selected the great sailor.'' Who placed him
upon the bridge of the Olympia.? Who inspired the historic order, which Dewey
so exactly and completely obeyed, to ' seek out the enemy's fleet and destroy
it ' ? Our guest did all this. Was there ever anything finer in song or story
than that mad rush of Wood and Roosevelt and their gallant Rough Riders
and rougher walkers and runners and fighters up the bullet-swept side of San
Juan hill.'^ But who unleashed these fearless and invincible dogs of war.f* Who
pointed out their quarry to them and set them on.'' Their commander-in-chief
did that. A thousand and ten thousand cheers for brave little old ' Joe '
Wheeler, who led his men up the slope of El Caney and planted the flag he
had fought against in his green youth, but risked his life for in his ripe old
age, on the blood smeared summit! But who gave him the chance to rewrite
his name on history's page in unquenchable and patriotic flame.'' Who laid a
soft and tactful hand on old sores and healed them forever? Who dropped
the sweet and scented flowers of a wise and patriotic forgetfulness on the un-
sightly graves of dead issues and so adorned them? It was the president of
this now reunited Republic who did all that.

" Those were perfectly splendid announcements which Sampson and
Schlej'^ and their great captains not only made, but proved to the world a year
ago last July. They were to the effect, you remember, that there was room
on the top of Cuban waters for only one of two hostile fleets, while there was
room and to spare at the bottom for all the ships which Spain might see fit to
send there; and also that if ever again a warship were blown up in Havana
harbor by an external cause it would not be a United States warship. Those
were splendid announcements, and the proof that was furnished in support of
them on that warm July day was simply overwhelming. But who was it
stood like a rock against the numberless demands of timid people living on
the Atlantic coast, especially in Boston and in its vicinity, that some of Samp-
son's battleships and cruisers should be taken away from their essential work
at Santiago and sent North to protect them? Who was it that was responsible
for the order starting the bulldog of the United States navy on her memorable
and unequalled trip around the world, not in eighty, but in less than forty
days, in order that she might smite the Colon with one of her railroad trains?
Who was it that inspired energy in every subordinate and sent life pulsing
through every department, so that supplies were promptly furnished and
intelligence quickly given? Who, in that time of strain, worked twenty-eight

319

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

hours out of the twenty-four? The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the
United States did that. When Otis fires the sunset gun at Manila and the flag
comes down, Merritt salutes the rising sun at Governor's Island, and the flag
runs up; so that there is never a minute now in the twenty- four hours when
Old Glory is not fluttering somewhere in the breeze and over territory owned
and controlled by the United States, too. So that it has happened, under the
administration of our President, that England no longer has a monopoly of
the drumbeat heard around the world.

" But who is responsible for keeping the flag afloat in those far distant
possessions ? A word from him would have brought it down, but he has kept it
flying in spite of an opposition sometimes naiTow and sometimes traitorous,
but always bitter. It was a broad and fearless statesmanship which sent out a
commission to the Philippines composed of men who at the outset were op-
posed to the policy of the administration, but who, after an opportunity of
investigation, have become its most enthusiastic supporters. But, indeed, all
Americans who have visited Manila, who, even though like Balaam of old,
' went out to curse the people of the Lord, have returned to bless them.' What
Lincoln was to Grant and Sherman and Sheridan, to Farragut and Foote,
McKinley has been to Miles and Merritt and Otis and Shafter, to Dewey and
Sampson, and when one has said this, one has exhausted all eulogy and bank-
rupted all applause.

" I have at home a picture, of which I am very fond. It is a picture of
the Triumvirate of American immortals. Under their heads in bas-rehef are
written these words :

" Washington, Father of the Republic."
" Lincoln, the Savior of the Republic."
" Grant, the Guardian of the Republic."

" But the picture is now incomplete, for the triumvirate has become a
quartet. Another face should be inclosed within the frame, and under it
should be written, ' McKinley, the Patlifinder of the Republic' He has
blazed out a new pathway for American commerce and American enterprise;
a new pathway for civilization, for progress, for development and for enlight-
enment. Under the broad and therefore expanding and stimulating polic}^ of
this administration, what a future is spread out before us ! What great things
may the American people not accomplish, not only for themselves, but for the
cause of civilization and progress ! They will have an army, not too large, but
large enough to insure order in every inch of territory over which the Stars
and Stripes floats, however distant, and to protect our borders, however widely
extended, from foreign aggression. They will have a navy large enough and
powerful enough to protect an ever expanding and ever growing American

320

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

commerce. Under the stimulus of a wise and equitable shipping law this
commerce will be carried in American bottoms, which will sail through an
American canal connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific. This commerce, in an
ever increasing and growing volume, will enter the doors of China, which this
administration have opened, and, as commerce follows the flag, so will justice
and equal rights and enlightenment and progi-ess flourish wherever that flag
floats.

" Last fall, on the steps of the Capitol at Washington, the President of
the Republic handed to the admiral of the United States navy a sword which
the representatives of all the people had unanimously voted him in recogni-
tion of his signal services. The diamonds in its hilt, flashing in the sunlight
of that autumn day, glistened like the tears of pride and gi'atitude which
filled the eyes of all the people when they got the great news from Manila.
The pure gold of its scabbard was emblematic of the shining valor of the
great sailor, and also of the purity of his patriotism. Its keen blade brought
to mind the hard blows he had struck for his country in the shock of battle
and the keen thrusts he had made for her in the nicer contests of diplomacy.
' Admiral,' said the President, as he handed him this historic sword, while sixty
thousand of his approving countrymen looked on ; ' Admiral, there was no flaw
in your victory; there must be no faltering in maintaining it.' I desire to-
night to paraphrase a little that notable utterance. Mr. President, there has
been no flaw in the policy of your administration, and there must be — there
shall be — no faltering in maintaining it. I believe that there will not be, for I
am sure that history can never truthfully record that He, who is not only the
God of Battles, but of Peace, the God of Civilization, the God of Development,
the God of Progress and the God of Wisdom, could ever have fruitlessly and in
vain offered these golden opportunities to the American people. I, for one, do
not believe that the priceless and lustrous pearls of Puerto Rico, of Hawaii and
of the Philippines have been cast before swine."

Governor Nash spoke on the toast, " The Governor of Ohio," and in part
said:

" We have many things in Ohio to be proud of — splendid citizenships,
growth and prosperity — but to-night we are the proudest of the people from
our state who have helped build up this great state. Ohio is prosperous be-
cause it is laid on foundations firm and solid. When the great Northwest was
settled it was promised that the states carved out of it should forever remain in
the American confederation, and those five states when the Union was threat-
ened gave more than one-third of all the men that defended it. Among these
warriors, and the greatest, were Grant, Sherman and Sheridan.

" There have been thirty-eight governors of Ohio, and, of course, it is not
possible for me to speak of them. It is fitting, however, that I mention the

321

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

first — the governor of the Northwest territory, General Arthur St. Clair. He
was bom in Scotland, and served in the English army with Wolfe on the Plains
of Abraham before Quebec ; he was with Wasliington at Trenton and Morris-
town. So when the American settlers had pushed westward it was well that
this gallant officer of Washington's should be sent to govern over them.

" In later years there are two governors especially worthy of mention —
Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley, Presidents of the United States.
We are proud of our state, because it is our own. But we of Ohio, wherever we
are, remember it is but one of forty-five which comprise this Union. We have
a greater and broader pride for the nation than ever for our dearly cherished
native state."

" Honorary Members," ex-Governor Campbell's toast, was often broken
into by applause and laughter. The speaker said :

" I have heard from one president, one vice-president, one governor, one
colonel, and now you must listen to an everyday private from the ranks, and
the only Democrat among them all.

" I recall distinctly the first banquet of the Society — it must be fifteen
years now, or fourteen. I have been here seven, eight, and this makes the
ninth time in all. I have spoken on Governor Nash's toast, when as the chief
executive of the state, the prerogative was mine ; also to the state itself, but, as
Webster said of Massachusetts, Ohio needs no encomiums.

" Some years ago, when, as now, I represented no one but myself, I said
about Hawaii that perhaps I should not live to see the time, but my children
would, when not only the islands to the west of us, but those to the east of us,
should be governed, covered and controlled by the flag of the United States.
Well, it has all come around a httle too soon. The last time my toast was the
nearest to my heart of aU those that preceded it. I was introduced as having
served as a boy in the United States navy. It is my proud boast and right to
say that that is the greatest honor that can come to a man. The one on my
right will agree with me when I contend that when he lays down his great
honors he will regard the greatest privilege of his hfe, the right to look an old
soldier of the Republic in the face and call him comrade. Now, about the
honorary members of the Ohio Society. This Society has been sparing in con-
ferring such titles, for I myself am one, and so am constrained to think so.
There are six in number. Two have passed on to the great majority — ^William
T. Sherman and Allen G. Thurman. I have not in this presence to speak of
these men. But I must say that the man whose brilliancy of intellect, whose
capacity and farseeing power had most to do with the success of the Union
army was William T. Shennan. He used to say, ' I have read more than
Grant; I know more than Grant, but I'm scared to death at what I can't see
the rebels doing.'

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" As to William McKinley, you have heard Colonel Hoyt and you would
not have me outdo hini in praise. I have not the ability, any way, though I
do have the inclination. With a great deal Mr. McKinley has said I agree
heartily, but one tiling I want him to do. For myself, I want all these islands.
I want the Philippines, and Porto Rico, and Cuba also, if we can get her.
And I want an artificial waterway between them, without asking the consent of
any nation whatever."

When Governor Roosevelt was introduced he was enthusiastically re-
ceived, and amid the cheers voices coupled the names of McKinley and Roose-
velt in a manner that was significant. The governor said :

" Gentlemen of the Ohio Society, and Mr. President, the guest of the
evening: I have a certain right to come before the Ohio Society, although not
an honorary member, but because I have served under one acting and one
honorary member.

" You know the old saying that a typical New Yorker is a man bom out
West of New England parents. We elected such a typical New Yorker mayor
of this city once, and I may add that he showed himself by all odds the best
mayor this city has had for a generation, and he put me in to administer the
Police Department, which I administered according to the Ohio idea. I am
not certain that New York enjoyed it, but I know it did a lot of good.

" I was graduated from Mayor Strong to ser\dng under the man from
Ohio, whom we all gather to honor, the President of the United States. I am
not here to-night to speak for the state of New York ; that toast has been re-
sponded to with the utmost eloquence and ability by my colleague, Lieutenant-
Governor Woodruff.

" But I speak not to you, but on your behalf ; not to you as men coming
from Ohio, but for you as men who dwell in New York citj^, in pledging the
support of the great city of New York to the president, who is not the presi-
dent of Ohio or of New York, but of the entire American Republic.

" It has been well said to-night that you represent, Mr. President, the re-
united America, in deed as well as in name. I see in the audience here men of
Virginia and of South Carolina who fought valiantly for what they called the
right as they saw it on the other side in the civil war, and whose sons fought,
when you were commander-in-chief, no less valiantly for the flag of the
United States.

" We are proud of our state, but we are prouder still of the nation of
which our state is a part. We recognize the fact that this state can grow
and prosper only as the nation grows and prospers. We recognize the fact
that the welfare of the East is bound up with the welfare of the West.

" Now it was a good thing for us to gather here to-night to honor our-
selves in honoring the President of the United States, who has borne a greater

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

burden by far than any President has borne since the days when Lincoln
worked and suffered for the people and laid down his life that the flag that
had been torn asunder might once more be made whole and without a seam.

" It is good for us to meet here to honor him, but it is better that we
should meet here and resolve that the principles for which he stood shall prevail
in the future. Woe to us if we pay a seeming loyalty that we do not make good
by deeds.

" We have no right to glory in what has been done in the three years that
have elapsed since President McKinley went to Washington unless we are de-
termined that the future shall not belie the past and that those three years
shall be but the earnest of what is to come. They have been three great years.

" We have heard complaint, we have heard cavil. Some of the complaint
we can afford to disregard — the complaint of the weakling and of the man
who would like to be a traitor, only he has not got the red blood in his veins ;
the complaint of the man who has never done aught but criticise, and who,
therefore, cannot understand the labor that comes upon him who actually does
the mighty work.

" We answer by asking them to look at what has been done as history
will look at it. President McKinley came into the high office that he now
holds — into the highest office that the civilized world can give — ^to find this
nation painfully groping in the darkest path that it has had to tread within
the memory of the present generation.

" He came pledged to uphold the national interest at home and the
national honor abroad, and the pledge has been kept in letter and spirit down
to the last item that could be demanded. Now, if you approve of the pledge
being kept, see that we go on keeping it.

" If you approve of economic policies that have produced a prosperity
which we now have, if you approve of the financial pohcy that has given us a
currency the honesty of which cannot be questioned, if you approve of the
foreign policy that has put the American flag where it has never been put
before, then stand by President McKinley in the future as you have stood by
him in the past.

" As the President has well said, we did not seek the issues, we did not
make the issues, but we faced them when made. The nation was brought
face to face with great problems, and under the leadership of President
McKinley it solved them.

" Under his leadership, as Colonel Hoyt has said, we fought to the con-
clusion the most righteous foreign war that has been fought by any nation
within the memory of any man living, and then, as a result of that war, we
found ourselves face to face with other problems. We could not help solving
the problems. All we could decide was whether we would solve them well or ill.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Remember that. There was no chance of avoiding them. We had to
meet tliera ; we could meet them badlj or we could meet them in the right spirit.
Those were the only alternatives open to us. Woe to us as a nation, woe to
our children and our children's cliildren if we turn back from the path of
honor which we have begun to tread under President McKinley.

" Some other time, my friends, I shall speak to you, I trust, not merely as
members of the Ohio Society, but as citizens of New York, to ask your aid in
helping solve the problems that confront us in this state, the problems that
wh^n they have been reduced to the last analysis are the problems of adminis-
tering the government with honesty and common sense.

' Now, however, I speak to you less as New Yorkers than as Americans,
and I ask you to stand with me when I say to you this evening that New
York stands this year as it stood four years ago, that it stands for the princi-
ple which the state of Ohio has come to symbolize, that it stands for the
economic policies that mean honesty in business and prosperity through Amer-
ica at home, and that it stands by President McKinley as amid infinite
difficulties.

" With infinite toil and labor he works for the solution of the difficulties
that confront us abroad, so that the flag of the United States, where it has once
been raised shall symbolize, not only the greatness of this country, but the
material well being of the islands by the tropic seas, which fell to us because
we wrested them from the cruel might of Spain."

At the conclusion of the governor's speech the members tendered an ova-
tion to the President and to Governor Roosevelt, and then, gathering up their
souvenirs and their menu cards, plentifully decorated with pictures of buck-
eyes and 'coon skins, they went out into the frosty night.

At the meeting of March 12th President Southard announced the receipt
.of a letter from President McKinley, expressing his appreciation of the ban-
quet given in his honor. A social entertainment, designated as an " Oliio
Night," was given at the Waldorf-Astoria on the evening of April 23d. A
vaudeville programme was presented, followed by an informal dance and sup-
per. The matter was in the hands of the entertainment comjnittee. Judge
Higley, chairman, who were assisted by a large number of members consti-
tuting a reception committee. The programme presented was as follows :

PART I.

Song, "The Requital," . . . Blumenthal

Mr. Abercrombie.
(o) " Negro Anecdotes."
(b) Song, " De Watermelon."

Miss Dorsey.

325

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Recital— (a) " The Founders," . . ; „^ ^^ ,, , ,

lb) " The Buckeye Tree," . | ^^ ^^ ^^"^^^^
(c) " The Bishop and the Caterpillar,"

M. Manness
Mrs. Harriet Webb.
Songs — (a) " Summer," . . . . Chaminade

(6) " Impatience," . . . Schubert

Miss Boese.

(a) Negro Character Monologue — A Widow Woman,

(b) Song, " Isabella,"

Original
Miss Dorsey.

PART II.

Song, " Queen of the Earth," . . . Pinsuti

Mr. Abercrombie.
Recital, " How ' Winning Cup ' Won." (By request.)

Mrs. Harriet Webb.
Songs — (a) " Beloved, It Is Mom," . . Alyward

(6) "The Swallows," . . . Cowen

Miss Boese.

(a) Monologue — " A Yellow Girl, with Dance,"

(b) Song, "Sal Skinner,"

Original
Miss Dorsey.

A special meeting of the Society was called for November 2, 1900, at
No. 71 Broadway, at the office of General Swayne, to make arrangements for
attending the funeral of a former president of the Society, Hon. William L.
Strong, ex-mayor of New York city. This official notice was ordered sent to
the members:

" To the Members of the Ohio Society : At a called meeting of the Society,
held at No. 71 Broadway, this afternoon, the secretary of the Society was
instructed to announce to the members that the funeral of the Hon. William
L. Strong, formerly president of the Society, will take place at St.
Thomas' Church, corner Fifth avenue and Fifty-third street, on Monday,
November 5, at 11 o'clock a.m. It was also considered that, in view of the
high regard entertained by the Society for the deceased, it was doubtless the
wish of every member of the Society to be present. The secretary was there-
fore instructed to announce that arrangements would be made for seating in a

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

body those members who shall be present, and to request them, on arriving at
the church, to ask to be shown to the seats assigned to the Society.

" William H. Blymer, Secretary."

" New York, November 2, 1900.

At a later meeting the following gentlemen were named as a committee
to prepare a memorial in honor of the memory of the late mayor: Gen.
Wager Swayne, Gen. Henry L, Burnett, Gen. Anson G. McCook, A. D. Juil-
liard, A. J. C. Foye, George Follett, Milton I. Southard.

The nominating committee selected in October consisted of the following
gentlemen: George Follett, A. D. Houston, E. L. Prentiss, George S. Hayes,
A. W. Gilmore, E. P. Merser, Frank N. Dowler. On November 12th they re-
ported the following ticket: President, Milton I. Southard; vice-presidents,
Andrew J. C. Foye, George E. Armstrong, Thomas H. Wheeler, Warren
Higley, Colgate Hoyt; secretary, Albert F. Hagar; recording secretary,
Charles W. Morris ; treasurer, Leander H. Crall ; trustees, Samuel H. Par-
sons, James G. Newcomb, Emerson McMillin. This ticket was unanimously
ratified by the Society. At the December meeting President Southard an-
nounced the following committees: Literature and art, Charles H. Neihaus,
Albert Shaw, Alex. Doyle, Landon S. Thompson, Daniel C. Beard; entertain-
ment, Warren Higley, Putnam Bradlee Strong, Andrew Ernest Foye, Henry
C. Plimpton, William S. Hawk; library, William Ford Upson, Mahlon
Chance, W. H. CaldweU, L. D. Morrison, F. M. Applegate ; auditing, Richard
J. Chard, Andrew Linn, David H. Bates, Frank L. Sheldon, Walstein F.
Douthirt.

At this meeting Judge Higley suggested that a special meeting be held
some time the latter part of January, to which should be invited the ladies of
the Society, " and thus inaugurate in the present rooms a series of delightful
entertainments, such as the Society had enjoyed at their rooms on Fifth
avenue, and in which the majority of the members present had never had the
pleasure of participating."

Mr. Chance suggested that the library committee have a formal meet-
ing some time before the next regular meeting, and among other things they
might take the opportunity to thank the gentlemen who had raised at Mans-
field, Ohio, the monument to " Johnny Appleseed," that old historic as weU as
extremely useful figure in the early history of Ohio, the first nurseryman.
President Southard gave an interesting account of the life of " Johnny Apple-
seed," and stated that the gentleman who gave the monument was Martin
Bushnell, of Mansfield, O. Mr. Chance moved that a committee of five be
appointed to draft suitable resolutions thanking Mr. Bushnell for the erection
of this monument and the spirit which prompted it, and the appreciation of

327

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the Ohio Society, and that that resolution be appropriately endorsed and sent
to him. The proposition was approved.

The chair appointed Mr. Chance and the other members of the library
committee to draft these resolutions. President Southard read a letter from
the Ohio Society of California, extending an invitation to this Society as a
body or individually to attend the launching of the battleship " Ohio," at the
Union Iron Works in San Francisco, in April.

L. D. Clarke was elected chairman of the governing board for the en-
suing year. A. J. C. Foye, Francis B. Stedman and Rollin M. Morgan were
elected as the house committee. It was moved that a committee, consisting of
the president and treasurer, be appointed, with power, to confer together and
arrange for either depositing on interest or investing such amount of the
money of the Society on hand as the committee deemed appropriate. Carried.

328

CHAPTER XVI
1901-1902

WHEN the Society commenced another year's record, on January 14,
1901, Judge Higley moved the appointment of a committee of
fifteen, of which General Burnett should be chairman, with power
to fix a date and arrange a programme for the next annual banquet, and with
power to add to their number such other members of the Society as they might
deem best for the interest of the banquet. The entertainment committee had
prepared a special programme for the evening, which was then presented, as
follows :

Banjo selection — " Ameer March," . . Herbert

Brooks and Denton.
Humorous song — " You Can't Keep a Good Man Down."

Dan W. Quinn.
Banjo selection — " Salome," . . . Loraine

Brooks and Denton.
Humorous song — " In Old Ben Franklin's Day."

Dan W. Quinn.
Banjo selections — (a) " La Cinquantaihe," . Gabriel
(b) "Medley of Popular Airs."
Brooks and Denton.
Humorous songs — (a) " Dem Goo-Goo Eyes."

(6) "I Want to Go To-' morrow.' "
Accompanist — Frank P. Banta.

The suggestion of Judge Higley, made some time before, bore fruit in
the early days of the year. The following announcement indicated the pleas-
ures in store for those who accepted the hospitalities of the Society on the
evening named:

" On Monday evening, January 28, 1901, the Society will give an in-
formal ' Ladies' Night ' at its rooms in the Waldorf-Astoria, at which a de-
lightful programme will be rendered by distinguished Ohioans. Among those
who will take part in the entertainment are Mrs. Ida Eckert-Lawrence, the
distinguished authoress, of Toledo, Ohio ; Mrs. Eliza Archard Conner, the well-
known writer and speaker, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio, and lately returned

329

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

from extensive travels abroad; Miss Clara Bernetta, a native of Cincinnati,
Ohio, with a European training for the operatic stage, will delight the audi-
ence with song, her sister being the accompanist. The ladies are most cor-
dially invited to attend. The exercises will begin at 8.15 o'clock. A colla-
tion will be served after the literary exercises. It is sincerely hoped that the
members generally will attend with their families, and enjoy again a genuine
' Ohio Ladies' Night ' at the rooms of the Society.

" Milton I. Southard, President.''

" Albert F. Hagar, Secretary."

The occasion was all that was promised. The following ample pro-
gramme was presented:

Reading — (a) "Sweetheart of Mine."

(6) " I'll Keep the Old Horse Shod."
Mrs. Ida Eckert-Lawrence.

Solo, Brindisi, " Lucrezia Borgia," . . Donizetti

Miss Clara Bernetta.

Reading — (a) " Lines to a Sea Gull."
(fe) "Pay 'in the Mortgage."
Mrs. Ida Eckert-Lawrence.

Solo, " A Summer Night," . . . Goring Thomas

Miss Clara Bernetta.

Reading, " Vesuvius."

Mrs. Ida Eckert-Lawrence.

Solo, " Foeglein Mohin," .... Lassen
Miss Clara Bernetta.

Address, " A Lesson from Fifty Thousand Miles Travel."
Eliza Archard Conner.

Solos— (a) "Du Bist Wie Eine Blume,"
(6) " Sonnen Schein,"

Schumann
Miss Clara Bernetta.

Reading— (a) " Way Down South."

(b) "Sleep on Little Boy."

Accompanist — Mr. Robert Colston Young.

330

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

At a later meeting, Judge Higley proposed a vote of thanks to the sev-
eral parties who had furnished this entertainment. He stated that it demon-
strated the fact that the present rooms were ample to accommodate any func-
tion more pleasantly than in a more formal way at some other place.

In the meeting of March 11th Mr. Foye reported for the committee that
a banquet room had been secured for the evening of Saturday, March 30th.
Colgate Hoyt gave an interesting account of the trip to Washington of
President Southard, Mr. Mather and himself as representatives of the banquet
committee in an endeavor to secure the presence thereat of Secretary of State
Hay and other prominent gentlemen.

The fifteenth annual banquet, held in the large ballroom of the Waldorf-
Astoria on the evening of March 30, 1901, partook of the nature of a testi-
monial to Hon. George K. Nash, governor of Ohio, who was the chief guest of
the evening. About a hundred and fifty members of the Society sat at round
tables, and nearly as many ladies appeared in the balconies near the close of
the feast and remained to listen to the speeches. President Milton I. Southard
presided at the guests' table, having Governor Nash at his right and Gov-
ernor George P. McLean, of Connecticut, at his left. Others at the guests'
table were General Joseph Wheeler, Assistant Attorney-General James M.
Beck, John D. Crimmins, Robert H. Turle, James Lindsay Gordon, William
W. Baldwin, Charles E. Burke, John W. Vrooman and Momay Williams.

A large American flag behind the guests' table was the only decoration of
the dining hall. The cover of the menu card represented a cluster of buck-
eyes, and on cream plated paper were photogravures of all the governors of
Ohio from 1788 to that present time. The ices were served in boxes represent-
ing " prairie schooners," the vehicles used by immigrants in ante-railroad days,
when Ohio was the Eldorado of the settler.

The following gentlemen had the banquet in charge: Banquet committee,
Henry L. Burnett, chairman; John J. McCook, William L. Brown, Samuel
Thomas, Whitelaw Reid, Leander H. Crall, John D. Archbold, Warren Hig-
ley, Emerson McIMillin, William S. Hawk, Louis D. Clarke, Rollin
M. Morgan, Richard J. Chard, Wager Swayne, Milton I. Southard, An-
son G. McCook, Colgate Hoyt, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas H. Wheeler,
David Homer Bates, Evarts L. Prentiss, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Raymond C.
Penfield, Samuel H. Parsons, Flamen Ball Candler, Albert F. Hagar, secre-
tary ; reception committee, Andrew Ernest Fo3'e, chairman ; Lowell M.
Palmer, David Homer Bates, Jr., H. Q. French, DeFrees Critten, Francis B.
Stedman, Samuel McMillan, James G. Newcomb, William H. Caldwell, Emory
A. Stedman, Wade Chance, Rush Taggart, L. D. Morrison, Warner EUs,
George F. Randolph, Walter S. Svdlivan, Francis X. Butler, William H.
Blymyer, R. W. White, Henry B. Wilson, Henry B. C. Plimpton.

331

Jn Honor or rnc^

JyTonc

ovemor o/ /Aeyc/^/& orxMio

Edward Tiffin
1 804-1807

Thomas Kirker
1807-1S08 (Acting)

Samuel Huntin
1809-1810

■If

/ Return Jonathan Meigs -
i ^ 1811-1814
' Othneil Looker
1814 (Acting)

Thomas Worthinglon
1815-1818
Ethan Allen Brown
1819-1822

Allen Trimble
1822 (Actina:). 1827-1830

^^tfi^

i^iVl

Thomas Corwin
1S41-1S42

Thomas W. Baltic v

1S44 (Acting)

Mordecai BailU
184.5-1846

■^

William Medill
1S53 (Acting). 1854-1855

Salmon P. Chase
1856-1859
William Dennison, Jr.
lSCO-1861

David Tod /
1802-186.3 ^1

^N«9iS^H^

-/rU^"

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Letters of regret were received from several prominent men who were
born in Ohio, and Samuel L. Clemens sent the following quaint letter, dated
from his home, in West Tenth street:

" To the Ohio Society, Greeting.

" I have at this moment received a very kind invitation (eleven days old)
from Mr. Southard, president, and a like one (ten days old) from Mr. Bryant,
president of the Press Club. I thank the Society cordially for the compliment
of its invitation, although I am booked elsewhere and cannot come. But, oh !
I should hke to know the name of the lightning express by which they were for-
warded, for I owe a friend a dozen of chickens. I believe it will be cheaper to
send eggs instead, and let them develop on the road.

" Sincerely yours,

" Mark Twain."

In his opening address President Southard said :

" Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : It gives me great pleasure to greet you
this evening. We have assembled according to our yearly custom to com-
#iemorate our native state. And it is a fitting and pleasant incident that we
have with us as our guest of honor the Governor of Ohio. We extend to him
our hearty salutations and the freedom of the Society. I may not betray any
confidence by telling you that the first time the Governor and I met we were
both engaged as prosecuting attorneys of adjoining counties in railroading the
criminal classes into states prison. His zeal was very great, and many a cul-
prit felt his heavy hand, but I have no doubt that he was then looking forward
to the day when he should become governor and thus liold the pardoning power
and be enabled to temper justice with mercy.

" It is especially gratifying to be honored by the presence of the Gov-
ernor of Connecticut, whose citizens contributed so much to the early settlement
of Ohio.

" To our other distinguished guests we make our grateful acknowledge-
ments. We are indebted to the ladies for the brightness which their presence
brings. It may not be prudent to say it, but we could not do without them.
It has been a year since they greeted us at a like function, which seems a long
time ; and they are each a year older, which seems incredible.

" I scarcely need tell our visiting friends from Ohio that the state still has
charais for those of us who have been lured to this great metropolis as a place
of abode. While a generous welcome has made us feel at home here, we cannot
forget the past. Loyalty to New York, however, is not inconsistent with filial
attachment to Ohio. The skies may change, but not the mind, and so we go
back in fancy to Ohio ; to the visions of her broad valleys ; her verdured hills ;

341

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

her limpid streams; her beautiful rivers and her myriad associations. Those,
indeed, were halcyon days, when her many sons and daughters in the buoyancy
of hope were as happy as the favored few at Athens in the golden era of
Greece, of whom it was said, ' in the soft air, on the bright plain, life for a few
was all a festival.'

" As you know, Ohio was the first bom of the five great states, carved
out of the famous Northwest Territory. Her origin is notable and her devel-
opment wondrous. But I do not claim for her all the glories. I have learned
from attendance on banquets of the societies of other states and sections that
some great deeds have been wrought elsewhere.

" If it were not for my innate modesty, however, I might picture for Ohio
a growth, intellectual, moral and material that would challenge the admiration
or provoke the envy of all, and yet keep strictly within the bounds of authentic
history. It is true that she has no signers of the Declaration of Independence
or of the constitution, nor any names on the roster of the gallant officers, sol-
diers and sailors of the revolution. And why? Simply because she then had
none to sign or enroll. But in after time her sons came and intuitively im^
bibed the heroic spirit of the fathers of the Republic. They have ever since
kept the faith and have crowned their state and country in imperishable
honor by their heroic deeds."

President Southard then briefly sketched the steps taken for the forma-
tion of that famous territory, out of which so many commonwealths have been
carved, and of them he said : " The population of the five states within its
borders is over 15,000,000, equal to the population of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain in 1850, and about one-fifth of the whole United States at the
present time. And their wealth and material resources are commensurate with
their great area and population. But this is not all. Tliere are other consid-
erations which are of higher importance, and which appeal far more to the
pride of the past and the hopes of the future. They spring out of the charac-
ter of the institutions which were here established." He then eloquently dis-
cussed the famous ordinance of 1787. In conclusion he said : " The North-
west Territory was the first to be organized in our national history, and the first
thought of the fathers was to dedicate it to liberty. Since then our territorial
growth has been continuous. In the course of events our domain has been ex-
tended from a fringe along the Atlantic coast to the shores of the Pacific and
recently far beyond to the distant islands of the sea. Whether we have gone
too far or yet not far enough is, at present, a much mooted question. The
answer must be found in our ability to organize the government of alien
peoples in harmony with our free institutions, for it is the character of our
rule, and not the exhibition of our power, that must determine the wisdom of
such acquisition. However we may differ, therefore, about the recent or fur-

342

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ther extension of the boundaries of our country, we should all agree that wher-
ever we go we should sacredly maintain and apply the wholesome principle of
free government with all limitations of oflficial authority. I mean that we
should strenuously preserve not only the form but the soul of our institutions
and daily accustom ourselves to worship the substance and not the shadow of
freedom.

" Holding fast to these high ideals and aspirations it will be difficult in-
deed to ever strand our ship of state on the reefs or shoals of imperial misrule.
But the love of gain, the pride of dominion, the seductions of wealth and the
habit of indifference to civic duty, which are now dominant in our country,
have led to the downfall of other nations in other times. With all our hopeful-
ness, therefore — and we are hopeful beyond measure — we must not forget the
wise though familiar maxim that * eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,' and
always and everywhere, not excepting even this, the freest of nations. And
so, exercising this vigilance, if we go astray, let us retrace our steps ; if we
commit errors, let us rectify them; if we become too slothful, let us hasten
on ; if overfast, let us retard our movement, and thus constantly reform our-
selves, always keeping in mind the honor of our country and the welfare of aU
mankind."

When Governor Nash was presented as the next speaker, he received the
vociferous welcome which governors of Ohio usually get at the annual dinners
of the Ohio Society. He began liis speech with the statement that the people
of Ohio feel interest and pride in the successes of men from the Buckeye
state in other states. He said:

" Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Society of Ohio : I greatly appreciate
the courtesy and kindness which you have shown me to-night. I do not look
upon this compliment as personal to myself. It comes, I think, from a desire
on your part to show the love which you have for your former home.

" I beg to assure you that you have not been forgotten by your old
friends, neighbors and fellow-citizens in the Buckeye state. We have watched
with great interest your efforts in the work of building up the great city of
New York. You have been important factors in her commercial, financial,
professional, educational and artistic life. The people at home are rejoiced at
your triumphs.

" I know that it will rejoice your hearts to be assured that we have
been getting along fairly well at home. In other states of the Union there
are to-day more than one million of inhabitants who were bom in Ohio. Not-
withstanding these drawbacks, we have constantly increased in population.

" Our mercantile, manufacturing, mining, financial and railway interests
have constantly increased in volume and strength. In the meantime our col-
leges, schools and universities have grown in numbers and attendance. We are

343

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

here to-night as men and women through whose veins flow the same ancestral
blood, having a sort of heart-to-heart talk.

" It is but natural that we should recall the prosperity which we know
attends our kinsfolk. Whenever fortune transplants them to other fields they
are equally loyal to the states of their adoption. In the new home her best
interests and her prosperity become objects of their affection and receive their
zealous support. For this reason they are always the best citizens wherever
they may be found.

" In closing, I thank you for your very great kindness, and bespeak for
the Ohio Society of New York a very brilliant future."

Governor McLean was then introduced. In part he said:

" Ohio quickly takes from Virginia the right of being called ' the mother
of presidents.' Under those circumstances Connecticut says : ' Thank God for
giving us such a daughter.' And when Ohio gives us such a president as Will-
iam McKinley Connecticut says : ' Thank God who gave us such a grand-
son.' "

After reviewing the early history of his state, Governor McLean continued
by saying : " The trouble is that we of the present generation do not appreci-
ate the blessings of the present. The fact remains that the inhabitant of the
smallest village of the United States has better lights, better roads to travel,
better neighbors and a better wife than the richest man fifty years ago. Dewey
was sent to sink the Spanish fleet at Manila, and he did it. Funston was
sent to capture Aguinaldo, and he did it. If we set Aguinaldo free and make
him a governor, as some of the papers have suggested, we would set an ex-
ample which would take out of the dictionary of war the words reprisal and
revenge. Our mission is one of mercy, and not of conquest."

Governor McLean then referred briefly to the reform movement in New
York City. "There are few places," he said, "which are always in a process
of reform and still always growing worse."

General Wheeler was next introduced, and in part said :

"There has been something said about our possessions in the Far East.
Any one who has been taking any note of our history must have come to
the conclusion that this is only the destiny of our race. Civilization has
always been traveling westward. Four thousand years ago the centre of
civilization was in Asia. Then this centre was shifted to Greece, and later
to this country. We are now passing it on across the Pacific Ocean.

"Wherever the flag goes the hearts of the American people will follow.
We have striven to be at peace with all the world, but when forced into war
the whole nation will put the stamp of approval on the victories won by its
armies. So powerful is this nation to-day that a word from the Executive

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mansion in Washington has stopped the march of mighty Germany's armies
in China."

The last speaker was Assistant District Attorney James Lindsay Gordon,
who spoke on "Old Virginia."

At the session of April 8th, General Burnett spoke of the success of
the banquet under the circumstances of the late start, and said it was his in-
tention to' advocate having all future banquets earlier in the season. Presi-
dent Southard suggested having something in honor of the ladies at the
meeting in May. Mr. Hoyt asked that the matter be referred to the enter-
tainment committee. Mr. Foye suggested that an informal dinner, compli-
mentary to the members, be held at the Manhattan, and that the ladies be
invited.

In accordance with these suggestions, the gathering of May 14th took
the form of a dinner in honor of the ladies of the Society, a large attendance
being present. After the routine business had been transacted, President
Southard welcomed the members and their guests in a few well chosen words,
and stated that although there were no set speeches arranged, he would take
the liberty of calling upon Father Malone, who responded in a short talk,
which was in itself an oratorical gem, paying a high tribute to the noble
women of Ohio, and ascribing to them much of the gi'eatness of the state
inasmuch as they had made the men what they were. President Southard
then called upon Judge Higley, who made a few remarks in his usual happy
manner, and called on General Burnett, who responded only as General Bur-
nett can. Mr. Gordon, of Virginia, the next and last speaker, closed the
evening's enjoyment with a few impromptu, but none the less eloquent re-
marks, in which he spoke of the ties of blood and kindred which cemented to-
gether the sons and daughters of Ohio and the Old Dominion. The meeting
then adjourned. The entertainment committee having provided for an in-
formal dance, the balance of the evening was passed in that manner.

The meeting of October 14th was one of deep sadness, devoted as it was
to the memory of the late President McKinley. The president announced
that he had named the following gentlemen to represent the Society at the
funeral: Gen. Henry L. Burnett, Colgate Hoyt, Caleb B. Wick, David
Robinson, Samuel McMillen, Henry B. Root and Samuel Mather.

The following committee on memorial resolutions to President Mc-
Kinley was also announced: Gen. Wager Swayne, Gen. Henry L. Burnett,
Leander H. Crall, Samuel H. Parsons, and Warren Higley. Judge Higley,
of the committee, read the following resolutions, and on motion they were
unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York has personal occasion to
mourn deeply the death of President McKinley. His membership with us,

345

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

always recognized on both sides, his coming from the capital to be our honored
guest at a recent annual banquet, and his words then spoken of such interest
to the country; all these were exponents of how he shared the cordiality we
cherish as a tie between ourselves.

^^Resolved, That even our sense of loss of these things vanishes in pres-
ence of our greater sense of loss as citizens and fellow countrymen, as sharers
in those priceless benefits of civil government at which the blow was aimed,
and sharers also in those human feelings to which throughout the world this
most inhuman murder has been so appalling.

"Resolved, That the shots which loosed the cords of life in our dead
President opened to view a love which more than aught else that was in him,
was himself, which murder could not change to hate, and which in one ex-
pression of its tenderness reminds us of the 'Son, behold thy mother!' which
was spoken from the Cross. His sense of immortality met the approach of
death with such a recognition of his God as snatched from death its sting
and from the grave its victory. The nation and its people and the world
are better for this knowledge of our late executive. This very exaltation
of his place in human hearts and memories and among the glories of his
country's past gives prominence to things that marked its mutual recog-
nition. The Society's home henceforth will not be visited without some men-
tion of that President of the United States, arising from the memories of
him which cluster here.

^^Resolved, That murder was sought to be done in him upon all civil
government, that order and security might perish. To us, who are or-
ganized expressly to conserve that fihal relation to one state which he shared
with us, the memory of McKinley ought to be a legacy of impulse, changing
by action to reality. It ought to bring more fully into view the meaning
and exalted office of the state ; and ought to move us as good citizens to give
its welfare more of our devotion and a larger share of our activities.

^'■Resolved, That to set this duty on foot the president of this Society be
authorized to appoint a committee of five to consider what we can do, and
when prepared, to report to the Society."

Judge Higley moved that the resolutions be spread in full on the minutes ;
that they be properly engrossed, signed by the president, attested by the
secretary, and sent to the widow of our late President, and that Mr. Crall
be appointed a committee to take charge of this matter. Carried.

At a meeting of the governing committee on November 9th a vote of
thanks was tendered Leander H. Crall for the preparation of the beautiful
memorial resolutions on the death of President McKinley. The purchase
of an oil portrait of President Garfield was authorized.

The nominating committee, consisting of Warner Ells, George S. Hayes,

346

Hon. George K. Xash
Governor of Ohio.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

F. X. Butler, Samuel H. Parsons, E. L. Prentiss, A. D. Houston and F. M.
Applegate, presented to the meeting of November 11th the following officers
for the ensuing year: President, Colgate Hoyt; Vice-presidents, Andrew
J. C. Foye, Thomas H. Wheeler, Warren Higley, David Homer Bates,
Thomas Ewing, Jr.; Secretary, Albert F. Hagar; Recording secretary,
Charles W. Moms; Treasurer, Leander H. Crall; Trustees, Rush Taggart,
Flamen Ball Candler, Cass Gilbert.

President Southard read a letter from Leander H. Crall, the treasurer,
stating that he had served the Society for thirteen years past, and now de-
sired to lay down the care of office and retire from active participation in the
management of the Society, and, therefore, declined to permit himself to be
considered as a candidate for the office. On motion, Mr. Crall's letter was
read and laid on the table.

A portrait of a late member. Dr. Cornelius N. Hoagland, of Brooklyn,
was presented to the Society by his daughter. Miss Ella J. Hoagland. Mr.
Hagar presented the portrait in a few well chosen words, telKng of Dr.
Hoagland's many benefactions to the city of Brooklyn, and his eminent
qualities as a man and a citizen. A resolution of thanks for the portrait
was adopted.

Judge Higley spoke about the formation of the "Ladies' Ohio Society,"
and moved that the use of our rooms be extended to these ladies for the meet-
ings at such times as they may choose, not including evenings. The motion
was carried.

The annual meeting for 1901 was once more held upon the historic even-
ing of November 29th. It took the form of a dinner at the Manhattan Hotel.
The nominating conmiittee reported that as Mr. Crall could not be per-
suaded to withdraw his declination of the office of treasurer, they had sub-
stituted the name of Samuel H. Parsons. The chairman stated that if there
was no objection the secretary would cast one ballot for the ticket as pre-
sented by the nominating committee. Objection to this course was made,
and another ticket in opposition to that of the nominating committee was
presented, as follows: Vice-presidents, Whitelaw Reid, Charles A. Moore,
John J. McCook, George W. Perkins and A. D. JuilHard. Recording secre-
tary, John J. Crawford. Trustees, Louis C. Weir, Rush Taggart and Frank
Brainard ; the following nominees on the regular ticket having no opposition :
Colgate Hoyt for president, Albert F. Hagar for secretary, Samuel H. Par-
sons for treasurer and Rush Taggart for trustee. The nominations of the
opposing ticket were seconded. The chair appointed Messrs. Stedman and
Applegate as tellers.

A protest was read against the meeting on the ground that it was il-
legal and void because the notices had not been sent out ten days previous

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to the night of the election, as directed in the by-laws. This protest was
signed by four members of the Society, and further stated that they would
contest the right of the treasurer to receive or pay out moneys.

Secretary Hagar stated that the reason the notices were a day late was
because Mr. Crall had declined after being nominated and a new man had
to be found to fill his place, which took some little time. This protest was
received by the chair and afterwards withdrawn.

It was moved and seconded that this meeting, called for the election of
certain officers for the ensuing year, adjourn until the second Monday in
December, at 8 :30 p. m., in the evening, at the rooms of the club, and that a
vote then be taken upon such gentlemen as are placed in nomination for the
various offices.

The chair overruled the motion and decided that an election must be
held this evening as prescribed by the constitution. An appeal was taken
from the ruling of the chair and the ruling of the chair was sustained.

The chair then directed that a ballot be taken, resulting in the election
of the entire ticket as named by the nominating committee. The entire num-
ber of votes cast was sixty, Messrs. Hoyt, Parsons, Hagar and Taggart
receiving the full sixty votes cast. Of the other nominees on the regular ticket,
the highest received forty-nine votes, the three lowest forty-four. On the
opposition ticket the highest received sixteen, the lowest twelve.

President Southard spoke feelingly of the death of " our fellow member,
President William McKinley," and read a letter as follows from Secretary
Cortelyou, acknowledging the receipt of the memorial resolutions sent by the
Ohio Society:

" Washington, D. C, November 21, 1901.

" Dear General Swayne : — In Mrs. McKinley's behalf I beg to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your very kind letter of recent date, with accom-
panying resolutions, and to request you to convey to the Ohio Society of
New York her deep appreciation of its cordial message of sympathy. As-
suring you that this thoughtful remembrance is very comforting to Mrs.
McKinley, and with an expression of her thanks to you for your courtesy
and tender words of consolation, believe me,

" Very sincerely yours,

" Geo. B. Cortelyou.
" Gen. Wager Swayne, New York."

President Southard also spoke of the cordial and loyal support ex-
tended to him by all the members of the Ohio Society during his term of
office, and the pleasures he had derived therefrom, and in closing introduced
Colgate Hoyt, the new president of the Ohio Society. Mr. Hoyt addressed
the Society in his usual happy vein, sketching briefly the history of his pre-

348

Colgate Hovt
President from Xovemher :29, 1901, to Xoveniher 30, 1903

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

decessors in office, and mentioning the fact that with one exception they had
all been generals, colonels and lawyers, and that while he himself had only
attained the exalted rank of quartermaster sergeant, he would do all that
within liim lay to make his administration a success, and asked the support
of the members to that end.

Judge Higley moved that the hearty thanks of the Society "be ex-
tended to our retiring president for the able and efficient manner in which
he has discharged the duties of his honorable and distinguished office." Mr.
Hagar seconded this resolution in a few pleasant remarks, and it was carried
unanimously by a rising vote.

Mr. Foye offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr.
Candler in a few remarks, and carried unanimously by a rising vote:

"Whereas, Mr. Leander H. Crall has voluntarily retired from the office
of treasurer of the Society after thirteen years of service, marked with great
ability and by scrupulous care and fidelity, therefore be it,

" Resolved, That the Society hereby expresses its sincere regrets at his
retirement and extends to him its cordial thanks for his long and efficient
services, with the well wishes of all for his health and happiness."

Louis D. Clarke presented the name of Secretary of State John Hay for
honorary membership, to be voted for at the January meeting. Mr. Southard
presented the name of Hon. George K. Nash for honorary membership, to
be also voted for at the January meeting, these gentlemen taking the place
as honorary members of those distinguished statesmen and sons of Ohio, ex-
Presidents Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley, who had passed away
since the last annual meeting. Mr. Stedman spoke of the faithful manner
in which Louis D. Clarke, the retiring chairman of the governing board, had
performed the duties of his office, and moved a vote of thanks to him, which
motion was seconded and carried unanimously by a rising vote. Mr. Southard
introduced the orator of the evening, Hon. James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland,
who addressed the Society as he only can, giving many interesting
and hitherto untold stories in the life of the late President McKinley. Rev.
John Lloyd Lee, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, then briefly
addressed the Society on the beautiful life and character of President Mc-
Kinley.

The governing committee met on December 7th and chose J. Sherlock
Davis to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Mr. Parsons to the office
of treasurer. Francis B. Stedman was elected chairman, and the following
gentlemen selected as the house committee: Andrew J. C. Foye, Evarts L.
Prentiss and H. B. C. PUmpton.

At the meeting of December 9th President Hoyt read the following list
of committees for the ensuing year: Governing: Francis B. Stedman, chalr-

349

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

man ; Evarts L. Prentiss, Raymond C. Penfield, James Sherlock Davis, James
G. Newcomb, Emerson McMillin, Rush Taggart, Flamen Ball Candler, Cass
Gilbert; literature and art: Charles H. Niehaus, chairman; George D. M.
Peixotto, Alexander Doyle, Langdon S. Thompson, Albert Shaw; entertain-
ment: Warren Higley, chairaian; Andrew Ernest Foye, Francis X. Butler,
Francis B. Stedman, Oscar B. Thomas; library: Francis M. Applegate,
chairman; Mahlon Chance, H. H. Sisson, Leonard D. Morrison, Winchester
Fitch ; auditing : Louis D, Clarke, chairman ; Richard J. Chard, Warner
Ells, Charles L. Paar, Andrew Linn ; house : Andrew J, C. Foye, chair-
man; Evarts L. Prentiss, Henry B, C. PHmpton.

Judge Higley presented for honorary membership the names of Hon.
Joseph B. Foraker and Hon. Marcus A. Hanna, senators from Ohio, to be
acted upon at the next regular meeting. Mr. Crall offered three added sec-
tions as an amendment to Article III of the by-laws, which were eventually
adopted as follows :

" Sec. 3. Any seven or more members may, in Hke manner, prepare and
report to the Society, another ticket to be voted for at the annual election,
provided that such ticket be prepared and posted on the bulletin board in
the rooms of the Society at least ten days prior to the date of the annual
meeting.

" Sec. 4. Members who are thus named, and whose names appear on
such ticket or tickets, prepared and posted as hereinbefore prescribed, and
no others, shall be eligible for election.

" Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the Society to send a
copy of such tickets by mail to each Active member at least seven days prior
to the election. The ticket reported by the nominating committee shall be
headed ' Ticket reported by the Nominating Committee,' and the other ticket,
if any, shall be headed ' Independent Ticket.' "

Major Abbott raised the question of the small attendance of the annual
meeting as compared with the number of members, and also the small mem-
bership of the Society as compared with the number of Ohioans in New York
and vicinity. Mr. Parsons moved " that a committee be appointed to get up
a circular letter soliciting members, and that it be referred to the governing
committee, and that they send out a letter to each member requesting him
to send in the names of good Ohioans, and get live membership in the Society."
Seconded by Mr. Southard. General Burnett moved to amend that the
governing board be instructed to get up and send out such a letter. Amend-
ment accepted, and motion as amended carried.

President Hoyt spoke about the annual banquet and asked an expression
of opinion from the Society on the subject. General Burnett moved that a
banquet committee be at once appointed by the chair, and that that com-

350

■•• James
■-^i Cass

'^. Butler,

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' chair-

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

mittee designate a day for the holding of the annual banquet, the nearest
day consistent with the securing of the speakers whom we desire, " and as a
suggestion for the committee that Secretary Hay be invited as our honored
guest on that occasion. In the event of Secretary Hay not being able to come,
that we invite as the guests of the Society all the senators of the United States
who were born in Ohio, or residents of Ohio, and make it an ' Ohio Senators'
Banquet.' " Mr. Southard seconded the motion, and after his experience as
president, heartily concurred with General Burnett as to the wisdom of prompt
action and an early banquet. The motion was carried.

Major Abbott gave an interesting account of Secretary Hay's states-
manship and prompt grasp of the situation in China as to whether our troops
there should cooperate under the leadership of any of the foreign generals,
his decision being a decided negative, and the effect it had on the foreign
powers.

Following one of the suggestions in the above, the governing committee
met on December 27th and approved the following letter, prepared by Mr.
Parsons, and directed that the same should be sent to the members :

" To {a member).

" Dear Sir : — There are many Ohioans now living in Greater New York
and vicinity, also in Ohio and other states, who are eligible to membership in
the Ohio Society of New York, and who might deem it an honor to become a
member. We request you to send to Mr. Albert F. Hagar, secretary, 10
Wall Street, the names of any one whom you know would be desirable ac-
quisitions to our Society, stating their profession or business and present
address."

The treasurer read a letter from William Perry Fogg, first treasurer of
the Society, to Mr. Crall, the late treasurer, expressing regret that the state
of his health, and residence outside the city, prevented him from attending
meetings of the Society ; and saying that he therefore deemed it best to resign
his membership. The treasurer also read a copy of Mr. Crall's letter, in
reply thereto, recalling pleasant recollections of their work in connection with
organizing the Society, and beautifully expressing the esteem in which he
himself and the Society held Mr. Fogg. Both letters were received and placed
on file. Mr. Fogg's resignation was accepted, with regret.

On January 13th, 1902, President Hoyt reported that General Burnett
and himself went to Washington and saw Secretary Hay, who regi-etted very
much that he was unable to accept the invitation of the Ohio Society to be
its guest at the annual banquet. They had seen Senator Foraker and had
gotten acceptances from all the nine senators bom in Ohio, and from the
attorney general of the United States. It would therefore be a " United
States Senators' Banquet." Mr. Foye, for the house committee, reported

351

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

that the banquet hall of the Waldorf-Astoria had been secured for Saturday
night, March 1st.

Secretary Hay, Governor Nash and Senators Foraker and Hanna, pro-
posed at previous meetings for honorary membership, were duly elected.

Mahlon Chance made a speech on the early settlement of Ohio by the
Whittaker family, in Sandusky county, prior to 1780, and before that made
at Marietta, Ohio, in 1788. The facts for ]\Ir. Chance's remarks were col-
lected by John R. Moore, of Fremont, Ohio, assisted by Col. Webb C. Hayes.
Mr. Chance's remarks were followed with great interest by those present, the
final conclusion being that at any rate " Ohio had been settled." Mr. Ball
moved that it be requested that copies of Mr. Chance's remarks be furnished
the Society, and that they be embodied in the minutes. Carried. Judge
Higley suggested that " we pass a vote of thanks in the form of a resolution
to Mr. John P. ISIoore for what he has done toward tiie development of Ohio
history." It was so ordered.

The evening of Monday, January 27, 1902, had been set aside by the
Society in honor of " The Daughters of Ohio,"* a newly-formed social or-
ganization of Ohio women in New York. The entertainment took the form
of an informal reception and art exhibit, and there was a large attendance of
members of both organizations. A pleasant program was presented. Judge
Higley, chairman of the entertainment committee, called especial attention to
the exhibit of pictures and statuary that had been arranged for the evening,
a list of which follows:

Main Pabloe.

G. D. M. Peixotto, " Admiral Schley," study head.

Irving R. Wiles, "Roses."

Harry Watrous, " The Spark of Friendship."

Wm. Thome, " The Peasant Bride."

Clara T. McChesney, " Two Cronies."

George Inness, Jr., " Sheep Shearing."

J. H. Dolph, "On Guard."

Edward Potthast, " Modesty."

G. H. Smillie, " Landscape."

* The following brief statement is from the first annual report of Louise Kennedy
Mabie, first historian of the Daughters of Ohio, as presented and approved, in 1902: " There
was a meeting of five ladies in the Ohio Society rooms at the Waldorf-Astoria on the after-
noon of November 4, 1901. The ladies were Mrs. A. J. C. Foy6, Mrs. Abner C. Thomas,
Mrs. R. J. Chard, Mrs. Warren Higley and Mrs. Emma Archer Osborne. Among other
things they discussed sending notices to the press inviting Ohio women to meet together one
week from that day, November 11th, at the same place. Mrs. Osborne sent out seven press
notices and over twenty ladies came in answer to the call. At this meeting they were asked
to sign agreements to unite in forming an association. The Society was formally organi;;ed
at the next meeting, November 19, 1901."

352

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

F. S. Church, " The Rose."
Eastman Johnson, " Study of a Child."
Henry Hosier, " Old Woman's Head."
Franklin Tuttle, " Col. Chas. W. Moulton."

G. D. M. Peixotto, " William McKinley."
Frankhn Tuttle, "Hon. Wm. L. Strong."
Wm. H. Beard, " General Sherman."
Miss Ransom, " General Grant."

Alf . H. Maurer, " Arrangement in Grey."
J. G. Brown, " 'Twas Long Ago."
Louis Loeb, " Israel Zangwill."
G. D. M. Peixotto, " Chief Justice Waite."
" Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison." Artist unknown.
" Hon. Thomas Ewing." Artist unknown.

Reception Room.
Svend Svendsen, " Village Street, Winter."
Wm. M. Chase, " Along the River."
Leonard Ochtman, " The Old Road."
Wm. H. Howe, " Cow Pasture."
W. H. Ranger, " Landscape in Autumn."
H. N. Hyneman, " General Garfield."
Frankhn Tuttle, "Warren Higley, Esq."

Sculpture.
Frederick McMonnies, " Nathan Hale."
Frederick McMonnies, " Fountain Statuette."
C. H. Niehaus, " WilHam McKinley."
C. H. Niehaus, " Joe Jefferson."
C. H. Niehaus, "Portrait Groups." (Rehef.)
A. A. Weinman, " The Bowler."
Enid Yandell, " Portrait Bust."
Borglum, " Bucking Broncho and Cowboy."
T. D. Jones, "Hon. Thomas Ewing." (Bust.)

In the gathering of February 10th President Ho3^t, for the ban-
quet committee, stated that he had discovered another United States
senator originally from Ohio, making ten in all, and that they had
all promised to come to the banquet. That Attorney General Knox,
Assistant Attorney General Beck, Solicitor General Richards, Governor
Odell and Mayor Low would also be there. He also read letters from Secre-
tary Hay and Senators Foraker and Hanna, each expressing his appreciation
of the honor conferred by electing him an honorary member. Also one from

353

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, expressing his regret that he would not be able to
attend the annual banquet. The letters from Colonel Hay and Senators
Foraker and Hanna were as follows :

" Depaetment of State, Washington, January 22, 1902.
" My Dear Sir : — I have received your kind letter informing me that I
have been elected an honorary member of the Ohio Society. I deeply appre-
ciate the honor you have done me, and accept it with pleasure and gratitude.
I am, sir,

" Respectfully yours,

" John Hat.

" Colgate Hoyt, Esq., President of the Ohio Society of New York."

" United States Senate, Washington, D. C, Feb. 1, 1902.
" Hon. Colgate Hoyt, President Ohio Society.

" My Dear Sir : — The official advice of my election as an honorary mem-
ber of the Ohio Society of New York has just reached me. It is certainly an
honor to be identified with such an organization of men potent in the affairs
of the nation and of its metropolis. It is indeed a high compliment to be se-
lected for an honor so carefully guarded and so seldom bestowed. It will add
to the pleasure I have always found in attending your annual meetings, and I
will now look forward to them with an additional and more personal interest.
I would be pleased if you would convey to your members an assurance of my
deep appreciation and thanks.

" Truly yours,

" M. A. Hanna."

" United States Senate, Washington, D. C, Jan. 23, 1902.
" Hon. Colgate Hoyt, President of the Ohio Society.

" Dear Sir : — I write to acknowledge the receipt of the notice you have
sent me of the action of the Ohio Society of New York in electing me an
honorary member. The character and standing of the Ohio Society of New
York are so liigh and so universally recognized that the compliment is one
to be indeed appreciated. In accepting, I thank you for such a kind remem-
brance, and earnestly hope that your future may be as creditable and as
satisfactory to all concerned as is the record already made.

" Very truly yours,

" J. B. Foraker."

354

CHAPTER XVII
1902-1903

THE sixteenth annual banquet of the Ohio Society was given at the
Waldorf-Astoria, on the evening of Saturday, March 1, 1902. The
presence of ten senators of the United States, with Buckeye blood in
the veins of most of them and an Ohio residence standing to the honor of the
rest; of the attorney general of the United States, of the general of the
army ; of the mayor of New York and the lieutenant governor of the state,
and of other distinguished men, formed a drawing card of extraordinary
power. Every son of Ohio, and every grandson or second cousin, who could
possibly be present, put in an appearance. Over four hundred guests
marched in and took their appointed places, when the doors of the banquet
hall were thrown open.

As has been already suggested, the taking idea was conceived of giving
this dinner in honor of the members of the senate of the United States who
were either born in Ohio or had spent some portion of their lives in that
state. A delegation, headed by President Colgate Hoyt, proceeded to Wash-
ington, and after much labor and many arguments, succeeded in rounding
up the gentlemen who fulfilled either of the above Buckeye conditions. In
addition, they also bespoke the attendance of Senator Spooner of Wisconsin,
who was born so near to the Ohio line, that he might also be counted as among
the elect. The senatorial guests invited were as follows :

Senators J. B. Foraker and M. A. Hanna of Ohio, Stephen B. Elkins
and N. B. Scott of West Virginia, W. B. Allison of Iowa, John P. Jones and
W. M. Stewart of Nevada, C. W. Fairbanks and A. J. Beveridge of Indiana,
and Senator Spooner of Wisconsin.

The committee also secured the attendance of Hon. P. C. Knox, attorney
general of the United States, who accepted as the personal representative of
the president and of the administration. He was accompanied by his as-
sistant, Hon. James M. Beck of Kentucky, an orator of great power.

There was such an array of distinguished gentlemen invited for the
president's table, that the list is here reproduced in full from the official dia-
gram:

Hon. Irving M. Scott, of California; Hon. Augustus Van Wyck, Presi-
dent Southern Society; Mr. Augustus Thomas, President Missouri Society;

355

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Edmund C. Stedman, President New England Society; Hon. Seth Low,
Mayor of New York; Hon. Charles H. Grosvenor, of Ohio; Hon. John K.
Richards, Solicitor General U. S. ; Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Commanding
U. S. A. ; Hon. J. C. Spooner, U. S. Senator Wisconsin ; Hon. C. W. Fair-
banks, U. S. Senator Indiana; Hon. J. P. Jones, U. S. Senator Nevada;
Hon. W. B. Allison, U. S. Senator Iowa; Hon. P. C. Knox, Attorney General
U. S. ; Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, U. S. Senator Ohio ; Hon. Colgate Hoyt,
President; Hon. Marcus A. Hanna, U. S. Senator Ohio; Hon. Stephen B.
Elkins, U. S. Senator West Virginia; Hon. W. M. Stewart, U. S. Senator
Nevada; Hon. A. J. Beveridge, U. S. Senator Indiana; Hon. N. B. Scott,
U. S. Senator West Virginia ; Hon. James M. Beck, Ass't Attorney General
U. S.; Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, U. S. A.; Hon. Timothy L. Woodruff,
Lieut. Governor New York; Rev. W. H. P. Faunce, D. D., President Brown
University; Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, Holland Society; Mr. T. H. Bartin-
dale. President Canadian Society; Mr. Robert C. Ogden, Pennsylvania So-
ciety; Mr. Robert F. Munro, St. Andrew's Society.

Tlie committees in charge comprised the following gentlemen: Banquet
committee: Henry L. Burnett, chairman; Colgate Hoyt, John J. McCook,
Whitelaw Reid, Samuel H. Parsons, treas. ; Leander H. Crall, John D. Arch-
bold, Warren Higley, William S. Hawk, Louis D. Clarke, Richard J. Chard,
Paul D. Cravath, Samuel Mather, Wager Swayne, Milton I. Southard, Anson
G. McCook, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas H. Wheeler, David Homer Bates,
Evarts L. Prentiss, Thomas Ewing, Jr., George E. Armstrong, Charles A.
Moore, H. S. Julier, Mahlon Chance, Albert F. Hagar, secretary. Reception
committee: Andrew Ernest Foye, chairman; Lowell M. Palmer, Charles
Hedges, H. B. Wilson, R. C. Penfield, Rollin M. Morgan, De Frees Critten,
Merrill Watson, Patrick Ryan, Andrew Lynn, Winchester Fitch, Warner
Ells, L. D. Morrison, O. B. Thomas, H. B. Brundrett, H. H. Brockway,
James G. Newcomb, C. C. Shayne, Francis B. Stedman, Peter H. Burnett,
James H. Kennedy, Henry B. C. Plimpton, Norman C. Raff, James Sher-
lock Davis, David Homer Bates, Jr., John J. Crawford, H. H. Sisson.

On the Friday morning preceding the banquet President Hoyt went to
Washington in his private car for the purpose of escorting the distinguished
Washington contingent to New York. He was accompanied by W. S. Hawk,
proprietor of the Manhattan hotel, and they were to be met at Washington
by Gen. Henry L. Burnett, chairman of the dinner committee.

Mr. Hawk, who is an Ohio man, and a member of the Ohio Society, had
carried patriotic generosity to the limit, by entertaining the senators at his
hotel free of charge, a compliment that the committee and the Society appre-
ciated.

The special car containing the committee and guests reached New York

356

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Saturday afternoon, and carriages were taken to the Manhattan hoteh At
a few minutes after six o'clock the distinguished gentlemen again entered the
carriages, and Avere driven to the Waldorf-Astoria, where a reception was
lield in the Astor gallery. President Hoyt and the senators stood in line,
and as each guest arrived, he was taken in charge by some member of the
reception committee, and presented to the gentlemen who stood in line. The
members of the dinner committee and of the reception committee were present
in full force, doing all that lay within their power to make the occasion a
success.

It was a few minutes before seven when the members of the Society and
their guests marched into the banquet hall to the sound of stirring music, and
each took his station at his designated round table, and remained standing.

Then President Hoyt and the reception committee came in, two by two,
each escorting one of the distinguished guests of the evening. Mr. Hoyt
led the way, accompanied by Senator Foraker, the senior senator from Ohio.

Grace was said by Rev. Dr. Faunce, and seats were taken and in a moment
the first order of the evening was under way.

The room was a mass of flowers, of plants, of flags, and of reminders of
Ohio as a commonwealth. The souvenir program was a work of art. Three
handsome sheets of cartridge paper enclosed a number of leaflets. On the
outside was a branch from the buckeye tree in natural green and brown, and
a shield of Ohio in gold. On one of the leaves was a portrait group of the
senators, whose coming had made this a senatorial night; on another the
menu; on a third the names of the banquet committee, and on a fourth the
program for the evening, preceded by an inscription in red and burnt-wood
efi^ect in these words:

The Sixteenth Annual.

Banquet of the

Ohio Society

Of New York,

In JiOTwr of Ohio in the United States Senate,

at the Waldorf-Astoria, Saturday evening,

March First, Nineteen Hvmdred and Two.

Then followed the oratorical program in these words:

" Ohio in the Senate," Senator Joseph B. Foraker; " Labor and Capital,"
Senator Marcus A. Hanna; "The United States," Hon. James M. Beck,
assistant attorney general of the United States ; " Ohio in War," Senator
Charles W. Fairbanks ; " Our Foreign Possessions," Senator Albert J. Beve-

357

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ridge; " Just Over the Line," Senator John C. Spooner; " The State of New
York," Governor Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.; " The City of New York," Mayor
Seth Low ; " Our Sister Societies," Augustus Thomas, Esq.

At 8 :30 the doors to the two galleries about the banquet hall were thrown
open and a large number of ladies entered, that they might hear the speeches.
Admission was by card only. The ladies were escorted by a special recep-
tion committee, of which Andrew Ernest Foye was chairman. One or two of
the boxes were reserved for the ladies who came as guests of President Hoyt
and of the senators.

President Hoyt rapped for order, and the second half of the feast was
dispatched with celerity and enthusiasm. His opening remarks were as
follows :

" Fellow Members of the Ohio Society of New York and Our Honored
Guests of the Evening: — I propose, first of all, that every one of us, stand-
ing, fill our glasses and drink in silence a toast to the memory of our late
president, William McKinley. (It was drunk in silence.) I now propose, still
standing, that we drink a toast to that courageous, aggressive and efficient
son of our adopted state, Theodore Roosevelt, the president of the United
States. i

" We are especially honored to-night in having with us a member of the
president's cabinet, the Hon. P. C. Knox, and while we are under pledge not
to ask him to speak, we would all of us be most gratified if he would allow us
to welcome him here now. (Mr. Knox bowed his thanks.)

" The Oliio Society of New York is celebrating to-night its sixteenth
annual banquet. It has arrived at a most interesting age, that of ' sweet
sixteen ' ; and, as I look up at the ladies ( for we men always have to look up
when looking at the ladies), I am sure that I am not treading on dangerous
ground when I say that even they are willing to acknowledge that they are
sixteen years old. And I am sure, also, the gentlemen gathered around these
tables will all endorse the statement when I say that none of the ladies here
to-night look over sixteen.

" The Ohio Society of New York has been fortunate in enjojang many
notable banquets, but we have never been more highly honored, nor have we
ever had reason to be more proud than we are to-night in the presence of so
many distinguished guests. ' Ohio in the Senate ' surely has reason to be
proud of her sons there; for there are ten senators now serving in the
senate who wei'e either bom in Ohio or were citizens of that favored state,
and seven of the ten can claim Ohio as their birthplace. No other state in
the union can claim more than half that number of senators, and only two
other states can claim five.

" Ohio has all the senators from three states aside from her own, namely,

358

•^ ■ iV*»»-s-jfcii«r^ III!

[bio in the Senafe Senator Joseph B. Foraker

Jbor ano (Ripital Senator Marcus A. Hanna

Cbe'^nit^jStates Hon. James M. Beck

Asst. Att'y Gen'I of the U. S.

Obio in IDmar Senator Charles W. Fitirbanks

(9ttr-^reion^jfto8Se8S»Otl8 Senator Albert J. Beveridge

JFust Cvex the Cine Senator John C. Spooner

Cbe State of pew ^ovl^
/r=^^^^^^^^^^ Governor Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.

4-i

^bc Citie of flew ^ov\^

, JVIayor SeQi Low

Out Sister Societies

Augustus Thomas, EstJ.

:K\b^

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Indiana, in Senators Fairbanks and Beveridge; West Virginia, in Senators
Elkins and Scott; and Nevada, in Senators Jones and Stewart, and in two
other states she has representatives, in Iowa Senator Alhson, and in Michigan
Senator Burrows. Ohio is a tie with Virginia in furnishing presidents for
the United States, and, but for the fact that we from Ohio are so modest, we
would not hesitate to predict that if you give her a Httle time, she will in the
near future pass even the old state of Virginia in that honor. As I said
before, we are especially pleased in having the present cabinet of the United
States represented in its attorney general, and also in its assistant attorney
general, the Hon. James M. Beck.

" We are also pleased to welcome the solicitor general from Wash-
ington, the Hon. John K. Richards, who is an Ohio boy. We welcome
round our tables the presidents and representatives of the different sister
societies of the state of New York. We have New England, Pennsylvania,
Holland, Canada, Southern Society and Missouri represented here to-night.
But it is not my province to take up your time with any extended remarks,
but rather to give way at once in order that you may enjoy hearing from our
distinguished guests."

Attorney General Knox, though not down on the program as a speaker,
responded to the first toast. He complimented President Roosevelt upon his
faithful adherence to the policy of President INIcKinley as laid down in the
Buffalo speech. Referring to the president's attitude toward Cuba, he
said:

" Even to-day President Roosevelt is giving his best effort and energy to
prove that we have not left this poor alien southern nation to poverty and dis-
tress."

In introducing Senator Foraker, Mr. Hoyt said:

" Ohio has been honored through many of her gi'eat sons, but by none
more than by the gentleman on my right ; he was a gallant soldier in the civil
war, an able jurist, a distinguished and courageous governor, and, after serv-
ing his state so efficiently as governor, Ohio called him higher, and to-day he
stands a leader among men in the senate of the United States."

Senator Foraker said, in part:

" When I was informed that I was expected to speak before your Society
here in New York I found myself so busy that I could not find a moment to
prepare a fitting response to your courtesy. I postponed the preparation of
a speech until a day or two before my setting out for New York. The post-
ponement proved fatal. I found myself so much occupied with South Caro-
lina that I was precluded from turning my thoughts to my native state."

This allusion to the Tillman-McLaurin imbroglio caused a hearty laugh.
After enumerating Ohio's long list of distinguished senators, Mr. Foraker was

359

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

applauded when he said, " And I know I can say without hurting anybody's
feelings that John Sherman was the greatest of them all."

With playful allusions to the posts of influence held by men of Ohio
birth in the senate committees, Senator Foraker said : " You can't get an
appropriation through without Allison's consent. Without the influence of
Fairbanks, you cannot get a postoffice, and without Beveridge's cooperation
you can't get anything you want in the territories. As for Senator Jones, he
presides over the contingent fund, and without his approval you cannot even
have a messenger boy appointed.

" Now, as for my colleague. Senator Hanna " — (here the speaker was
interrupted with loud cheers and cries of " What's the matter with Hanna?
He's all right ! " ) Continuing, Mr. Foraker said :

" Well, in the senate, as everywhere else, Hanna is ' it.' He is on about
every committee there is, and there is not much going on unless he has a
finger in it." Referring to the great fight between the Jefl^erson Democrats
and the Hamilton Federalists over Ohio coming into the Union in 1801, the
Senator said:

" The fights you read about between Hanna and me aren't a patch to
what that fight was. Rival party men in those days called one another anar-
chists and murderers. Why, they talked worse than Senator Hoar does to-day
about our rule over the Philippines.

" Having made this kind of a start in 1801, all that has followed has
followed naturally. Our Ohio political fathers set the pace. We have been
merely keeping it up. From that day to this no man could hope to hold up
his end in the Ohio political hustings without meeting foemen worthy of his
steel.

" Ohio politics has never been one sided until within the last few years,
and since that time, so as not to get out of practice, we've been keeping up a
little fighting among ourselves. But you always find us presenting a united
front to the common political enemy."

President Hoyt introduced Senator Hanna in these words:

" Ohio is truly proud of her long line of great statesmen, but she is
equally proud of her sons who in finance, transportation, in commerce, in min-
ing and in great industries of this country have taken such a prominent part.
Chief among these stands a gentleman (who, by the way, is a member of this
Society, and whom many of you know), who grew up on the shores of Lake
Erie, and who is now counted as one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest
man in the world, Mr. Rockefeller, for he it is to whom I refer, in addressing
a class of young men a few months since, said that he had derived pleasure
and satisfaction in being able to give to institutions of learning, to churches
and religious organizations, but that the greatest satisfaction that had come to

360

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

him in his many years of hard work, had bten the fact that the company
which he organized, and was still the president of, from its organization up to
the present time, had paid out for labor alone over six hundred millions of
dollars, and never had a serious strike. The man who can give his millions
may benefit mankind, but, in my judgment, the man who can furnish to the
great mass of wage-earners constant work, and thus crown their honest toil
with steady return for their labor, equally benefits his fellow men.

" Speaking of labor, we are honored to-night in having with us another
son of Ohio, who, while he has not been unfamiliar with capital, has been
equally familiar with labor, and who is a great believer in the doctrine that
instead of labor being antagonistic to capital, it should go hand in hand,
each complementing and helping the other. I take great pleasure, therefore,
in being able to introduce to you now the other senator from Ohio, the Hon.
Marcus A. Hanna, who will respond to the toast, ' Labor and Capital.' "

" This is an occasion to make a man proud of his nativity," said Senator
Hanna, when the applause which greeted him had subsided. " Surely Ohio is
an incubator of statesmen and equally surely is it a soil productive of great
men in all walks and vocations of life. The men who do things are the
proudest product of any state, and the men who make themselves felt in other
states, as Ohio men have, reflect the greatest credit on their nativity." Con-
tinuing, Senator Hanna said:

" Apropos of doing things, some one in this country has been doing
things ; some one in this country has been doing things for the past fifty
years and doing them well. When one looks back over what has been done
in that time he is almost rendered speechless. Our evolution in that brief time
has brought us to where we stand now in the commercial and industrial world,
second to no nation on the face of the earth.

" The great natural resources of our country, coupled with the terrific
energy of our cosmopolitan people, have made us what we are, a people whose
capitalists of to-day were the laborers of yesterday. The men who are at
the heads of our great iron and steel industries in this country are the men
who worked first at the puddle, the furnace and the roll. There stands the
aristocracy of labor, not the aristocracy of blood, but the aristocracy of brains
and brawn. (Applause.)

" We have gone ahead in this country until now for the first time in our
history capital stands alone on its own foundations. We are to-day a creditor
nation and fast becoming the money centre of the world. It surely is not
strange that this question of capital and labor is being forced to the public
attention. It is not strange that the men who do things should begin to con-
sider that problem from a social standpoint.

" If the development of wealth is to make us strong in this country we

361

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

should see to it that all who contribute to the development of this wealth have
fair and equal consideration. (Loud applause.) The men who work with
their hands are as much a part of this wealth as the men who work with their
brains and they are entitled to a share of all the good that comes from it.

" And now I want to say a word to you about the Civic Federation. It
is a new-born organization, but it is not a new-born subject. It is a culmina-
tion of that concrete thought which has led thoughtful and reasonable men
to consider something outside of their own selfish interests. No man loyal to
his country will shut his eyes to the importance of this thing.

" The man of little education and small opportunities appeals to you to
lift him up and not by word or act to keep him down. Therein lies the social
elevation of the country. The federation has started in with the idea that
there shall be no class, no one man better than another.

" It is the object of the federation to appeal to the American people
who employ labor, the great captains of industry, to join in this movement,
and when they do this it is the beginning of things never thought of or
dreamed of before. To those few who are laboring in this vineyard now there
comes nothing but praise and commendation from every part of the country.

" I want to take this opportunity, too, to thank the great press of the
country for its assistance in bringing capital and labor together and making
them sit face to face and heart to heart. When men sit down together in this
way to consider things in a spirit of fairness there can be no such word as
fail. Our membership should only be limited by the population of the United
States, and the purpose for which the federation is laboring should receive
the support of the people of the whole country.

" And I want to tell you that when capital and labor can thus meet
face to face and heart to heart, we have only begun to lay the foundation of
our future greatness."

President Hoyt spoke of the Ohio boy who sat in a senator's seat from
Indiana in these words:

" Ohio has been great in her statesmen ; Ohio has been great in her busi-
ness energy and men of affairs ; but Ohio has been no less great in her heroes
and fighters for our beloved country. No state can boast of so many generals
who have risen to the high position of commanding general of the army of the
United States as Ohio; for three of her sons. Grant, Sherman and Sheridan,
have held that high office, and the present general commanding the army of
the United States, and who has honored us with his presence to-night, did the
next best thing to being bom in Ohio by securing his better half from that
favored state. Our next toast, ' Ohio in the War,' will be responded to by a
distinguished senator from the state of Indiana, although a son of Ohio, the
Hon. C. W. Fairbanks, whom I now introduce to you."

362

Hon. Marcus A. Hanna

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The senior senator from Indiana was exceedingly happy in his references
to Ohio's contribution to the liistory of the nation. He said in part:

" Ohio wrote a record of surpassing brilliancy in the gravest and most
tragic period of our national liistory.

" Forty years have come and gone since the historic shot at Fort Sumter
which aroused the country from its lethargy and stirred it to its heroic duty.
It was then Ohio sent word to Washington to the effect that if Kentucky could
not fill her quota Ohio stood ready to make up the difference.

" First and last," said Mr. Fairbanks, " Ohio sent 340,000 soldiers into
the field, the very pick and flower of the youth of the state. When treason
capitulated those who had not paid the last full measure of patriotic
devotion to their country returned whence they came and resumed their civic
duties.

" The fame of her immortal triimivirate encircles the globe. All honor to
Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman and Phil Sheridan. And there were
Rosecrans and McPherson, Gillmore and McDowell, Buell and Cox, Stedman
and McCbok, Hayes and Force."

Senator Fairbanks dwelt at some length on the services rendered during
the war by the " sons of Ohio " in both branches of Congress as well as in
prominent positions in the administrative departments of the government.

" Of those who served in the army of the Union," he continued, " five
whose places of nativity were in the Buckeye state subsequently held the highest
commission which the American people could bestow. Their names spring
unbidden to our lips: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison and McKinley."

Of Senator Beveridge, President Hoyt said : " We are again honored
with the presence of another senator from Indiana — but an Ohio boy — and
who, having grown up breathing the invigorating air of that dear state, has
developed into one of its most distinguished orators."

Senator Beveridge spoke on " Our Foreign Possessions." He objected
to the word " foreign " as applied to American possessions, saying that
modem science had brought distant lands to the doors of this country. He
declared that Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines were trust estates, and
warned Americans not to prove faithless to their trust.

" Our task of bringing order and prosperity in these islands," he said,
" will be performed with characteristic American adaptability. The work was
given us by God; we have the experience of nations and our own genius to
fall back on in this hour. American suzerainty in Cuba will never cease ex-
cept by annexation. Our policy in the Philippines will depend on how
readily the natives show their loyalty to our flag." Senator Beveridge coun-
selled patience. He closed by saying that to-day no move was made on the
map of the world without other nations first consulting the United States.

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Assistant United States Attorney General James M. Beck spoke on
" The United States." He endorsed Senator Hanna's utterances. He said
that the increasing wealth of the United States was not a question of one-
half the moment of that of labor and capital. Tliis country, he declared,
would always be a wealthy nation — that he had been told one member of the
Ohio Society was sufficiently wealthy to have paid the debt that Bismarck
placed on France or to have purchased the palace at Versailles. The great
question that confronts the nation, he asserted, did not relate to wealth, but
had to do with the relations of capital and labor.

" Unless," said he, " labor and capital are united, we may fear no foe
without, but surely our country will be rent with internecine strife.

" Men like Senator Hanna are extending the hand of friendsliip to
labor. Along this path lie the peace and prosperity of the Republic. God
speed him to bridge the gulf between wealth and poverty, and promote that
peace and equality of opportunity for which the Republic was created."

Continuing, Mr. Beck proceeded to tell jokes about Ohio. He spent
some time in explaining why Benjamin Franklin had not been bom in that
state. " It was his principle," said the speaker, " never to seek office, never to
refuse one, and never to resign one." The first of these three principles, said
Mr. Beck, excluded the theory that Franklin might have been a Buckeye
citizen.

Toward Mr. Hanna Mr. Beck directed some of his wit. He said that the
Senator had become such a great man in his native state that Ohioans no
longer reckoned time in the usual way, but that they had come to speak of this
year, for instance, as " Hanna Domini, 1902."

Augustus Thomas, the famous playwright, made a most admirable and
witty speech in response to the toast " Our Sister Societies." Mayor Low,
Governor Odell, Lieutenant Governor Woodruff and Senator Spooner of
Wisconsin, all of whom were expected to speak, were not present.

When the speeches were finished, Mr. Hoyt dismissed the audience with
these words : " The time has now come for us to draw the sixteenth annual
banquet of the Ohio Society of New York to a close; and I am sure that we
have all had a good time, and I am equally sure that every member of the
Society desires to extend to all our honored guests their thanks for being
present with us; and their thanks also to those who have so entertained us
by speaking to-night. We only regret that the time was so short that it
has been impossible to hear from all of our guests, and with thanks to all
who have aided us in making this a most agreeable evening, we will now
adjourn.'*

In the meeting of March 10th, Mr. Parsons spoke of the great success
of the annual banquet, which was due, he said, more than anything else, to

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the energy and hard work of President Hoyt. A vote of thanks was ten-
dered to President Hoji;, Treasurer Parsons and A. J. C. Foye, chairman
of the house committee, for their services in connection with the banquet, and
also to William S. Hawk, proprietor of the Manhattan hotel, for his generous
hospitality in entertaining at his hotel the guests of honor from Washington
who attended the banquet. A vote of thanks was also extended to Ernest A.
Foye, chairman of the reception committee, for the manner in which he had
performed the duties assigned to him.

Judge Higley moved that the Society give a dinner at the Manhattan
Hotel on the second Monday in April; that this be complimentary to the
members, and that the members be permitted to invite guests. Carried.
On motion, the details of this dinner were left to the chairman of the house
committee, Mr. Foye. There being no further business, the meeting ad-
journed to enjoy the entertainment prepared for them by Judge Higley and
his committee, as follows:

Banjo Duett — (a) La Cinquantine, . . Gabriel

(6) Senegambian March, . Rosey

Song — " Come out Dinah on the Green."

Banjo Duett — (a) Ripple Dance, . . Friedman

(6) Mosquito Parade, . Whitney

Humorous Song — " Rip Van Winkle was a Lucky Man."

Banjo Duett — (a) Salambo, . . . Morse

(b) High Society March, Porter Steele

(Yale '02)
Humorous Song, " Can't You Take My Word? "
Banjo Duett — (a) "Pretty Maiden," Florodora, Stuart
(b) Salome, . . . Loraine

Coon Song, " Go 'Way Back and Sit Down."

Brooks & Denton, . . . Ban joists

Mr. Dan W. Quinn, . . . Vocalist

Mr. Frank K. Banta, . . . Pianist

The governing committee, in its meeting of April, ordered that hereafter
the speeches delivered at the annual banquets be taken down by a stenographer,
and in the discretion of the governing committee, pubhshed in the annual year
book and sent to each member, together with the programme of the banquet. It
was also ordered that the matter of ordering further year books be left to
the treasurer, with power. It was moved by Mr. Penfield and carried that
the governing committee recommend to the Society that the president be given
power to appoint an historian of the Society.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The evening of April 14th was designated as " ladies' night." The
members and their ladies met at the INIanhattan hotel, where an excellent din-
ner was served. When the time for business arrived, Mr. Stedman, on be-
half of the governing committee, announced the election of twenty resident
and fifteen non-resident members.

Then followed an episode that gave pleasure to all who were present.
Ex-President Southard, in a few well chosen words, presented to Leander H.
Crall, the recent treasurer of the Society, a handsome loving cup, from various
members of the Society, as a token of regard for him and a slight apprecia-
tion of his valuable labors on behalf of the Society during the thirteen years
in which he had been its treasurer. Howard E. Crall accepted the cup on
behalf of his father, who was ill in the South, and in a most felicitous speech
thanked the donors for having remembered his father by the presentation of
this beautiful gift.

S. E. Johnson, editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, formerly of Columbus,
Ohio, now of Washington, D. C, gave an interesting account of journalistic
experience. Capt. James Parker, a native Buckeye — a veteran naval officer
both of the Mexican and civil wars, and counsel for Admiral Schley in the
late investigation, related most entertainingly many incidents of his long
and eventful life. James H. Kennedy thanked the Society for having chosen
him as its historian. Stewart Chisholm, of Cleveland, then addressed the
Society in a happy vein, this closing the intellectual part of the program.

The Misses Hoyt, Buckeye girls, added much to the pleasure of the
evening by their sweet singing and whistling.

Mr. Applegate, in the May meeting, reported on behalf of the library
committee. It was the sense of that committee that the library should be
essentially an " Ohio Library," and they recommended that the histories of
the various counties, not already secured, be added ; also the lives of prominent
Ohio men ; and that a letter be sent to the members asking for the donation
of such books, and that if they are not then forthcoming, they could be pur-
chased with the appropriation placed at the disposal of the committee by the
governing board. Adopted, and such a letter was directed to be sent.

Col. Wilson Vance then favored the Society with a reading on the battle
of Stone's River, from his book, " God's War." He held the close attention
of his hearers by his vivid and thrilling word picture of this memorable battle.

At the meeting in October, 1902, the following gentlemen were selected
as the nominating committee, to recommend officers to be elected at the
annual meeting in November: M. I. Southard, H. H. Brockway, E. L.
Prentiss, A. W. Gilmore, P. Ryan, George Follett and F. X. Butler.

President Hoj^t welcomed the members back from their summer vaca-
tion, and hoped for a better year's work for the Society than ever before.

366

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

He also spoke of the recent death of a fellow member, ex-Gov. George Hoadly.
Judge Higley spoke feelingly on the subject, and moved that a committee be
appointed to draft suitable resolutions. Carried. The chair named as such
committee the following gentlemen: Judge Higley, General Burnett, Mr.
Southard, Mr. Ewing and Mr. Foye.

President Hoyt spoke of the coming annual banquet, and said that he
would like to appoint the banquet committee at the next meeting, and also
be authorized to appoint Mr. Foye to see the hotel people and ascertain
what night in January they could secure the banquet hall. The power was
confen-ed upon him.

Mr. Hagar moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair
to arrange for a dinner on the 29th of November, and that the program on
that occasion be arranged to bring out the points of the day we are cele-
brating, i.e., the centennial of the admission of Ohio into the Union. Carried,
and the chair appointed as such committee Messrs. A. F. Hagar, A. J. C.
Foye, James H. Kennedy, Thomas Ewing and Judge Warren Higley, to
act in conjunction with the house committee.

President Hoyt spoke of his recent trip to Oeveland to attend the
" silver wedding " of the First Cleveland Troop, of which he had been a
charter member. He said he found several Ohio Society men there and
several more who ought to be Ohio Society men. Major Abbott added some-
thing which Mr. Hoyt had omitted, to-wit, that " Mr. Hoyt, of New York,"
had made a very happy and brilliant speech on that occasion. President
Hoyt gave an interesting history of the First Cleveland Troop, the dis-
tinguished men who had been conected with it, and the historic occasions on
which it had held the post of honor.

Judge Higley, as chairman of the committee on resolutions on the death
of ex-Govenior Hoadly, offered a report at the November meeting, paying
a high tribute to the memory of this distinguished son of Ohio, who was also
a member of the Ohio Society. It was adopted.

Mr. Southard, chairman of the committee on nominations for the ensu-
ing year, read the following names: President, Colgate Hoyt; Vice-Presi-
dents, Thomas Ewing, Jr., David Homer Bates, John J. McCook, Louis D.
Clarke, Lowell M. Palmer; Secretary, Francis M. Applegate; Recording
secretary, Charles W. Morris; Treasurer, Samuel H. Parsons; Trustees,
Andrew Ernest Foye, Leonard D. Momson, Warner Ells.

President Hoyt appointed the following gentlemen as members of the
banquet committee: John J. McCook, Whitelaw Reid, Samuel H. Parsons,
treas. ; Leander H. Crall, John D. Archbold, Warren Higley, William S.
Hawk, Louis D. Clarke, Paul D. Cravath, Samuel Mather, Wager Swayne,
Milton I. Southard, Anson G. McCook, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas H.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Wheeler, David Homer Bates, Thomas Ewing, Jr., George E. Armstrong,
H. S. JuKer, Mahlon Chance, Albert F. Hagar, Henry L. Burnett, E. B.
Thomas, L. C. Weir, E, A. Stedman, Francis M. Applegate, Lowell M.
Palmer, Julius E. French, Henry D. Lyman, Francis B. Stedman, George
W. Perkins, James H. Kennedy, Evarts L. Prentiss.

President Hoyt stated that it was to be a Diplomatic Banquet, and that
Secretary Hay and the foreign ambassadors would be present. Judge Hig-
ley, as chairman of the committee on dinner on November 29th, reported that
it would be at the Manhattan hotel. After the election of officers, the event
of the evening would be an address by ex-Governor Campbell, on the " Con-
stitutional Convention of Ohio of 1802 and Its Personnel."

The annual meeting for 1902 was held at the Manhattan hotel on the
evening of November 29th. A dinner was served. When the hour for busi-
ness arrived, the report of the governing committee was presented. Among
the things said was the following:

" One of the most important questions that have been presented to your
committee is the securing of new quarters for the Society. A sub-committee
has had this question under advisement, and has given much time and con-
sideration to the matter. A definite report from this sub-committee has not
as yet been formally presented, and your governing committee is, therefore,
only enabled to report progress ; but it is safe to say that a suitable arrange-
ment will be made at a very early date, whereby the present home of the
Society will be retained, at least for the present.

" In the very comprehensive report of your board at the last annual
meeting, the interest of the members was urgently solicited for the acquisi-
tion of new members ; and this suggestion has been fruitful. Your committee,
therefore, again urges the members to interest themselves in increasing the
membership of the Society, both resident and non-resident. It is a well estab-
lished fact that there is in our community a very large number of Ohioans
eligible to membership in this Society, many of whom would be glad of an
invitation to enroll themselves with us."

The report of the treasurer showed that the financial affairs of the Society
had been carefully conducted during the past year, as evidenced by the large
increase in the cash balance. The report showed that there was a balance of
$7,111.19. The surplus showed a gain for the year of $3,436.60. Mr. Par-
sons further said:

" Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : We have now a membership of 450,
of which 292 are resident and 152 non-resident, and 6 honorary members,
against a membership in 1901 of 358. This is no fictitious roll. It was
deemed advisable, in justice to the members who pay their dues, to drop

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

those who were in arrears for two years or more, and we start this year with
only about $740 dues for the year 1892 outstanding. Our gain in numbers
the past year has been extraordinary, a net gain of 86 to the Society. But
great efforts were made by the committee appointed to secure new members,
for wliich they are entitled to the thanks of the Society. The result has
been highly satisfactory both in numbers and the character of the gentlemen
whom they have secured. We should not rest on our labors here, but keep
always in mind the increase of membership, so that at no distant day our
roll may be at least one thousand.

" The thanks of the Society are due to our very able auditors, Messrs.
Clarke, Ells, Gilmore and Fitch, whose examination of your treasurer's ac-
counts was most thorough and conscientious. In conclusion, permit me to
thank you for the honor you have conferred upon me in electing me to the
office of treasurer, in the exercise of the duties of which office I have endeavored
to serve you to the best of my ability.

" Very respectfully,

" Samuel H. Parsons, Treasurer."

The next order of business was the election of officers. A ballot was taken,
and the tellers reported that the gentlemen proposed at the last succeeding
meeting had been elected.

Then followed the toasts and responses of the evening. President Hoyt
acting as toastmaster. Tlie programme that had been arranged was as fol-
lows:

" One Hundred Years Ago," James H. Kennedy.

" The New Municipal Code of Ohio," Hon. George K. Nash.

" Ohio in Virginia," Thomas Ewing, Jr.

" Ohio's Constitutional Convention of 1802," Hon. James E. Campbell.

President Hoyt in opening said : " Fellow Members of the Ohio Society
of New York and our Honored Guests: — One year ago to-night you saw fit
to unanimously elect me to the high office of president of your Society. It
is not necessary for me to say that at that time it was with great fear and
trembling that I accepted the responsibility you thrust upon me, and to-night
as I stand before you reelected president of this Ohio Society of New York,
I hope you will not consider it egotism when I say that I stand with greater
confidence than I did one year ago. (Applause.) Then I hoped that you
would support me in my efforts to push the Society forward, to make it a
year of greater prosperity than any year it had known in the past. To-night
I know from the past that you will support me for the year to come. No
president of any society has had a more loyal and honest and efficient faithful

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

'governing board than the Ohio Society of New York has had for the past
year. No president has had from its standing committees more faithful and
honest and efficient service than the president of this Society has had during
the past year. No president of any society has had more loyal support from
its members than I have had from you, and that is what gives me courage to
press on for the future. One hundred and thirty-five members have been
elected during the past year (applause), more than three times the number
that were ever elected in a single year before, and we show nearly 100 net
gain for the year after cuUing the list as no one but our treasurer knows how
to cull it, and dropping those who were not worthy to remain.

" Gentlemen, the Ohio Society of New York celebrates the close of its
sixteenth year of history and it has a record of which it may well be proud.
It was the first of the state societies to be organized in this city of New York
and it has been followed by many others, but it stands to-day and always will
stand, I believe, at the head of them all. We have on our rolls many men of
national reputation, men in the front rank in literature, finance and invention,
and on our honorary list of members we have had men who have been presi-
dents of the United States. We have had five Justices of the Supreme Court,
and the number of senators it is impossible for me to count. Only last year
you will remember that we found eleven senators serving in the senate of the
United States, all of whom came from Ohio.

" The Ohio Society of New York stands not alone for the social ad-
vancement of its members in personal intercourse one with the other, but it
stands, I am happy to say, as well for state's pride, for if ever there was a
society which had reason to be proud of its birthright and its state, that is
Ohio. (Great applause.)

" But we are here not only to celebrate the successful conclusion of six-
teen years of our liistory, but we are here to celebrate on this, the 29th day of
November, 1902, the one-hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the con-
stitution of the state of Ohio. (Applause.)

" But I am not here to make a speech to you to-night. I could not if I
tried, and if I should, I fear you would feel like the man that came to Marshall
P. Wilder when he was about to give an exhibition and a lecture in a western
town, and in the afternoon of that day there came a tramp with a little yellow
dog, and he said : ' jMr. Wilder, I am ver}'^ anxious to see your show to-night,
but I haven't got any money, and I have got nothing but this yellow dog;
but I will give you this little dog if j^ou will let me into the show,' and Mr.
Wilder said, in his usual generosity, ' Why, take your dog ; that is all right.
Take your dog and go into the show,' and he let him in, and after the show
was over in the evening, as he was coming out, Mr. Wilder met him and he

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

said, ' Well, my friend, how did you enjoy the show? ' * Well,' he said, ' to
be honest with you, I am glad I kept the dog.' (Laughter.) If I should
speak to 3'ou longer I am afraid you would want to keep the dog and
everj^tliing else that you have.

" But, gentlemen, we have some distinguished guests with us to-night.
We have our historian of the Ohio Society, and although there is no consti-
tutional amendment 3'ct providing for a historian, if I am your president a
year longer we will have an amendment providing not only for a historian, but
for a chaplain of tliis Society. We have among us several clergmen who are
eminently fitted for that position, among them the Bishop of Ohio, Bishop
Leonard, who is a member with us and whom we ought to have as chaplain of
this Society, and in the near future an amendment will be proposed to the
constitution providing for not only the liistorian, wliich you gave me authority
a year ago to do, but also for a chaplain.

" To-night I have great pleasure in introducing to you our historian,
Mr. James H. Kennedy, who will speak to us for a few moments on ' One
Hundred Years Ago.' "

Mr. James H. Kennedy said : " Mr. President, our Honored Guests
of the evening. Fellow Members of the Ohio Society of New York: — The
earnest manner in which our president pronounced those words, those sug-
gestive words, ' One hundred years ago,' reminds me of an old farmer I knew
in Trumbull County, Ohio, a county wliich I believe this Society has semi-
officially endorsed as being the greatest county in Ohio. (Laughter.) He
used to give utterance to this expression whenever he heard the words, ' one
hundred years,' mentioned. He said : ' If you are waiting for a meal or
sparkin' a gal, one hundred years are a mighty long time, but if you have to
meet a note that is coming due, it goes by before 3^ou know it.'

" One hundred years ago, when a century that had set much in motion
was but lately closed, a new-born nation was standing face to face with des-
tiny.

" Behind it was an ocean, that separated it not only from the old world,
but also, in a deeper sense, from the ideals and formulas of a civilization that
spoke for the past, rather than of the future.

" Before it was a ^vilderness so vast and far extended that the human mind
could hardly contemplate its subjugation.

" Before it was a future full of hope, but with little premonition of the
marvelous things that one hundred years were to accomplish.

" The people of those crude and unfonned colonies which had raised the
banner of independence on these shores, had by their faith and courage set
much on foot already. How much, they did not dream. How were they to

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

guess that the century before them was to accomplish more within its busy
years than any one of its predecessors since the world began the writing of
history ?

" How were they to know of the magnificent empire that would to-day
span the continent from; Boston harbor to the Golden Gate of the Pacific?
That palaces on wheels would carry their children across that continent be-
tween sabbath and sabbath? That in even less space, great ocean liners
would bind New York and London together?

" Tliis has, indeed, been a century of many and mighty forces. A cen-
tury of Anglo-Saxon brains and energy !

" The Arab of the desert rides, and lives, and dreams, as did his fathers
a thousand years ago. The patient ox treads in the mills of China, as he did
when Columbus was in his cradle. There are shepherds watching their flocks
on Judean hills, as there were in those days when the wise men came on their
pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The nomad on the high hills of Thibet follows
his herd, and turns his prayer wheel, as did his ancestors when London was a
Roman possession.

" The people of the ancient nations sit dim-eyed in the dust and ashes
of the past ; the young giants of these later days push forward in lusty
might, and into their hands have fallen the dominating influences of the
present, and the forecasting of the fortunes of the future.

" One hundred years ago there was httle known of any portion of this
country beyond the Alleghanies.

" In fact, many of the people of the Atlantic slope cared to know Httle
about it. They believed that the good of the new nation did not demand
' expansion ' to that extent. There were many men — even wise men — who
were fixed in the belief that other nations than their own should possess and de-
velop that wilderness. They looked upon the Ohio country as the outer con-
fines. They never dreamed of setting their bounds as far west as the Missis-
sippi; while the control of the trackless wilderness beyond was the dream of
ambition betrayed to madness.

" When the nineteenth century dawned Spain owned the Florida coun-
try, nor had she yet sold to France that empire known as Louisiana, that at
a later day was to come into our possession through the farseeing and daring
statesmanship of Thomas Jefferson, he who confessed that in making this
purchase from Napoleon he had stretched the presidential power * until it
had almost cracked ! '

" When that century dawned John Adams was president and Jefferson
vice-president. Washington had been laid away in the sacred shades of Mt.
Vernon only a few days before. Napoleon was yet first consul of France —

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the imperial throne, the tragedy of Waterloo and the lonely rock of the sea,
yet wrapped in the clouds of the future. There was war between England
and France, even as there had been trouble between France and the United
Sta,tes only a short time before. The alien and sedition laws were still in
force. Men were yet exultingly quoting Pinckney's defiance to Europe:
' Millions for defence ; not one cent for tribute ! ' Tlie new song of ' Hail
Columbia,' was being sung for the first time on the streets.

" Congress had not yet, by some months, held its first session in the new
national capital on the Potomac. The receipts of our government for the
whole year amounted to only $13,000,000. The pirates of Algiers and Tri-
poli were still levying tribute on our infant merchant marine — an outrage
soon ended by the guns of an American fleet. The state of New York had
but recently passed a law for the gradual abolition of human slavery within
her borders. American citizens were still put in prison for debt. The pillory
was in use in the streets of Boston; the whipping post was a fre-
quent instrument of punishment, and the ears of criminals were judicially
cropped.

" There were few improved highways, no artificial canals, no railroads.
Thirty years were to pass before Horatio Allen drove the famous ' Stour-
bridge Lion ' on the first locomotive run of America. The newspapers were
printed by hand. America had no art, no literature, no common schools.
The locomotive, the steamboat, the electric telegraph and telephone, the
mower and reaper, the sewing machine, photography, and a thousand and
one things of the arts and sciences, were yet undreamed of. The coal, the
iron, the oU, that have done so much to make America rich, were still hidden
in the remote places of the earth.

" Where Ohio to-day stands, in the pride of one hundred years of state-
hood, nature held undisputed sway. Little settlements had been planted at
the mouth of the Muskingum and of the Cuyahoga. A few venturesome
traders could be found here and there. The log cabin and the wigwam stood
within hail of each other, and it was well for the white man if he were per-
mitted to pursue his way in peace. An unbroken wilderness stretched from
the waters of Ohio to those of Erie. Indian paths intersected it here and
there — and too often the infant settlements awoke to find that the path had
become the bloody war trail.

" In all essential things Ohio was yet on the outermost edge of her history.

" We all understand the meaning of her deeds, the sentiments that actu-
ated her, the ideals she had in view, as well as the deeds themselves. No
commonwealth whose fate is embedded in history has sought more earnestly
for the light and the right, than has Ohio during these hundred years.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" She has endeavored to concede to each man the natural rights of man
— she groped her way dimly for a time in the case of the black man, but
was true to herself in the end.

" She has given to each the right to worship God according to his own
formulas, and to recite the creed demanded by his conscience.

" She has fostered education. Her district schoolhouse has been set as
a beacon on every hill. She has withheld no treasure, has wearied in no labor,
that would give to the son of the poorest laborer enough of education to make
him understand his citizenship and rightfully translate his belief into force,
through the medium of the ballot box.

" She has declared again and again for honesty in the conduct of public
ajffairs; has upheld the purity of the franchise; has set this man up because
he was worthy, and cast that one down because he had been disloyal to his
trust. She has encouraged those to whom God had given special gifts, and
her sons have been loyal to her, and loved her.

" She has become great in national aifairs.

" She has dignified the calling of the husbandman. She has called wealth
from the forest, the tilled field, the pasture; from the mine, the furnace, the
forge. The smoke of her workshops pours from ten thousand chimneys.
She takes her coal, and with it works into marketable shape the ores that her
fleets have brought from the northwest regions, and her finished products
are found in every market on the globe.

" She has produced many notable things, but her greatest production has
come, not from her furnaces or been grown in her fields.

" It has come from the loins of her founders — from that sacred spot,
the American home — from the little red school house — the college — the sab-
bath school — the town meeting — from personal touch with the people — from
a mart where brains, and courage, and high ideals are the things that men
prize!

" Her best production is the Ohio Man. And, Mr. President, the great-
est collection of Ohio men to be found upon the face of this earth is the Ohio
Society of New York; and when we find an Ohio man exceptionably able,
exceptionably fitted for the position, we make him president of the Ohio
Society. (Applause.) When we find a man greater yet, better j^et, nobler
yet in all the essentials of manhood, be he Democrat or Republican, we make
him governor of the Buckeye state."

President Hoyt said : " Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York,
we are greatly favored to-night in having as our guest of honor the chief
executive of the commonwealth of our fair state of Ohio, the Hon. George K.
Nash, its governor. (Great applause.) Let us all rise and drink a toast

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to Governor Nash, of the state of Ohio. (All rise and drink a toast to Gov-
ernor Nash.) Now, gentlemen, I have the pleasure of proposing a toast to
you, ' The New Municipal Code of Ohio,' a code of which Governor Nash is
the father, the originator, and has pushed through to a successful issue, and
at our urgent request Governor Nash, of the state of Ohio, will now respond
to that toast."

Governor Nash said : " Mr. President and Gentlemen : — ^Your president
added to my pleasure when he asked me to be present at this celebration of
the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the first constitution of the
state of Ohio. I cannot say, however, that the pleasure was greatly increased
by the request that I should talk to you about the new municipal code recently
adopted in our state. This law was a work of necessity, hastily prepared and
arising out of an unlooked for emergency. The first constitution of the state,
in regard to the powers granted to the general assembly, regulating the or-
ganization and government of municipal corporations, differed very materially
from the second constitution, that of 1851. In the first, the legislature had un-
limited power in this direction, and organized cities and villages by special
charters, granting to each such powers as it might wish, or as it might seem
best to give. Acting under this power, prior to 1851, it followed that scarcely
two cities in Ohio had the same form or kind of municipal government.
Whenever any city became dissatisfied with its charter or wished a change
therein, it went directly to the general assembly and asked its representative
or representatives to introduce a bill for that purpose. Such bill, interesting
no one except the locality involved, became a law at the request of its repre-
sentative or representatives without careful consideration as to its wisdom or
usefulness by the entire membership of the general assembly. Under this
system such evils had grown up, that the subject became one of intense and
long-continued consideration by the convention which framed the constitution
of 1851. As a result of such thought the new constitution commanded the
general assembly to provide by general laws for the organization of cities
and incorporated villages. It further commanded that it should not pass any
special act conferring corporate powers. Under these limitations it was in-
tended that Ohio should have a uniform law for the organization of cities
and a uniform law for the organization of villages.

" Before many years, however, the general assembly became restless
under these limitations. Many contended that it was the height of folly to
attempt to govern a city of 200,000 inhabitants by a charter with no greater
powers than one which was intended for the government of a city having
5,000 people, that the wants and necessities of one were very different from
those of the other, and could not be met by a general law. This resulted in

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a gradual breaking down by the general assembly of these restrictions. The
violation of the commands of the constitution began by the classification of
cities — organizing some cities in one way and other cities in another. The
evil grew rapidly. Matters went from bad to worse, until the time came when
scarcely two cities were organized in the same manner or under the same law.
The police system of one large city differed entirely from the police system
of another city equally large. In one city the executive officers consisted of
men appointed by the mayor, and in another they were men, or a board com-
posed of men elected by the people. In one city money could be lawfully bor-
rowed for certain purposes, while to do so in another city would be illegal.
In the state we had as many kinds of municipal government as had ever been
conceived by the mind of man and advocated by theorists. In fact, we had
greater evils than those which existed under the old constitution and all the ab-
surdities, against which the new constitution was intended to be a perfect
guard.

" These continued violations of the law of the constitution could not go
on forever. A time must come when a crisis would be reached. It came in
June of this year. Then the Supreme Court practically declared all the laws
relating to municipalities to be unconstitutional and void. It again re-
peated the commands of the constitution of 1851, and said that cities and in-
corporated villages must be organized by general laws, and not by special acts
conferring corporate powers.

" All our municipalities were left without law, without government and
in a state of chaos. To ameliorate the evils of the situation the court post-
poned the execution of its decree until the general assembly could provide
some sort of constitutional government for our cities and villages. This was
a most perilous crisis, requiring extraordinary and immediate action. Only
one thing remained to be done, and that was resorted to when the proper
authority called upon the general assembly to meet in extra session on the
25th day of August.

" When it assembled it determined to draw the dividing line between
cities knd villages at 5,000 inhabitants and to make a law providing that
aggregations of people of more than 5,000, at the last federal census, should
be cities, and those with a less -number of inhabitants should be villages. So
it happens that in Ohio we have seventy-one cities possessing an aggregate
population of more than 1,800,000-, and varying in size from about 5,000
people to more than 381,000. To make one law which would provide for the
wants of these unequal populations was indeed a great task. To add to the
difficulties was the fact that for years all had been governed by dissimilar
charters. The people of each city were more or less attached to its peculiar

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

government. Each city had a representative or representatives in the legis-
lative body, intent upon making effective the wishes of his or their constituents.
It was a difficult matter to bring these elements to the support of one general
law in sufficient numbers to secure its enactment. To fail was to leave our
state without municipal government.

" There was one class of sincere men who persistently advocated what
they termed the * federal plan ' for the government of cities, and energetically
opposed all other schemes. Several years ago this plan was put into the form
of special charters or laws, having application to two of the large cities in
Ohio. This plan clothed the mayor with almost autocratic power, giving him
the right, of his own will and without restriction, to appoint the chief executive
officers of the city, and giving them the title of a cabinet. It gave to the
mayor and his cabinet the right to occupy seats in the legislative branch of
the government and to discuss measures therein pending. It gave the mayor
and his cabinet remarkable power over legislation for the city by providing
that certain ordinances should not be considered by the legislative branch
until they had been approved by them. This plan had as sincere and more
opponents than it had advocates, because it violated many of the vital prin-
ciples upon which the federal government was built.

" Another class of citizens advocated a plan which provided that each
city should hold a constitutional convention and be governed by the charter
framed and adopted by that convention. This was called ' home rule.'
Under it we would have as many forms of municipal government in the state
as we had cities. By its adoption the general assembly would have attempted
to delegate to each city a power which it did not itself possess. Under it we
would have all the evils which the constitution of 1851 intended to prevent.
It had many sincere advocates, but others believed that its adoption would
be quickly declared by the Supreme Court to be a violation of the constitution
itself.

" I have called your attention to these matters for the purpose of por-
traying the many difficulties which the legislature had to meet and overcome
at its recent extra session. Tins continued until October 22, and the result is
that we now have a law for the government of our cities and villages, not
perfect, but uniform in its operation and in strict compliance with the con-
stitution. Under it we have municipal government consisting of three
branches — the legislative, the executive and the judicial.

" The legislative branch is a council, consisting, in cities of less than
25,000 inhabitants, of seven members, three of whom are elected by the people"
at large and four of whom are elected by wards — in cities of 25,000 to
40,000, of nine members, three of whom are elected by the people at large
and six by wards — for every 15,000 inhabitants above 40,000, there is one

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

additional member of council, and when the total membership of council is
fifteen or more, one member of every five is elected at large and the re-
mainder from wards. The president of the council is to be elected by the
voters of the city, and in case of disability of the mayor, he fiUs the vacancy
in this office. The thought which caused the council to be thus constituted
was this: If malfeasance and corruption exist in a municipality it very fre-
quently has its origin in the membership of the council. A small legislative
body generally does better work than a large one. If the president of the
council is elected by the people he wiU probably be a man of high standing
and be free from personal obligations to the members who compose that body.
The same is true of councilmen elected at large. The wards are composed
of more people than heretofore, because it is believed that a larger constitu-
ency will have a tendency to place men of business ability, intelhgence and
integrity in council.

" The powers of taxation, assessment, borrowing money, of contracting
debts and of loaning the credit of cities conferred upon council are restricted.
In this respect, however, as well as in other matters, the council, of necessity,
has large discretion, and it is of exceeding importance that the people should
secure good men for councilmen.

" The executive officers are the mayor, auditor, treasurer, solicitor and
a board of public service, consisting of three or five members, as may be deter-
mined by council, all of whom are elected by the people. The mayor is the
chief executive officer of the city, and it is his duty to see that all ordinances,
by-laws and resolutions of the council are faithfully obeyed and enforced; to
supervise the expenditures of the revenues of the corporation, and if such ex-
penditures exceed the revenues, to protest against such expenditures and cause
such protest and reason therefor to be entered on the journal of the council.
It is also his duty to supei-vise the conduct of all the officers of the corporation
and inquire into the grounds of all complaints against any of them, and cause
all violations of law or neglect of duty to be promptly punished or reported to
the proper authority for correction. He is given the power to veto all or-
dinances or resolutions of council, but such veto may be overruled by a two-
thirds vote of the council.

" It is the duty of the auditor to keep the books of the city, and at
proper times to exhibit accurate statements of all moneys received and ex-
pended, and, generally, to keep a record of all the financial affairs of the
city. The duties of the treasurer are such as are generally required of the
treasurer of any corporation, and the same may be said of the duties of the
solicitor or attorney of the city.

" The directors of public service are very important officers, because this
board is the chief administrative authority of the city, manages and super-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

vises all public works and all public institutions, makes all contracts author-
ized by council, sees that the same are faithfully executed, may employ such
superintendents, clerks and other subordinate officers as may be necessary for
the execution of the powers and duties of the department, and it may estab-
lish such subdepartments for the administration of affairs under its control
as may be deemed proper.

" The code also provides for a department of public safety, which shall
have the control and management of the police and fire departments. The
board will consist of two or four members as may be provided by council.
The directors will be appointed by the mayor with the consent of two-thirds
of all the members elected to council; not more than half of these direc-
tors shall belong to the same political party, and in making appointments
and filling vacancies, the mayor shall' observe this requirement. The directors
of public safety are clothed with all powers and duties connected with and in-
cident to the appointment, regulation and government of the police and fire
departments, and shall make all contracts with reference to the management
of said department.

" The police force will be composed of a chief of police and such inspec-
tors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, corporals, detectives, patrolmen and
other employes as shall be provided by council. The fire force shall be com-
posed of a chief of the department and such marshals, firemen and other em-
ployes as shall be provided by the same authority. The provisions of the
code are such that all employes of the police and fire departments must be
appointed upon their merits and not for political reasons. No member can
be dismissed except for cause after fair notice and hearing. The object is
to make these departments absolutely non-political and to secure an adminis-
tration of them that will be in the interest of the public alone.

" Council has power to fix the number of members of which the boards
of public service and of public safety shall consist, and to fix the compensa-
tion for all officers. This elasticity is provided so that the larger cities may
be provided for and at the same time the code be not burdensome to the
smaller ones.

" In the short time allotted to me I cannot consider all the provisions of
this code. In general terms, I desire to say that under it we will have municipal
government built upon the same principles which characterize the government
of the United States. There will be three branches, the legislative, the ex-
ecutive and the judicial, each independent of the other, and each having its
appropriate duties to perform without interference by the other or others.
These principles have been held sacred in the federal and state governments,
and are just as essential to the success and well-being of municipal govern-
ments.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" It provides that all contracts made and rights granted under pre-
existing laws shall stand. This was required by good faith and of honest
men. It does not make radical changes. It permits our cities in so far as
possible to have the same rights and privileges as heretofore possessed and to
do about the same things as formerly.

" It gives to the people the right to elect all their principal executive,
legislative and judicial officers, and does not give to any one man the power
to construct a personal machine. That we may have model municipal gov-
ernment in Ohio, but one thing remains to be done.

" That is for the people to take an interest in their own business and to
look after it as they do after their private affairs, and to see that honest,
efficient men are elected as municipal officers. Without such intelligent action
by the people, no mere form of government will save their public business
from disgrace and disaster."

President Hoyt said : " Fellow Members of the Ohio Society of New
York : — We all hold in precious memory our first president, Thomas Ewing, of
Ohio, and we are favored to-night in having with us our first vice-president,
Thomas Ewing, Jr., who will now address us, responding to the toast of
' Ohio in Virginia.' " (Applause.)

Mr. Thomas Ewing, Jr., said : " I thank you, Mr. President, for your
introduction, and I thank the members of the Ohio Society for the election
which they have honored me with to-night. I may say that it is ' Virginia
in Ohio ' that I am to speak to and not ' Ohio in Virginia.' We have heard
in this Society a good deal of New England in Ohio. As long ago as 1886
Mr. Mitchell made an address on the First Settlement and he told of the
formation of the first Ohio Society at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, in Boston,
I believe, and of the two expeditions that started out the next year under its
direction, one from Danvers, Mass., and the other from Hartford, Conn.
Then our good friend. Judge Higley, followed Mr. Mitchell with an account
of the Second Settlement, which was at Cincinnati, largely from Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. Now I would not pluck one single leaf from the garland of
honor of these first settlements or of the populous North which poured them
from her frozen • loins, but I want to say that somehow or other the North
generally, and New England in particular, manage to get what they and she
have done talked about more than their relative importance warrants. Ohio
has produced a great historian, Mr. James Ford Rhodes, of Cleveland; but
he had to go to Boston and settle down in order that he might receive a fair
recognition. Fame seems to be a birthright of New England's poets and
philosophers and statesmen, and even of her emigrants. But in point of
fact the part which Virginia played in the early settlement of Ohio is more
important than that of all the rest of the country put together. Before the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Revolutionary War she sent into the vast wilderness the Dunmore expedition,
which won the great battle of Point Pleasant, where the Kanawha enters
into the Ohio. Dunmore divided his troops into two divisions, passed up the
Hockhocking and up the Scioto, and on the Pickaway Plains he made the
Treaty of Peace with Logan, at which time that great savage warrior made
the speech which Jefferson reported and which we all learned in our school
books, closing with these proud and pathetic words : ' Logan would not turn
on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn him ? Not one.'

" The reason for the importance of Virginia in the early settlement is
very easy to explain. Kentucky and West Virginia were included within
her temtory. They bounded the state entirely on the south and half-way on
the east; they commanded all the gateways pretty nearly into Ohio. Ken-
tucky was itself already settled with a population of nearly two hundred
thousand souls. They poured into this state their settlers from all directions.
Virginia had the best title of any to the Northwest Territory and when she
surrendered it she reserved practically one-sixth of the state for her Revolu-
tionary soldiers in the tract known as the Virginia Military Bounty Lands.
This tract embraces the entire right bank of the Scioto and extends back-
wards to the line of the towns of Springfield and Xenia and Madisonville
and Linwood along the Little Miami River. It is a region of great beauty
and of undying interest. The banks of the Scioto, the bottom lands there
and the Pickaway Plains are the greatest cattle raising and grain producing
part of the state. In Adams County there is the most remarkable of all
the Indian remains of the West, a great mound 1,300 feet high, shaped like
a sei-pent with an egg in its mouth — so remarkable that Harvard College has
bought the land and turned it into a public park. In Highland County, in
the Paint Creek region, there is a natural formation of such beauty and ex-
traordinary character that it is known as the ' Wonderland of Ohio.' Perhaps
some of the members who visited the Pan-American will remember the exhibit
of prehistoric remains from Ross County. It was one of the most interest-
ing things at the Exposition.

" Now it was into this country that Virginia sent her settlers. Three
of the early governors of the state went from Virginia together in the year
1796. In fact, she supplied five of the governors of the state, and the names
of those who came from Virginia or from Virginia families, names like Thur-
man and Allen and Harrison, and hundreds of others that might be mentioned,
are household words with us all. If I may take a moment to refer to one or
two of the settlers, one that looms up above them all I think was old Simon
Kenton. Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, of Scotch-Irish stock, as most
of these emigrants were, he went into the back region of Kentucky and be-
came a great friend and companion of Daniel Boone. Becoming tired of

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

staying about in the more settled part of Kentucky he went on a horse-
stealing expedition into Ohio; was captured by the Indians, taken to Chilli-
cothe and condemned to be burned at the stake. His life was saved by one of
the greatest scoundrels and desperadoes of that time — Simon Girty — Girty,
the man who had stood by and seen Crawford burned at the stake at Sandusky,
but he had known Kenton as a boy and saved his life by artifices, which it is
hardly necessary to speak about here.

" Kenton then after our state was admitted settled down at Ravenna,
entered the army in the War of 1812 under General Harrison, and died in
18S6 at a good old age. I believe that one of the first artistic efforts of our
distinguished member, Mr. J. Q. A. Ward, was a statue of Kenton in his
hunter's garb.

" Massie was another of the great settlers of Ohio who came from Vir-
ginia. He was the sui'\'eyor and the explorer of the Bounty Lands. He laid
out the town of Manchester in 1791 and in 1796 laid out the town of Chilli-
cothe. In 1807 Massie was elected — or ran for governor of the state — and
was beaten by Return Jonathan Meigs on the face of the returns, but en-
tered a contest and obtained the office, and then with the modesty that is a
part of our priceless inheritance as Ohioans, he immediately resigned.

" Now there was grouped about Massie in Chillicothe a band of ardent
young Democrats who were among the most notable men that Ohio ever
knew. Democrats in the broad sense — democratic-republicans or republican-
democrats as you choose — tliey were at that time Jeffersonian. Those of us
who had the good fortune to hear Senator Foraker deliver his address at
the dinner will remember his saying that while we thought perhaps he and
Senator Hanna had had some hard things to say to each other, it wasn't a
patching to what had been said between the different parties in 1801. He
referred to the great contest which went on in Ohio between Massie and
Worthington and Tiffin and those gathered about these men, mostly living in
Chillicothe, on the one hand, and Arthur St. Clair, whose signature is on the
back of those documents at the end of the table, on the other. St. Clair was
the governor and he liked Ms job, had the true Ohio instinct; and these men
were engaged in the effort to force the state into the Union. It was the
most bitter contest probably Ohio has ever known. The result was that
in 1802 St. Clair was removed from office by President Jefferson and the
state admitted. Had it not been for that contest undoubtedly this Centen-
nial which we are now celebrating would have been postponed some years.

" The result was that the state capital was fixed at Chillicothe and
there it remained until 1816, when it was removed to Columbus. If I may
be pardoned a moment's digression, prompted by town pride, I may say
that the capital would have gone from Chillicothe to my old home town of

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Lancaster if our representative in the legislature had been a little more
familiar with parliamentary forms. The bill for the removal of the capital
had passed to its third reading. There was a strong feeling in favor of
Lancaster. Tlie bill was complete except that in the place of the name of
the town for the new capital there was a blank and the member rose and
moved to strike out the blank and insert Lancaster.

" But, gentlemen, it is not the beauty of this region nor the interest
of it; it is not the great numbers of settlers nor their distinctive character
nor their great services that we should fasten our attention on most to-
night in considering the theme, ' Virginia in Ohio.' It is the fact that owing
to Virginia's influence more than any other one thing Ohio has had free
labor and never slavery. Virginia, the mother, weighed down with slavery
and unable to free herself from it, with one great magnanimous act of
fostering care snatched for her fair child the precious boon of freedom as
a heritage forever.

" I w^ould like to say in closing that there is to-day and to-night in
Chillicothe, Ohio, a celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the sign-
ing of the constitution, and it seems to me it would be a graceful thing if
this Society should send some greeting." (Applause.)

Chairman Hoyt said : " Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York :
— I am now going to propose a wonder to you — the only living man that
ever beat Joseph B. Foraker for any office. Gentlemen, I refer to ex-
Governor, the Hon. James E. Campbell, who will now speak to you on
'Ohio's Constitutional Convention of 1802.'" (Applause.)

Ex-Governor James E. Campbell said: "I can stand it just as long
as the rest of you. (This in response to continued applause.) Mr. President
and Gentlemen of the Society : — I have been introduced in a variety of ways
in my life, but I have so seldom beaten anybody I never was introduced be-
fore as 'the man who beat.' (Laughter and applause.) One of the things
I am proud of, besides beating Governor Foraker, is that I am the oldest
honorary member of this Society, and that I have made more speeches to
the Society than any man living or dead; but I have always made them on
occasions of the annual banquet, and have never attended one of these in-
teresting business meetings with a banquet ' on the side.' I am charmed, I
may say I am delighted. In all my experience I have never known dry re-
ports that contained so much juicy matter. I cite, for instance, the reports
of the treasurer and the auditing committee. It is the first time I have
ever been in any kind of a business meeting where there was so much money
on hand and nobod}'' said, ' Let's declare a di-vadend.' Of course I have no
legal right to make that motion, not being a resident member. (Laughter.)
I have never heard of such a remarkable case as that of one Penfield, who

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

is holding the Society's cheque. I never held a cheque over night in my
life, and here is a man who has a cheque — a good cheque — ^and has held
it for months. I cannot account for it except upon the ground that he is
an autograph collector. Speaking of autograph collectors reminds me that
I have one cheque which I have held. It is about the last cheque ever drawn
by Andrew Jackson upon a bank, and I am keeping that for an autograph.

" The report of the library committee was something interesting and
the only report that seemed to lack completeness. The gentlemen report
how many daily papers you had, and how many semi-weekly papers, but
not how many ' weakly ' papers. (Laughter and applause.) There was also
an interesting controversy between Judge Higley and my old friend Foye
as to which gave this banquet. (Laughter and applause.) I am perfectly
willing, as far as I am concerned, to sit on jury and attend a banquet to
be given by each of them in the near future.

" I am also instructed and entertained by the speeches I have heard,
and I agree most heartily as a son of Ohio who ought to have a large and
intimate knowledge of Ohio people in your position, sir (to the chairman),
that if there is anything needed in a Society of Ohio men anywhere on the
face of the earth, that great necessity is a chaplain. (Laughter.) My
friend, Kennedy, who often gives me a puff in the Plain Dealer (I am going
to pay him back now, first chance I have had), certainly made one of the
most eloquent speeches I have ever listened to, if he hadn't prefaced it with
the ridiculous assertion that Trumbull was the greatest county in Ohio.
Why, everybody knows that (until this year, when it went Republican for the
first time in its history), Butler is the greatest county in Ohio. Since that
election I am not claiming that it is the greatest; it used to be the greatest.
The governor has come here to-night, and, having been governor myself, I
sympathize with him in his trials on the subject of municipal law. I am
glad, as a citizen of tlie state — for I live there and vote there if I do stay in
New York more than I ought to — that we have at last reached some system
of municipal law which is likely to give us honest and rigid municipal gov-
ernment, for if there is any crying evil in this country it is the rottenness,
the corruption and the fraud that seem so far to have been inseparable evils
in every great municipality. (Applause.) I congratulate the governor
and I sincerely hope that his most sincere expectations may even be ex-
ceeded. I was glad to see the third Thomas Ewing coming to the front.
(Applause.) I knew his father and admired and loved him, and I am now
and always have been of the opinion that there was truth in the inscription
emblazoned on that old picture of the racehorse you may remember to have
seen in your young days, in which it says that ' Blood will tell.' (Applause.)
And I am pleaded with his speech on Virginians, because I am a double

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

grandson of Virginia, that is to say, my grandfather (my father's father)
was bom in Virginia, and that makes me once a grandson of Virginia, and,
in common with most of you, I am a son of Ohio, and Ohio is a daughter of
Virginia, and that makes me twice a grandson of Virginia.

" I presume it is time to get aroun,d to my subject. I went into the
library of the Ohio Society of New York, where they keep those ' weakly '
papers the other night, and looked over such records and books as they had
bearing upon the constitutional convention of 1802 ; and then I went to a
stenographer and dictated a speech. I read it this evening before I came
here and concluded it was not worth reading to you; but the subject,
whether the speech be interesting or not, is a very interesting one. The
state of Ohio is simply a part of that great northwest territory which com-
prised the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and a
portion of Minnesota.

" To understand the constitutional convention of 1802 you must for
a moment go back of that year. There was a controversy as to where this
northwest territory was to go at the end of the Revolutionary War; and,
just twenty years before the state constitution was made, in 1782, the com-
missioners on the part of the government of Great Britain and her re-
volted colonies in the United States were endeavoring to fix a boundary line.
The American commissioners said it must be the chain of the great lakes,
and the British commissioners said the Ohio River. Benjamin Franklin,
probably the most astute man this country has ever produced, for some
reason which at this distance does not appear to be clear, was in favor of
yielding to the British commissioners, and let the boundary line be the Ohio
River ; but Jay and Adams said, * No, we will go back to America and carry
on war forever before we will give up the line of the Great Lakes.' (Great
applause.) And they earned the day, and that is why Ohio is a part of the
United States and not a part of the Dominion of Canada. Then five years
later came the great Ordinance of 1787, an Ordinance sometimes attributed
to Thomas Jefferson, but really belonging in every essential to Nathan Dane.
There are two things in that ordinance that must be mentioned before you
come to the constitutional convention. The first is this declaration : ' There
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude.' Bear in mind that slavery
then existed almost all over this country, not as we had it forty years ago
in the South, but nearly every state in the union was a slave state. None
were so strenuous for slavery when the Constitution of the United States
was made as the Northern states. The second declaration as embodied and
written into that great ordinance is, ' Schools and means of education shall
be encouraged forever.' That is the language of the ordinance of 1787 ; and,
before these great men met at Chillicothe in 1802, there was a chart laid

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

down and this territory of the Northwest, and with it the future state of
Ohio, was before their day dedicated to freedom and intelHgence. So in
1802 the constitutional convention was called. Prior to that time, however,
the territory northwest of the Ohio River had been divided into two terri-
tories. A line was run north and south, being the line now between the
states of Ohio and Indiana, but extending clear to the Straits of Mackinaw.
There were ten counties in the Eastern Territory, nine counties included in
the limits of the present state of Ohio, and the county of Waj-ne, which
now includes the eastern part of IMichigan. These two territories, so far as I
know, had no names. Research fails to discover that they were named, and
the constitutional convention which met at Chillicothe in 1802 recites the
fact in these words : ' The people in the Eastern Division of the territory
northwest of the Ohio River.' But they end that great document, the con-
stitution of 1802, by declaring in the very last words that they create a
state ' by the name of the state of Ohio.' (Applause.) So that this day —
tlie 29th day of November — is really the day we celebrate, because, what-
ever controversy may arise as to the exact date when the state was admitted
into the Union, it is unquestionably a fact that one hundred years ago to-day
the state of Ohio was named, and christened, and we are celebrating now the
baptism, if you may so state it, of that great commonwealth to which we
all turn, whether far or near, with so much love and veneration. (Applause.)
" Mr. Ewing has depicted accurately the controversy that raged in
the constitutional convention. There was a state party and an anti-state
party; there was a Democratic party headed by Massie and Tiffin, and a
Federalist party headed by St. Clair. There were also personal animosities,
for our forefathers were built rather on fighting lines. The most curious
thing about the constitutional convention of 1802 is that it was never called
by any action taken on the part of the inhabitants of the territory. Con-
gress early in 1802 passed a law directing the people of the territory to
select delegates to a constitutional convention, but the law was passed against
the active, vigorous, determined opposition of the delegate from the territory ;
and there was much rancor in the debate over the idea that Congress should
in a highhanded manner, and without previous notice on the part of anybody,
direct the people of the territory to do thus and so. It was unfortunately
on the States Rights idea, then existing in Connecticut and other northern
states as well as the South, that Mr. Griswold, of Connecticut, a member of
Congress, upon the floor of the house declared that the passage of that bill
meant the destruction of all the states. Congress, however, after directing the
people to organize the state, gave them the privilege of selecting their dele-
gates ; but that is all the privilege the people ever had. They were never
permitted to ratify the constitution — never permitted to say whether the con-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

stitution as made suited them or not. The convention met on the first day of
November, labored industriously for four weeks, adopted the constitution on
the 29th, and by a vote of 27 to 7 that they would not let the people ratify it,
and went home — never said as much as ' by your leave ' to their trusting con-
stituents. I can imagine that if a constitutional convention in Ohio to-day
would go off in that happy fashion and say to the people, ' You can take
tliis or do something better,' what would be said and what would be done
by the people of Ohio. So looking back over one hundred years we must
say to ourselves, and say it with some pleasure and exultation, that we have
done a good deal in the last century in the direction of the ' reign of the
common people.'

" Of the thirty-five men sent to this convention from the nine counties of
the state, all of them, except two from the great county of Trumbull (laugh-
ter), lived in the southern half of the state, which would indicate that the
northern half of Ohio was lagging behind. Whether it does now or not
(having come from the southern part of the state) I am not called upon to
say. They were nearly all — perhaps all — Revolutionary soldiers, and every
one was a man of high personal character. I cannot stop in the brief space
here to name you the list, but there are a dozen perhaps who have made
such a mark in the history of Ohio that they ought to have some larger men-
tion.

" The president of the convention was Edward TifEn. Tiffin was an
Englishman by birth — and, by the way, the only man bom off of our soil
who was ever governor of Ohio. He was a doctor, and he had also taken
holy orders as a deacon — ordained by Bishop Asbury. I find that several
other members of that convention had been ordained, from which I infer
that the average of piety was higher in that day than now. He came to
Chilhcothe. He must have had some high notions of labor, for he manu-
mitted his own slaves — he was a slaveholder — before he came there, and at
once took active rank as one of the leading men of the state. WTien the
constitution was adopted he became the first governor. He resigned that
office to become United States senator. Subsequently he became commis-
sioner of the general land office and was the only public officer in Wash-
ington when the capitol was burned in 1814 who saved all of his archives.
This shows that the Ohio man was just as active in that day as he is now.

" Thomas Worthington was another governor. Worthington and Tif-
fin were brothers-in-law. Tiffin became first governor and Worthington one
of the first senators. Then Tiffin went to the senate and Worthington became
governor, and it was those two men, and with them Trimble, afterwards also
governor, let us remember, who came to Chillicothe together. If we had
three young fellows come to Ohio now, and all three of them got to be gov-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

emors we would call that a ' Trust.' (Laughter.) I don't know what they
called it then.

" Samuel Huntington, another member of that convention, became gov-
ernor. Huntington was from Trumbull county — I feel I ought to mention
Trumbull county as often as possible. Huntington was first a Judge of the
Supreme Court and afterwards became governor; and was a rigid Puritan
of the most ultra type. He came there from Connecticut. Worthington, I
may say, came from Virginia.

" Thomas Kirker became governor in an odd way. When Governor
Tiffin resigned to go to the United States Senate Kirker was Speaker of
the House, and, by virtue of that office, became governor, and he held onto
that governorship until the next election. Then when that modest Virginian
who emigrated to Ohio — and when I speak of emigrate that makes me think
how appropriate it is that you gentlemen who have emigrated from Ohio
here deposit your money in the 'Emigrants' Bank.' (Great laughter.)
When Nathaniel Massie declined the governorship, Kirker still held on an-
other year until the next election.

" The fifth member of that convention who became governor of Ohio
was Jeremiah Morrow. Morrow went out of the convention into Congress
and for ten years was the sole Representative from the state of Ohio to
the Federal Congress and then became governor. The Duke of Saxe Weimar,
who visited him at his country place down in Warren county in that crude and
early day, when he went back to Europe, said that he had found in the wilds
of Ohio a ' veritable Cincinnatus.' Governor Morrow undoubtedly was as
near a type of Cincinnatus as modem days have produced; probably the
ablest and greatest man in that convention.

" Nathaniel Massie, a Virginian of the cavaher type, was a very prom-
inent member. He was noted for his graceful manners and high bred cour-
tesy. He was the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. General
Joseph Darlington, also a Virginian, had been a soldier of distinction. Ben-
jamin Ives Gilman had the reputation of being the handsomest and most
dignified member. John Reily, a South Carolinian, had participated in
many Revolutionary battles. John Goforth, a Jerseyman, was later largely
instrumental in establishing the present system of selling government lands.
John Smith, while living in the city of Cincinnati, went to the United States
Senate and became intimate with Aaron Burr, who was then vice-president
of the United States and president of the Senate. Smith became a great
friend to Burr and was fascinated by Burr's personality, which according to
all historians and biographers was almost irresistible. They were so in-
timate that when Burr's treason developed Smith was indicted. He never
was tried, and the verdict of posterity is that he was not guilty.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

• " I might go on and name others. Take, for instance, those two great
members of the Oliio Company that came to Marietta — Rufus Putnam and
Ephraim Cutler. Why, the early history of Ohio could not be written with-
out the names of Rufus Putnam and Ephraim Cutler, who were here at the
very beginning of the 'Bucke3'e state.

" But 3'ou do not want to know altogether the personahty of these men — ■
a few words only as to what they did. Right here I will digress just a
moment. They adjourned on the 29th day of November and the controversy
has raged from that day to this as to whether that was the day that Ohio
became a state. I find that the Federal Census Reports put down Ohio as
admitted to the Union on November 29, 1802, but my own opinion is that
(except infcrentially) Ohio never was formally admitted to the Union. The
convention adjourned on the 29th of November, On the first Tuesday in
January, 1803, the state elected a governor and other officers, and a legisla-
ture. On the last day of March, 1803, the legislature began its session, and
on the 3d day of March the governor was inaugurated. In the meantime,
on the 19th of February", Congress passed a law — what.'' — to admit the state
of Ohio? No, the title of the Act is to ' extend the federal laws to the state
of Ohio.' That is the title of the Act, which recites the existing situation by
saying, ' Ohio has become one of the United States of America,' but as to
whether Oliio was in existence on the 19th day of February, 1803, whether it
was bom that day or some other day, the controversy will rage forever. My
own opinion is that the state was like Topsy — it never was born, it ' just
growed.'

" There were some curious things in the constitution of 1802. Tlie one
that was most remarkable was the adoption of a constitution without giving to
the governor the veto power. That is an anomaly, absolutely an anomal}^
under our political system. No one at this date pretends to defend or up-
hold a proposition of that kind, and so far as I know there are not more than
two or three states in the Union where the governor does not have the veto
power. The veto is to a constitution what the brake on the coach and the
hold-back strap on the harness are to a stage coach, and four horses going
down hill on a full gallop. Without the veto power you have practically
changed your form of government. There must be some explanation. You
must not jump to the conclusion that the fathers of the constitution had no
knowledge of the checks and balances that ought to exist in a republican
form of government, but they were led, as most men are and alwa3S will be
by bitter personal feelings, surroundings and animosities. It arose in this
wav. Arthur St. Clair had been territorial governor — was governor of the
territory when this convention met. Most of these men had served in the
territorial legislature. St. Clair Avas a great soldier, in spite of some vicis-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

situdes in liis career, a bom general and an honest man. He was a favorite
of G€orge Washington, but he was a stubborn, hard-headed Scotchman — I
do not speak in derogation of the Scotch for I am Scotch myself, but you know
the Scotch have a reputation of being a little ' sot in their way ' and St.
Clair was one of the most stubborn type. The first session of the legislature
passed thirty laws and Governor St. Clair vetoed eleven of them, annulled
more than one-third of the legislation of a new territory starting on its career.
He not only vetoed laws, but refused to return them to the House from which
they originated within ten days, although they requested him to return them
to see if they could not be amended to suit his views. On the contrary, he
rated them soundly for their impertinence to the governor. His idea of the
veto power was that there were three Houses — the House, the Senate and
St, Clair; that he was a coordinate branch of the legislature. As a natural
result of his extraordinary application of the veto power the idea of the
veto became absolutely hateful to the entire people of the territory regard-
less of political convictions. Then St. Clair made himself very unpopular
by controversies as to sub-dividing counties, and as to judicial matters, and
kept up a constant irritation between himself and members of the legislature.
An illustration of the disesteem in which he was regarded, arose when the
convention met. He, being the governor, asked the privilege of addressing
the convention at length. By the majority of five they voted that ' Arthur
St. Clair, Esquire, should be permitted to address them,' which could not
be called a very warm and pressing invitation. That is the way in which Ohio
came to have the unique and unenviable distinction of being one of the very
few states where the executive does not have the power of veto.

" There was another thing that caused probably as much trouble as it
did forty years ago in this country, and that was the color line. There
were, perhaps, 150 free negroes in the territory and the question was what
to do with them. Should they be citizens, and if not what should they be.''
At last after much controversy the word ' white ' was put into the constitu-
tion of Ohio by the narrow vote of 19 to 14, and there it stood until it was
washed out in the blood of thousands of her best and bravest sons sixty
years afterwards. But if the free negroes made trouble those that were in
slavery, and might be brought in, made a lot more trouble. Fortunately
this territory so far as Congress could control, and so far as Virginia was
concerned, was dedicated to freedom; but a crowd in the legislature — I am
sorry to say they were known as the Virginia crowd, too — wanted some
modified form or term of slavery; and, in that convention, Ohio was made a
free state, but it was by just one vote, just one majority, that a plank in the
constitution was defeated which provided that black men should be slaves
until they were thirty-five and black women until they were twenty-five. That

390

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

majority of one was obtained because Putnam got Cutler to go to Milligan
and shame him by showing the speeches that he (Milligan) had made in the
legislature against slavery, and thus got him to change his vote. So our
heritage of freedom came pretty near slipping away from us. That was
the history of the colored man in the days of our forefathers.

" In some respects 1802 was a day of small things. iVIoney was scarce.
No scarcer than it is sometimes nowadays when they pay 300 per cent, for
money down on Wall Street; but it was pretty scarce, and they fixed the
salaries on a scale tliat was in accordance with these conditions. They pro-
vided that the governor should not be paid more than $1,000, or any mem-
ber of the Supreme Court more than $1,000. They provided that the Su-
preme Court should sit around in the counties. The counties were many of
them remote from books, sparsely settled, and the judges occasionally un-
learned in the law. The result was that by holding the Supreme Court in
every county, the Court in one county decided a question in one way and in
another county another way, and in some other county they would still
decide it in a different way, and that little discrepancy had to be wiped out
subsequently by other enactments. But in spite of the few defects in that
constitution its excellencies were so great and its results so marvelous that
we cannot but look back one hundred years and say to ourselves, where
could there be found a population of less than forty thousand (according to
the governor's speech just delivered there are forty-five times forty thou-
sand people to-day in the state of Ohio alone ; there are thirty counties in the
state that have more than forty thousand people) a body of men equal to
those thirty-five who gathered at Chillicothe and completed their great work
one hundred years ago to-day.'* The quality of the men that sent them there
had something to do with that. The men that sent them there, as well as
the men who were sent, were almost without exception soldiers of the Revolu-
tion; and they represented all the great strains and races that came into the
state of Ohio immediately after that war. There were from Virginia both
the Cavalier and the Scotch-Irish type. There were the Puritan from Con-
necticut and Massachusetts. There was the Knickerbocker from New York;
the Pennsylvania Dutchman from the Keystone state; the sturdy Jerseyman;
the Huguenot from South Carolina. The very best of these races came in,
and it must have been a great combination of blood because, after it had
mingled and commingled for sixty years, it produced in a great crisis and
upfen a sudden call and in one outburst, more generals and statesmen than
all the other states in the Union together. Those men of various types picked
out their thirty-five delegates. Many of the thirty-five were scholars, men
of learning, and all had been schooled in honor and manhood. They were
indeed a great body, and we can justly and proudly stand here to-night and

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

say : ' Men of 1802, we salute you. We shall ever keep your memory
green.' " (Great applause.)

President Hoyt said : " The Ohio Society of New York had hoped
that a committee might be appointed to escort the governor of the state of
New York to the Ohio Society, from a club on Fifth Avenue where he is be-
ing entertained, and it is with great regret that we have not been able to
succeed. We shall hope most sincerely that he may be with us at our annual
banquet on the 17th of January. Just one word for the benefit of the gentle-
man who has just spoken (Governor Campbell) and who seems to think that
the northern counties were very backward in their progress in the past.
Gentlemen, for his benefit I wish to say that of the members in the Ohio
Society of New York, 112 of them come from the city of Cleveland alone,
on the bank of Lake Erie, and nearly one-half of the number elected during
this past year came from that city, and Cincinnati is only a good second,
with 71. It behooves ex-Governor Campbell to see that Cincinnati keeps up
her quota, for the northern portion of the state wiU always take care of her
share.

" Gentlemen, one word before we part. Under your constitution I, as
president, have the duty of appointing your several committees for the com-
ing year, except the house committee, which is appointed by your governing
board. I believe in new blood. I believe also in not losing the old blood. I
want any suggestions from any member between now and the middle of
December, and I assure you that it will receive careful consideration on my
part. In this vast metropolis, no one man can be expected to know all others
or what they can do, and I rely upon you to let me know the men who are
capable of filling positions on these different committees and to write me
suggestions in that respect, and I can assure you they will receive careful
consideration, and when I get through with my woi'k and the committees
are appointed I am sure that you will grant me indulgence if all the sug-
gestions have not been carried out.

" Just one word further. We are through with our set speeches, but
we have to-night with us a new vice-president, the Hon. John J. McCook,
one of the ' Fighting McCooks ' from Ohio. I saw him one moment ago. I
know he is not so modest. I want him to say a word. We want to hear,
gentlemen, from our vice-president. Col. John J. McCook, before we go."
( Applause. )

Colonel McCook said : " At this hour of the night it would be an act
of unkindness and not a proper return for the consideration that this Society
has shown me, by addressing j^ou to say anything more than to thank them
most heartily for the great honor they have done me. When I came into the
room to-night and took my seat at the table I looked at gentlemen on the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

platform and I thought they were the finest looking set of men I had ever
seen. A few minutes later I spoke to the governor and I began to think
what a wonderful state Ohio was. If all the men bom there had stayed
there, there would not have been room to stand up ; and if all these men had
stayed there It is a question how the rest of the world would have been able
to struggle along with the remainder.

" I am very proud to have been here to-night. I appreciate the work
Virginia did in the convention. Let us not forget thc^t the clause that pro-
hibited slavery In the Ordinance of 1787 was the sixth clause In order; the
one that was inserted at the end of the debate and at the end of a very hard
fight by members from Virginia; but do not let us forget what was in-
volved In that awful curse of slavery which came to us from the North or
from the South or wherever It came — It called for the blood of Ohio as well
as the other states, and the Southern states as well, to wipe it out. Don't let
us have any false ideas or any false laudation of praise for those men that
left us that curse, from which Ohio was saved by this 6th Section and was a
free state from the beginning, and may God ever keep her free." (Great
applause. )

President Hoyt: "Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York: —
Your chairman fully appreciates the work of your banquet committee in
preparing for our annual banquet, and It gives me great pleasure to an-
nounce that the seventeenth annual banquet of the Ohio Society of New York
will take place at the Waldorf-Astoria, on Saturday evening, January 17th,
next."

On December 8th James G- Newcomb was unanimously elected chair-
man of the governing committee. The following gentlemen were appointed
to the house committee: Andrew J. C. Foye, Leonard D. Morrison and
Evarts L. Prentiss. At the meeting of the Society on the same date, Mr.
Southard, as chairman of the committee to report on a change in the by-
laws to provide for a historian and chaplain, reported Article VIII as fol-
lows, which was adopted:

" Article VIII — At the regular meeting of the Society in December
of each year, three standing committees of five members each shall be ap-
pointed, viz. : a committee on literature and art, an entertainment committee,
an auditing committee, a historian and a chaplain."

President Hoyt appointed the following commitlecs to serve for the en-
suing year, they to select their own chairman, regardless of the order in
which they are named: Literature and art: R. C. Penfield, Chas. H. Nie-
haus, George D. M. Peixotto, William S. Hawk, James G, Newcomb: en-
tertainment: Oscar B. Thomas, A. W. Gillmore, Men-Ill Watson, Warren
Higley, David Homer Bates, Jr.; library: Winchester Fitch, J. Sherlock

393

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Davis, Mahloii Chance, P. Tecumseh Sherman, Orrel A. Parker; auditing:
Louis D. Clarke, Charles L. Paar, Warner Ells, E. H. Childs.

President Hoyt announced that he had previously appointed James H.
Kennedy as first official historian of the Society, and Bishop William A.
Leonard, of the Northern (Episcopal) diocese of Ohio, the first official chap-
lain. The historian was directed to have the speeches delivered at the next
annual banquet stenographically reported, that they might be preserved in
permanent and accurate form.

Mr. Ewing called the attention of the Society to the fact that at Chilli-
cothe in the succeeding May there would be held an elaborate celebration
of the admission of the state of Ohio one hundred years ago, and he moved
that a committee be appointed by the chair to look after the matter, so that
the Ohio Society of New York might be properly represented. Mr. Ewing
suggested that Mr. Southard be made chairman of this committee. The
motion was carried and the chair said that he would appoint the committee
later.

At the gathering of January 12, 1903, the following resolutions in
honor of the memory of Gen. Wager Swayne, one of the former presidents,
were read by Judge Higley, in the absence of General Burnett, chairman of
the memorial committee:

" Whereas, General Wager Swayne, who has been an active member of
this Society from its organization, its second honored president for three
years, and foremost in every good word and work looking to the happiness
and bettennent of his fellow members and the peace and prosperity of the
Society which he so much loved, after a lingering Illness which he passed
through with remarkable Christian fortitude and resignation, departed this
life on the 18th day of December, 1902, to the Inexpressible sorrow of all
those who had for long years admired and loved him for his noble qualities
of mind and heart,

" Therefore, be it resolved by the Ohio Society of New York, that In
the death of G^n. Wager Swayne, this Society has sustained a great and
Irreparable loss. That by his death his beloved state of Ohio, this city of
his adoption and the whole nation have lost a most distinguished and loyal
citizen, who was ever faithful and active In promoting civic reform, and
improving the condition of his fellowmen.

" That his devotion to his church and the exemplification of her teaching
In his life, were unfailing at all times, yet wholly unostentatious and simple,
while they gave unmistakable evidence of his perennial hope and abiding
faith.

" That General Swayne's high ideals of honor. Christian charity and
personal purity, his devotion to his duty, his kind, generous, loving, helpful

394

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

nature, won for him the respect and affectionate regard of all who kneAv him.
" His love for his country, his enthusiastic patriotism, was a most prom-
inent attribute of his splendid manhood, and obedient to its call, he bravely
fought for the honor of the flag on many a bloody battlefield and fairly
won the laurels that justly belong to the brave soldier and chivalrous leader
of men. When the Avar was over and the victory won, and this brave and
crippled soldier retired to private hfe and the duties of his profession, his
devotion to humanity, to his country and to his God, continued with in-
creasing measure to the end.

" Resolved, That these resolutions be recorded in the minutes of the
Society, and an engrossed copy of the same be sent to Mrs. Swayne.

" Heney L. Burnett,
" Warren Higi^ey,
" M. I. Southard,
" H. B. Brundrett,
" Andrew J. C. Foye, Committee."

These resolutions were unanimously adopted and engrossed and sent
to the family of General Swayne, President Hoyt announced the death
of Gen. Samuel Thomas, a member of the Society, and the following
were appointed to prepare resolutions in honor of his memory : Messrs.
L. D. iM'orrison, Emerson jMcINIillin, James H. Kennedy and David Homer
Bates.

Mr. Kennedy, the historian, suggested that a brief and comprehensive
history of the Society be prepared and printed some time in the next year
or two, in a modest but artistic manner, and that future historians add a
monograph each year of succeeding proceedings. Mr. Watson moved that
the committee on library cooperate with the historian and report a definite
plan of action at the next meeting. The motion was carried.

395

CHAPTER XVIII
1903

IT detracts in no degree from the successful character of the historic
value of the sixteen previous banquets of the Ohio Society of New York,
to say that the one given at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, on the
evening of January 17, 1903, was the largest and perhaps the most im-
portant of any in a long series of notable events.

It was given to the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State for the United
States, an honorary member of the Society, and for some years an honored
and beloved son of Ohio by adoption. This eminent statesman, diplomat,
poet, and man of letters was present and spoke, and the occasion was also
made memorable by the presence, as guests of the Society, of the Ambassa-
dors from Russia, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Austro-Hungary ; of the
Charge d' Affaires of the French Embassy; and the Charge d' Affaires of
the German Embassy — the two distinguished gentlemen last named repre-
senting their nations in the absence from the United States of the Ambassa-
dors from France and German3\ The official titles of the distinguished
diplomatic guests were as follows:

Comte Cassini, Russian Ambassador, and Acting Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps.

Senor de Azpiroz, Mexican Ambassador.

Signor Edmondo Mayor des Planches, Italian Ambassador.

Sir Michael H. Herbert, British Ambassador.

Mr. Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar, Austro-Hungarian Am-
bassador.

Mr. Pierre de Margerie, Charge d' Affaires of French Embassy.

Count A. von Quadt Wykradt Isny, Charge d' Affaires of the German
Embassy.

There were also present, as other distinguished guests and orators of
the evening, the Hon. Marcus A. Hanna, Senator from Ohio; the Hon.
Chauncey M. Depew, Senator from New York; and the Hon. James H. Hoyt,
of Cleveland. The names of those invited to seats at the right and left
of Colgate Hoj't, president of the Ohio Society of New York, and toastmaster
of the evening, were as follows:

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

PRESIDENTS TABLE

Mr. Butler Duncan, President St. Andrew's Society

General Henry L. Burnett, of New Yorii

Hon. Francis B. Loomis, of Ohio.

Mr. J. P. Morgan, of New York

Bishop William A. Leonard, of Ohio, and Chaplain of the Society

Mr. Samuel Mather, of Cleveland

Hon. James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland

Governor George K. Nash, Governor of Ohio

Dr. David J. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State

Mr. Pierre de Margerie, Charge d'Affaires of French Embassy

Hon. M. A. Hanna, U. S. Senator, Ohio

Sir Michael H. Herbert, British Ambassador

Senor de Azpiroz, Mexican Ambassador

Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State

Mr. Colgate Hoyt, President

Comte Cassini, Russian Ambassador, and Acting Dean of Diplomatic Corps

Signor Edmondo Mayor des Planches, Italian Ambassador

Mr. Ladislaus HengelmuUer von Hengervar, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador

Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, U. S. Senator, New York

Count A. von Quadt-Wykradt-Isny, Charge d'AfFaii-es of German Embassy

Hon. Andrew Carnegie, of New York

Mr. J. D. Rockefeller, of Ohio

Hon. Seth Low, Mayor of New York

Hon. Whitelaw Reid, of New York

Mr. Edmund C. Stedman, President of the New England Society

General William H. Seward, of New York

Mr. Allan C. Blakewell, Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Society

Mr. George D. Stewart, Vice-President of the Canadian Society

Mr. Augustus Thomas, President of the Missouri Society

The Diplomatic Dinner was not only a great success in this wider mean-
ing of the word, but in point of attendance it was the largest of any of
the annual dinners given. Tickets for members and their friends were sold
to the number of 537, and the total number of those who sat down in the
banquet hall of the Waldorf-Astoria was 567 ; exclusive of the 350 ladies who
at a later hour of the evening graced the occasion by their presence in the
boxes.

The first steps taken in preparation for the event assumed the form of
a suggestion made by President Hoyt, in the stated meeting for October,
1902, that the time had come for the appointment of a special committee to
take charge of this event. Authority was conferred upon the president by
vote to name a banquet committee, and at the meeting of November Mr. Hoyt
obeyed these instructions by announcing that the gentlemen named below
had been selected to serve in that capacity:

Milton I. Southard, chainnan ; Whitelaw Reid, Warren Higley, David
H. Bates, Leander H. Crall, John D. Archbold, Louis D. Clarke, Samuel
INIather, Thomas H. Wheeler, L. C. Weir, Albert F. Hagar, Lowell M.
Palmer, Mahlon Chance, George E. Armstrong, PI. S. Julier, Emory A.
Stedman, Samuel H. Parsons, treas. ; Henr}' L. Burnett, Colgate Hoyt,
Andrew J. C. Foye, John J. McCook, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Anson G. Mc-

397

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Cook, Paul D. Cravath, William S. Hawk, Evarts L. Prentiss, George W.
Perkins, Francis B. Stedman, Julius E. French, Jay O. Moss, Henry D.
LjTnan, E. B. Thomas, James H. Kennedy, Francis M. Applegate, secretary.

The reception and other committees, appointed at a later date, were
constituted as follows:

Hon. Whitelaw Reid, chairman; Samuel Mather, Warren Higley, Fla-
men B. Candler, John T. Granger, P. S. Jennings, J. Sherlock Davis, S.
Frederick Taylor, Orrel A. Parker, Warner Ells, H. H. Brockway, P.
Tecumseh Sherman, Willard Abbott, Francis X. Butler, Charles D. Hilles,
J. M. Chandler, C. B. Brown, Andrew Ernest Foye, secretary ; H. B. Brund-
rett, A. D. Juilliard, E. C. Bodman, Cass Gilbert, L. D. Morrison, Patrick
Ryan, Charles A. Clegg, E. J. Wheeler, Addison W. Gilmore, N. C. RafF,
Winchester Fitch, Men-ill Watson, William H. Caldwell, L. C. Ruch, E. H.
Childs, J. J. Crawford.

A sub-committee to look after the lady guests in the galleries: Andrew
Ernest Foye, chairman; Warner Ells, Francis X. Butler, Charles D. Hilles,
Addison W. Gilmore, L. C. Ruch.

Committee to act as special escorts of the ambassadors :

John Hay, Colgate Hoyt.

Comte Cassini, Whitelaw Reid.

Senor de Aspiroz, Warren Higley.

Signor des Planches, Thomas Ewing, Jr.

Sir Michael H. Herbert, Henry L. Burnett.

M. von Hengervar, Milton I. Southard.

M. de Margerie, A. D. Juilliard,

Count von Quadt Isny, P. Tecumseh Sherman.

An attempt had been made upon several previous occasions to secure the
attendance of Secretary Hay as the guest of the Society, but other engage-
ments had prevented his acceptance. When President Hoyt received instruc-
tions and authority from the Society to proceed with the arrangements for
the banquet of 1903, he immediately proceeded to Wasliington and called
upon the distinguished head of tlie State Department. His mission upon this
occasion was a success. But the acceptance was coupled with the condition
that he must not be expected to speak ; a hard condition, indeed, that was
eventually removed. With this acceptance, IMr. Ho3't and his loyal associates
of the committee proceeded upon their equally difficult task of securing
the attendance of the ambassadors of the great nations represented in Wash-
ington.

The first call was made upon Herr von HoUeben, ambassador from Ger-
many, and dean of the diplomatic corps, who was found to be most cordial,

398

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and entered heartily into the plans, largely out of his admiration and affec-
tion for Secretary Hay. By personal calls upon each ambassador before the
formal invitations were sent, assurances were received of their universal ac-
ceptance. As the representative of Austro-Hungary had not yet been made
an ambassador, no invitation was sent to him until he had been received and
accredited by our government. The absence from the country of the ambassa-
dors of France and Germany at the time of the banquet, led to invitations
being: extended to the charge d'affaires of each of these nations. It was
afterwards found that the ladies of the diplomatic corps would be glad to
come over, and they were invited, and accepted, with the exception of the wife
of Baron Hengelmuller, the ambassador from Austro-Hungary, who was
prevented by indisposition. A box in the gallery of the Waldorf was set
apart for their use.

President Hoyt went to Wasliington a number of times and performed no
end of labor before the thousand and one details of an affair of this importance
could be arranged. When the day set for the banquet arrived, it found him
in Washington with his private car for the transportation of the guests to
New York. He was met there by Whitelaw Reid, chairman of the reception
committee, who, with Mrs. Reid, was the guest of President Roosevelt at the
White House,

In addition to Mr. Hoj't's car, a Pullman chair car was chartered, in
order to give ample accommodations to the party, and, through the courtesy
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a combination baggage car was pro-
vided for the serv^ants and baggage, and the train was run as a special all the
way from Washington to New York. The departure was made at 10 a. m.,
and this city was reached at 3:15 p. m.. The guests were met by the special
committee and escorted to the IManhattan Hotel, where, through the generous
courtesy of tlie proprietor, William S. Hawk, a member of the Ohio Society,
they were entertained free of charge.

It may be said here that the chairman of the reception committee, Mr.
Reid, did not content himself with most admirably fulfilling the duties of that
position, but on Sunday following the banquet entertained the guests from
Washington with a luncheon at his city home. They then returned to Wash-
ington in Mr. Hoyt's car, and their expressions of pleasure at all that had be-
fallen them were the crowning features of a most happy event.

When the members and their guests began to arrive, they found gentle-
men of the banquet committee and of the reception committee on hand to make
them welcome. The badges worn by those first named consisted of a buckeye
with ribbons of red, green and gold. Those of the other committee consisted
of a buckeye, and colors of white, green and gold. As this was a dinner to
diplomats, the buckeyes that served with such honorable distinction were

399

^ OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

secured from a tree grown upon the farm at Mansfield; Ohio, of Hon. John
Sherman, once secretary of state for the United States.

Each gentlemen present received a handsome souvenir which he will
cherish and hand down to his descendants as a precious heirloom. It was a
plate in colors manufactured in Ohio especially for this occasion, from Ohio
materials, by the hands of Ohio artists and workmen. It came from the fac-
tory of the Knowles, Taylor & Knowles Company, of East Liverpool, Ohio.
On one side was a portrait of Hon. John Hay, with buckeyes around the bor-
der. On the reverse was this inscription:

The Seventeenth Annuai. Banquet

OF THE

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

AT THE

Waldorf-Astobia
New York

IN HONOR OF

Hon. JOHN HAY

Secretary of State of the United States
January 17, 1903

The progi-amme which each found at his plate was a neat and artistic
piece of work, prepared by Thomas A. Sindelar, an Ohio man in New York.
It consisted of heavy cardboard, ten by tAvelve inches in size, the leaves of
which were held together by a white silk ribbon. On the front was the
United States coat-of-arms in red, white, blue, gold and green. The frontis-
piece was a fine portrait of Colonel Hay, and opposite this was an engraved
order of toasts. Then followed the names of the banquet committee and the
menu, while on the final outside page was the seal of the Ohio Society of
New York.

Across the farther end of the banquet hall was a dais for the toastmaster
and the guests. The room was filled with round tables, and all were decorated
with flowers. The Star Spangled Banner was in evidence. A solid wall
composed of national flags was behind the chair of the president. Immediately
back of Secretary Hay hung his portrait framed in American flags. The
shields of Ohio and New York were displayed to the right and left, also sur-
rounded by flags, as were also the national insignia of those great countries
whose representatives were among the guests of the evening.

400

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

While the Society members and their guests were enjoying the more
material portions of this buckeye feast, the ladies who had accompanied the
guests from Washington were entertained at dinner at the Manhattan Hotel.
At 8 :45 they Avcre called for by members of the special sub-committee of the
reception committee, named heretofore, and escorted to the Waldorf-Astoria,
and shown into the boxes reserved for their use.

Immediately preceding the speechmaking, the ladies, who had come also
as guests of the members, took their seats in the boxes, each seat and each box
being numbered, coupon tickets for the same having been issued in advance.
It was a brilliant scene that confronted the toastmaster when he arose. The
floor of the banquet hall was filled with expectant men. Tlie two spacious gal-
leries were filled with hundreds of beautiful women, adorned with brilliant cos-
tumes and flowers and gems. A string orchestra in the upper gallery had fur-
nished delightful music all through the feast.

When the hour for dinner arrived tlie members and their guests entered
the banquet hall, and each finding his place, stood until the president and the
distinguished guests at his table had entered and taken their places. The
Right Rev. William A. Leonard, bishop of Ohio, the first chaplain of the Ohio
Society of New York, said grace, and all were seated.

When the material feast was concluded President Hoyt arose and opened
the intellectual portion by a few words of introduction, as follows :

Mr. Hoyt said : " Ladies and Gentlemen, our Honored Guests, and Fellow
Members of the Ohio Society of New York : In the name of the Society I bid
3^ou a most cordial welcome to this, its seventeenth annual banquet. In speak-
ing of the ladies, I am reminded of what a toastmaster said presiding at one of
the banquets I attended this winter. In looking up at the ladies in the gal-
leries he spoke of them as being in heaven. With that sentiment I most de-
cidedly disagree, for two reasons : First, if the ladies are up in heaven the infer-
ence is quite strong that we men down below here must be in the other place.
And second, while we are all free to acknowledge that the ladies are always
nearer heaven than we men, we most sincerely hope that none of them will
reach the Celestial City until we men may have the opportunity of accompany-
ing them also. (Laughter and applause.)

" The Ohio Societj^ of New York was the first state organization formed
in this city, and it is by far the strongest, and the year just closed marks the
most successful year in its history. During the past year twice as many mem-
bers have been added to its rolls as in any previous year; more than fifty per
cent, has been added to its cash assets, and to-night it greets you without a
dollar of debt and more than ten thousand dollars in its treasury.

" Death has taken from us during the past j^ear six, one of them the

401

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

second president of this Society, General Wager Swayne, whom we all miss so
much and loved so well.

" We Ohio men believe in spelling Nation with a capital N, but we also
believe in spelling Ohio with a very large O. We are proud of our native state,
and well we may be, for all she has accomplished in the past; for what she is
accomplishing in the present, and for what she will accomplish in the future.
We most decidedly believe in these state organizations. We believe in the love
of country, but we beUeve in the love of home equally, and these state organiza-
tions help to keep alive and to foster in our hearts the good that our mothers
and fathers and early associates taught us in the homes of our childhood. As
another has well said, ' Give me the first seven years of the education of a boy
and the molding of his character and I care little who has him thereafter.'
There is nothing truer than the fact that whatever honor Ohio men have
brought to their country, that whatever creditable service they have been en-
abled to render to this, their adopted city, has been due in no small measure to
the training and early influences of those dear to us in our Ohio homes. (Ap-
plause. )

" As I said before, therefore, we heartily believe in these state organiza-
tions in this great city, and while we congratulate ourselves on what this Society
has done and is doing, we should by no means be satisfied with the present.
It is estimated that there are over fifteen thousand Ohioans in the city of New
York, and instead of resting on our laurels with a membership of five hundred,
we ought not to be satisfied until at least the better portion of these fifteen
thousand are on our rolls. We love our country and our flag and we love this
our adopted city, but may God grant we may never love less the homes of our
childhood and the associations for good clustering about them.

" The world knows that the Ohio men are a most modest body of men, but
notwithstanding our great modesty we cannot help being very proud of this
magnificent gathering to-night. We are doubly proud of the honored guests
that grace our presence this evening, and we defy any other society to gather
together in this or any other banquet hall such an array of distinguished men
as are here to-night. (Applause.) I have a telegram of regret from Gov-
ernor Nash stating that official business at the last moment detained him so
that it was impossible for him to be present and wishing me in his name to ex-
tend his warm wishes to all the Buckeye friends gathered here to-night. I also
received this afternoon a note of regret from Mr. Carnegie stating that he was
exceedingly anxious to be here to-night, but at the last moment his physician
would not allow him to come; and Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Sr., only two
hours ago had to send a telegram declining to be here to-night. There is one
other, Mr. Augustus Thomas, that some of you heard from a year ago, the
president of the Missouri Society, who, unfortunately, is confined to his house

402

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

with grip and therefore cannot be here. With these exceptions all our invited
guests are with us, and I am happy to say, and it is a inile of the Ohio Society,
that we have no blanks among the speakers. (Applause.)

" The first toast of the evening is ' The President of the United States.'
(Great applause. Band played the ' Star Spangled Banner.') You will please
fill 3'our glasses, and all, while standing, drink now to the health of our Presi-
dent." (AH stand and drink to the health of the President. Band plays
" My Country 'Tis of Thee.")

" No body of men know how to do honor to the President better than do
tlie men from Ohio, for have we not given this country six presidents in the
past, and the Lord and Senator Hanna only know how many more we will give
in the future. (Gtreat applause and laughter.) The gentlemen who will re-
spond to this toast is the first member of the President's cabinet, the secretary
of state, and, by the way, he is also an honorary member of this Society. We
know the modesty of this great man, and when first securing him as our special
guest of the evening, I had to promise that he should not be called upon to
make any speech ; but with many years of exceptionally useful service behind
him, and never having been known to flinch from a duty thi*ust upon him, he
aftenvards consented to respond to this toast, and it is with delight and gTeat
satisfaction, fellow members of this Society, that I now have the honor to
present to you the Honorable John Hay, the secretary of state, who will re-
spond to the toast, ' The president of the United States.' " (Tremendous
applause. )

After the applause ceased, Colonel Hay said : " Ladies, Your Excellen-
cies, Fellow Citizens : A very eminent American and one of the wittiest of men
leaped some time ago into quite unmerited fame by saying, ' Some men are bom
great ; others are bom in Ohio.' (Laughter.) This is mere tautology, because
a man who is bom in Ohio is bom great. I can say that, as the rest of you can-
not, without any imputation of egotism, for I have labored all my life under
the serious handicap of not ha^'ing been bom in this fortunate state. Indeed,
when I look back on the shifting scenes of my life, although I am not that alto-
gether deplorable creature a man without a country, yet from the point of view
of pull and prestige I am almost equally bereft, for I am a man without a state.
I was bom in Indiana. I grew up in Illinois. I was educated in Rhode Island,
and it is not the fault of that scholarly community that I know so little. I
learned my law in Springfield and my politics in Washington and my drplo-
macy at the hands — always friendly, but not too indulgent — of these masters
of the art whom we have with us to-night. (Applause.) I have a farm in
New Hampshire and desk room in the District of Columbia.

" When I look at the sources from which my blood descends, the first
ancestors of whom I ever heard were a Scotchman who was half English and

403

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a German woman who was half French. (Laughter.) Of my immediate pro-
genitors my mother was from New England and my father from the South.
Now in all this bewilderment of origin and experience I can only put on an
aspect of deep humility in any gathering of favorite sons and confess that I
am only an American. (Applause and cries of ' Good.') But after all, the
place where a man happened to be born is no justification of personal boasting.
I never knew a man who chose his own birthplace, but the man is indeed fortu-
nate who chooses the right place to be married in. This Mr. Hoyt and I did,
and I have no doubt it is owing to this lucky chance — for lucky chances are
gregarious, they like to flock together — that he and I enjoy to-night the great-
est honor of both our lives — that he is your president and that I am your
guest. But that you may not regard me as altogether destitute of respectable
antecedents I did live for some years in Ohio, and was very happy there, and
when in obedience to what seemed an imperative duty, I went to Washington,
some twenty years ago, I might have been pardoned for not recognizing the
fact that I had left Ohio, for every department of the national power and
activity was then in the hands of a citizen of that imperial state. The President
was an Ohio man, equally distinguished in character and achievement. The
finances were in the strong and capable hands of John Sherman. The army
gladly obeyed the orders of Tecumseh Sherman, with Phil Sheridan as second
in command, while at the head of that august body, the Supreme Court, sat
Chief Justice Waite. The executive, the purse, the sword and the scales of
justice, all in the hands of functionaries from the state which knows naturally
how to breed men who make war and make money and make laws, and as I
ought before I sit down to make some reference at least to the subject of the
toast to which I am supposed to be responding, where is there a more glorious
roll call of names than in the Presidents from Ohio ? The two Hamsons — old
and young ' Tippecanoe ' ; Girant, one of those simple great men for whom
history has so sure a partiality ; Hayes, the ideal Republican citizen ; and those
two twins in fate and fame, so alike in destiny and so different in methods and
in temperament — Garfield and McKinley. (Great applause.) All of them
Ohio men by birth or adoption, all of them equally illustrious in peace and in
war — soldiers and citizens without reproach.

" But I imagine that the especial subject of the toast assigned to me this
evening is that of our actual President, the young, gallant, able, brilliant
President Roosevelt. (Great applause.) I am glad to be able to say a word
about him in his absence which few men would be hardy enough to say to his
face, for like all men of high courage and manliness, he is not hospitable to
flattery. In the long roll of our Presidents, all of them men of mark (looking
at Senator Hanna; great applause and laughter), I see you have come sponta-
neously to the conclusion that long and great as the list of our Presidents is, it

404

Hon. John Hay

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

is still open to indefinite expansion. They are all men of lofty character and
lofty ideals, not a name among them smirched by the slightest stain of corrup-
tion or A\Tongdoing, all of them showing to the world clean hands and high
aims. President Roosevelt holds and will always hold a distinguished place.
The most famous of German poets has said that talent is formed in the soH-
tudes, character in the torrent of the world. Our President has had the advan-
tage of both these environments. From the cloistered life of an American col-
lege boy, sheltered from the ruder currents of the world by the ramparts of
wealth and of gentle nurture, he passed still very young into the wide expanse
of the hills and plains. In that environment a man grows to his full stature if
the original stuff is good. He came back to the East bringing with him, as
Tennyson sang, ' The wrestling thews that throw the world.' From that time
his career has been onward and upward, for that is the law of his being. He
does not disdain the garland of fame, but his greatest enjoyment is in grasping
the tools that fit his hand. His ideal of public work is that set forth by the
greatest teacher and ruler that ever lived — ' Whosoever will be chief among you
let him be your servant.' It is no distinction to an American President to be
honest, nor to be brave, nor to be intelligent, nor to be patriotic — they have all
been all of these; all these attributes are postulates of the position; but the
country is indeed to be congratulated when all of these high qualities are
heightened and tinged by that ineffable light which for want of a more descrip-
tive term we call genius. It is this which makes honesty a scorching flame to
fraud and corruption, which makes courage and inspiration in battle or in
council, which raises intelligence to the lightning flash of intuition and patriot-
ism to a religious fervor of consecration, and it is this which makes Theodore
Roosevelt the man and the President he is. (Applause.)

" And finally I, whose memories are of a generation of which few survivors
remain, feel like congratulating you, who are young, in the words of the dying
Voltaire on the eve of the splendors and the marvels of the French revolution,
which he was not to witness : ' You young men are fortunate, you will see fine
things.'

" In the six years that remain of President Roosevelt's term — if my arith-
metic is faulty it is subject to correction — you will see what a stout heart and
active mind, a vital intelligence, that wide experience of the world, a passion for
truth and justice, and a devoted patriotism can accomplish at the head of a
nation Avhich unites the strength of a mighty youth to the political sense which
is the priceless inheritance of centuries of free government. (Great applause.)

" I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this kind reception. I
thank our distinguished guests for the honor they have done us in being with
us to-night, and I will delay you no longer from the real enjo^^ments of the
evening." (Tremendous applause.)

405

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Hoyt then said : " We are favored in having gathered around our
board to-night the representatives of seven great nations, and I propose now
that you all fill your glasses and rise again and drink to the health of their aug-
ust and imperial sovereigns and their two presidents."

(All rise and drink to this toast.)

"We welcome most cordially to-night the ambassador from Russia (ap-
plause), representing his imperial majesty the Czar of all the Russians. We
welcome also the ambassador from the Republic of Mexico (applause), that
friendly republic on. our southwest border. We welcome also the ambassador
from Italy (applause), representing his majesty the King of Italy (applause),
and we welcome the ambassador from Great Britain (applause and cheers),
representing his majesty the King of Great Britain and Emperor of all the
Indies. (Applause.) We are also most glad to welcome the charge d'affaires
of the French embassy (great applause), representing the great French Re-
public (applause), and only regret that his chief, the ambassador, could not
be with us to-night, owing to the fact that he has not yet reached our friendly
shores. We welcome also the charge d'affaires of the German embassy, and
we had hoped until the last moment that his excellency the ambassador of Ger-
many might be with us, and we deeply regret that, owing to illness, he is pre-
vented from being with us to-night.

" The next and second toast on our proramme, members of the "

(Senator Depew calls Mr. Hoyt's attention to the fact that he has omitted to
welcome the ambassador from Austro-Hungary. ) " I beg ten thousand par-
dons. I don't know why it is, but unfortunately I am blind in my left eye, and
I have been from my youth up, and I owe ten thousand apologies for not wel-
coming most cordially the ambassador from Austro-Hungary (tremendous ap-
plause and cheers), representing his imperial majesty the Emperor of Austro-
Hungary. (Great applause.)

" The second toast on our programme is ' The Sovereigns and Chiefs of
State Represented by Our Distinguished Guests.' This will be responded to by
his excellency the ambassador from Russia, and whom I can assure from the
members of this Society and all the guests present will receive a warm and most
cordial welcome in whatever language he may see fit to address us. Members
of the Ohio Society of New York and our guests, it is my honor now to intro-
duce to you his excellency Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador, who will
now respond to his toast."

Count Cassini said : " In the absence of the dean of the diplomatic corps,
Herr von Holleben, there devolves upon me, by right of seniority, the duty and
the pleasure of responding to the toast which you are here to propose to the
health of the august soverigns and the chiefs of state represented at this hos-
pitable table.

406

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" The eagerness with which my colleagues and I have come to this banquet
in honor of Secretary' of State Hay evidences better than all that I might be
able to say the high esteem in which we hold the eminent statesman who directs
with an enlightened patriotism, tact, and a remarkable ability, and with that
exquisite courtesy which never offends, the diplomatic relations between this
grand country and the powers of the entire world. In thanking you for your
gracious invitation which permits us to pass these channing hours with you and
to render sympathetic homage and esteem to one of the most distinguished of
3'our fellow citizens, I ask j'ou, gentlemen, in the name of my colleagues and on
my own behalf, to rise and drain our cups to the health and the prosperity of
the secretary of state, the Hon. John Hay." (Great applause.)

(All rise and drink to the health of Secretary Hay.)

Toastmaster Hoyt then said : " The next toast of the evening is ' The Sec-
retary of State.' Thirty-eight men have filled that high office, from Thomas
Jefferson, the first, down to the gentleman who sits at my right this evening,
and three of those thirty-eight men have come from the state of Ohio (laugh-
ter), and I am sure that I but voice the sentiment of every gentleman here to-
night when I say that of all the thirty-eight men who have filled this great
office none have filled it with more honor or with greater ability than the
Honorable John Hay (tremendous applause and cheers), who, though bom in
Indiana, spent several years in Ohio, and like many other wise men found his
better half in that state. The gentleman who is to respond to this toast is
known to quite a number of you. INIore than a quarter of a century ago, when
living in Cleveland, one summer's night, I drove out to a town hall in one of the
suburbs of that city to hear two young men make each a political speech. Those
two young men were the present secretary of state and the gentleman who is to
respond to this toast, and ever since that night, more than twenty-five years
ago, he has made many speeches, and is still making them. Further remark
from me being entirely unnecessary, I take great pleasure in introducing to you
now the Hon. James H. Hoyt, of Ohio, who will respond to the toast, ' The
Secretary of State.'" (Applause.)

Mr. Hoyt said : " Mr. Toastmaster, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentle-
men, and Fellow Members of the Ohio Society : Your worthy, though somewhat
automobilistic, toastmaster has failed to disclose in his opening remarks one-
peculiar distinction enjoyed by this Society. Owing to my propinquity to him
— and the definition of that word is broad enough to* indicate that I am his
brother (laughter), of course it goes without saying it is apparent that I am
his vounger brother and also that I am within easy throwing distance of him,
and under these circumstances it might be more cautious, if not more prudent,
for me to follow his example and to remain silent on a subject of considerable
delicacy; but, ladles and gentlemen, how can I do this.^ How can I forbear.''

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

My pulses are swelled by a feeling of family pride akin to that which mantled
the brow and flushed the cheek of the small boy who effectually silenced the
vauntings of a playmate who was boasting that his father had lately been
elected to Congress. ' Pooh, that's nothing ; my dad is out on bail.' So at the
risk of being presumptuous let me tell you for a moment what your president,
but my brother, has done for you. This is the only Society that I know any-
thing about the chief executive officer of which is possessed of an inappropriate
cream-colored devil of a machine by which he is transported from his country
place to his office, a distance of something like thirty-five miles, if I am cor-
rectly informed, in less than an hour, while the speed of the machine at no time
exceeds the legal limit of twenty miles. (Great laughter and applause.) The
fact that the Long Island magistrate found to the contrary is a mere incident ;
it is evidence rather of the slowness of his mental processes than an evidence of
the speed of the machine.

" I was very greatly encouraged and reassured at learning from the toast-
master to-night how large a cash balance you have in the bank, because feeling
sure of your generosity, as I am of that of all Ohioans, I know that you will
spend it all rather than to permit your president and my brother to languish
in the ill-ventilated and vermin-infested jails of Long Island. (Great laughter
and applause.)

" A close searcher after truth has lately remarked that the Scriptural
reference to the roaring lion going up and down the earth seeking whom he
may devour is not mere hyperbole or persiflage more or less airy ; it is in fact a
truth — downright prophec}', and that prophecy has been fulfilled and the eter-
nal verity of the Scriptures triumphantly vindicated by the definition of your
president's graceless automobile.

" Now, it is proper, and for two reasons, ladies and gentlemen, that the
Ohio Society should pay our secretary of state the striking compliment of this
dinner — I say our secretary because the members of the Society are all patriotic
Americans, and by reason of his glorious achievements. Secretary John Hay has
become ours in a very real sense. Neither his family, his close friends, nor he
himself even, can lay claim to any monopoly of his fame. What he has done
he has done not only for his country, but for mankind, and because he is an
American all of us Americans pai-take somewhat of his shining and imperishable
renown. We are all illumined by the lustre of it.

" I have said that this testimonial in his honor is proper for two reasons.
In the first place it is fitting we should pay him unique honor, and in returning
to him our heartfelt thanks for what he has accomplished, as I have said, not
only for the republic, but for mankind, I am sure I voice the sentiments of all
of you when I say we are simpl}^ giving to the secretary what is justly his
due and no more. We are but obeying the divine injunction to ' Render unto

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Ca'sar the things that are Ca;sar's,' for the enthusiastic commendation not only
of his own countrymen, but all good people the world over, is his by right, by
the highest and most dominant right, by the right of glorious and successful
achievements. He has compelled our praise; he does not ask for it. (Applause.)

" But again, secondly, if it had not been for Ohio the secretary of state
could not have accomplished what he has accomplished. I will prove that if you
will bear with me for a moment. When Mr. Hayes made him his first assistant
secretary of state, and another and lamented one made him secretary, as has
been said by the toastmaster, he found his wife in Ohio, and I am sure even on so
public an occasion as this I may be pardoned for respectfully and reverently
noting how inspiring and constant assistance has been rendered to her distin-
guished husband by that daughter of the Buckeye state. (Applause.) I have
got to contradict the secretary for a moment. He said that a man was wise
who chose his wife in Ohio — and that is true ; but he obj ected on the occasion of
my wedding to my choosing a wife at all, because I remember when he came
up to shake hands with me he said, ' Why are you getting married .'* You have
no right to do it. Marriage is a right of Hymen, and you are a short man.'
(Applause.)

" We citizens of Ohio, especially those of the northern part of the state,
are responsible in no small measure for furnishing the secretary with an essential
preparation for his momentous work. It was while he lived amongst us, on the
borders of the great lakes and on the bank of the crooked river, that he acquired
his skill in negotiations from several astute Cleveland gentlemen, whom I see
present here, and that he learned the invaluable lessons in tact and diplomacy
from the then Mister, but now Senator, Hanna, and that he caught the inspira-
tion of a graceful and enduring modesty from one who shall be nameless.
(Laughter and applause.)

" It has been sometimes said, and quite generally believed, I fear, that
the term ' American Diplomacy ' is a misnomer. In our relations with other
nations we are said to be rather blunt than tactful; aggi-essively aggressive
sometimes instead of persuasive; and candid often instead of diplomatic. A
story which I have lately heard, and which perhaps you have not heard at all :
Some little time ago a dinner was given, a diplomatic dinner, in Europe, at
which the representatives of all the great powers were present. The ambassa-
dor from Great Britain was lamenting to the ambassador from France that on
the occasion of his last visit to Paris he had failed to purchase some very rare
and beautiful pieces of tapestry that were offered for sale at a marvelously
small price, and had thus lost an opportunity to acquire these valuable objects
of art for a comparatively small outlay. The commercial side of the transac-
tion appealed to the American minister. It awakened his interest and erected
his ears, as the Greeks used to say, so he leaned over and said : * Excellency, no

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use crying over spilled milk ; we have aU lost lots of chances to make bargains
in our lifetime. After the Chicago fire I could have bought the whole windy
city for a pair of rubber boots.' ' And why didn't you make the purchase .? '
suavely asked the French ambassador. ' Why did I not make the purchase,'
said the American diplomat. ' Hell, I didn't have the boots.'

" No such criticism, my friends, can be made of American diplomacy while
Col. John Hay stands forth as the chief exponent of it. He not only dis-
charges the duties of his high office, but he adorns them. (Applause.) I am
sure that I can say without wounding the sensibilities of any of our guests
here that our seci'etary of state, the poet, the scholar, historian, the virile but
exquisite and graceful and tasteful orator, the trained diplomat, and, above all,
the wise, discriminating, but just, statesman, is the peer of any minister for
foreign affairs now living. ( Great applause and cheers. ) It is true, of course,
that we Americans are an aggressive people and like push and dash and cour-
age and pluck, but after all there is a strong strain of conservatism in us.
Paradoxical as it may appear, it is nevertheless true that he who would lead
the sober second judgment of the American people must also follow it. The
trouble with us over here, my friends, is that we are interfered with too much.
We are lectured too much, and legislated for too much, alas ! If you search
through the three imposing volumes of Bates' Annotated Statutes of the State
of Ohio, you will find but one provision in the law which stands out preeminently
as a piece of humane and eminently beneficial legislation. Of course you know
the section to which I refer. It is that one which prescribes that the legislature
of the state shall hold biennial instead of annual sessions. How the general
assembly of Ohio were ever induced to adopt that law is a mystery to me. Oh,
if the legislatures of all the states, and if even Congress itself, after making
adequate appropriations for say ten or even fifty years, would then adjourn
sine die, we would have a period of solid prosperity in this country, my friends
(applause), compared with which the enormous strides we have made forward
in the last few years would be but as pigmy steps — and the steps of a lame
pigmy at that. I can see from the anxious look on Senator Hanna's face that
he fears that any such plan as this would prevent his re-election to the senate
of the United States. He need not be alarmed ; no successor to him could be
created. His right to hold over would be indisputable. Nobody could oust liim
— well, nobody can oust him now for that matter. What I am coming to and
may later on get to say was this, that way down in our hearts we Americans ad-
mire and love a safe man. When one of our public servants has gained our
absolute confidence in his wise discretion, he always becomes deservedly great
in our estimation. It was because of his possession of that indomitable quality
of discretion, because of his admirable poise, that the lamented McKinley will
always stand in history by the side of the calm and majestic Washington, by

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the side of the sagacious and patient Lincoln. It was because the guest of the
evening possessed that quality in large measure that the illustrious McKinley
selected him as prime minister and that the present honored President of the
United States retains him as such. While John Hay remains at the head of our
state department we Americans can sleep nights. We feel perfectly sure that
under liis administration of foreign affairs no encroachment upon the rights, no
impairment of the dignity and the majesty of the Republic, will be for a mo-
ment tolerated ; but we feel equally sure that no unwarranted and unfair claims
on the part of the Republic will ever be put forward or made. We know that
in every juncture he will hold the Stars and Stripes aloft with a firm unshaking
hand, with a courage unflinching and indomitable ; but we know also, and we
are thankful to-night, that he will never lower the dignity of that majestic em-
blem by needlessly flaunting it in the face of the world. (Applause.)

" But I must not in his presence dwell too much — and I am already tak-
ing up more time than I should — I must not in his presence dwell too much
upon the diplomatic triumphs of our secretary. If I did I might be stirred by
the glories, and the fear that I might unwittingly say something which he him-
self would wish I had not said — constrains me. I know if I wound the sensibili-
ties of any of our guests here I would most grievously wound the secretary him-
self. But this I can say, and I am justified in saying, that under his wise ad-
ministration of foreign aff'airs, while the prestige of the United States has been
greatly enhanced, the prestige of no other nation has been unduly diminished.
When he opened with diplomatic key the closed doors of China and made them
open doors, those portals were flung wide not to admit American capital and
American products alone — when they were opened they disclosed the promised
land to all the nations of the earth and all are permitted on fair and equal
terms to enter there. After the Boxer outbreak the action of the United States
under his leadership has always stood on the side of a great forbearance and a
large magnanimity. The treaty which supersedes the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
has made the isthmian canal possible without a jar of trouble or a breach of
faith. That canal will undoubtedly promote the interests of this country, but
it will also grant large opportunities to all the rest of the world.

" His services in favor of the Hague tribunal, making war less probable
and peace more possible, were made not for us alone, but unselfishly for all man-
kind. The eloquent appeal which he made on behalf of the downtrodden of
Roumania voiced not only the sentiments of his own countrymen, but the senti-
ments of the enlightened civilized world, and in the present juncture of aff^airs,
happily no longer critical, we, his countrymen, are serenely confident that the
]\Ionroe Doctrine on which the Republic for years has stood, and will forever
stand, will be maintained inviolate ; but we are also as serenely confident that
that doctrine will not be unwarrantably or unduly extended by our secretarj'^ of

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

state, as his mission first of all has been to discover the just thing, and when he
has found that he has done it courageously and unflinchingly. I have said that
his late chief, the lamented McKinley, has joined the great triumvirate of
American Presidents, for Washington and Lincoln and McKinley will always
stand together in one immortal group, and so I may well say of the guest of
the evening that when, may the day be far distant, he exchanges his bright
laurel wreath for the imperishable crown which God Himself places upon the
brows of those who have unselfishly labored for mankind, he himself will join a
great American triumvirate, a triumvirate of American secretaries of state, for
Webster and Seward and Hay will always stand together in Columbia's Temple
of Fame. The fame of our secretary, ladies and gentlemen, stands upon jus-
tice, for its broad foundation stone, and as his illustrious predecessor, Mr. Web-
ster has well said: ' Justice, sir, is the greatest interest of man on earth.'

" Now, one word more and I am done. You all know the famous state-
ment which one great Enghshman made of another. The first was famous as
an orator and an author and the other one of the foremost of Great Britain's
secretaries of state for foreign affairs. At a time when all Englishmen were
fearful, the great minister alone was undaunted. At a time when veniality was
too common he was conspicuous for his incorruptibility, and so his wise but
gentle and discriminating countryman said of him — and well said of him — •
* the secretary stood alone. Modern degeneracy did not reach him.' Such a
statement as that, my friends, can never be correctly or appropriately said of
Secretary Hay, for while it is undoubtedly true that degeneracy, whether
ancient or modern, has never reached him, and will never reach him, he does not
stand alone, for eighty million of his enthusiastic, approving and grateful
countrymen stand with him upon the place he will claim." ( Great applause. )

Mr. Colgate Hoyt then said : " I understand now why, when the gentle-
man who last spoke, in reading his speech to me a day or two ago, turned over
the first two or three pages, he said, ' That is onl};- a preamble and prelude and
introduction and I won't bother you to read that to you.' He reminds me of a
story of two Germans. One was trying to get another to sign a very important
contract, and he brought it to him and he said, * Now, mein frent, dis iss a con-
tract, und I am going to read it to you voord for voord, but der first two pages
iss the preamble und dat I will leave out, und I vill dell you vy, because I may
vant to change it.' (Laughter.) This same speaker has also stated that he
was the younger brother of your president with an emphasis on the younger.
I want to say that his figures and facts with regard to automobiling are very
far from correct ; but he has youth in his favor, and I belieA^e he will yet be
running an automobile himself. Why, only a few years ago, with several
horses in his stable, he would only drive one horse at a time, and now when he
gets on his native soil in Ohio he is not satisfied with less than four, and he has a

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relay of four at that, and I expect very soon to hear that he has got not only
the automobile fever, but is going it with two abreast.

" Tlie next toast on the programme is, ' The State of Ohio,' the state we all
love so much. The souvenir which you have received to-night, the plate with
the picture of our special guest, Mr. Secretary Hay, on it, was manufactured
by an Ohio firm. The buckeyes which the reception committee are wearing on
the lapels of their coats to-night were gathered from the front lawn, Mans-
field, Ohio, of that gi'eat statesman and once secretary of state, John Sher-
man. Why, fellow-members of this Society, the state is big enough and it is
square enough for almost any speaker, and I know of no one who can better
respond to that toast than that sturdy son of Ohio, most successful in business,
pre-eminent in politics, and while not ignoring the value of capital, is still the
staunch friend of labor, the Honorable Marcus A. Hanna ( great applause and
cheers), of Ohio, and who needs no introduction here." (Great applause.)

Senator Marcus A. Hanna then said : " Mr. Toastmaster, Your Excellen-
cies, Members of the New York Ohio Society, and Ladies : I can tell you no new
story about Ohio. The fact is, I have but very little to tell after those who have
preceded me, and yet it is fitting on this occasion to pay tribute to our state in
this the anniversary year of her centennial existence. A hundred years old !
Dear old mother, how we love you ! Bright star in the galaxy of states, we look
heavenward when we contemplate you! Sons of Ohio by birthright, men of
New York by adoption, I bring greeting to you from the boys at home and wish
you all a Happy New Year. (Applause.) We have been busy since you left
us. The grand old state has kept pace in the march of progress and to-day
we are proud of her position and influence. May I quote a few figures to show
what we have done while you have been making money in New York.'' Our
population in 1800 was 45,365 ; in 1900, 4,157,545. We have grown some, our
cities have grown and developed. In 1802 they were enumerated by Marietta,
Chillicothe and Cincinnati, with a population of 1,000 each. In 1902 seventy-
one cities over five thousand and the largest 381,000 — Cleveland, Ohio. Our
manufacturing industries employ 345,809 men, our wages $153,935,330. The
number of employees in our coal-mining interests 24,901, producing 20,321,-
290 tons, value $33,000,000. Our railroads 8,791 miles, employees 67,834,
wages paid $42,334,484 — I won't read the gross income owing to the present
condition. (Laughter.) Blessed as Ohio is by nature, with fertile soil and a
diversitv of climate, peopled by a race of men who came from all quarters of the
East, and when we remember that that emigi'ation came — started toward the
West under the inspiration of the Ordinance of 1787, when the Northwest
Territory was put upon the calendar as forever opposed to slavery in any
form, the inspiration called forth that character of men calculated to make any
country great, and it was unique that that emigration started along parallel

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

lines from the South, in the South from the Carolinas and Virginia, in the Mid-
dle from Pennsylvania and on the North from New England, going West,
keeping to the parellels and establishing zones of population, characteristic and
distinct. Those hardy pioneers hewed their way through the great forests of
Ohio, and when in after years the population became greater the lines merged
and the zones came together and the intermingling of the blood of those almost
distinct classes produced a race of men and a people whose natural result was,
as it has become, a great state and a great people. (Applause.)

" We hke to speak of our state as having for fifty years held the third
place in the Union. The reason we do not hold it now is because, appreciating
the importance of a higher civilization in the West, we sent our people west-
ward to build up states like ours. The mud was so deep in Illinois that most of
them stuck there (laughter), and therefore Illinois got the start of us. I don't
want to rob the old state of Virginia of her prerogative, known so long as the
' Mother of Presidents,' but having surrendered that prerogative and it having
drifted west, we in Ohio, undertaking to supply the demand, which became so
great that we adopted that modern method and have become the incubator of
Presidents. (Laughter.) The industry still thrives.

" I don't know how to better express my appreciation of these happy
gatherings of the sons from my native state, with their guests, than to apply
to you the well-known motto that in union there is strength. It is a characteris-
tic of Ohio men to stand together whenever important events or necessities arise
to need hearty co-operation. Although large in membership as a Society, small
in numbers with regard to the population of this great metropolitan city, but
the character of Ohio will leaven even a larger lot ; we congratulate New York
that this Society is growing and that there is such a large element from the
Buckeye state among you.

" This subject of Ohio, so often repeated and worn almost threadbare,
finds little interest to an Ohio Society only in this wonderful productiveness of
our state, combining so many elements of prosperity, so co-operative in all its
industries, so rich in soil and mineral deposits, gives us the opportunity for a
larger diversity of interest than any other state in the Union; we farm, we
mine and we manufacture, and we support our population. We are prosperous
because we are industrious, we are happy because we are peaceful. (There's
a good many Quakers among us.) We have always responded to the call of our
country in her emergencies ; we have always rallied to the support of all the
people our full quota for all such emergencies, and we believe that we have the
right to be proud of the record of the past, and I might say, my friends, that
although in this souvenir which has been presented to us our reputation is not
worldwide, because in examining that beautiful plate which will perpetuate the
honor and glory of our secretary, if you do not break it (laughter), one of my

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distinguished friends of the diplomatic corps, and I do not mention names, after
gazing in rapture upon the face and the ornaments, asked if those nuts were
chestnuts. (Laughter.) I bring that in just now because I don't want to be
styled as a chestnut, and in closing may I note tlie absence of one who has fre-
quently been your honored guest, who has been torn from us by the ruthless
hand of a dastardly assassin. Did it need that sacrifice to emphasize the char-
acter of tliat man, a type, the highest type not only of a citizen and son of
Ohio, but of America.'* Did it need that to bring, to refresh our memories, and
to typify and idealize the character that I portray.'* Did it need all this to
bring to us a realization of that type of American manhood, an example which
will stand ever before us in colors bright.'' Then, indeed, Thy will, not ours, be
done." (Great applause.)

Mr. Hoyt said : " The last toast of the evening is ' Tlie State of New
York,' the adopted state of so many of us, and what shall I say of the gentle-
man who is to respond to this toast.'' Surely I can say what another said a year
ago of the senator from Ohio. He is IT, for if ever a man in the Empire
state of New York was It, it is the Honorable Chauncey M. Depew, a man
who receives more invitations to banquets in one year than most other men in
their entire lives, a man whose kindly heart and bubbling wit cheers, and whose
graceful but forceful eloquence inspires everybody. A man who has responded
probably to more toasts tlian any otlier man in this United States and yet under
such circumstances has never disappointed an audience. It is with supreme
satisfaction, therefore, that I now have the honor of introducing to you the
senator from New York, the Honorable Chauncey M. Depew, who will respond
to this, our last toast of the evening." (Applause.)

Hon. Chauncey M. Depew said : " Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies, La-
dies and Gentlemen: I feel after what has been said by the secretary of state,
that after twenty years of indignation I am forgiven for having said that some
men are born great and some in Ohio.

" I discover that the Bucke3^e still lives and that he makes everybody paj'
tribute to his greatness. It was only after the secretary of state had made
that little slip which expressed his convictions, that I knew that he thought that
Hanna had created all the Presidents of the United States. It is an extraor-
dinary event that calls us here to-night. We are not only honoring Ohio and
the secretary of state, but all the great powers of the world are present here to
celebrate Ohio. After to-night the various distinguished diplomats will say
in writing to their august sovereigns or to their chancelleries : ' You make a
mistake in giving our credentials to Washington ; you should have sent them to
Ohio.' You have not recognized the imperium in imperio ; and then the humili-
ation of my positiom. Not only does Ohio stand here to-night the one state
which makes august Presidents, the one state that commands all the great na-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tions of which we have just become a family to be here, but they hold that cele-
bration in New York, and the hospitalities of the occasion prevent me from ex-
pressing my feelings. I was glad to hear the brother brag of the improvement
in the legislative methods of Ohio by which they escaped the dangers of having
the elect of her people made to do what the people wanted, because it was only
once in two years ; but the Ohio method of meeting that reform is that the leg-
islature invariably takes a recess until the next year and so they have a legis-
lature every year. (Laughter.)

" As a student of our country I have noticed that we develop by our en-
vironment and our education. That environment and that education is local,
for we are in our several states in their peculiarities the most provincial people.
It is not the school that educates the citizen, nor the academy, nor the univei^
sity ; it is the country store, where every night, and every Saturday night espe-
cially, public affairs are discussed. It is beyond all controversy that the best
club in the United States is the gathering under the horse-shed of the members
of the congregation of the country church between the morning and evening
services, when all questions, local, state and national, are discussed and decided.
Now, traveling around the country as I do, and stopping everywhere, I attend
these congresses which create public opinion. Outside of my own state they
have not materialized particularly yet, but I am cultivating Hanna. Ybu
will notice, as I have noticed, that in New York, wherever you may go, the dis-
cussion is, at the country store, or under the horse-shed on Sunday, about
stocks, the influences of legislation, or the foreign markets of the world, or
what-not, upon the different markets in which securities are sold and bought.
As you go West you will find in the mountain states it is mines, gold and silver
— prospects of keeping those which are good for something, of selling in New
York those that are good for nothing, and of finding others. As you get on
the slope of the Sierra, and come down toward the Pacific ocean, you will find
they everywhere say what is said they say in another place : ' Wliat we would be
if we only had water.' When you get to New Jersey you discover that the one
subject everwhere is how the state taxes are paid and the local taxes are re-
lieved by making that commonwealth the hospitable home of the trust. But
when you come to Ohio, the sole subject, whether it be in the school-house or
the kindergarten, whether it be in the academy or the university, whether it be
at the country store or the cross-road, or the church or the prayer-meeting, the
discussion is politics (laughter), practical politics, theoretical politics. It is
thus that this great state, now grown to four millions of people, has created
four millions of politicians (laughter and applause), and what chance is
there for the rest of us who are attending to the ordinary duties of taking care
of our families and supporting the country ?

" Not only have they outstripped us in securing offices by this pursuit of

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

office and the means to secure it, but now has come in for several generations
heredity, and so they breed politicians.

" Darwin advances the theory that if you mate a fantail pigeon with a
fantail pigeon and continue that thing indefinitely, there would be more fan-
tails and more fantails, until as a final result the pigeon would be nothing
but a fantail. Gentlemen, there you are.

" Just after the recent election I was hurrying along Broadway, when a
dignified and impressive gentleman stopped me and said, ' Senator, a moment.
Are you satisfied with the result.? ' ' Perfectly, perfectly.' ' But didn't the re-
markable slump in New York discourage you.? ' ' No, because we carried the
state.' ' Then, notwithstanding your disappointments here, because the coun-
try is safe, you are content.? ' ' Absolutely.' ' Would you mind, then, loaning
me half a dollar? ' That gentleman was a New Yorker. He mingled with the
discussion of great questions, finance.

" A gentleman present here to-night went from Maine and after winning
distinguished success in every line for twenty-five years in the world, returned
to his native place and at night went down to the country store, listened to the
congress that had struck him with awe in his youth — apparently the same men ;
told them who he was. One of the old leaders said, * Is it true that you are get-
ting $10,000 a year.? ' My friend was getting many times that. He said, ' It
is true.' ' Then,' said the leader, ' that shows what cheek and circumstances will
do for a man.' That was the New England youth, who discusses nothing but
what has become of the man who was glad he was bom in New England but had
the sense to live somewhere else.

" Now, one cannot contemplate Ohio, what has been said of her to-night,
without wondering at the success of American public life. We have no educa-
tion in this country for great offices of state, of executive, or of diplomacy. In
every other country of the world there are classes, except France of to-day,
classes who are hereditary legislators, who are taken for public life, and who
have the heredity of government. That is particularly the case in Groat
Britain, where not only the older sons, but the younger sons, unless they have
gone to distant colonies, to build up their country in those distant places, are
to be found in the house of commons, in the departments, or in the public life
of Great Britain. But we have no heredity, no schools, no education for govern-
ment, and yet our young men go to the legislature, they go to the house of
representatives, they go to the senate, they go to the cabinet, they become
Presidents, become diplomats abroad — I ask you to look over the hundred years
of our existence as a nation, to compare our executives, our cabinet ministers,
our diplomats, our legislators, with those of other countries where this educa-
tion is complete, and I think that we will have no occasion to be other than
proud of the men who have come from the workshop, from the farm, from the

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professions all over the country, and have been equal to the best of diplomacies
and diplomatics in foreign countries, and to the best of legislators, executives
and cabinet ministers in their own. John Jay, who had never been in diplo-
macy, negotiated that first treaty, which is still the foundation of our relations
with Great Britain, and as you go down the list we have the Adamses, and we
have Jefferson, and we have Daniel Webster, and we have Clay, and we have
Seward, and we have Lincoln, and we have Garfield, and we have McKinley, and
I think in view of what we are gathered here to-night to express and to worthily
compliment, that in that great cabinet stands equally John Hay. (Great
applause.) It is the American growth of American expression, not of educa-
tion for public life — an editor, a man of letters, a traveler from journalism to
literature, and successively from literature to the chancelleries of our govern-
ment abroad and successively in the secretary of state, first as assistant — and
successfully, to find at last his proper place when he becomes the head of our
foreign affairs.

" Mark Hanna, whose judgment is accurate and perfect on men in the
places which they should occupy, said to me ten years ago : ' There is one man
and one place that I intend to work for and only one, and that is John Hay as
secretary for state.'

" But of all the triumphs of our guests of to-night, the one which we honor
him most for is what he has done for arbitration. Arbitration is the greatest
force in the world to-day. In the old days, and until this year almost, nations
could diplomatize, and if they failed they could resort to what Sherman said
was ' hell ' — and that was war, which decided nothing except that might won.
In the older daj^s all individual disputes were settled on the theory that G<jd
would protect the right, but the Almighty held off and might and skill won, and
from that evoluted the law from which we have justice and protection for the
weaker. The great forces in our country to-day — new forces, but gigantic and
mighty forces, are Capital and Labor. So long as they are harmonious Ave
have peace and prosperity. When they are at war society is disintegrated, in-
dustries are paralyzed and if it proceeded far enough we would have anarchy.
It seems to me that the only solution of our difficulties, national as well as in our
own domestic affairs, is that for which our secretary has stood, and that is arbi-
tration. These great forces of Capital and Labor now settle their differences
by strikes and by lock-outs. It is a return to the old medieval method of en-
durance, of courage and of strength. It is barbarous. The medieval warrior
litigant could do it — it harmed no one but himself or his friends; but when
associations upon which we all depend for our safety and our comfort are
assailed, we are all interested. The Civic Association, happily gotten up and
happily led by our friend. Senator Hanna, is doing a good work, but if the
church, politicians, everybody, should move to have such processes adopted,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

then hereafter there could be no strikes because the genius of the American
people, when once these things are understood, is equal to devising the means,
and when the means are devised by wliich such questions can be settled without
creating such a cataclysm as we have had recently, public opinion Avill compel
obedience to the judgment which has once been arrived at for these solutions.
(Cries of ' Good,' and great applause.)

" Now, I think I can claim for New York, notwithstanding the claim which
is made abroad, because we all claim good things, and I mean no disrespect to
the representative of the august Czar, our distinguished representative from
Russia, who has so gracefully and so admirably complimented our guest and
pleased us here to-night in all languages, but when the Venezuela trouble arose
in Cleveland's administration I had the honor to deliver an oration before the
New York State Bar Association. The acute question then was how to avert
war and whether war was necessary. I took the position of an international
court of arbitration. Our New York State Bar Association, our court of ap-
peals, and all our judicial bodies in this state, formulated a plan for an inter-
national court of arbitration. They called a national congress at Washington
in order to put that into effect. It amounted to just this, that if right itself
it would ultimately crystallize into good works and that good results would
develop in the course of years; but we have gone along, we have finally got,
on the initiative of the Czar of Russia, we did finally get, a tribunal at the
Hague. Unless called by a great European power like the Czar, that tribunal
would never have met. Having met, it formulated the processes by which a
court was established, and then that court seemed to disappear; it seemed to
go into oblivion, and it would have died of innocuous desuetude, but there came
up this other question of the great nations of Great Britain and Germany to
appeal to that court. Instantly that court had dignit}', had power, had posi-
tion, and it had that place which by a court once gained is never lost again. I
think that we can say that in the processes by which that happy result which
creates this court and makes it forever a tribunal of peace, forever a tribunal
where public opinion will order contending nations to come — not to the battle-
field, but to justice, that the fact that he did more than any other to bring
about that happy result to pass, declared his position among the diplomats who
are around about him here to-night — our honored guest of the evening, the
United States secretary of foreign affairs (cheers and cries of ' Good ') — and I
want to say that when fhe verdict comes to be written there will be an abroga-
tion of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, there will be by happy and successful diplo-
macy the removal of those obligations, obligations most dangerous, between
Great Britain and the United States, which ought to be entirely removed be-
tween these two great countries, and there will be those negotiations which make
possible that inter-oceanic canal, the dream of our nation for fifty years, and

419

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

all of them will be kgions upon the shield of our secretary of state. ' A man
without a country,' he said. A man without a country ! Thank God he is our
country, our countryman. He may have no state, and having this distinction
which all the world recognizes it is characteristic of Ohio that she claims him
before New York could get a chance at him.

" Ohio and New York. The last contribution of Ohio to the Republic of
the United States and the American people was William McKinley. (Ap-
plause.) The prosperity which came with him and has continued, the placing
of our credit and our currency upon an impregnable basis in harmony with the
great commercial nations of the world, the conduct of a great war with a vigor
and a humanity never known before, and the Republic of Cuba will remain for-
ever his imperishable monument.

" We have for our present President a New Yorker of New Yorkers. He
has no blood in his veins but that which flows from the old Dutch Colonial times
of the New Amsterdam down to his own blue and strenuous vigor. He stands
to-day New York's President of the United States. When the great nations
gathered around little Venezuela and he marked the boundaries beyond which
they could not go, he set forever the seal of victory and perpetuity upon the
Monroe Doctrine. When he declined the tempting offer to become arbitrator
between these great powers he pointed their way to the Hague convention. He
did much, he did everything for the peace of the world, and in a recent cata-
clysm of industries, where not only the comfort but the safety of the people of
the United States was at stake, where conditions were likely to arise — and the
present situation emphasizes they might arise — where in our great centres of
population we might have riots, possibly revolution, he did the one wise and
courageous act which saved the situation and did most for the peace and har-
mony of our people in the country everywhere. Ohio has a right to be proud
of McKinley and for what he did, and to revere his memory, but we of New
York are proud of the President we have furnished to the United States.'*
( Great applause. )

Mr. Hojt then said : " Fellow Members of the Ohio Society of New York :
The time has come to draw this seventeenth annual banquet to a close. We feel
that before parting we certainly want to thank their excellencies and all our
other distinguished guests for making this seventeenth annual banquet one so
memorable, and with the thanks especially to the speakers who have so enter-
tained us we will now bid you all good-night."

It involves no lack of appreciation of the work done by all the members of
the Society in preparing for this banquet, and in carrying out the plans made
for the same, to add a brief mention of action taken at the meeting of the So-
ciety held on the evening of February 9, 1903. Resolutions of thanks were
offered and unanimously carried to Colgate Hoyt, president ; Samuel H. Par-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

sons, treasurer ; A. J. C. Foye, chairman of the house committee ; and Andrew
Ernest Foye, chairman of the sub-reception committee in charge of the ladies
and the galleries, for their most faithful and successful labors ; to William S.
Hawk, proprietor of the Manhattan Hotel, for his free entertainment of the
guests from Washington, and to Joseph G. Lee, secretary and treasurer of
the Knowles, Taylor & Knowles Company, of East Liverpool, Ohio, for the
generous care he lavished upon the preparation of the souvenir plates.

421

CHAPTER XIX
1903

WINCHESTER FITCH, chairman of the library committee, and
James H. Kennedy, historian, were invited to meet with the govern-
ing committee on February 9th, and report upon the matter com-
mitted to their hands in connection with a liistory of the Society. They ex-
plained that a meeting had been held and that it was the recommendation of
the committee and historian that the proceedings of the Diplomatic Ban-
quet of 1903 be published in pamphlet form, and that a similar publication
be made annually. Also that steps should be taken soon for a comprehensive
history of the Society. The publication of the banquet proceedings was
authorized, and subsequently appeared, with those of the annual dinner of
November 29, 1902, under the general title, " No. 1. Annual Publications

On February 9th President Hoyt stated that the Italian ambassador had
had received notice from the other ambassadors expressing their thanks and
pleasure at their entertainment at the banquet. He stated that he had also
presented his thanks to the Society, his wife joining with him, and that he
Ohio Society of New York. 1902-1903."

received a very cordial note from Bishop Leonard, of Ohio, accepting the
position of chaplain the Society had tendered him, and expressing great pleas-
ure at having been able to be present at the banquet. The private secretary of
the Third Assistant Secretary of State, who was at the banquet, sent a letter
in which he reiterated the statement that all of the guests had personally ex-
pressed to him unqualified thanks for their entertainment, and especially for
the courtesy and attention shown them at the Manhattan Hotel, and also for
their transportation.

At the conclusion of the business meeting, the Society was entertained
by vocal and instrumental music from Messrs. Fitch, Nichols, Sadler and
Drake. Also by an affecting address by a gentleman who was introduced by
Merrill Watson, of the entertainment committee, as " A Long Lost Son of
Ohio."

It was the story of an Ohio boy kidnapped by Asiatic brigands when a
child; his father and mother, missionaries, killed; his recognition as a son of
Ohio by an indelible mark upon him ; his escape, his toil in reaching America,
his search for even one friend of his parents. It was told simply, touchingly

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and in the presence of one hundred men who stood ready to give him money
for the further prosecution of his search. When Mr. Watson introduced him,
he recalled the murder in Asiatic Turkey of Lenz Lens, the American bi-
cyclist who set out to ride from Constantinople to Hong Kong. Two other
Americans were later sent to learn the facts of his fate.

" Those two men," said Mr. Watson, " fell in with a band of brigands.
It was too late for them to retreat, and they escaped from robbery and death
only because these ignorant men who had never heard of a bicycle took them
for wizards with supernatural gifts.

" Among these terrible men was a small white boy who knew a few words
of English and whom they were sure was of American birth. They managed to
converse with him several times and finally by accident discovered a small
tatooed mark upon his shoulder. A closer examination showed them that it
was the seal of Ohio, undoubtedly placed there by his parents as a mute wit-
ness of his citizenship under the stars and stripes and of his Christian birth.

" They dared not lift a finger to help him or their own lives would have
been in danger. But they told him as best they could of the great world from
which they had come and of the friends that would aid him if he could make
his escape. Then they left him and wheeled away.

" Now for a curious coincidence," Mr. Watson continued. " I was at
luncheon at my club a few days ago and happened by some chance to tell
this story, as one of these returned wheelmen had told it to me. A gentle-
man whom I knew only by sight, sitting at the next table turned to me and
said : ' I beg your pardon, sir, but I was so interested that I took the liberty
of listening to your tale.' * You are welcome to your share of it,' I answered.
' May I ask you one question ? ' he continued. ' Certainly ! ' Do you know that
the boy made his escape and is in this country to-day ? ' Then he told me a
wonderful story of persistence and pluck. To make a long story short, I
hunted up this boy — now a man — and he is here to-night. In his old life he
was known as Gorges Stanapolis. He has taken the name of Charles Ander-
son, which he has discovered to be his own. I now take pleasure in introducing
him and he will tell his own story."

Mr. Anderson was a dark, slim young man, with a sombre face, as of
one who had known misfortune, and was not unacquainted with grief. He
spoke with a decidedly foreign accent, and his story, condensed, was as
follows :

" When my parents and their escorts were murdered, one little girl and
myself were spared and taken captive by these brigands. In three years she
died. I remembered only a few words of English. My life has been one of
privation and unhappiness. If I should tell you all the things I heard and saw
— the horrors and the awful cruelties — it would stagger your belief."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

He told of the visit of the wheelmen and of the inspiration and hope it
gave him. He watched his chance. One day he saw a caravan afar off.
At night he escaped and followed it for two days. He was taken on as a
camel boy. At Cabool the caravan broke up ; he worked as a coolie for a
few cents a day. Then he managed to reach Calcutta, where an Enlishman
took him as a servant. He worked his passage on a ship to Amsterdam. Then
to London, and from thence took ship to America.

" On that ship," he said impressively, " I met a steward who, when he
learned my story, told me that he knew my parents ; they had come across with
him, when I was a boy in arms. He knew my name, and that was all he did
know.

" And that is all I have ever learned. Whether my father was a mis-
sionary of some great denomination, or a zealot who went forth alone, I
do not know. I have searched for some trace of my parents' family or friends,
but it is all in vain. I am alone, utterly alone in this world.

" Misfortune seems to come to me in small as in great things," Mt. Ander-
son continued. " Only to-night as I was coming to this meeting, a man ac-
costed me, as I stood waiting for a car. ' Do 3'ou chew ? ' he asked. I said I
did. It was one of the old habits that hung to me.

" I handed him my plug. He said : ' Do you care where I bite this ? '
' I do not.' ' Then I'll bite it on Brooklyn Bridge,' and away he walked with it.
" Last night I took a Brooklyn girl named May out to supper. I said,
' What will you have.'* ' * A large cold bottle and a small hot bird.' She took
three birds ; and I took a sandwich to even up. And as we went out, what do
you think an organ grinder on the street had the cheek to play ? ' How Happy
are the Birds in May ! ' "

Well, the house was in a roar.

Mr. Anderson put on a look of extra solemnity. " Well," he said, " as
you seem to be ' on ' I'll drop back to American talk ; as I have never been out
of the United States in my life."

It was a complete sell. The professional monologist and the entertainment
committee had sold every man in the house. " I was just ready," said Presi-
dent Hoyt afterwards, " to propose that we raise $100 to aid the young man
in his search." " If a paper had been handed around before that bird story,"
said another member, " a pretty big sum of money could have been raised."
A half hour of story telling followed, from the " lost son of Ohio " who
had been so strangely found.

James H. Kennedy suggested in the March meeting that it would be a
good idea to appoint a special committee to secure the names of every eligible
Ohioan in the City of New York, who might become a member if properly
approached, and at the April meeting to tender a formal reception or

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" smoker " to the gentlemen on such eligible list. On motion, it was agreed
that such committee be appointed, and the chair designated Charles W.
Lefler, W. H. Blymyer, F. M. Applegate, the treasurer and secretary, with
power to add to their number.

When the business of the evening was concluded, a most interesting ad-
dress was delivered by David Homer Bates, manager of the War Department
telegraph office during the Civil War, entitled, " A Rebel Cipher Despatch
Which Did Not Reach Judah P. Benjamin."

A most successful reception to the ladies was given at the rooms in the
Waldorf-Astoria on the evening of March 23d, and was largely attended.
An excellent programme, which is here given, was rendered, followed by a
collation :

Polonaise, ...... Chopin

Mr. Ernest R. Ball.
When all the World is Young, . . . Rogers

Ode to Bacchus, ..... Chaminade

Daphne's Love, ...... Ronald

Mr. Francis J. Sadlier.
Reading, ...... Selected

Miss Marion Short.
Before the Dawn, ..... Chadzviclc

A Pastoral, ...... Ver acini

A Winter Song, ...... Rogers

Miss Jessamine Pike.
Invocation, ....... Huhay

Scherzo, ....... Goens

Herr Hans Kronold.
Haymaking, . . . Alice Adelaide Xeedham

Die Lerche, ...... Rubinstein

Miss Pike.
Toreador's Song, " Carmen," . . . Bizet

Mr. Sadlier.
Reading, ....... Selected

Miss Short.
Traumerei, . . . . . Schumann

Tarantelle, ...... Popper

Herr Kronold.

Passage Bird's Farewell Hildach

Miss Pike, Mr. Sadlier.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The committee appointed to arrange for a reception to Ohioans in New
York who were ehgible to membership in the Society, organized by electing
Charles W. Lefler chairman. Members were requested to send in the names
of their friends, and to each of these the following invitation was sent:

Me. (Name of guest)

THE OHIO SOCIETY OP NEW YORK REQUESTS
THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY
AT A

RECEPTION TO OHIOANS

TO BE HELD AT ITS ROOMS
AT

The Waldorf-Astoria

ON MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 13tH, 1903
AT 8 P. M.

Colgate Hoyt,

president
Francis M. Applegate,

secretary

R. S. V. P.
TO

Charles W. Lefler

chairman

no. 25 broad st., n. y.

compliments of

{Name of Member)

There was a large attendance of members and guests at the reception,
which took the form of a smoker, given on the evening of April 13th. The
programme consisted of vocal and instrumental music, and recitations, and
was thoroughly enjoyed by all, even the wind-up of " Roasted Buckeyes in
the Shell," and certainly none of the Buckeyes could complain that the
" roast " was underdone.

At the meeting of June 8th Vice-President Ewing, chairman of the com-
mittee on Ohio centennial at Chillicothe, was unable to be present, but his
brother, Hampton Ewing, made a full and able report on the centennial, and
also presented as a gift from his brother a beautiful souvenir of the occasion.
Mr. Jones offered the following resolution:

426

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York desire to express its
hiffh sense of the honor in the erection and dedication of the St. Gaudens'
statue to the name and fame of Gen. William Tecumsch Sherman." Presi-
dent Hoyt and others spoke eloquently on the subject, and the resolution was
adopted.

In the meeting of October 12th the following gentlemen were elected a
committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year: Milton I. Southard,
James G. Newcomb, Warren Higley, S. Frederick Taylor, L. C. Ruch, Elmer
O. Evans, Francis X. Butler.

The meeting of November 9, 1903, was one of exceptional interest. After
a small amount of business had been attended to, a programme arranged by the
entertainment committee was presented. Mr. Jones, director of music at
Columbia University, gave several instrumental selections; Mr. Pennell, tenor
solos, accompanied by Mr. Ball at the piano ; and Mr. Rice, a monologue.

There were present as special guests. Dr. James Hulme Canfield, LL.D.,
librarian of Columbia University and ex-president of the Ohio State Univer-
sity, and Capt. Grote Hutchinson, U. S. A., who was present not only in his
personal capacity as a guest, but also as the official representative of Maj.-
Gen. H. C. Corbin, U. S. A., an Ohio man in command of the department of
the East, who was unable to be present. The guests were introduced, and
spoke in an entertaining manner, their remarks being here given in full.

Captain Hutchinson said : " Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : — It is need-
less to say it is a great pleasure to be here, but I cannot but feel that I have
been perhaps a bit badly treated in being asked to make a speech. The other
day Mr. Watson came over to Governor's Island to make a personal call on
General Corbin, and invited him to come over to this meeting, and until to-day
General Corbin had expected to come, but he found very suddenly and unex-
pectedly that he was called off to Washington this afternoon, and in his in-
imitably courteous way he turned and said : ' Captain Hutchinson, I can't
go to the Ohio Society this evening. Go over and represent me.' And that re-
minds me of last year, when Mr. Watson came over to Governor's Island and
General Chaffee was there, and General Chaffee being similarly called off on
some dut}^, could not be here, so at the last moment, as evening came on, he
said, ' Hutchinson, I can't go over to that Ohio Society to-night. You
just go over and represent me.' It seems a little bit ludicrous to me to be
called upon to represent either Chaffee or Corbin. I cannot do it, however
much I would like to, nor am I able to entertain you as they would, were
either of them here. I feel that I cannot begin to do it, and, in fact, I feel,
standing up before you, a good deal like an old Irish captain of mine once ex-
pressed his feelings. His name was — but never mind his name — he was a
great character. I will not try to imitate the Irish brogue, as my predecessor

427

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

here on the floor, Mr. Ross, has done, but this captain was a great character.
He was one of those long, lean, lank Irishmen, with a red head, a lot of brogue
and a hoarse voice. He meant well, and never said anything funny in his life
that he knew of. One day he was trying to dress his company and wanted a
soldier off on the left flank to get up on the line. He tried for a while to
get him in line, but, failing, finally out of all patience yelled to his lieutenant,
' Lieutenant, lieutenant ; I can't get that man up on the hne. Will you please
hit him a kick with your sabre.'

" Another time, when he had gotten himself rather disliked by the young-
sters at the post — he was a bit of a martinet — there was a good deal of talk
and gossip about him, as many of the young fellows wanted to get back on
the old man. One day I was making a call at his house, and after twenty or
thirty minutes got up to go, having made no reference to the gossip. Just
as I was stepping down from the porch he said in a whisper : ' Hutchinson,
they do be telling a lot of dom lies about me around this post, but I am sincere .
in every one of them.' (Laughter.) He was that kind of a man. I will give
you the gist of the story I started to tell you. At one of the army posts we
used to have an officer's school presided over by a major, and to this school
the captains, as well as the subalterns of the post, were required to go. We
usually had to recite in tactics, or drill regulations, were given tasks to
study, and were called upon, of course, every afternoon, or two or three after-
noons in a week, to assemble, and each would be required to get up and explain
some subject to the major and to the assembled officers. Of course to the
second lieutenants, most of them young fellows just out of West Point, the
tasks came easy. They studied little and recited well. For the first lieu-
tenants it was a little more difficult, but they generally got through creditably.
The captains were older, and of the lot, of course, our Irish captain did the
poorest. He was also the oldest captain at the post. This had gone on for a
week or ten days, and after a particularly bad recitation on the part of our
captain, and at which he felt very much mortified, he turned to the major and
said: * Major, and the officers assembled here to-day, I want to apologize for
the poor recitations that I make. There is nobody at the post that studies
tactics harder than I do. I don't suppose there is anybody in the post that
makes as poor recitations; but,' he says, 'Major, Major, when I get out in
front of my troop and I put my left foot in the stirrup, swing my body upon
my horse, let my right foot swing over his croup and settle into my saddle,
then, Major, my mind is pregnant with ideas.' I feel to-night a good deal like
that old captain did when he was up before the recitation committee. I feel that
I am making a ver}'^ poor show, a very poor face at a speech or at entertaining
you, but perhaps if you were a crowd of recruits lined up before me and I
was captain, perhaps my mind would be ' pregnant with ideas.'

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" I don't suppose that a man who has been nearly twenty-five years con-
nected with the service of the United States, the army, as I have been, is
expected to make much of a speech. It is proverbial how poor a speech an army
officer makes, especially when he comes up unprepared as I am to make any
speech at all. You will have to excuse me. I am delighted to be here ; always
delighted to meet Ohio people wherever they are, in any part of the world. I
don't believe there is any part of the world where you don't meet Ohio men.
I remember three years ago last summer, after we made the march from Tien
Tsin to Pekin — and that perhaps is as remote a comer of the world as any
one is apt to strike — there had been some fighting and a good deal of stress
and strain on the part of our people up there. It was after we had been in
the city of Pekin a week or ten days, who should walk into my office one after-
noon but an Ohio man, an Ohio man who perhaps many of you know. He
came with all kinds of letters. He had at that time no regular commission in
the army, but a title as a volunteer A. D. C, with the rank of lieutenant-
colonel. He did not know just how he could find me, but he called because he
was an Ohio man, and, incidentally, I don't think he had much to do except
to collect loot. That was another evidence of his being an Ohio man — Ohio
men have a faculty of not letting good things go by.

" There is nothing else I can say to you, gentlemen, except that we would
be very glad to see more Ohio men over on Governor's Island. Of course that is
a little tucked away corner of New York. We rarely have any of the repre-
sentative gentlemen of New York come over to see us, but whenever they do
come, we are always glad to extend them as hearty a welcome as the army has
to offer in that small and restricted space.

" I might say before I retire that General Corbin was much disappointed
at being unable to be with you to-night, and expressed the hope that he could
be present with the members of the Society at its next meeting, and I am sure
he is holding a date open to be present with you on the occasion of your annual
dinner. I thank you gentlemen." (Applause.)

Dr. Canfield said : " Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : —
I wish very much that I had the voice of that tenor to-night, instead of this
bass voice, very bass voice ; but I have brought this nine hundred miles in order
to be here and that must partly excuse its condition. I believe it was an Ohio
man who on a somewhat memorable occasion rode twenty miles in order to
scatter a large armed force, and I take it for granted if he could ride twenty
and accomplish that, at the end of a nine hundred mile ride I may be able
to scatter some of you, as I see some of you are scattering already.

" I was a little in doubt as to the sort of an experience I should have
here to-night. There is an expression in common use to-day which is very
clear and distinct in its meaning to those who understand the highest forms

4S9

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and niceties of the English language, and that is the expression to ' string '
a person. Evidently somebody has been ' stringing ' me, because I expected
this evening to encounter something of a mixture of the Quill Club of this
city and the Gridiron Club of Washington, with the Authors' Club and the
Century Club thrown in for good measure; and how one man could fit him-
self to all the different phases of thought and life that such an organization
represents was quite a problem. Instead, I find the kindly faces of old-time
neighbors and friends.

" You must not expect me to show my age by beginning with reminis-
cences. Of course, I could tell, for instance, that I was bom in the old town
of Delaware, and bathed in that memorable sulphur spring both night and
morning regularly for some months, though really I do not think that has
an3rthing whatever to do with the present condition and reputation of the
spring. Some honor and credit might be gathered from the fact that our
next door neighbor was a young lawyer named Hayes, Rutherford B., and
that his charming young wife was one of the helpers, who, in the absence of
the trained nurses of to-day, came in and assisted the new minister's first boy
into the world. I might even add that on the day of my birth dear old Dr.
Williams was the oldest member of the faculty of Wesleyan University, and
when forty-five years afterwards I came back to the state to take up educational
work, he was still there, still the oldest member of the faculty, still at work;
a delightful old man, as some of you may possibly remember.

" But it is never safe to go into details about oneself. I had a sad ex-
perience once, in this matter, when a youngster. I told just a little too much.
I went to Chicago and stopped at the old St. James Hotel. The clerk pushed
the register before me. It was the first hotel register I ever had to sign, for
my father or some other member of the family had always done the registering.
I looked at it with some trepidation, but wanted to make a good bluff and not
look too green. I noticed that the record seemed to be made up of certain
items. The first was evidently the date, August 7th. The next was the name
of the patron of the hotel. The next evidently told the place where he came
from. Then there was a column in which there were certain figures. I studied
that for quite a while, and finally concluded it was where people who regis-
tered put down their ages. I wondered very much that they had been so many
old men who had registered there that night, 97 — S2 — 86 — 77 — 91, but in
order that I might show that I was up-to-date in every way and that I had
traveled and was not green, I wrote my name and my residence, then New
York, and added 21. I shall always remember with sinking heart the way
I felt when the young fellow turned that book around and looked at the entrj^,
and then smiled and said, ' That's all right, sonny, but that is the bridal
chamber, and I do not think you want that.' I assure you, gentlemen, I feel

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OHIO SOaETY OF NEW YORK

now all that ' gopeness ' that I felt then. When a man makes a break like that
he always remembers it. No, it is not safe to say too much about oneself.
Other people have gotten into trouble when going into details. I noticed not
long ago that the governor of New Hampshire, who had with him the governor
of Indiana, who had come to help him in a campaign, stopped a couple of
bootblacks to have their shoes shined. Tlie governor of New Hampshire be-
gan to talk about himself — very foolish thing — and said, ' Boys, you are do-
ing now what you probably will never have a chance to do again ; 3'ou are
blacking the shoes of two governors. I am the governor of New Hampshire,
and my friend here is the governor of Indiana.' The larger of the two boys
looked up, and said, ' Is that so. Say, don't give it away, but I am Odell of
New York, and this little runt here is the governor of New Jersey.'

" When I first received the invitation from the gentleman who has charge
of the destinies of this club and of the destinies of the gentlemen who appear
before you — perhaps it would be better to say of the destinies of the club
and the reputation of the gentlemen who appear before you — I thought to
go about this whole matter in a truly scientific up-to-date manner. I recalled
that a gentleman in Cambridge, Mass., connected with a great university, not
long ago published a statement based upon a careful study of ' Who's Who
in America.' The results, facts and statistics which he said he found, were
very peculiar. I thought I would examine the book and see if it could be
made the basis of the few feeble remarks that I was destined to make before
you this evening. I went through it very carefully. There were 14,876 names
of distinguished Americans in the book (I may have the count wrong), my
recollection is that 13,827 were bom in Ohio. It is barely possible that this
may be shaded a very little, and it may be a little over, but that will do for
round numbers at least. Of the men born in Ohio not one, as far as I could
determine, and I examined the book very carefully, not one of them has ever
served a term in the penetentiary ; or was ever convicted of any serious crime.
The state that can breed and rear men who will so nearly fill to overflowing
the only book of nobility, the only book of peerage, that this country possesses,
is certainly a state of which one may be proud.

" Having completed the statistical study, the next step was that which
we all take nowadays — we are learning the good old German method of thor-
oughness— that is, to get right on the ground and inspect. We call it inde-
pendent work, research work. I thought it would pay to get on the ground.
I left here about half-past five on Tuesday of last week. Parenthetically, it
may not be out of place to add, that when I got to Philadelphia, being inter-
ested in the result of our city election, and having fifteen minutes there, I ran
down to a telephone and called up a friend of mine who is connected with the
press of this city, a gentleman noted for his shrewdness in affairs of state.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The conversation was in this wise: 'Who's that?' 'Canfield; what's the
result? ' ' What result? ' ' The result of the election.' ' Where are you that
you are asking about the result of the election? ' ' I am in Pliiladelphia.'
' Are you? ' ' Well, just keep traveling.' These were the only returns that
I could get until, at Harrisburg, where I took a 61,000 mileage ticket, and
kept traveling. It struck me that was about the best thing to do.. I was
going, however, in the direction of light and fresh air for I landed in Ohio,
got other returns which were cheerful, and left there only yesterday. So if
not the last, I am perhaps, the latest Ohioan who has come here to-night direct
from the old state. It is very pleasant to be made the bearer of a personal
message to this association from Governor Nash, whom I met in his office at
the capitol last Saturday, with whom I had a very delightful conference, and he
sent his warmest greetings to the Ohio Society of New York.

" Gentlemen, the one thought which always comes to me in connection
with the life of Ohio and the history of Ohio and the name which Ohio men
have made for themselves, and the one thought which I wish to leave with you
to-night, is this: Ohio was the first evidence that was given to the world of
the purpose and undertaking of the American people to create a great nation
in this wilderness of God across the sea. If you had selected in the year 1800
five of the most competent administrators in this country, five of the ablest
financiers, five men whose life and experience and success were such as to com-
mend them to the confidence of the American people, and you had made them a
committee on the creation and development and betterment of Ohio, and had
put back of them the treasury of the United States and had promised them un-
limited drafts on that treasury, and had said to them : ' Gentlemen, in less
than a century make that wilderness blossom like the rose, give it a population
of four millions, put a school house with open door within walking distance of
every family in the state, establish industries and build factories, create cities
and bring together innumerable smaller communities,' that committee would
have laughed at you, its members would have resigned, and the nation would
have said that it was the most preposterous undertaking the world had ever
seen, and that any man who even dreamed of a movement like that was simply
stark mad. Yet that thing has been done, and most magnificently done ; done
in the most intelligent and in the most thorough manner; done with a force
never abating ; done with an energy that was unconquerable ; done with a deter-
mination that was never broken down ; done with an optimism that has never for
an instant yielded to any conditions or any circumstances and become that most
contemptible of all things in an American citizen — pessimism. That dream
was not realized by external power and force, it was not done by a committee
of great men, of great financiers, of great administrators, of men who were
particularly wise or experienced ; was done by our fathers' fathers and the

432

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

women who went with them into that wilderness. It was done by American
common people, the most uncommon people God's sunlight ever shone upon.
That is why we glory in the history of that state. It was the men who walked
beside their white covered wagons day after day, as they sought this new
home, and the women who sat looking out with tired and longing eyes, and
yet eyes in which there was neither fear nor despair; these were the men and
women who went into that wilderness and mastered it and made it the garden
spot to-day. I speak of them as a common people — I mean exactly what I
say. They were people along that great average line of American life, the
line in which we all ought to believe most absolutely, and for the rise of which
we ought to give thanks most religiously. It is a magnificent thing that many
and many a man has gone beyond that average line, and is helping to lift that
average because he has passed above it. It is a sad thing that there are
thousands still below that average line, and apparently thousands will always
remain below it and therefore drag it down. But it is a superb thing that by
the combination of industry and integrity and intelligence that average line
has constantly risen, has never once swung backward, and is still rising,
and is higher to-day than the average of life in any country under the
sun.

" These walls are eloquent with the portraits of distinguished men. Not
a single man here who did not come out of exactly that type of American fam-
ily. Not one in those frames who was not, in the best sense of the word, a self-
made man, and with no reason to be ashamed of his job. That is all the Ameri-
can asks, the self-respecting American; freedom in his choice of way, and
freedom in his right of way after he has entered upon it. He has back of him
the American public school, and side by side with him the American public
anxious to see him succeed. He lives in a country in which society is not
stratified, in which there is freedom of movement from the top to the bottom
as well as from the bottom to the top, for we still in this country send the evil
men down as well as help the good men up. This is a country in which the
likeliest is still to be found in the unlikeliest places. Look over the men you
see here, the men whose faces are upon these walls, and see if that last state-
ment is not exactly true. I rode last Saturday towards old Worthington, near
the farm where Chase as a boy followed the cows, where he lived with his uncle,
then bishop of that state. Whoever dreamed that the boy who had gone there
simply to get the elements of education would ever be the man standing as he
will stand for all time with a resplendent reputation among the most resplen-
dent Americans. That is the glory of Ohio, that is the glory of this country
from start to finish, that must be the glory of this countr}' for all time to
come. We are safe in this country just as long as we give our attention to
that great average American line — we are safe just as long as we are willing

433

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to recognize that in the common people and in the whole people lie wholesome-
ness and strength. These men became great leaders, that is true; but not
one of them could have written his name upon the scroll of fame if he had not
had an intelhgent following. A leader is a very necessary thing in this world,
but an intelligent following is that which makes for success. These men had
back of them men who could understand the situation, who could think with
them and feel with them, and move as one man because they moved toward a
common end, with a common purpose, bom of a common hope, all quickened
and guided by common intelligence. We are what we are to-day, gentlemen,
because we have kept close together, as men kept close together through those
pioneer days in the upbuilding of our state ; and we cannot afford to go apart
under any circumstances whatever. We sent down to the front during that
great struggle for nationality young fellows who seemed frail, so physically
frail and weak and unenduring, that we wondered that they could possibly
bear the struggle and the trials and the stress and strain that came with
camp life and forced marches and the lying out under the silent stars. They
were maintained by the magical touch of the elbow, man to man they felt an
electric thrill, which told them they were working in a common cause and that
each stood by the other. We must keep that magical touch of the elbow,
gentlemen, if we are to succeed, and we must keep it in absolutely good faith.
As I came back over that nine hundred miles, swift as the wind itself, almost
absolutely safe, was I dependent upon the chiefs of administration, the men who
stood at the head of the different departments of these great railways.? Yes, in
a certain sense; but infinitely more dependent upon the intelligence and the
integrity and the good faith and the loyalty of common men, working men,
who in their daily lives, and toiling on during the night, made it safe for me
to journey as I did. I tell you, gentlemen, the history of the Western states
is the history of a people who kept together, who thought together, who felt
together, who were stirred by one purpose, who were sympathetic through and
through. We cannot afford under any circumstances whatever to go away
from that old idea. When I think of Ohio to-day, of what it means, of what
it has stood for in all the past, of what it stands for to-day, the greatest lesson
that it can possibly teach is the lesson which I have tried to give you in just
these few words to-night. I am going to leave that thought with you just as
it is, without amplification, with no argument, no illustration. Simply take it,
turn it over in your minds, fill out the outline, round it out, make it attractive,
make it forcible, if you will. It is the one thought continually present when-
ever the history of this country is studied carefully with consideration, with
the thoughtfulness which every American ought to study, the history of his
own land.

" I give you in closing this sentiment : ' The Ohio man, the men of the

434.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

past and of the present, and, God grant, of the future; men who have been
kingly citizens and citizen kings, may they never be dethroned.' "

The annual meeting of 1903 was held at the Hotel Manhattan on the
evening of November 30th, as the 29th fell on Sunday. After dinner had
been served, reports of the various committees and officers were presented.
That of the treasurer was very comprehensive, and showed the total assets of
the Society to be $12,755.05. The report of the governing committee was as
follows :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio Society of New York :

" Your governing committee beg to report, and with pleasure, that our
Society has continued to grow during the past year, both in acquiring new
members and adding very materially to our bank balance.

" November 29, 1902, our membership numbered 286 resident and 159
non-resident, or a total of 445 members. To-day we have 308 resident and
197 non-resident, total of 505 members. We have elected during the year 99
members, and lost by death, not qualified, resignation and non-payment of
dues 39 members, leaving a gain of 60 for the year.

" Our worthy treasurer will read you his very interesting report, which
will show the members how we have improved our financial condition during
the year, our present bank balance being the largest the Society has had
during its existence.

" The entertainments provided by our entertainment com.mlttee, together
with the large reception given at our rooms to Ohioans living in New York city
and vicinity, were the means of bringing us many new members, and your
board of governors recommend that these entertainments be continued during
the coming year, as the members and their friends are brought together In a
sociable way, becoming better acquainted and more interested in the welfare
of the Society.

" We trust the members will use their best endeavors to further the inter-
ests of our Society In a manner that the good showing at the end of the coming
year will eclipse any of the previous ones.

" Respectfully submitted,

" James G. Newcomb, Chairman."

The Society proceeded to election of oflficers for the coming year, and the
following named gentlemen were chosen unanimously: President, John J.
McCook; vice-presidents, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Louis D. Clarke, Lowell
M. Palmer, Eben B. Thomas, J. D. Layng; secretary, Francis M. Apple-
gate ; recording secretary, Charles W. Morris ; treasurer, Samuel H. Parsons ;
trustees, Leander H. Crall, Horace H. Brockway, Andrew ]\IcClean Parker.

435

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Mr. Hoyt, the retiring president, expressed his hearty appreciation of
the honor the Society had done him in electing him its president in the past,
and regretted his inabihty to serve longer in that capacity, on account of other
duties which would render it impossible for him to again take the office. Mr.
Hoyt said : " Fellow members of the Ohio Society of New York : This is the
last time that I can speak to you from the president's chair, so if I am going
to speak to you from that chair I must do it now. I am reminded of the story
of a certain Irishman who was dying, and his friends gathering round him,
he called them together, and, whispering, said : ' Now, boys, when its all over
and ye take me out to the simetery I want yez all to stop at Tim Murphy's
saloon on the way out and have a good drink.' They said : ' O, Pat ! Never !
We won't do that. We'll stop at Tim Murphy's coming back.' ' The devil
you will. You will not stop coming back ; you'll stop going out, because then
I'll be wid yez.'

*' But, joking aside, gentlemen of the Ohio Society, I've been your presi-
dent now for two years. Circumstances over which I have no control render it
impossible for me to hold the office longer. I want to say to you that in my
entire life I have never held an office with as much pleasure as the office of
president of this Society, and the reason for that is because no man ever pre-
sided over a better body of men than the Ohio Societ}'^ of New York, and as
I must leave this chair now I want to say from the bottom of my heart that I
am delighted to have follow me that magnificent, that gallant son of Ohio,
Col. John J. McCook. We Ohioans are proud because he belongs to the
' Fighting McCooks,' and we defy any other state in the Union to produce ten
in one family and fifteen in two, every one of whom fought for his country.
Ohio alone could raise nine sons and a father that could fight through the
Civil War — and all but one, by the way, were officers — unusual for an Ohioan
— and that one had an office offered, but declined it.

" And now, gentlemen, as the seventeenth year of our existence has
closed, and we are entering on the eighteenth, I can only bespeak for my suc-
cessor the support — the loyal support — that all the officers, all the members
of the different committees and every member of the Society has always given
me. Gentlemen, I love you all, and I cannot help it; and now. Colonel Mc-
Cook, if you wiU rise, I will take great pleasure in fastening around your
neck the insignia of your office, the president's badge. Your neck is much
larger than mine, but I think it will go around.

(Mr. Foye proposed three cheers for the retiring president, which were
given with a will.)

" Now, gentlemen, before our new president really gets started, I pro-
pose we all fill our glasses, and, standing, drink to the health of Col. John J.
McCook, the president of the Ohio Society of New York."

436

Colonel John J. McCook
President from November 30, 1903

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

(All fill their glasses and drink to the health of Colonel McCook, and
give three cheers and a tiger.)

Colonel McCook said : " Mr. Hoyt and fellow members of the Ohio So-
city : I know of no honor which can come to a man who was born in Ohio and
lives in New York equal to that of being elected to the presidency of the Ohio
Society. It would not be true to the truth of things if I did not say that I
am very proud to have had that honor conferred upon me.

" The satisfaction and pleasure that I feel upon my promotion is coupled
with the sad consciousness that as an organization we are losing the official
services of Colgate Hoyt, who has been an exceptionally able and successful
president of this Society. I am painfully aware of the fact that it is no easy
thing to follow in his footsteps, and very well know that my ejfforts will be
fruitless and a failure unless I have the loyal support of the other officers and
members that has always been given to Mr. Hoyt while he has been president
of the Society.

" No one could listen to the reports that have been made here to-night
by the chairmen of the respective committees without feeling that this is no one
man organization. An active president can, of course, be very useful, but he
cannot accomplish all that he ought for the Society without the loyal, hearty
support of his fellow officers and of the chairmen and members of the various
committees, and of the great body of the membership of the Society. I know
that I cannot accomplish anything as your president unless I have that sup-
port. I crave it, and must have it. I ask it to-night not for myself alone,
but for the highest and best interests of this Society, which we all respect and
honor.

" The Ohio Society in New York stands for something. It is made up of
representative men. We are often asked what it is that makes the Ohio man
successful in business and in public life, whether he remains in his own state
or journeys abroad, whether his career is in politics, in the army, in the navy
or in the public service. There is no time to-night to give in detail the reasons
for this; but there are reasons, and good ones, too, to account for the ex-
ceptional and successful part taken by Ohio men in the commercial and public
affairs of our country.

" The dominant and controlling factors in this matter have been well
presented by an old Painesville boy, Alfred Mathews, now of Philadelphia,
in his valuable book recently issued, entitled ' Ohio and Her Western Re-
serve.' This is a splendid book, that makes every right-minded Ohio man
more proud of his state, and I recommend each one of you to get a copy and
read it as soon as possible. My recommendation is all the more earnest from
the fact that much of what I say to you is taken from the book, either by way
of adopting his ideas or by using Mr. Mathews' exact words.

437

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Under the almost universal law of natural selection, the men and
women who, in the first instance, tore themselves away from the hampering re-
strictions upon human rights, as they existed under the despotic governments
then prevailing in Europe, and crossed the seas to find a new home in America,
were the very best of their respective countries. They loved and longed for
the right to exercise freedom of thought, and for personal, religious and
poHtical liberty. They hungered for the right to live and govern them-
selves in a new land where freedom of conscience and high ideals could flourish
amid prosperity and plenty.

" Under this law of natural selection the men and women who stood
ready, by emigrating to America, to meet and overcome the dangers of sea
and land, of storm and tempest, of hostile Indians and of fell disease, were
people of strong bodies, possessing great physical and moral courage. They
were master spirits who dared to live up to, and, if need be, to die for what
they believed in. Impelled by a mighty and masterful purpose, they overcame
every obstacle, founded the American colonies and established this nation, of
which we are all so proud.

" As Mathews points out. New England was peopled chiefly by the
Puritans from old England ; New York by the Dutch and English ; Pennsyl-
vania by the Quakers, Germans and Scotch-Irish; Virginia again by English,
but quite diff'erent from those who settled Massachusetts and Connecticut ; and
Maryland by still another element.

" The children of these first emigrants, coming from the best family and
racial stock of their time, were the ones who fought through the Colonial
and Revolutionary wars and secured for themselves and for their descendants
freedom and independence from European domination.

" The great Ordinance of 1787, that surpassingly wise enactment of an
early Congress, which was only less important than the Constitution of the
United States, and which may not improperly be regarded as the ' ordinance
of freedom,' opened up the magnificent and almost unlimited territory north-
west of the Ohio river, and by law dedicated it forever to religious, personal
and political freedom and to the establishment of schools and of the higher
education.

" These kindred and congenial principles grew and developed there.
The announcement of these constitutional provisions drew to the Ohio terri-
tory, by that same law of natural selection, all the best elements of the Ameri-
can colonies. Mathews again says that of the states not included among the
original thirteen, but admitted to the Union before Ohio, Vermont was settled
by people from Massachusetts and New York, Kentucky by those from Vir-
ginia, and Tennessee by those from North Carolina, but Ohio was settled by
people from all of these, by elements from each and every state in the confed-

438

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

eracy ; in other words, Ohio was settled by the people of the United States.
Hers was tlie first territory to be absolutely representative of the entire people.
Within her borders the liitherto racially different or long-separated consan-
guineous elements — in some instances estranged, in others emasculated —
or enervated through dearth of fresh blood — came into contiguity —
finally to be blent into a homogeneous whole, and so to advance by another
stage — and a huge one — the evolution of a race. It would savor of extrem-
ism to go further and to say that these once widely dissevered and dissimilar
elements coming together in a virgin land, not only advanced an old, but
founded a new race; and yet, what were these elementary fragments in the
old states but colonies of English Puritans and Cavaliers and Quakers, of
Scotch-Irish and Germans? And, in a certain sense, were not the Ohioans
truly the first Americans?

" We thus have in the people of Ohio a new race of men, the most dis-
tinctively American men, the true composite American, the first of his kind
that has been produced upon this continent. ( Great applause. ) Why should
not such men succeed wherever they may be? They and their immediate
ancestors were born right; they had lived right; they possessed the highest
ideals of patriotism, and they were ready to fight, and if need be to die for the
right. They possessed the elements of the highest manhood, and, gentlemen,
facing you as I do to-night as your official representative, it would not be
modest for me to express or for you to listen to anything more upon that line ;
but there are good reasons why Ohio is the state she is and why Ohio men are
the men they are.

" Members of the Ohio Society, you are here in a representative capacity
in this metropolis of the great New World, and as such you have a mission to
perform. I do not feel it is altogether selfish when I call upon you one and all
to sustain in every possible way the best interests of this Society. If during
the course of this year you receive conununications not only from the other
officers of the Society, but possibly a personal note from me, asking you to do
this thing or that which will advance the interests of the Society, by increasing
its membership or in any other way, I hope you will feel and respond to the
obligation which rests upon you to comply with such requests.

" I have already said too much ; more than I intended ; but I do wish to
express my hearty appreciation of what has been done for the Ohio Society by
Mr. Colgate Hoyt, the retiring president, and by the chairman and members
of the respective committees. I beg, and I know I shall not ask in vain, that
those efforts may be continued in the best interests of our Society and thus
maintain the high character and reputation of the great state, of which we are
all so proud." (Great applause.)

In introducing Governor-elect Herrick, President McCook said : " We

439

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

have the pleasure of entertaining to-night a gentleman that I have the satis-
faction of calling a personal friend. About a month ago the leaders in the
campaign in Ohio were concerned about the outcome of the elections — some
of the leaders, I should say, not all. But the alarm or concern that was then
felt seems to have been without foundation, for when the election came about
the gentleman who is our guest to-night, the governor-elect of Ohio, the Hon.
Myron T. Herrick (great applause), was elected to the governor's chair of
Ohio by the largest vote ever given for any citizen by the people of that
state. I think the last time I heard the figures there was a plurality of 126,-
000. I understand that our guest is so popular out in Ohio that all the people
in the state who did not vote for him are sorry, and would now like to be counted
in and change their votes. The polls are closed, and the figures are made up,
but we have the satisfaction of knowing that our fellow member, the next
Governor of Ohio, will be a man whom we can all respect and honor. We can
look upon his career with unbounded satisfaction. I wiU now ask Grovemor-
elect Herrick to favor us with a few remarks." (Great applause.)

Governor Herrick said: "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Ohio So-
ciety: It gives me an especial pleasure to meet with this warm reception from
the members of the Ohio Society. I congratulate you upon the election of
your splendid president. Colonel McCook. It is not unlike .my own election in
some respects — in its unanimity. I am certain that Colonel McCook's case will
not be like that of the man who was sent to Congress. He went in with little
opposition, and when he went out there was none at all.

" I noted with pleasure the intense interest taken in our contest in Ohio
from all her devoted sons throughout the country. It may be truly said,
' Once an Ohioan, always an Ohioan.' I find here to-night many former Ohio-
ans, gathered from all parts of the country — all interested in their native
state. I am reminded of the story of the little girl, who said to her mother:
* Mamma, where was I bom .'' ' ' You were bom in Texas.' ' Where was papa
bom ? ' ' He was bom in Maine.' ' Where were you bom ? ' ' Why, I was
bom in Ohio.' ' How in the world did we ever all get together.'' ' "

Governor Herrick then devoted some time to the recent election in Ohio
and other matters of local interest, and in conclusion said :

" When two men stand for the great office of the Presidency of the
United States it is of the utmost importance that the platforms upon which
they stand, whatever names they bear, should line up for these principles of
our republican form of government, for it should be, whether in state or
national elections, first, our country; second, our party.

" If the result of our campaign has been to strengthen the old line Jeffer-
sonian Democratic party, to that I say ' Amen.' (Applause.)

" The nation has confronted several emergencies of this kind during its

440

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

national life, when the people were called upon to place patriotism above party
— business interests above politics — once in 1860 and again in 1896. The
people, apparently, when sorely oppressed, wander away from their anchorage,
but in good time they return again to the fold, and it is always gratifying to
know that after all the smoke and noise of a great campaign have subsided,
there after all has been no danger. The sweet spirit of patriotism and na-
tionalism, higher than they, rise above all party and factional antagonisms,
and we find ourselves still upon firm foundations. I thank you, gentlemen."
(Great applause.)

President McCook, in introducing the next speaker, said : " We have
with us to-night, as a guest of honor, our fellow member, a gentleman that
this Society always delights to honor and delights to listen to — the Hon.
James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland, will now speak to us." (Applause.)

Mr. Hoyt said : " I have been thinking since I have been sitting here of
certain startling and deplorable changes that have occurred in our political
and civil life since I last had the pleasure of meeting with you at one of your
annual meetings, only two short years ago. It would be unseemly and im-
proper for me to discuss the causes of those changes. We might differ about
them, and I would not want to sound any discordant note here. Causes that
might seem to me to be simple might strike you as complex.

" Nevertheless, the changes that have occurred in these two years are
facts, and as patriotic sons of Ohio, and patriotic Americans, it would be well
for us to consider these changes.

" Only two years ago the North and South seemed to have forgotten
everything except that their sons had stood together on the decks of govern-
ment war vessels cleared for action, and had won glorious victories for the
Republic, while the Stars and Stripes floated at the mast-head. They had
forgotten everything except that they had suffered together for a common
cause, had slept together under one tent, and lain side by side in hospital cots.
There was no strife between them except the patriotic strife to see who could
go forward the fastest and the farthest. Together they had carried Old
Glory up the blood-stained heights of El Caney, and planted it in triumph
there. But now it seems as if the North and South were further apart than
they have been since Sumter was fired upon.

" When I met with j^ou two years ago business men were prosperous and
hopeful. New enterprises were being inaugurated, and all the various activi-
ties of our commercial life were healthful. Now an unrest seems to have
smitten the business interests of the United States. Two years ago the
' race question ' seemed to be somehow solving itself. Now it is one of the
burning issues of the hour. Two years ago the relations between capital and
labor seemed to be fairly satisfactory. Capital was voluntarily increasing

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

wages ; labor seemed to be reasonably content. Now capital seems never to have
been more harassed and troubled, and labor never so discontented ; and, as I am
speaking here to-night, four cities of this Union are substantially under mar-
tial law, in order to protect the lives and property and rights of citizens.

" Now I am no pessimist. Like Governor Herrick, I believe in the future
of the Republic, and I am strengthened in that belief because, just at this
anxious and troublesome time, Ohio has again spoken for good government
and for common sense. We have had an election in Ohio, you will remember!
It happened just twenty-six days ago. You may have heard of that election.
I agree with the governor that it would not be a proper subject for discussion
on a non-partisan occasion like this if it were in any sense a partisan triumph ;
but it was not a partisan triumph. It was just as much a victory for good
Democracy as it was a victory for good Republicanism. It was the triumph
of sanity over insanity; of the school-house, the college, the church, the
counting-house and the factory over the lunatic asylum. It was the triumph
of order over disorder, of good government over bad government, or, rather,
over no government at all. It was the triumph of the peaceable, grateful flame
that burns on the American hearthstone over the lurid flame lighted by the
torch of incendiarism. It was the triumph of intelligence over ignorance, of
discretion over ' crankism.' We laid two ' cranks ' away to rest out in Ohio
last month, and the Angel of Freedom, who is always present when we have
an election in Ohio, wrote a certain handwriting on the wall, which is a warning
to all other ' cranks.' It was a great victory ! It brought peace and inspira-
tion to the hearts of thousands of patriots. It gave them new courage.

" Why is it that we won such a signal victory in Ohio .'* I will tell you the
reason, my friends, in my judgment. Mr. Herrick was elected governor of the
state of Ohio by the largest majority ever given a governor, and Uncle Mark
Hanna will be sent to the senate of the United States by the largest majority
that any legislature ever gave to any senator from Ohio; not alone because
Mr. Herrick is intelligent and able, and had obtained the confidence of our
people ; not alone because Uncle Mark Hanna, the stalwart, the unintimidated,
the indomitable, the generous and the far-seeing, stood for all that is best in
our national life, but because, and chiefly because, these two men were the
most conspicuous friends of one of the greatest men Ohio has ever produced.
They were friends of William McKinley, and if any national administration
was indorsed by the people of Ohio at that election, it was the last administra-
tion of William McKinley.

" Colonel McCook has said that some of the Ohio men living here in
New York regretted that they could not come out to Ohio and vote at that
election. I regret, and deeply regret, that we Ohio men who live out home
could not have come here to New York, and voted at your election."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Colonel ]\IcCook : " We certainly needed the votes more than Governor
Herrick and Uncle Mark ! "

President McCook called attention to the fact that there were two ex-
presidents of the Ohio Society present — Gen. Henry L. Burnett and Hon.
Milton I. Southard. He felt that a few remarks from them would be in
order. Both gentlemen responded briefly to the point.

General Burnett said : " Mr. President, Fellow Members of the Ohio
Society : — I think it is waxing late, and we have heard much speaking and of
a high order, and I will not make you a speech. It seems to me that there is
but a word to be said, and of personal greeting, perhaps, and a word of
eulogy I want to say for our retiring president. His incumbency of this
office I have watched, and worked with him at times, and he has excited my
profound admiration. He brought to bear in the executive work here in the
administration of his office those same great business and administrative quali-
ties he had displayed throughout his business life. He gave to his work an
enthusiasm, a tact and a diplomacy unparalleled. He has made the Society
during his administration more sucessful than it has ever been before. I con-
gratulate him upon his good work, and I congratulate you that he was 3'our
president. He is succeeded by a gentleman whom I have known long and
honored much, one of the first citizens of this state, standing at the head in
our profession, in the law. He is honored by the bench and bar, and is a
man, a ' kindly man, moving among his kind,' a man whom we all honor and
esteem. He will give you a good administration. He suceeds to a difficult
task, following brother Hoyt, but we will give him our loyal support. I ask
you all to gather about him in fellowship, in loyalty, in enthusiasm, to keep
this Society to the front in the future as it has been in the past. You stand
to-day recognized by the whole of this nation as the first society in the state
of New York. You stand first as men of affairs, as men of intelligence. You
take the membership of this Society, and you will find in this body the men
that are the moving spirits of the great financial, the great commercial, the
great business interests of this city. In every department of life you have
the vigor and the force and the intelligenfce, and you have moved to the front
for that very reason. Now stand by him. Put this Society to the front, and
stand as you have stood in the past, as the first of the great social bodies here
in this great metropolis. I thank 3^ou." (Applause.)

Mr. Southard said : " Gentlemen of the Ohio Society : — I had hoped
that I would be let alone to-night, and I am very grateful to General Burnett
for reminding you that the hour is late; but whether early or late I promise
you not to detain you long.

" I am very much disappointed in the character of the speeches which we
have had here to-night. I had hoped that they would be of a character that

443

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

would give place to a little story that I thought about, but they have been
of that unquestioned, sober-minded, elegant character that a story would
scarcely fit. (Colonel McCook: 'Tell it.') I have got to tell it because I
haven't anything else, but I have to apologize for telling it. A new senator
came into Washington some years ago, and he didn't wait long for an oppor-
tunity to make a flamboyant speech, and he felt, whether any one else did
or not, that it was the great event in the history of his country, and some-
body asked Senator Hamlin what he thought of the speaker's effort. ' Well,'
he says, ' it reminds me of an old story of a farmer down near Portland,
Maine. He came into town on a very cold day with a load of hay. He sold
his hay and came into the hotel and stood around the fire for a time warming
himself, and then asked the proprietor if he could not give him a drink.

* Well,' he said, ' you know we cannot sell here ; it is a temperance town.
We cannot sell anything by the drink.' ' Haven't you got nothing you
could let a fellow have .'' ' ' Well, I could let you have a bottle of cham-
pagne. That is all I can do.' ' Let me try it,' he says. He took it. It
was poured out, and he drank it down, wiped his lips and seemed to enjoy it;
put his hand in his pocket to get his wallet to pay for it. * How much is it? '
he says. * $2.50.? ' ' $2.50 ! that is all I got for my load of hay. The drink
was pretty much all froth at that.' That was the way that speech was."
Now, you see it has no application here to-night, for we have had no froth.

" Now, I don't know what I am standing here for, as I surely haven't
any speech. I, of course, could lend my compliments to our retiring president,
and could reiterate and indorse all that has been said before. With the Ohioan

* nothing short of too much of a good thing is enough,' so I give it my most
bearty approval. He has given this Society an exhibition of executive ability,
of energy and indomitable effort in seeing that banquets were properly or-
ganized. He has had few equals and no superiors. He had, of course, pre-
ceding him, our splendid president General Burnett. We had supposed when
he retired that we never should have good banquets again, and we have felt
year by year something of an apprehension as to the future. How will we get
another banquet to equal the last has been the solicitious inquiry. But when
the next comes we think it the best we have ever had, and I guess it is true.
And so, my fellow members, we need have no fear for the future. The selec-
tion of Colonel McCook as our new president is one that gives earnest of the
greatest hope and promise. We know that the standard of this Society will
still be maintained in the future, and it is a standard, too, that we may well
be proud of. And it is one fraught with important consequences, for as we
stand each year at our annual banquets in this city we are standing before
not only the five hundred or a thousand that may be present, but we are
standing before eighty millions of people, for what is said and done at

444

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

these banquets is heralded by the Associated Press from one end of the coun-
try to the other. We have a high mark, therefore, at which we must aim.
Let us strain to make our sayings and doings in the future in keeping with the
past, ever aiming, however, at still higher and better achievements, and our
sun will not set."

The president then said : " The time has come when we should separate,
and before doing so it has been suggested by some one present, for which
suggestion the officers of the Society are not, of course, responsible, but as it
seems to be a good one, it is possible our governing committee will take it
under advisement. The suggestion is that an excursion should be made up
of a delegation to return this visit of Governor Herrick by our going to
Columbus at the time of his inauguration. (Applause.) It is not within
our province to take any action upon such a recommendation to-night, so I
simply refer it to the governing committee for their consideration. Before we
part or adjourn to-night I feel that we would not have done our whole duty
unless some member of the Society feels it in his heart to move and another
to second a motion which I certainly will most gladly put, namely, a vote of
thanks to our retiring president and to such of the officers and members of
the committees who retire this year, for their very efficient and splendid work
in the interests of the Society."

The motion was duly made, seconded and carried unanimously and en-
thusiastically by a standing vote and cheers.

Mr. Southard said : " Before you close I would like to suggest an ex-
cursion of Governor Herrick to the Ohio Society banquet that will take place
in the course of a few weeks."

The president said that in due course the banquet committee would be
announced and the annual dinner arranged for.

Upon motion duly made and seconded the name of the guest of honor
of the evening, the Hon. Myron T. Herrick, was placed in nomination for
election as an honorary member of the Society, which election under the con-
stitution and by-laws can only be at the next regular meeting of the Society.
(At the next regular meeting of the Society, Governor Herrick was unani-
mousl}'^ elected an honorary member.)

The president then declared the annual meeting adjourned.
On December 14th the following house committee were elected by the gov-
erning committee : Andrew J. C. Foye, chairman ; L. D. Morrison and Nor-
man C. Raff. Flamen Ball Candler was elected chairman of the governing
committee. In the Society meeting on the same night. President McCook an-
nounced the standing committees as follows : Literature and art : Charles H.
Niehaus, Albert Shaw, Carleton Chapman, Robert Johnstone Mooney, Peter
F. Collier; entertainment: Addison W. Gilmore, Merrill Watson, Frederic

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

M. Nicholas, Francis X. Butler, Sturgis Siegler Dunham; Library: Emory
A. Stedman, P. Tecumseh Sherman, Edward J. Wheeler, Daniel Pritchard,
James Sherlock Davis;* auditing: Louis D. Clarke, Edward H. Childs,
Charles W. Lefler, Lewis C. Ruch, J. M. Chandler; historian: James H.
Kennedy ; chaplain : Bishop William A. Leonard.

Mr. Hoyt moved that the Society have a banquet the coming winter and
that the president be authorized, at his convenience, to appoint a committee.
It was so ordered. Mr. Hoyt also moved that a committee be appointed by the
chair to take into consideration the celebration at Athens, Ohio, in the suc-
ceeding June. The motion prevailed and the following gentlemen were
named as such committee with power to add to their number : Thomas Ewing,
Warren Higley and Samuel H. Parsons.

An amendment to the constitution, previously proposed by James H.
Kennedy, creating a membership committee f and defining its duties was taken
up for consideration and adopted; as was also one providing for a library
committee, and also defining its duties.

Mr. Crall read a letter from the first treasurer, Col. William Perry Fogg,
saying that some years ago he had brought a buckeye tree from Ohio and
planted it in his yard at Roselle, N. J., and had gathered a peck of genuine
buckeyes from it and would send one for each plate at the annual meeting.
A vote of thanks was tendered Colonel Fogg.

* There seems to have been a change in this committee subsequent to the above, as a
later announcement gives the library committee for 1904 as follows: Winchester Fitch,
chairman; P, Tecumseh Sherman, Charles D. Hilles, Daniel Pritchard, Frederic L.
Matthews.

f The first membership committee appointed by the president under this authority
was constituted as follows: James H. Kennedy, chairman; Colgate Hoyt, R. J. Chard,
James G. Newcomb and Emory A. Stedman.

446

CHAPTER XX
1904

AT the meeting on January 11, 1904, ex-President Southard presided
in the absence of President McCook, who, with Mr. Hoyt and other
members of the Society, was attending the inauguration of Governor
Herrick, at Columbus, Ohio. The following telegram was read :

" Columbus, O., January 11, 1904.
" Ohio Society of New York, Waldorf, N. Y.

" Governor Herrick inaugurated amid great enthusiasm. Special ar-
rangements had been made at exercises in State House, on reviewing stand,
at governor's reception, and at all social functions for the twenty members of
the Ohio Society of New York who were present.

(Signed) "Hoyt and McCook."

By formal vote of the Society the following response was immediately
placed upon the wires:

" Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Governor of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.

" The Ohio Society of New York in session this evening has instructed
me by an unanimous vote to extend our hearty congratulations to our fellow
member, the new Governor of Ohio.

(Signed) " M. I. Southard."

Mr. Kennedy, the historian, reported he had spent a very pleasant after-
noon with Col. William Perry Fogg at his home in Roselle, N. J., and con-
veyed to him personally the feeling of the Society toward him. He then pro-
posed the name of Colonel Fogg for honorary membership, to be acted
upon at a later meeting. Mr. Niehaus, chairman of the art committee, dis-
played a picture of a buckeye tree, amid great applause. The following
resolution, offered by Mr. Crall, was adopted:

" Whereas, It is deemed highly desirable to have prepared a correct
chronological history of the Society from its inception and organization,
therefore, be it

447

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

*' Resolved, That the governing committee be, and it hereby is, authorized
and requested to cause such a history to be prepared, and to employ such as-
sistance in the work, at such compensation, as it may seem proper, and also
to appoint a special committee of five members to supervise and approve the
work."

Mr. Applegate, secretary of the banquet committee, reported that said
committee had held a meeting and decided to hold the annual banquet on the
evening of M^rch 5th, and it was presumed that Governor Taft, the new
Secretary of War, would be the guest of honor, he having accepted an in-
vitation to be present.

At the meeting of the Society on February 8th, Mr. Candler reported
that pursuant to the resolution passed at a former meeting, the governing
committee had appointed the following as a committee on the history of the
Society: Hon. Milton I. Southard, Gen. Henry L. Burnett, Judge Warren
Higley, Andrew J. C. Foye, Leander H. Crall.

It was remarked as a matter of sad interest in connection with this
meeting, that while one committee presented resolutions in memory of Hon.
Charles Foster, ex-governor of Ohio, another was appointed to take similar
action in regard to Hon. Asa L. Bushnell, another ex- govern or of Ohio.
William Perry Fogg, the first treasurer of the Society, was unanimously
elected an honorary member. The Society was, after the business meeting,
entertained by Tappen Adney, a member, in an interesting and instructive
talk on " The Klondike Stampede," illustrated with stereopticon views.

Another pleasant and successful reception to the ladies was given at the
rooms on February 18th, at which the following programme was rendered:

a. " Caprice," . . . . . Sindlng

b. " The Butterfly," Lavalle

Mr. Harold S. Briggs.

a. " Thou'rt Like Unto a Flower," . . Snow

h. " Because," ..... d'Hardelot

Mr. F. M. Nicholas.

a. " Preislied aus Meistersinger," . Wagner-Wilhelmj

b. " Ronde des Lutins," .... Bazzini

Miss Marie Nichols.

a. " The Nightingale's Song," . . . Nevin

b. " Sweetheart, Thy Lips Are Touched with

Flame," ChadwicTc
Miss Florence N. Lewis.
Readings.

Miss Martha Hicks Dye.

448

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a. " Had a Horse," Korhay

b. " Turn Ye lo Me," . . . .Old Scotch

c. " Love's Dilemma," .... Richardson

Mr. Percy Hemus.

Monologue.

Mr. Walter W. Waters.
a. " Tlie Lotus Flower," .... Schumann *
6. " Haymaking," .... Needham

Katharine Cordner Heath.
a. " Introduction et Scherzo," . . . Lalo

Miss Nichols.

"Break, Break, Break," .... BucJc

Mrs. Heath, Miss Lewis, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Hemus.

The Army and Navy Banquet given by the Ohio Society of New York,
at the Waldorf-Astoria, on the evening of Saturday, March 5, 1904, with Hon.
William Howard Taft, Secretary of War of the United States, and recently
Governor of the Philippines, as the chief guest of honor, was a great success
in every meaning of the word, and worthy to be classified with the former
remarkable gatherings of a similar nature, held under the auspices of this
organization, of which this was the eighteenth. In addition to the Hon. Sec-
retary of War, there sat at the president's table, a number of other gentle-
men prominent in connection with these two arms of the national service, or
distinguished in other walks of public life. Among them were:

Hon. George Edmund Foss, member of Congress from Illinois, chair-
man of the House Committee on Naval Affairs.

Hon. Charles B. Landis, member of Congress from Indiana.

Lieut.-Gen. Adna R. ChaflPee, U. S. Army.

Rear-Admiral J. Crittenden Watson, U. S. Nary.

Hon. Charles H. Darling, Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Maj.-Gen. Henry C. Corbin, U. S. Army.

Rear-Admiral Frederick Rodgers, U. S. Navy.

Capt. Willard H. Bronson, U. S. Navy.

Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Governor of Ohio.

Hon. James E. Campbell, ex-Governor of Ohio.

There were other gentlemen of prominence present, a list of those invited
to seats at President McCook's table being here given :

449

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK /

PRESIDENTS TABLE

Mr. Robert L. Harrison, President Southern Society

Mr. (Colgate Hoyt, of New York

Hon. Nicholas Longworth, M. C, of Ohio

Mr. Robert C. Ogden, President of Pennsylvania Society i

Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, D. D., of New York

Hon. Robert W. Tayler, of Ohio

Capt. Willard H. Brownson, U. S. N., U. S. Naval Academy

Hon. Benjamin F. Tracy, of New York

Rear-Admiral Frederick Rodgers, D. S. Navy

Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, U. S. Senator, New York

Lieutenant-General Adna R. Chaffee, U. S. Army

Hon. George Edmund Foss, M. C, Illinois

Hon. Charles Dick, U. S. Senator, Ohio

Hon. William Howard Taft, Secretary of War

Mr. John J. McCook, President Ohio Society

Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Governor of Ohio

Hon. Charles H. Darling, Assistant Secretary of the Navy

Hon. Charles B. Landis, M. C, Indiana

Rear-Admiral J. Crittenden Watson, U. S. Navy

President Nicholas Murray Butler, Columbia University

Major-General Henry C. Corbin, U. S. Army

Hon. Edgar M. Cullen, of New York

Hon. Charles P. Taft, of Ohio

General James H. Wilson, of Delaware

Hon. James E. Campbell, of Ohio

General Grenville M. Dodge, of New York

Hon. Louis Stern, of New York

General James S. Clarkson, of New York

General Thomas H. Hubbard, President New England Society

Mr. William Butler Duncan, President St. Andrew's Society

The first step looking to the banquet was taken on December 14, 1903,
when ex-president Colgate Hoyt. moved that a banquet be given in 1904, and
that the president be authorized to appoint a banquet committee to have the
matter in charge. The motion was carried without dissent, and at a later date,
President McCook announced the following committee:

Milton I, Southard, chairman; Colgate Hoyt, Henry L. Burnett, White-
law Reid, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Lowell M. Palmer, Andrew J. C. Foye, John
D. Archbold, Eben B. Thomas, Flamen Ball Candler, Louis D. Clarke, War-
ren Higley, Leander H. Crall, Thomas H. Wheeler, David Homer Bates, A.
D. Juilliard, Ceilan M. Spitzer, Rush Taggart, J. G. Schmidlapp, William
C. Beer, S. H. Parsons, treasurer; James H. Hoyt, Henry W. Taft, Charles
Dick, James G. Newcomb, George W. Perkins, John H. Patterson, Jay O.
Moss, Charles A. Moore, Francis M. Applegate, secretary.

The gentlemen thus officially placed in charge of arrangements recog-
nized from the first that the presence of that stalwart and able son of Ohio,
the Hon. William Howard Taft, who had made so great a success as governor
of the Philippines, and who was even then named as the coming Secretary of
War, would make the banquet a success even though no other guest who
might be bidden, should come. President McCook cabled him at Manila some

450

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

months before and received the answer that it would be impossible for him to
accept.

President McCook immediately sent another cablegram to Governor
Taft, telling him that he must come, and that Ohio would take no refusal as
final, and to this were attached the names of Senator Marcus A. Hanna, Sena-
tor Joseph B. Foraker and governor-elect Myron T. Herrick. Back came
an answer under the sea, and that answer was, " I accept."

Thus secure in the presence of the coming Secretary of War, the banquet
committee set the machinery in motion to secure other prominent representa-
tives of the army and of the navy. That success crowned their efforts, the
list of names above given will verify.

Arrangements were made with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for
a special car, in which to bring the guests from Washington. Gen. Henry L.
Burnett, ex-president of the Ohio Society, and himself a distinguished officer
of the union army in the Civil War, went to Washington, as an escort repre-
senting the Society. Secretary Taft had come to New York in advance,
having another engagement, but the others came in the special car, reaching
New York a little after 3 p. m. on the day of the banquet. They were met
at the depot by a committee consisting of Hon. Milton I. Southard, Judge
Warren Higley and Mr. R. J. Chard, with carriages, and taken direct to the
Manhattan Hotel.

The members of the Society and their guests began to arrive at the
Waldorf at about 6 p. m., and found the members of the banquet committee
and reception committee on hand to receive them. The gentlemen who had
been named as members of the reception committee were as follows :

Andrew Ernest Foye, chairman ; R. J. Chard, Mason Evans, Francis B.
Swayne, George A. Beaton, L. C. Ruch, S. Frederick Taylor, L. D. Morri-
son, C. D. MaGrath, Charles C. TegethofF, Henry D. Lyman, H. J. Morse,
Adolph S. Ochs, Norman C. Raff, David Robison, Jr., Charles D. Hilles,
H. B. Brundrett, P. Ryan, Cass Gilbert, Orrel A. Parker, Warner Ells, E. W.
Oglebay, Frank D. Pavey, P. Tecumseh Sherman, Frank W. Hubby, Jr.,
Winchester Fitch, Charles D. Palmer, Dr. Roland Hazen, Lyman Spitzer,
Walter S. Sullivan, William H. Jackson, Nicholas Monsarrat.

A little later Secretary Taft and the other special guests were escorted
to the Waldorf, where an informal reception was held in the Astor Gallery.
The doors of the banquet hall were thrown open in due season, and the mem-
bers and their personal guests took their positions at the tables and remained
standing. The members assigned to escort the special guests to the table of
honor and the gentlemen whom they were to seat, were as follows: Hon.
William H. Taft, escorted by President John J. McCook : Hon. G. E. Foss,
by Judge Warren Higley ; Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, by R. J. Chard ; Hon. C.

461

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

M. Depew, by H. B. Brundrett; Gov. M. T. Herrick, by Ralph H. Beaton;
Hon. Charles B. Landis, by Milton I. Southard ; Rear-Admiral Watson, by L.
D. Morrison; President Nicholas M. Butler, by F. B. Swayne; Gen. H. C.
Corbin, by Orrel A. Parker ; Hon. Charles P. Taft, by W. H. Jackson ; Gen.
Grenville M. Dodge, by George F. Granger; Hon. Charles H. Darling, by
Mason Evans; Hon. Robert W. Tayler, by James H. Kennedy; Robert C.
Ogden, by H. J. Morse; Rear-Admiral Rodgers, by S. F. Taylor; Hon.
B. F. Tracy, by Adolph S. Ochs ; Hon. Edgar M. Cullen, by W. S. Sulhvan ;
Hon. James E. Campbell, by Patrick Ryan; Gen. James H. Wilson, by Win-
chester Fitch; Wilham B. Duncan, by Lyman Spitzer; Robert L. Harrison,
by Clayton E. Strong ; Hon. Nicholas Longworth, by Merrill Watson ; Capt.
W. H. Brownson, by Louis H. Severance; Hon. Louis Stem, by Charles W.
Lefler; Gen. James S. Clarkson, by P. Tecumseh Sherman; Gen. Thomas H.
Hubbard, by Charles H. Niehaus.

There was perhaps never a time in the record of the Waldorf-Astoria
when so many tables were set in the banquet hall. There were about sixty
of these, and those that could not find a place in the main room were set in tlie
palm garden, or corridor, adjoining, the doors of which were removed for
the occasion. In most cases there were ten to a table, making over 600 present.

The immense hall was a beautiful sight when the doors were thrown open.
Each table was adorned with flowers. Back of the president's table the wall
was a bank of American flags. Flanking this were the various flags, pen-
nants and signals of the army and navy, and the shields of Ohio, New York,
and of the United States.

Each man who was present, whether of Ohio birth or not, proudly wore
a badge consisting of ribbon bows of green and gold, the colors of the Society,
attached to a buckeye. These emblems of Ohio came from two sources — a
part of them from a tree on the farm of the late Senator John Sherman,
at Mansfield, O., and a part from a buckeye tree transplanted from Ohio to
his estate at Roselle, N. J., by Col. William Perry Fogg, first treasurer of
the Ohio Society of New York.

The souvenir provided for the occasion, one of which was at each plate,
was an artistic and very appropriate piece of work, setting forth as it did the
record of the American army and navy. The following features which it
contained are well worth commendation:

A series of pictures of some of the great battles that have been fought
by our army and navy in the course of our national history; pictures of
Bunker Hill, the action between the ships Ranger and Drake, that of the
Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis ; Perry's victory on Lake Erie, the
battle of New Orleans, the storming of Chapultepec, a view of Fort Sumter
prior to the bombardment, the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac,

452

^^~Q^cjl(mmi)Q

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout IMountain, Missionary Ridge, the battle of
Mobile Bay, the battle of Manila Bay, the storming of San Juan Hill, San-
tiago, Tien-Tsin.

Portraits of George Washington, John Paul Jones, Oliver Hazard Perry ;
of Jackson, Scott, McClellan, Grant, Sherman, Sheiidan, Shafter, Worden,
Farragut, Dewey, Sampson, Schley, Chaffee — an epitome in black and white
of men who have shed honor and glory on the army and navy of the United
States.

Tliis artistic souvenir was prepared by a special menu committee con-
stituted as follows : Samuel H, Parsons, chairman ; Charles H. Niehaus, Carl-
ton T, Chapman, Howard Chandler Christy.

In accordance with the custom inaugurated several years ago, seats in
the boxes of the two balconies about the banquet hall were assigned to the
wives, daughters and lady friends of the members. The doors were opened
previous to the speaking, and not only were all the boxes filled, but chairs
were set back of them, and not one was empty. Each lady had a seat as-
signed in advance.

Before the guests were seated, grace was said, in the absence of Bishop
Leonard, chaplain of the Society, by Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, D. D., of New
York.

President McCook made an ideal toastmaster. He construed his duties
not to lie in speech making, but in the introduction of the orators of the even-
ing. He did this tersely, to the point, and ever in a happy manner.

At 9:30 Colonel McCook arose, and the presentation of the orators of
the evening began. The programme arranged for this feature of the even-
ing's entertainment, was as follows:

TOASTS

The President of the United States
The members of the Society and their guests will respond by standing
while the band plays " The Star Spangled Banner."

The United States in the Philippines
Responded to by the Hon. William Howard Taft, Secretary of War.

An Adequate Modern Navy, in Constant Readiness, the Best
Safeguaed of Nationai. Prosperity and Peace
Responded to by the Hon. George Edmund Foss, M. C, Chairman of
the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives of the
United States.

453

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The Sons of Ohio
Responded to by the Hon. Charles B. Landis, Member of Congress
from Indiana.

OuE Native State, Ohio, the Mother of Us All
Responded to by the Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Governor of Ohio.

The Aemy of the United States
Responded to by Lieutenant-General Adna R. Chaffee, U. S. A.

The American Navy
Responded to by Rear-Admiral John Crittenden Watson, U. S. N.,
Farragut's Flag-Lieutenant, and now the Senior Rear-Admiral on the Active
List of the Navy.

Colonel McCook said : " Fellow Members of the Ohio Society of New
York; our Honored Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:

" In behalf of the Ohio Society of New York, it gives me very great
pleasure to extend to you all a hearty, cordial, buckeye greeting. That refer-
ence to the word ' buckeye ' creates enthusiasm, and it is proper for me to refer
to the fact that the buckeyes which you are wearing upon the lapels of your
coats to-night, came from the old farm, in Richland County, of the late
Senator John Sherman, of blessed memory, and came to us through the cour-
tesy of Mr. William Perry Fogg, one of the oldest members of this Society.

" The buckeye has become a symbol of loyalty, and the sons of Ohio are
proud of it, yes, we are all proud to call ourselves Buckeyes.

" Owing to the efficiency of my predecessor in office, IVIr. Colgate Hoyt,
and the secretary, treasurer and other officers of this Society, I am able to
report that it is in all respects in a most prosperous condition. Financially,
its treasury has a larger credit balance than ever before. At the annual
banquet a year ago, we had 435 members, and this year we have 536. I
would like to say to the gentlemen who have so strongly expressed their ap-
proval of the report of our enlarged numbers by applause, that they can do
no better thing for the Ohio Society than to show their interest, not by the
use of their hands in clapping, but by signing proposals of properly qualified
men for membership in this Society. (Applause.)

" While the Society has many causes for congratulation, with so many
strangers among us as our guests to-night, we will not dwell long on family
matters. It is only fitting, however, to refer to the fact that while we have
been rapidly increasing in membership, we have also been seriously depleted
by death. Fifteen members of our Society have died since the last annual
banquet :

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

General Samuel Thomas 1903

Judge Samuel E. Williamson 1903

Mr. I. Pennock Merser 1903

Mr. H. A. Lozier 1903

Capt. Anthony J. Allaire 1903

Mr. F. H. Kingsbury 1903

Hon. Mahlon Chance 1903

Mr. Albert J. Wise 1903

Mir. Thomas C. Campbell 1904

Mr. John W. Harman 1904

Hon. Charles Foster 1904

Hon. Asa S. Bushnell 1904

Mr. Hoyt Sherman 1904

Hon. Marcus A. Hanna , 1904

Mr. Lewis Cheesman Hopkins 1904

" That list contains the names of many prominent men, such as Gen.
Samuel Thomas, Judge Samuel E. Williamson, Capt. Anthony Allaire, Hon.
Mahlon Chance, Hon. Hoyt Sherman, Hon. Charles Foster, ex-governor and
member of the cabinet, Hon, Asa S. Bushnell, ex-governor, and the last and
greatest and most serious loss to us all, our dear friend — and every member
of this Society has the right to consider him his friend, for Marcus A. Hanna
was the friend of all true men. I wiU not trust myself to express the regret
that I feel personally, or that the members of this Society feel, in the loss of
that great man. As others of the speakers will make full and adequate refer-
ence to Senator Hanna, I will not take your time by trying to give expres-
sion to what ought to be said in his memory.

" We had expected, when this dinner was arranged for, to have Senator
Hanna with us. He accepted the invitation and expressed anticipations of
pleasure at being here to-night. A success©^ has been elected to take his
place in the Senate, and we had hoped to have him with us. I have received
the following telegram from General Dick:

" Your telegram and letter much appreciated. Regret exceedingly the
demands upon my time during the coming week, due in part to senatorial elec-
tion Tuesday and Wednesday, will absolutely prevent my reaching New York
in time for Ohio Society's banquet next Saturday evening, as much as I would
prize this opportunity to join with the members of that splendid organization
in its most commendable effort to properly honor the Secretary of War. My
best wishes are extended for a highly successful banquet.

(Signed) " Charles F. Dick."

455

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" I will read but one other telegram, and that is from my predecessor in
office, the genial Colgate Hoyt. (Applause.) He had planned to be with us
to-night, but he has gone to the South, and telegraphs this morning from
New Orleans as follows:

" Deeply regret I cannot be with you this evening. Please convey best
wishes to all present at the banquet, and especially to our honored guests.

(Signed) " Colgate Hoyt."

" We have now passed from the material part of our programme, to that
of a higher and more intellectual type. Loyally and as in duty bound, the
first toast upon an occasion hke this should always be to the President of
the United States. I will ask you to stand so that every one may respond
to this toast to the President of the United States, and remain standing while
the band plays the Star Spangled Banner."

(The President's name was received with applause and the company
enthusiastically joined in singing " The Star Spangled Banner.")

President McCook continued : " This is not the proper occasion, and if
it were the proper occasion, I would not venture to take yoiu* time to ex-
plain— or perhaps I had better say demonstrate — the circumstances and con-
ditions out of which the fact grew or evolved itself, for it is a fact, well recog-
nized by the American people, that Ohio men are very successful in reach-
ing political and official preferment. There are many good reasons for this,
but I will spare you from listening to my recital of them.

" In this presence, however, you must bear with me while I make brief
reference to one of the most brilliant and remarkable examples which Ohio
has up to this time produced, of a worker and winner in pubhc office.

" We all well know that the American, as a man, and especially in an
official position, develops capacity to accomplish a great many different kinds
of things. We well know that there are many Americans who have been suc-
cessful journalists; we all know that a considerable number of Americans
have been and are successful judges in our state courts; we also know that a
smaller number, but we are thankful to say an adequate number, of successful
judges have been developed in our federal courts ; but it has remained for the
guest of honor of the evening to demonstrate that America can and has pro-
duced a man who in addition to performing all these functions in the most
satisfactory way, is also a highly successful Oriental administrator and gov-
ernor. (Applause and cheers.) We never had to tackle that kind of a job
until recently and an Ohio man has done the trick. (Laughter and applause.)
I will not dweU upon the great and diverse abilities exhibited by our guest
of honor in the various positions which he has so honorably and so splendidly

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

filled, but no one questions that what he has done in the Philippines as the
civil governor of our possessions in the East, is not only unique in being the
first of its class, but it is also unique in the results lie has accomplished. It
was not simply the civil administration of an Eastern province, for many
Anglo-Saxons have accomplished that under the British flag. He went into
a country far to the South, with a people entirely different from anything we
had ever known or had practical experience with in this country, living under
laws different from ours, based upon the Latin and not the Anglo-Saxon or
American systems. He brought to bear upon the conditions prevailing in the
Philippines the patient industry and learning that had stood him in good stead
in the state and federal courts of this country, and he was enabled to outline
and put into effective operation a government and laws which were workable
under the complicated and difficult conditions obtaining in the East.

" He not only accomplished that and did it well, but he governed the
men of that far off Eastern country in such a humane and intelligent way
that they not only gladly accepted the law he established, but looked up with
confidence and affectionate regard to the man who administered it and called
him their best friend, yes, even by a higher name, they called him ' Taft the
Just.' (Applause.) It is much more difficult for any human governor to
be just than to be gracious or generous or even able, and when people gov-
erned under such conditions can look up to their governor in that way, and
bid him farewell as they accompanied him to the ship, with tears in their eyes,
because they hardly dared hope to see him more, it was a wonderful tribute to
what an American, a cultivated, intelligent, high-minded American could do
under very adverse circumstances.

" We have all come here to-night expecting to hear from the Secretary
of War, upon the United States in the Philippines. No other man in the
world is so able to speak upon that subject, and I consider that we, the mem-
bers of the Ohio Society, and our guests, are greatly privileged in having
Secretary Taft address us upon that subject to-night. It gives me the great-
est possible pleasure to present to you our brother Buckeye, the first American
who successfully governed our possessions in the East, and then returned to
govern us here at home, a: some day he undoubtedly will do, our Ohio friend,
the Honorable William Howard Taft, Secretary of War of the United States."

Hon. William H. Taft said : " Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
of the Ohio Society:

" I am greatly honored by the invitation to address you this evening. I
received that invitation before I left the Philippines, by cable. I was conscious
of the number of official engagements which would necessarily confront me,
and, therefore, much as I deplored the necessity, I sent a cable to your president
declining the honor. I then received a cable — which ran in this wise:

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" ' It is deemed of the utmost importance that before sailing, you should
cable accepting McCook's invitation to the Ohio Society. (Signed) Hanna,
FoRAKER, Herrick.' (Applause and laughter.)

" I considered that a cataclysm had been reached in the politics of that
good old state, and that probably something was necessary to bring about a
reconciliation, and if I could be offered up as a fatted calf, I was willing.

" I had heard of the Ohio Society of New York for many years, and I
knew of their distinguished hospitality, in which so much wit and reason
flowed over the board, but I had no idea, gentlemen, of meeting so formidable
and distinguished a company as this to-night. It is delightful for me to find
that here in this city of New York, where there is a danger sometimes that it
should be thought that the sun sets in Hackensack (laughter and applause),
there are so many gentlemen of the Ohio blood who know at any rate that the
sun sets as far west as the Ohio valley. To-night I am to invite your at-
tention to islands and their history which I fear most of us did not know that
the sun set upon at all, some ten years ago.

" What is that history.? We need not go back more than four hundred
years to study the ethnographic history of the islands before 1,500. Doubt-
less the American sovereignty and the American interest in those islands will
sometime develop most interesting history of the tribes that make up the
Filipino people, but it is sufficient for what I have to say to-night, to call
your attention to the fact that four hundred years ago, Spain with her war-
riors and her priests entered that island and remained there until she left in
1898. Magellan, that bold warrior, whose statue and monument we still have
in Manila, landed at Cebu, and was shot upon the island which lies just
opposite to the present town of Cebu. Legazpi founded the city of Manila,
and Urdeneta, the Recoleto monk, accompanied him. On the Luneta, which
is a driveway and public promenade, about the centre of Manila, north and
south, facing Manila Bay, and the most conspicuous site in all the archi-
pelago, is a monument chiseled by a Spanish artist, and erected after it
reached the islands, by the American military government. It is a monument
of two figures. Legazpi stands with his sword unsheathed, in his right hand,
and holding in his left the standard of Spain. Urdeneta, the monk, stepping
just in front of him, holds in front of the standard of Spain, the holy cross.
The statue is instinct with motion, instinct with valor, instinct with the cour-
age that carried those men into exploration and into civilization and into
Christianization. In the center of the same Luneta is reserved a round space
for the erection of a monument to Rizal, the hero of the Philippines ; the man
who four hundred years after the coming of the Spaniard, sought to improve
the government of Spain, and in his efforts was consigned to death, and there,
upon that same Luneta, fell with the bullets of a file of Spanish soldiery.

458

Hon. William H. Taft

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Now, the Spaniards were not all wicked. We have a way of disposing
of people with two or three adjectives, and letting them go. As a matter of
fact, Spain was at the height of her power in those days, and her men were
heroes. They enacted the laws of the Indies. Those laws were on the whole
a very fair set of laws, but the difficulty arose in their later administration.
At one time, Spanish statesmen said to the King, ' These Philippine Islands
give us nothing of profit, they give us no gold, they give us no spices such as
the Portuguese get ; why should we not abandon them .'' ' They were met on
the other hand by the members of the religious orders who said, ' There are
millions of souls here to be saved, and Your Majesty cannot leave these islands;
you cannot abandon them.' And they stayed. And those friars Christian-
ized great numbers, by their efforts as parish priests through that archipelago,
until to-day we have nearly seven millions of Christians, and the only Christians
of the Malay race in the world.

" Higher education was introduced for the few ; the great mass were kept
in a state of Christian pupilage, if I may call it such ; but there were a few
who were educated ; and coming down to this century, in 1870, when republi-
canism visited Spain, those ideas came into the islands and affected a number
of the educated Filipinos.

" The friars had obtained such control over the people of the islands,
that the Spanish king, was quite willing to remit to them not only all the re-
ligious functions in the islands, but also the civil functions, and as a conse-
quence there fell upon the Spanish priests the business of the detective, of the
policeman, of the schoolmaster, and every other civil office; and when persecu-
tions were begun for doubtful political views, it was the friars who were
charged with instituting them. The friars were large landlords. I don't
know, I don't think, in fact, that they were oppressive landlords, but the fact
that they were landlords, the fact that they were policemen, the fact that they
were priests, all together, created after 1870, a feeling of bitter hostility
against them. As this feeling increased the friars departed from an earlier
policy — indeed, they had even before 1870 — of encouraging the natives to
become priests. In the early part of the century, and before, Filipinos had
been made priests and bishops, but later on, for the last thirty or forty years,
the education of the Filipino priests was quite defective and none of them
were advanced to preferment in the Church. It was this that led to the so-
called revolution of 1870, when Burgos and a number of other native priests
were killed in Cavite.

" Coming down to 1896, the feeling was sharpened again, and we had the
insurrection of 1896, in which Aguinaldo won his spurs. That insurrection
was settled by what was called the treaty of Biac na bato. The insurrection
had been practically worn out by the Spanish soldiery and they were glad to

459

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

make a treaty. It was brought about by the intervention of two or three very
active gentlemen who wanted to bring it about, and who perhaps hoped to
share in the rewards, and so represented to one side that the oral part of the
treaty meant one thing and to the other side that it meant another. As a con-
sequence, when the money was paid, which was paid under the treaty, it took
very little to satisfy each side that the other had been deceiving it, and as a
consequence in 1898, when Dewey went to the islands, it was exceedingly easy
to raise another insurrection.

" Rizal had been shot before 1898. His aim had been not revolution, but
an improvement in the Spanish administration and the removal of the abuses,
including the exercise of political power by the friars. But after his death
the insurrection took on a different shape and Andres Bonafacio developed the
Catapunan Society, which spread rapidly over the entire islands. He was not
a man whose character was the highest; indeed, a number of murders, it was
said, had stained his hands, and in the custom which prevailed in the politics of
those days, he retired into a mountain, and was removed. It was charged, and
Mabini says so, that this was at the instance of Aguinaldo.

" The insurgent government was organized at Malolos. A convention was
called, and a very creditable constitution was adopted. That convention con-
sisted of very few popular representatives of the six or eight provinces about
Manila. All the rest of the representatives were appointed by Aguinaldo to
represent the other parts, the other forty -five provinces in the islands. About
tliis time there arose a difference between Aguinaldo and General Otis. It
became known to the Filipinos before it became known to the Americans that
Aguinaldo was determined to break with the Americans. That is now estab-
lished by a written document in which it was agreed on a Junta at Hong Kong,
between Aguinaldo and others, that they should go to the islands, that they
should get guns from the Americans, that they should, with the guns from
the Americans, drive the Spaniards out, and then that they should use those
guns to drive the Americans out. That created a split among those who had
supported Aguinaldo in making up his government, and those who were known
as Americanistas withdrew to Manila. Meantime the insurgent government
had been carried out in some six or eight provinces; governors had been
appointed and a form of government instituted. The oppression and corrup-
tion of that government it needs no testimony to develop. Any one who visits
the islands and converses with those who were subjected to its iron rule will be
able to tell you that Spain in her palmiest days was not able to equal the
oppression and tyranny that prevailed during the eight months in those eight
provinces.

" Now I think you all know and recollect as well as I can state it the
dilemma in which the United States found herself after Dewey's victory and

460

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

after the signing of the protocol. What were we to do? Were we to turn the
islands back to Spain? Had we done so doubtless Spain would have sent
forces there and probably reconquered the islands at great loss of blood and
life. But we did not approve the government of Spain, and we had entered a
kind of alliance with the insurgents in their efforts to assist us. Second, could
we turn the islands over to the insurgents ? I know upon this point there is a
great difference of opinion. I don't think there is any difference in regard to
the obligation which we were under with respect to those islands. The movable
property and a great amount of the building property, if I may call it such,
belong to foreigners. Were we to leave the islands then, the protection of that
property, being an international obligation, either fell upon us or justified some
other nation in entering the islands to protect that property. When you con-
sider that the real bone of contention between Aguinaldo and General Merritt
was that Aguinaldo was not pei-mitted to enter the city of Manila in order that
they might have the justifiable loot which they had been fighting for, you may
understand the great risk that would be run in trusting to that government to
protect international rights. Third, we could take the islands ourselves; and
we did. (Applause.) It is suggested tliat we might have formed a protec-
torate, that is, that we might have seen a government formed ; that we might
have stationed our navy in the bay; that we might have said to the foreign
nations, we will see that your property is protected, but we withdraw all power
from ourselves to protect it; we will assume the responsibility of this govern-
ment, without retaining the right to see that it is a proper government. That
course the government did not adopt, and it proceeded then to administer a
government of the Philippine Islands for the benefit of the Filipino people.
Was it wrong in so doing ? ( Cries of ' No, No.' )

" In the first place it should be taken into consideration that the sover-
eignty of the islands was by lawful treaty transferred to us, and admitting, if
you please, that a large body of the Filipino people were opposed to our rule
and wished to be independent, a question not at all free from doubt, we were in
the attitude of being a lawful sovereign over a territory in which the people
sought to remove our sovereignty. Now, what was our obligation under those
circumstances? It is said that the principles of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence required us to leave the islands to the people of the islands, on the ground
that the just rights of government must depend upon the consent of the gov-
erned. I deny that the Declaration of Independence, when construed under
the circumstances under which that instrument was signed, bears any such
construction when applied to different circumstances; circumstances so differ-
ent from those which prevailed at the time of our Revolution. (Applause.)
That instrument was signed by men who themselves made an exception of
minors, insane persons, women and slaves. That instrument was signed by

461

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

men who upheld the property qualification in many of the states, that did
not permit a majority of the citizens to vote and to consent to a government
in those states. Why, then, should we extend that instrument to mean that
the Hottentots are better able to make a government for themselves than a
civilized government into whose hands the Hottentots may be thrown? If you
follow the construction of the Declaration of Independence, you must come
to this conclusion: That a government of a people, an independent self-gov-
ernment of a people, no matter how bad, is always better than a good govern-
ment of one people by another. And I say that that is not a fact, and that
history has a number of examples to show the contrary. (Applause.) The
Declaration of Independence is a sacred instrument in our history, but is
there any reason why we should not look history in the face and recognize
facts? Is there any doubt in the mind of a single person who hears me that
the condition of Egypt to-day is far better than it ever would have been had
England not gone there and governed that country for the benefit of that
people? Is there any doubt in the mind of a man who hears me that the gov-
ernment of San Domingo, had it been placed under our control one hundred
years ago, would have been vastly better than the state of social dissolution in
which it finds itself to-day? Why sacrifice truth to phrases? The words of
the Declaration of Independence, as applied to the men to whom they did
apply, were the truth. Those were men, descendants of men who for six
hundred years in English history had been hammering out their right to self-
government, and who for two hundred years after they came to these shores
had, in fact, enjoyed self-government. Will you compare them with a people
like the Filipinos, fit as they may be in the future for self-government, who
thus far, under four hundred years of Spanish rule, have never known what it
was to exercise political rights? Why, gentlemen, are politics so different from
the ordinary affairs of life that the same simple reasoning does not apply to
both?

" Now, gentlemen, are the Filipino people fitted to enjoy self-govern-
ment? I know that people, and I yield to no one in my affection for the
people, and in my appreciation of their merits. They are a courteous people ;
they are a kindly people; they are a people who have fought for what they
regarded as their liberty ; they are a brave people. I think they were misled
in so fighting, but I honor them for the effort. They are a people, however,
ninety per cent, of whom are in a state of Christian pupilage, utterly ignorant,
and utterly unable to exercise the slightest political franchise. There are
ten per cent, of them, hardly so great a number I should say, who can speak
Spanish, and that marks the line of the educated, competent people, and those
who are not. But they are a bright people, and I am not decrying their
possible future fitness, their capacity for development; but I am saying that

462

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the United States, charged as it is with the wardship of this people, would
do those people a crime now that by the force of circumstances it has had to
take them under the wing of its sovereignty were it to set them adrift and,
in the language of some statesmen, ' Let them go to the devil.' (Laughter
and applause.)

" Now it has been suggested that while they may not be ready for popu-
lar self-government, they are ready for a self-government like that of Japan.
Japan is an imperial government; the Japanese people were a feudal people;
they owed allegiance on lines of chief dom ; the chiefs controlled their followers,
and the Mikado or the Shoguns controlled the chiefs; and it was possible to
build up an empire on such a people. But the Filipino people have no such
tribal or feudal relations. The four hundred years of Spanish rule utterly
destroyed any real tribal relations, and as a consequence there is no govern-
ment that can be built on what exists there, unless it be a government under
the guidance of another government, or unless it be popular self-government.
Hence it is that there is nobody to whom the United States could turn over
the responsibility of government, as it might in a country like Japan.

" Now, it is said that we took the islands from greed of conquest. Well,
perhaps we did, but I was in the neighborhood immediately after the islands
were taken, and I had the honor of a number of close confidential talks with
William McKinley, and it may be that he was influenced by the greed of a
Napoleon and was in favor of extending the power of the United States
into those far off tropic islands; but if he was, and if that was the attitude
of his mind, he most successfully concealed it from me. What was on his
mind when I talked with him was the tremendous sense of responsibility for
those people in those islands. I said to liim, Mr. President, I was very sorry
that we went to those islands", and said he, You are not a bit sorrier than I
was ; but, said he, we have them, we cannot take one island and not take the
rest ; we were in a situation where we must act, and I hope we have acted for
the best. But, said he, no man can be more sorry than I am, for the tremen-
dous trust that we have assumed, and no one more sincerely regretful that we
had to assume it.

" It was in this spirit that William McKinley sent a commission to the
Philippine Islands for the purpose of carrying out the policy which he an-
nounced when the war of the insurrection was at its height, and continued to
announce, no matter what the conduct of the inhabitants of those islands, that
we were there for the benefit of the people of those islands, and intended to
govern those islands for the benefit solely of the Filipino people. The Philip-
pines for the Filipinos was a motto, the maxim which William ]\IcKinley
directed his commission to follow, and that, I think I may say, that injunction
the commission has faithfully kept. (Applause.)

463

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" When the commission reached the islands there was a state of war, sub-
dued much at the time the commission reached there, but in the following fall
it revived again. The commission was sent out with the idea of offering a con-
trast to war, of offering a contrast to the army, by following close upon the
heels of the army with the organization of civil government. And I think
it is not too much to say that that attitude of President McKinley, with the
army in one hand and the commission in the other, was what led subsequently
to the ceasing of the war. I do not, for a minute, desire to detract from the
tremendous work of the army in those islands. No man who was there and
knows the privations to which our soldiers were subjected can but feel proud
of such an army. Under conditions that required the separation of the army
into six hundred different posts, there were found first and second lieutenants,
and sergeants and corporals that were able to plan campaigns and to illustrate
the independent self-reliance of the American soldier. (Applause.) But I
must still insist that the policy which McKinley inaugurated was an element,
and an important element, in bringing about the surrender of all those who
could be called insurrectos at all.

" And now, gentlemen, what has been done in the Philippines? A great
government has been organized, a government of some eight hundred munici-
palities, of thirty-eight provinces, all of which collect as taxes possibly fifteen
millions of dollars, gold, and disburse it in carrying on that government. The
islands have been policed, a system of judiciary has been established; and I do
not think I state the case too strongly when I say that the criminal laws of
the Phihppine Islands are enforced with much more justice, much more cer-
tainty, than in half of the states of the United States.

"It is said every once in a while, in order to point a sentence or roll off
a rhetorical period, that the rights of free speech are denied in the islands,
and that if a man read a declaration of independence in any town in the
Philippine Islands it would subject him to imprisonment. That is not true.
During the war and while the war was at its height it was true. It was de-
clared to be unlawful to advocate independence either by peaceable or violent
means, and it was done because it was thought that at that time, with men
in the field, the people would not be able to distinguish between an advocacy
of peaceful means and one of violence. When the war ceased, by the terms
of the statute, the statute itself ceased to have effect.

" Then it is said that there are sedition laws in the islands, which there
are; and so there are in many of the states of the United States. They are
not contrary to free speech. If a man incites people to resistance to the gov-
ernment, unlawful resistance to the government, or to disturbance, it is a new
doctrine that to arrest him and put him in jail is a violation of the rights of
free speech.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Then we have libel laws, and criminal libel. A man who states some-
thing about somebody else that is not so, reflecting on that somebody else, is
sued, not on the civil side, but on the criminal side of the court, and lands in
jail, and the American editor wants to know how this is done. Can it be possi-
ble that under the Starry Flag an editor may not say something that is not
true about another man and escape jail? (Laughter and applause.)

" The trouble is that in the argument about free speech, the limitations
of free speech in any free country are not very well understood. In those
countries so fortunate as tliis country is, in which it is not necessary to enact
all the laws that may be enacted under the constitution, to preserve the rights
of individuals, because so many wrongs are allowed to go without vindica-
tion just because vindication of them would take too much trouble; but in a
new country, in a country like the Philippines, where with a strange people
that are unused to the freedom of the press, it is necessary that laws should be
enforced which might be passed and be entirely legal here, but which are un-
necessary here and yet are necessary there, without violating in either place
any part of the constitution.

" And now, how are we preparing the people for self-government ? We
have organized some eight hundred municipal governments in which there is
complete autonomy in the sense that the municipal officers are all elected by
the people, that is, by the people who can qualify themselves to vote, and the
qualification for voting is either that they should speak Spanish or that they
should have been municipal oflacers before, or that they should speak English,
or that they should pay taxes; I think $15 Mexican a year. That makes an
electorate very much less than the number of people, but it is the only elec-
torate that seems possible there, and I have heard no criticism from the people
in regard to it. In the provincial government, the governor is elected, the
other two officers of the provincial board are appointed; the other provincial
officers who are not in the board are also appointed under civil service rules.'
In the commission there are three Filipino members appointed, who sit with
the five American members ; an appointed legislative body of eight.

" Two years after the publication of the census, which I hope will be
completed in October, there is a provision that executes itself upon the procla-
mation of the President, requiring the commission to divide the islands into
not less than fifty, and not more than one hundred districts, from which are
to be elected representatives who will constitute a legislative assembl}'', whose
vote shall be necessary to pass any law after it shall meet.

" Now, gentlemen, I think that is a record which justifies us in claiming
sincerity in our eff^ort to teach these people how to govern themselves. (Ap-
plause.) We have a civil service law which prefers the Fihpino to the Ameri-
can, other things being equal. Of course, at the outset, in organizing Ameri-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

can offices with a few Filipinos who could speak American — Enghsh or Ameri-
can-English (laughter and applause) — it was natural that the number of
Americans should far exceed the Filipinos in the higher offices, but I am glad
to say the Filipinos are learning English and are fitting themselves to fill those
offices, and as we shall fill the offices with FiHpinos we shall be able to reduce
the cost of government, because the Filipinos in their own homes are able to
live for considerably less than Americans.

" We are sending one hundred Filipinos a year to this country to be edu-
cated here, that they may see on the ground and breathe in the atmosphere
of our free institutions, and carry home the ideals which they shall form here
in the most formative period of their lives, and make them understand what
Anglo-Saxon freedom means. (A voice, ' It ought to be a thousand.') There
are a great many difficulties in government, and one of the first difficulties is
in raising the funds with which to carry it on. The enthusiasm with which the
Filipinos rushed in to have us bring over 12,000 teachers was only equaled by
the hesitation and reluctance which they exhibited when we called attention to
how much we would have to increase taxes in order to bring that nvunber over.
We have thus far succeeded in paying our own expenses of government. It
is true, the Congress of the United States last year, because of the rinderpest
and the cholera and the heavy expenses to which we were subjected, and the
fear that there might be famine, voted $3,000,000, and that we were delighted
to get, and we are using it so far as we may in the improvement of roads, the
construction of school-houses, and furnishing work to the people of that char-
acter; but on the whole, the government is self-supporting, and if the United
States, if the Congress of the United States, if the people of the United
States treat those islands with the generosity that is only justice, considering
the circumstances under which they came into our hands, those islands will
flourish like a green bay tree, and will ask for no charity from these United
States. (Applause.)

" I have alluded to the question of the friars. Their presence in the
islands, an alien race, hostile for the reason of the story of their being there,
presented a most difficult question for settlement, and it seemed to be the
American method of settling a question to go directly to headquarters to see
whether it could be settled; so Rome was visited and a reasonable basis of
agreement established. We attempted to have a contract by which the friars
should be gradually withdrawn from the islands ; but his holiness the Pope
was not willing to make such a term part of the contract for the sale of the
lands. He did say, however, or rather his representative said, that it would
be the policy of the Papacy to withdraw the Spanish friars as soon as they
could be substituted. An apostolic delegate was sent out, and for a year and a
half negotiations were had with the promoting companies into whose hands

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the friars' lands had been put, and on the 22d day of December those lands
were sold for something over seven millions of dollars to the Pliilippine govern-
ment. At the same time the finars, who had numbered something over 1,000
in 1898, 370 in 1902, had been reduced on the 1st day of December, 1903, to
246. Of those there were some fifty who were so infirm that they could not re-
turn to Spain, and could not do parish work. Eighty-three Dominicans had
renounced the doing of parish work ; so that the number of friars who now re-
main in the islands for parish work are not enough to continue the agitation
or make the basis of any quarrel with either the Aglipyans or the anti-friar
Filipinos. I think it may be stated that the friar question is largely settled.
(Applause.)

" In the matter of education, there are 4,000 teachers engaged in in-
structing the Filipino youth. I have heard it stated, have seen it written, by
gentlemen who profess to know much of the Philippine Islands, that the edu-
cational system there established is a failure. Well, it is not all that it ought
to be. It is not all that it ought to be because we are not able now to teach
in those schools more than ten per cent, of the students of school age; but
the most encouraging sign is the eagerness with which those people seek to
learn the English language and seek a general education in English. People
ask me why that is. Well, in the cities, doubtless, it is explained by the fact
that it is expected that American merchants will go there, and also it is ex-
pected that if one goes into an office he will get a higher salary if he knows
English than if he does not. But in the country no such explanation can be
offered, and the only explanation I can give there is that it is a natural de-
sire to be educated, and that in the Spanish times most of the people, most
of the children of the poor people were denied an opportunity to learn Spanish,
but now that they have an opportunity to learn English, they take that oppor-
tunity to learn the language of the race which is there as a sovereign, as evi-
dence of the equality of opportunity that is offered them under the American
flag. (Applause.) We have a very large normal school system. I say very
large, not so large as we would like to make it, but there are three or four
normal schools with constant attendance of two to three hundred each. We
teach the Filipino teachers English and other branches, that they may be-
come the teachers of their own people ; and until we shall increase the number
from 4,000 to 10,000 or 12,000, possibly 15,000, we shall not have accom-
plished our purpose.

" But, gentlemen, I beg of you to think of. the unreasonableness of the
American people ; I feel it mj'self . When I begin something of an interest-
ing character that I hope is going to come out all right, I want to see the
evidence of it next morning at breakfast. So it is with most Americans, they
are not content to wait. You cannot change a people in three years. You

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cannot change a people in a generation. You have got to trust to time.
But I say that if you trust to time, and if your representatives in the islands
and your representatives in Congress, and you yourselves, always insist on the
policy of the Philippines for the Fihpinos, and justice to the Filipinos, you
are bound to make a success in those islands tliat cannot but reflect the great-
est credit on the American nation. (Applause and cheers.)

" I am afraid I am taking up too much time — (Cries of ' No, No; Go
on. Go on.') Now, ladroneism will continue there for fifty years; the char-
acter of the country is such that we must expect it. Ladrones are usually
made up, after you get the professional criminals into jail, as we have suc-
ceeded generally in doing, are made up of mountaineers, are organized by an
enterprising mountaineer who discovers some means of keeping a bullet out
of his breast by what he calls an anting anting. He gathers about him some
hundred or two of followers, to whom he sells anting antings, which they be-
lieve will ward off bullets. Then they settle down in a village, and in order to
live, because these antings do not encourage labor, they prey upon their
neighbors, and as the richer villages are in the bottoms they go down in the
bottoms and take what they can get there. Every once in a while you will see
that some constabulary was shot down or killed in a bolo rush by fanatics.
Well, that is what a fanatic is. He is a mixture between a robber and a
fakir. They have those gentlemen in the mountains, and we may expect
constantly to be troubled by them until we get railroads to their homes, until
we get roads through, so that we can reach the mountains as easily as we
reach the plains. But I don't think I state it too strongly when I say that
ladroneism is less than it ever has been in the history of those islands, and that
we shall gradually wipe it out.

" In the matter of health, the islands need a great deal. First, they need
pure water; we should have driven wells in the villages. Then they need
trained nurses to teach the women how to take care of their children. The
loss of children under six months is frightful, and that is why we need the
assistance of all the Protestant and all the Catholic denominations that we
can get there; people who will come with a missionary spirit to do good and
to teach those people how to live. They welcome such assistance; but, gen-
tlemen, in organizing a government and carrying it on with limited means,
it is impossible to have a model government all at once. A modem govern-
ment is very expensive, and the money is not there, and we must hope to make
these steps of progress only gi'adually.

" There are ports in the islands that we are constructing, and roads,
and we have found a place in Benguet, 5,000 feet up, where the climate the
year round, with the exception of two months when it is so wet that nobody
can enjoy life there, is not unlike the climate of the Adirondacks, and there it

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

is that we hope to put a summer capital; there it is that we hope to run an
electric railway. We are engaged in constructing that road now. It will
cost some twelve hundred thousand dollars to finish it, but when it is done
it becomes entirely possible for Americans to live in the islands, adjourning
for the two months to a very healthful region.

" The proper personnel of the government is very difficult to keep up.
We had seventeen defalcations in disbursing officers and treasurers. That
was about two per cent, of all disbursing officers and treasurers. It was a
humiliation I cannot tell you the depth of, that we should be there trying to
teach those people honest government, and then that those rascals should
filch the money. It seemed to us that there was in their crime something more
than dishonesty ; it was treason to the govemnlent that was trying to build
a decent government there. And as a consequence, and an illustration of the
fact that we have a judicial system there that works, out of that seventeen,
fifteen are now in Bilibid prison serving terms from ten to twenty-five years.
(Applause.) One man who was not shown to have received the money himself,
but who was charged under the Spanish laws with negligence in enabling his
subordinates to steal the money, was acquitted on the ground that he was such
an incompetent fool at any rate that he exercised all the diligence that could
be expected from such an incompetent fool. It was not satisfactory to the
government, but as he was acquitted, we let him go.

" Now, gentlemen, the question is asked me. Will it pay ? I don't care
whether it will pay or not ; we are there ; we have a burden upon us ; and we
have got to discharge it.

" Now, it is said that when the Democrats get in they are going to let
these islands go. (A voice, 'When is that.^^') Well, I have not been in
politics so long as to give a positive answer to that, but I think it will be at
some remote time. But my own judgment is that the Democrats when they
investigate the question carefully and reserve to themselves that time that they
always reserve for the formation of a stable government, that you will find
them pursuing the same policy that is being pursued to-day. That complete
establishment of stable government that they are looking for will be postponed
and postponed, because they will realize that the honor of the nation is in-
volved in making that government really stable, and that after all we shall
be aiming at the same thing.

" Now, I am asked another thing : Why is it that we should not say to
these people. We are going to give you independence. Won't that make them
happy, and won't that facilitate what we are trying to do there? I say no,
with great emphasis. I don't care whether the Filipinos have independence
or not. My own judgment is that if we deal generously with them, and de-
velop the islands as we ought to develop them, and bring them into a close

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

bond of union with these United States, that that union will be so mutually
profitable that after it has been maintained for years neither party will wish
to dissolve it. But what I wish to impress upon you, gentlemen, is this, that
unless the present government is a success, all hope of a decent independent
government is gone. And anything that interferes with the success of the
present government is sure to interfere with the success of a possible indepen-
dent government. Now, I don't care how you may word your declaration, if
you say to those people. We are going to give you independence, you will
have a delegation calhng on you in the next three weeks to know whether that
independence is coming in six months or a year. The demagogues and the
gentlemen who are not in office, have very little interest in an independence
that is to come in the next generation after they are dead. (Laughter.)
Now, you cannot make a people over in one generation or in two; and any-
thing that frightens the conservative element of that population upon whom
you must depend for the success of your government, into thinking that they
will in some way sacrifice themselves by being friends of the Americans when
the more violent element comes into control with independence; you destroy
your opportunity for making a good government ])y building up and in-
creasing that conservative, self-restraining, possibly self-governing element
in the people. (Applause.) I feel as if it is not too much to say that planks
in a party platform with respect to the Philippines, from now on, except a
plank that declares that it is the duty of the United States to do everything
in its power to increase the prosperity and the happiness of the Filipino
people, are a mistake. Let the present government go on and demonstrate if
it can, as I believe it can, that it is upon the right track and is building up
among the Filipino people a conservative set that know the necessity for self-
restraint in a popular self government, and success Hes before you.

" And now, gentlemen, I have talked much too long. I thank you sin-
cerely for your kind attention. I should hke to get into the heart and soul
of each of you the intense interest that I feel in the success of this problem.
I should like to have you make your representatives in Congress feel that
their first duty is to attend to the Philippines, and Avhen you have done that
the problem is solved." (Applause and cheers.)

President McCook then said : " After listening to the address of the
Secretary of War you will all agree with me that no mistake was made when
that cable was sent to Governor Taft in Manila. The cable message was fol-
lowed by a letter sent to meet Governor Taft at Honolulu in which he was
assured that if he would come to us he would find a sympathetic audience
ready and anxious to listen; that he would both interest and instruct us and
do some very good missionary work by enlightening the people of New York
as to what he and our government had done for the Philippines.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" We are all very grateful to Secretary Taft for fulfilling this en-
gagement when he had to speak to us under such adverse conditions as he
has to-night.

" Our programme is a very short one. We are to have three brief ad-
dresses, which I am sure will be interesting.

" The first one will be on the American Navy, by the Chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives. Congressman
Foss, like Admiral Dewey, is a Vermonter by birth, but he represents Illinois
in Congress. The reason that he instead of some Ohio man was selected to
come here to-night, is because he is the very best man to do what is ex-
pected of him. He has just demonstrated his remarkable powers as a Con-
gressional naval commander by caiTying through the House of Representa-
tives a bill appropriating $97,000,000 for the American navy. For this we
owe him a debt of gratitude. We will now hsten to Mr. Foss."

Mr. Foss said : " Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — I esteem it
a great honor to be here this evening. I have met Ohioans at home, but I
never met so many abroad. (Laughter.) And yet, as I look into your faces
to-night, I do not see but what New York Ohioans are a good deal like those
at home. They have the same characteristics, the same appetites and the same
thirsts, only perhaps a little more highly developed. There is one thing about
an Ohioan, wherever you find him, whether at home or abroad, he is loyal to
his state. He feels a good deal like the Irishman who said that every man
loves his native land, whether he was bom there or not. You can say, also, with
the poet, you New York Ohioans,

' True patriots are we, for be it understood,
We left our country for our country's good.' (Laughter.)

" You belong to that greater Ohio, that Ohio which overruns the coun-
try, for where is it possible to go and not find an Ohioan, who in a quiet and
modest way is trying to carve out his own fortune, and not infrequently^ his
neighbor's, too? We believe, out in Illinois, that there is not much chance for
us until Ohio Buckeyes are well provided. Ohio, first in war (turning to
General Chaffee), first in peace (turning to Secretary Taft), but first and
last in public office. (Laughter and applause.)

" I am glad to be here to-night, at this banquet given in honor of your
great Ohioan, Governor Taft. First of all, he is an Ohioan, but best of all
he is an American. And while in a peculiar sense he belongs to your own
state, yet in a truer and a larger sense he belongs to the whole country. (Ap-
plause.) And if you do not realize the true significance of that now, I think
you will a little later on.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" I am glad to be here to-night, to represent in an imperfect way the
American navy. Wherever the American army is, sir, there is the American
navy. In every great crisis in our national history, the American navy and the
American army have won the magnificent achievements which have been ours.
It was so in the War of the American Revolution; it was so in the War of
1812 ; it was so in the Mexican War; it was so in the Civil War. The Ameri-
can navy has always supplemented upon the sea the work of the army on the
land, and both together have accomplished these mighty results. No his-
torian can ever write a history of the Civil War and leave out of it the
bravery of the American sailor any more than he can write it and leave out
the daring of the American soldier. Both together, inspired by a common de-
votion to a common flag preserved the union between North and South, which
time is fast cementing into a peace, a perpetual peace, in the everlasting
bonds of American brotherhood. And so it was, sir. In the Spanish-American
War. The army and the navy gave us Manila and Santiago, those bright
pages in American history.

" But after our Civil War we allowed our navy to go to pieces, and in
1881 we had very few pieces left. At the close of that war we had the largest
navy on the globe, but in 1881 we ranked about twentieth among the navies
of the world; and then began that policy of building up the American navy
under the splendid administration of Chester A. Arthur. The first authori-
zation of ships began under the secretaryship of Mr. Chandler. On March
3, 1883, Congress authorized the Atlanta, the Boston, the Chicago, and the
Dolphin, sometimes called the A, B, C and D of the new navy. After Chand-
ler came Whitney, who can-ied on the splendid work. Under Whitney were au-
thorized our first two battleships, the unfortunate Maine, and the Texas. After
Whitney came Tracy, and under him we authorized our first-class battleships,
the Iowa, the Indiana, the Massachusetts, and the famous Oregon. After
Tracy came Herbert, and after Herbert came Long, and after Long came
our present able and efficient secretary, William H. Moody. The country is
to be congratulated in always having at the head of that great department
men of great foresight and character who have seen the necessity of building
up our navy upon' the sea. To-day we have built and building 24 battle-
ships, 12 ironclads, 10 armored cruisers, 49 protected and unprotected cruis-
ers, 16 torpedo boat destroyers, 34 torpedo boats, and 8 submarines ; and if
all the nations of the world stopped now, when these ships are completed we
would rank third among the navies of the world; Great Britain first, France
second.

" Now, I may say that while we have not the largest navy in the world,
yet man for man and ship for ship I believe we have the most efficient navy
on the globe. (Applause and cheers.) Some people are saying. Let us stop

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

building up the navy ; but those people who are for a little navy, are also
crying for a little nation and a little people. And if war should come
they would interpose the Golden Rule against the 12-inch guns of the antag-
onist.

" Sir, I deprecate war, and should be glad to see the time come when the
war drums will beat no longer and the battle flags be furled; but I realize
that mankind has not reached its millennium yet, and hence I believe in the
policy of building up the American navy. Your chairman has alluded to
the fact that recently the House of Representatives passed a bill carrying
$97,000,000. It did; and yet that is but a little more than one dollar for
every man, woman and child in the country; it is but four per cent, of our
foreign trade and commerce; it is about 17 per cent, of our total govern-
ment expenses ; a less percentage to the whole than our forefathers spent
more than one hundred years ago upon the navy; and as compared with
our national wealth it is only one-tenth of one per cent. — very cheap in-
surance, indeed, for a great country like ours.

" There is one thing you must bear in mind, in regard to a navy, you
must build it in time of peace. There is this distinction between an army
and a navy: an army is made up largely of personnel, and when war comes
you can call into the field men from every walk of life ; they come from the
field and the farm, from the workshop and the office, and in a short time they
can be trained and disciplined into good soldiers, ready to march to the front,
and when the war is over they go back to their homes and are lost in the
citizenship of the land. But, not so with the navy, because the navy is made
up not only of personnel but also largely of material. It takes years to build
a battleship or a cruiser, and it takes longer to train sailors than to train
soldiers ; and by reason of this fact you must build the navy in time of peace,
because when war comes then every man must be upon his ship and every
man at his gun.

" It is not necessary, I think, to an audience like this, to preach very
much upon the necessity of building up a navy. You are pretty near the
coast line. But we should let this be our sentiment : The American Navy ; ever
ready for war; but may it never be required to fire a single shot. Let us
build the navy, because we have interests to protect on this hemisphere as well
as on the other; we have a coast line to protect; we must guard the Panama
canal. And, sir, we have a President in the White House who proposes to
build it. We must maintain the INIonroe Doctrine, which a colleague of mine
said the other day was no bigger than your navy; we must protect our com-
merce wherever that commerce goes ; we must protect the Filipinos whom to-
day we are raising up out of the bondage of superstition and ignorance into
the clear bright sky of American civilization. We must back up our foreign

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

policy, which was never so strong and respected among the nations of the
world as it is at this hour under John Hay. (Applause and cheers.)

" We must build this navy for peace ; that kind of peace that is honorable
among men and approved by God; that kind of peace that never makes sur-
render of national honor, of national duty, or national obligation. And so I
say to you to-night, let us build it conservatively, not moved by the passion
of the hour, but build it with a fixed determination to always give our country
a military arm upon the sea strong enough so that in every hour of inter-
national complication she can always maintain that poise and that calmness
which becometh a great nation and a great people, slow to anger, and plente-
ous in mercy; but when she strikes may she ever strike as Dewey stinick at
Manila, for honor, for justice, for truth, for civilization, for righteousness,
and for ' that perfect liberty of mankind ' which under God is the great and
glorious mission of our America." (Applause and cheers.)

President McCook said : " We are all convinced that the Congressional
interests of the American navy are safe in the hands of such a, chairman as
has spoken to us to-night. (Applause.) It is significant that Mr. Foss does
not come from the danger line on the Atlantic or Pacific seaboard, where in
case of war we are likely to hear from the other fellow's navy. He comes
from that great but nautically safe metropolitan city of Chicago. For this
reason we are all the more grateful to Mr. Foss for taking such good care of
our naval interests.

" We will now have the pleasure of listening to a few words on a subject
that is new to many of us, the Sons of Ohio. With our accustomed modesty,
we usually go a little without the state for a man to speak upon this subject.
At times there is confusion as to where the border line between Ohio and In-
diana runs, so that some of the statesmen out there have to think twice before
they are quite certain as to which of the two states they represent. One of our
political poets once said, ' I care not who writes the people's songs, so long as
Ohio furnishes the governors, senators and congressmen for all the adjoining
states.' (Laughter.)

" Both senators from Indiana were born in Ohio, and the gentleman who
will address us, representing the old Colfax constituency in Indiana, was also
bom in our native state.

" We will now hear from Hon. Charles B. Landis, representative in Con-
gress from Indiana." (Applause.)

Mr. Landis said : " I am what might be called, perhaps, a hyphenated
American citizen. I am an Ohio-Indianian, a Hoosier-Buckeye. I remained
in Ohio, where I was bom, until I was seventeen years of age, and in all those
years being neither elected to Congress nor made governor of the common-
wealth, I decided that it was a reckless waste of precious time, and I turned

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

my back on the fertile valley of the Miami and my face toward the rich valley
of the Wabash — where ' the candle lights are gleaming — on the banks of the
Wabash, far away.'

" Indiana and Ohio, sister states, daughters of the ordinance of 1787,
united by bonds of kinship, reverencing the same memories, inspired and
guided by the same instincts. But for the mark set by the surveyor, it were
impossible to tell where Ohio ceases and Indiana begins. The line is simply
imaginary, Ohio is but a child of older and stronger growth. I have taught
my children to reverence their father's state. Reading some time ago to my
little boy of the voyage of Columbus and the discovery of America, he inter-
rupted me by asking if Christopher Columbus was bom in Ohio, I told him
he was not, and he then asked why it was that we named the capital of the
state after him. I extricated myself from embarrassment by explaining to
him that it was to commemorate the fact that there was one great achievement
in human history in which an Ohioan was not an active participant. (Laugh-
ter and applause.)

" Ohio was fitted by nature to be the nursery of great men. Great hills,
great valleys, great forests, great rivers, her conformation rugged, rolling and
level, her climate one continuous inspiration to endeavor and to ambition.
Washington visited the state when a young man, was greatly impressed by
its beauty and its wealth, and when asked, after the Revolution, what he would
have done had the cause of the colonists failed, he replied that he would have
gathered together the remnants of his strugghng bands, would have led them
over the Alleghanies, and in the valley of the Ohio they would have settled
and there lived in peace, in security, and in happiness forever. Thus you see
how narrow an escape Washington had from being a son of Ohio. But some
things are necessary besides climate and soil to make great men and women.
There must be blood, good blood, and Ohio got it. Revolutionary fathers and
mothers, their minds strengthened and enlarged by the struggle for inde-
pendence and by the solution of those problems incident to the adoption of the
constitution, they came to Ohio, led by grand old Rufus Putnam. In one
hand they carried the Bible and in the other the school book, and in their
hearts was a consecration to human liberty and to the inviolable will of God.
Europe's best faith and hope settled New England, and New York, and
Pennsylvania, and Virginia; and the flower of that manhood and womanhood
went to Ohio and gave us the foundation for her greatness and her character.
And those people builded a state ; yes, they builded a state, a state that boasts
enough pride, enough achievements, enough glory to stock twenty ordinary
nations for a hundred years, instead of but one little state for a century and a
little over. A great and glorious state, Ohio. God was good to Ohio. You
ask me where are her sons? Rather should you ask me where are they not. They

475

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

are in every state and territory in this Union, and in the islands of the sea.
Some one has said that the Maine was blown up in the habor of Havana, and
that Ohio men came down all over the world. Two milHons of Ohio's sons
settled in other states. There are nine sons of Ohio to-day in the United States
senate ; thirty-two of them in the national house of representatives ; two of
them in the cabinet of the President, an array of greatness recognized through-
out the length and breadth of the land. And here in the metropolis of the
Republic, if you gathered about these boards are a sample of Ohio in New
York, how lonesome Father Knickerbocker would be without you! And how
lonesome my beloved state of Indiana would have been in the years gone by,
without Ohio, and would be to-day! Our first railroad was built by John
Brough of Ohio. Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice-President of the United States,
a grand and gifted man ; he was a son of Ohio. Daniel W. Voorhees, eloquent
and generous, on the platform magnificent, he was a son of Ohio. Joseph E.
McDonald, true and loyal, a senator of the United States of distinction, he
was a son of Ohio. Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, pure
and great, and his administration ideal (applause), Benjamin Harrison was a
son of Ohio. And our two United States senators, Charles W. Fairbanks and
Albert J. Beveridge, the former it seems to be nominated for Vice-President of
the United States by unanimous consent, they, too, are sons of Ohio. Oh, how
lonesome Indiana would be without Ohio! How lonesome the states and terri-
tories of this union would be without Ohio !

" It is not my purpose, and I haven't time, to review all of the achieve-
ments in the various avenues of human endeavor of the sons of Ohio. It would
require a volume, it would require a year's time. I will content myself with
giving some little attention to those who have come upon the scene of action
since I became a citizen of Ohio forty-five years ago. Gen. William H. Harri-
son, President of the United States, hero of Tippecanoe — ^he was a son of
Ohio. And in I860, when Lincoln was given the choice between courage or
cowardice, war with the preservation of the Union or peace without that
Union, he choose the former and recognized that two things were all important,
a currency and an army ; and the currency he turned over to Salmon P. Chase
and the army to Edwin M. Stanton, and both were sons of Ohio. A committee
representing the house and the senate on the conduct of the war had to be
appointed, and it had to have a head. That head, as chairman, was bluff old
Ben Wade, and he was a son of Ohio. At first reverses came, darkness invaded
the land, we needed some one to lead our armies. A plain simple man who
had never traveled with a brass band accompaniment was given rather an un-
important command, but he climbed and he climbed, and at last Donelson fell,
and the first great victory for the Union was won, and the name of the world's
greatest captain was on the lips of millions of men, and he remained at the

476

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

head of the army until Appomattox. He was a son of Ohio, and his name was
Grant. (Applause.) He had two great helpers, both his right hand, you
might say. One was William Tecumseh Sherman, and the other was Phil
Sheridan, and they were sons of Ohio.

" The war over, twenty sons of Ohio came out of that conflict wearing
the epaulets of a major-general; twenty-seven of them brevetted major-gen-
eral. In addition to the great triumvirate of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan,
there was McClellan, MacPherson, Rosecranz, Steedman, three McCooks, INJEc-
Dowell, Schenck, Buell, James A. Garfield, Cox, Custer and a score of others
whose names are synonymous with daring and victory, all of them from Ohio.
There was one family in the state of Ohio that gave to the North in that rebel-
lion a father and nine sons. One of them came out a major-general, three of
them as brigadier- generals, and they were known as the ' Fighting iNIcCooks.'
(Applause and cheers.) The only surviving member of that branch of the
family honors this board to-night — sits at the head of this table and presides at
this banquet. Another branch of that same McCook family gave five brothers
to the naval and military service, all of them distinguished, two becoming gen-
eral officers. Every President of the United States elected to that office since
Abraham Lincoln, except one, was a son of Ohio. That state gave to the su-
preme bench of the United States five members, two of whom occupied the place
of chief justice. And when it became necessary to bring about a condition of
peace in the Philippines, to capture Aguinaldo, to trace him to his lair and
throttle him, it was done by Fred Funston, and he was a son of Ohio. And when
American citizens were cooped up in Pekin, beleaguered, and we were anxious
to the point of hysteria, the American army marched to the capital of that
great empire and planted the American flag upon its battlements. And at the
head of that army was Chaffee, who is with us to-night, and he was a son of
Ohio.

" Joseph Benson Foraker is a son of Ohio. And his name will be
identified for all time with the insular legislation that has been written on the
statute books of this Republic during the last seven years.

" William McKinley was a son of Ohio. (Applause.) Forty years ago a
poor boy in a little country town in northern Ohio ; his mother kept boarders and
his elder sister worked and saved to assist in his education. For four decades
he wrought, and when we laid him away business was hushed in every land
that civilization lights ; the electric current was dead around the world ; rapid
flying trains and steamships paused in their course; noblemen and peasants
stood in tears ; he was the greatest, gentlest captain of his time. Rich in saving
common sense and, as the greatest always are, in his simplicity sublime. Oh,
how he wrought for the Republic ; oh, his deportment in the Eastern sea when
the crisis came ! In 1860 a poor boy in a little country town in northern Ohio ;

477

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

forty years later the gentle yet majestic character of all Christendom, teach-
ing the world a lesson in international equity, and dictating terms to monarchs
in whose veins flowed the blood of centuries of kijigs. If Ohio had no other
possession of which to boast than that, she would be rich indeed.

" Mark Hanna was a son of Ohio. (Applause.) Abused and misrepre-
sented, but finally vindicated. During those hours of his sickness a nation in
tears stood by his bedside. Calumny ran to the mountains and hid and detrac-
tion and defamation asked for an opportunity to apologize. I recently saw a
tribute paid by a carcaturist who pursued him through his political life, in
which he said that Senator Hanna's character had demonstrated that no honest
man need fear a cartoon. When I saw that I thought of a similar tribute paid
when Lincoln fell. London Punch had pursued him mercilessly throughout
the terrible ordeal of civil war; but that awful tragedy seemed to shock that
caricaturist into a condition of sanity and good sense, and he confessed his
error against Lincoln in these words :

" ' You, lay a wreath on murdered Lincoln's bier.

You, wtio with mocking pencil wont to trace
Broad for the self-complacent British sneer,

His length of shambling limb, his furrowed face.
His gaunt, gnarled hands, his unkempt bristling hair.

His garb uncouth, his bearing ill at ease,
His lack of ail we prize as debonair.

Of power or will to shine, of art to please.
You, whose smart pen backed up the pencil's laugh,

Judging each step as though the way were plain;
Reckless, so it could point a paragraph.

Of chiefs perplexity, or people's pain.
Beside that corpse, that bears for winding sheet

The Stars and Stripes he lived to rear anew.
Between the mourners at his head and feet.

Say, scurril jester, is there room for you?
Yes; he lived to shame me from my sneer,

To lame my pencil and confute my pen.
To make me own this hind of princes peer.

This railsplitter a true born king of men.'

" So it was with Mark Hanna, but we have consolation in the fact that
he lived to know the victory he had won, and to be recognized by the whole
world as ' a true bom king of men.' (Applause.)

" A New York man sits in the White House, but there are two Ohioans
who are members of his cabinet, John Hay and William Howard Taft. John
Hay ; his name will be forever associated with the progressive and practical
diplomacy which marks the birth of the twentieth century. His patience, his
calm deportment, his rare good sense, have made the American Republic the
great umpire of Christendom. He says he will not meddle in the domestic
affairs of other nations, but we will insist on an open door in the Far East, and
upon a strict compliance with all treaty stipulations, and upon our rights in

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

foreign harbors. And the haste with which the nations of the world ratified his
note to the powers was at once a tribute to his sagacity and to the potentiality
of the American Republic among the nations of the world.

" And William H. Taft, the secretary of war. He succeeded a splendid
citizen and an ideal American, Elihu Root, of New York. A man whose
administration touched high tide every hour he sat in that chair. War took
the banner to the Philippine Islands, but the splendid trophies of peace are all
about it to-day ; and the most beautiful victory won by Columbia in the last
century, in my judgment, has been won over there in that archipelago, and the
name of Taft is written all over it. (Applause.)

" I must not detain you longer, but if I can say one thing in conclusion it
would be this: That the most beautiful thing about the sons of Ohio is that
they can make love of their state secondary to love of their country. Country
first, and state afterwards. I am reminded of an incident that occurred a year
ago last May. I was invited down into Butler county, Ohio, to deliver the
Decoration Day address. A man came to me, carefully unwrapped a news-
paper, and handed me a letter saying that I would probably like to read it.
It was old and worn ; the envelope bore the postmark of Murf reesboro, dated,
as I remember, 1863. I recognized in the handwriting the tracings of the
pen made by my own father, and I read the letter. It was to my uncle Jacob,
and told him of the death of a son, Simon, which had occurred on the battle-
field the day before. He told my uncle how his boy had died ; and he said to
him, ' This is the third son that you have given a sacrifice to your country.'
Said he, ' This will be a terrible shock to you, but in the hour of your afflic-
tion you have this consolation : Simon and his brothers died fighting for the best
government upon which the sun has ever shone.' That was a tribute from the
battlefield ; that was the consolation that kinship offered to grief. ' The great-
est country upon which the sun has ever shone ! ' It was true then, it is true
now, and it has been true every hour since Independence Hall ! We love Ohio,
but better still we love our country, the best country upon which the sun has
ever shone." (Applause.)

President McCook said : " On one of the panels in the ante-room of the
secretary of war at Washington are four portraits. One of Stanton, the great
war secretary of Lincoln's cabinet, while grouped about him are the portraits
of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, the chief commanders of our armies at the
close of the Civil War, and all four of them sons of Ohio.

" A similar condition exists in these piping times of peace. Taft, from
Ohio, is secretary of war. Chaffee, from Ohio, is the lieutenant general, and
Corbin, from Ohio, is the senior major-general of our army. They are all
guests of honor at our table to-night, and right proud are we of this Buckeye
triumvirate, who, like their splendid predecessors, while exercising military au-

479

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

thority, do so as the servants of the people and as the patriotic exponents of lib-
erty under the law. After listening for a few moments to Governor Herrick, I
am going to ask Lieutenant-General Chaffee, the chief of the general staff, and
Major-General Corbin, commanding the division of the East, the senior officers
of the American army, and Rear-Admiral Watson, the senior-rear-admiral on
the active list of the navy, to stand up and let us look at them, while we give
them a hearty and enthusiastic cheer of greeting.

" We will now hear a word from the governor of our own state, who was
called to that office by the largest maj ority ever given to an Ohio man in public
life. It gives me much pleasure to introduce the Hon. Myron T. Herrick,
Governor of Ohio." (Applause and cheers.)

Governor Herrick said : " Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members
of the Ohio Society : A little girl in Butte, Montana, once wrote to Longfellow,
' You are my poet ; the greatest poet, and I love your poetry, and I want to ask
you how it can be that so great a poet can live so far away from Butte.' Per-
haps those of us who reside in Ohio have the little girl's point of view.

" I know something of the allurements of New York, and of the delights
of Indiana and of Illinois ; I have heard of the pleasures of Washington ; but I
cannot understand why it is that these gentlemen, so many of whom I see before
me here to-night, are willing to leave their old state — their native state of Ohio
— and go elsewhere to seek their fortunes. But while they seem willing to oc-
cupy the soil of other states, the love for the old home remains with them.

" Mr. Landis has called the roll of the nation's leaders in naming Ohio
men. It is true that Waterloo was won at Eton and Harrow; then it is
equally true that every momentous question that has been settled in this Re-
public in the last forty years was settled in the public schools of Ohio. The
past we know ; the roll has been called of Ohio men, and I am glad to have it
called by a man outside of our state, because I do not wish to-night, in a boast-
ful spirit, to speak of our men. We have splendid men at home, and we send
splendid men abroad. We have supplied the nation, and we are raising boys in
the public schools to supply it in the years to come. (Laughter and applause.)
We have so many great men in Ohio, waiting for the call of the nation, that
they sometimes even jostle each other within the borders of the state. (Laugh-
ter and applause.)

" The past is behind us, and the history of Ohio and its importance in
the nation has been so well told by Mr. Landis that I need not dwell upon it ;
but it is of the future that I would speak. Virginia in her day occupied the
position in this nation that is now and has been for the past forty years held
by Ohio. The glories of Virginia are those of the setting sun ; those of Ohio
are of the rising sun, and the sun is just over the yard arm. New conditions
are arising in our nation, conditions which the citizens of every state must take

480

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

heed. In the early settlement of this country, especially the early settlement of
the East, the pioneer labored over the mountains with his ox team and hewed
out of the forest a home. It was then the farm first, the village next, and then
the railway. The West has not been settled that way. This was truly the basis
for a solid and conservative citizensliip, but the great West has not been set-
tled in that way ; it has been the railway first, the village next and the farm
last. And this domain has been rapidly filling. It is this which has been
bringing to us these new conditions. If we stop for a moment to think that
beyond the Mississippi River are 1,830,000 square miles of arable land; on this
side of the Mississippi River are only 800,000 square miles, and the country is
rapidly filling. The sceptre may soon depart from Ohio. Congress and sen-
ate— the country — is eventually to be controlled by the dominant West that is
so rapidly coming to the front. And those conditions which confront us to-day
in tliis country are the result of the rapid settlement of the West and the taking
up of the tillable lands.

" Macaulay made a prophecy so far back as 1857 relating to this condi-
tion, which comes home to us with tremendous force to-day. He wrote a friend
in 1857 in this country : ' Your fate I believe to be certain, though it is de-
feiTed by a physical cause. As long as you have a boundless extent of fertile
and unoccupied land, your laboring population will be far more at ease than
the laboring population of the old world. But the time will come when New
England will be so thickly peopled as old England. Wages will be as low
and will fluctuate as much with you as with us, and in those Manchesters and
Birminghams hundreds and thousands of artisans will assuredly be sometimes
out of work. Through such scenes the United States will have to pass in the
course of the next century if not in this. I wish you a good deliverance, but
my reason and my wishes are at war, and I cannot help foreboding the worst.'

" Garfield said of this in later years : ' When I read Macaulay's state-
ment it startled me like an alarm bell in the night.'

" We have our Manchesters and our Birminghams to-day in this country,
and the conditions so clearly foretold by INIacaulay seem to be gradually ap-
proaching us, if they are not already here. What the great Englishman be-
held has made an American discern in the mists of the future the different
causes and effects, and led liim to make a mental picture; but IMark Hanna's
vision was none the less clear and penetrating. What man cannot be flattered ?
But it is to the eternal glory of our departed friend's memory that he not only
knew this condition, but had the courage to meet it open handed and to boldly
undertake its solution. What a loss to the country ! What a loss this country
suffered in his taking off ! Years ago he realized that the harmonious relations
of capital and labor was the most vital question, the all-involving problem of
the hour. He felt that until that was settled there could never be any lasting

481

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

peace in the land, nor any enduring security in conditions. Hanna, while of
very tender sentiment, was no idealist. He had seen theory after theory fail
without benefit to either side. What was needed was practical common sense
and openness of action, above all honesty. In his rugged fashion he said to the
master: ' You are lacking in this respect.' He said to the laborer: ' Your de-
mands are unjust; modify them.' Each instinctively recognized the justice of
the reproof, and felt that here was an unselfish friend to whom it was best to
listen. ' You think your rights are invaded,' he said to the millionaire master
of a thousand discontented workmen. ' It is your dignity, your pride, that is
offended. It is your pride that is keeping you from your plain and manifest
duty.' The great man heard the reproof, and pondered over it. There was a
struggle, but the innate justice conquered, and the strike was averted.

" Like our honored friend and counsellor, we must be honest with the
world and with ourselves. There must be no surrender of principles in dealing
witli this question. We met it fairly in Ohio last year, and the unerring
judgment of the people was with us, was in our favor. Let us have no more
hypocrisy, no more sycophancy, or demagoguery. Let us say to capital:
* You must not in the face of public sentiment insist upon the dictation and
control of legislation, and above all you must respect human rights.' To
labor let us say : ' You must not seek to legislate in advance of public senti-
ment, and you must respect the same rights of property, and you must also
respect human rights.' To them that are in authority let us say : ' Cease
pandering to emotion, and make your purposes honest; heed not public clamor
or the mouthings of the demagogue, but be ever mindful of the great heart
of the people speaking the message of truth. Rely on the people. They
are honest, they are just, and they are grateful, and they love justice and
hate iniquity.'

" McKinley said to you here in this room in 1900 : ' A self-governed
people will never permit despotism in any government which they foster and
defend.' ' Because they loved him so,' was the answer to the question why
capitalist and wage earner wept over him whom we mourn. Why did the
people love Mark Hanna, we ask, and they answer: * Because he was honest,
because he was just in all his dealings with them, because he tried to be right
for right's sake, and because he despised hypocrisy and loved frankness.'
What a mighty lesson in statesmanship it was. A help and example, it has
taught us something we should never forget, but keep ever before us as we
urge the solution of the problem which these conditions have been steadily
forcing to the front, that the man who dares to be right will ultimately be
vindicated by a justice-loving American people." (Applause.)

President McCook said: "Before declaring the adjournment of the
eighteenth annual banquet of the Ohio Society of New York, I will ask the

482

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

senior representatives of our army and navy, Rear-Admiral Watson, the man
who, as his flag lieutenant, lashed Farragut to the rigging of the flagship
Hartford at the battle of Mobile Bay, and Lieutenant-General Chaffee and
Major-General Corbin to stand up and receive our cordial salutations."

(These guests arose, as requested.)

Hon. Charles B. Landis said: "I propose three cheers, three buckeye
cheers for Generals Chaff'ce and Corbin and Admiral Watson."

When the distinguished military and naval guests stood in their places
at the president's table, the members of the Society and their guests, amid
a spontaneous outburst of applause, rose to their feet and gave three hearty
and enthusiastic cheers for the distinguished soldiers and sailor who bowed
their acknowledgments of the honor done them.

President McCook said : " This meeting stands adjourned."

483

CHAPTER XXI

1904-1905

A PLEASANT meeting was that of the Society on April 10th, on the
occasion of a reception to Ohioans in New York who were eligible
to membership. There was a gratifying attendance. President
McCook greeted the assembled guests, stating the desirability of membership
in the Ohio Society; that it was increasing rapidly, the number of resident
members being 318 ; non-resident, 215 ; total, 533, not including those elected
to-night, of which there were 28, making the total membership of the Society
to date 561, the largest ever enjoyed.

A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Parsons for his presentation to the
Society of a portrait of General Chaffee and of Col. E. L. Drake. Thanks
were tendered to President McCook for his presentation of a portrait of
Secretary of War Taft. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Hawk, of
the Manhattan Hotel, for the entertainment of the guests at the annual ban-
quet.

Mr. Southard moved that Secretary Taft be made an honorary member
of this Society. Carried, and laid over for one month, as required by the
by-laws. He was subsequently elected.

After the adjournment the members and guests enjoyed an excellent
programme prepared by the entertainment committee, consisting of vocal
and instrumental music by various artists, closing with a wonderful exhi-
bition of card tricks of all kinds by Mr. Arnold. Refreshments were then
served. '

At the meeting of May 9th the chair called on Mr. Hoyt to give an
account of the very interesting and remarkable dinner of the Canton Society,
which Mr. Hoyt and President McCook had attended on the Saturday night
previous, Judge Day, of Canton, being the guest of honor. Mr. Hoyt
thereupon gave a very interesting account, expressing the thought that the
Canton Society was a good field for the Ohio Society to cultivate for new
members.

On June 13th the report of the committee appointed to prepare resolu-
tions in honor of the memory of the late Senator Marcus A. Hanna was
presented. The record of these resolutions upon the minute book of the
Society is specially honored in one respect, that the signatures attached are

484

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the original autographs of the prominent sons of Ohio whose names appear
upon the Hst. One of these gentlemen has served as governor of Ohio, an-
other as United States senator from Ohio, and still another as president of
the Ohio Society of New York. The memorial was as follows :

" The unique and brilliant career of M. A. Hanna entitles him to a
place among the great Americans. He was a great business man; a great
political leader; a great statesman; a great orator; and a great philan-
thropist. He won conspicuous triumphs in more diversified fields of endeavor
tlian any other American.

" Until he was past fifty, he devoted himself to business. His integrity,
his courage, his energy, his sagacity and his power not only to plan, but to
execute, made him indeed widely known and respected, but only as a busi-
ness man. He then turned his attention to national politics. He believed that
William McKinley was the fittest standard bearer of his party. With a de-
termination characteristically inflexible, and a friendship characteristicaEy
loyal, he set about the task of procuring the nomination of the great Ohioan.
No obstacle could stop him. Nothing could either change or weaken his pur-
pose. The defeat of 1892 did not daunt him. The fact that most of the
political leaders of national reputation were either doubtful of the expedi-
ency or possibility of the nomination, or were openly opposed to it, neither
shook his faith nor quenched his courage.

" It is indeed true, that had the beloved and lamented McKinley been
other than he was, even Hanna could not have accomplished the result which
proved so beneficent to the country ; but it is also true, that if Hanna had not
been what he was; loyal, able, inexorable, untiring, sagacious, and above all,
masterful, the country might have lost an administration, which not only
added glorious pages to its history, but inaugurated policies which must
endure, because they promote not only the prosperity of Americans, but the
welfare of mankind.

" When the nomination was made, Mr. Hanna, who had then convinced
people how strong he was, and how wise he was, was fittingly selected to lead
the Republican hosts in the field. His conduct of that critical campaign was
what might have been expected from him; it was masterly. And, when the
ballots were counted and the victory for good government and for sound
money was assured, M. A. Hanna, hitherto well known only as a business
man, was recognized as the foremost political leader of the time.

" He then went to the senate of the United States. Neither his education
nor experience had apparently fitted him to excel in that distinguished body.
He had had no training in the craft of statesmanship. He could not clothe
his thoughts in the silken sentences of the phrase-maker; but to everybody's
surprise he took front rank among his colleagues. He became one of the lead-

485

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ers of the senate, not only in committee work, but on the floor, and his speech
in favor of the Panama route, which changed deliberate conclusions previously
reached, and his persistent and intelligent efforts to restore the American
merchant marine, made him known, and widely known, as a statesman.

" Shortly after his appointment to the senate, he was elected to that body
by a bare majority; but, six years later, he was reelected by the largest vote
ever given to a United States senator in the legislature of Ohio. And why
was this ? The cliief reason was that in the meantime, this many-sided man had
not only gained the respect and confidence, and won the admiration and af-
fection of his countrymen by what he had done, but he had become an orator.
The hand of his indomitable energy had placed another shining jewel in the
crown of his accomplishment.

" His campaign of 1903 was memorable, not only because of the thou-
sands who thronged to hear him, but because of the thousands who were con-
vinced by his plain, clear logic and his rugged eloquence.

" But business and politics and statesmanship and oratory could not
exhaust his energy or limit his endeavor. No task was too burdensome for him
to undertake, or too difficult for him to successfully accomplish. He pos-
sessed a heart as gentle and generous as his mind was strong and sagacious.
He gave not only his money, but himself, to charity and to philanthropic
purpose. He sought to conciliate and bring into harmony capital and labor.
He himself belonged to one class, but he held out his hand to the other, and
he became the trusted representative of both. As was well said of him in
eulogy : ' He was not only a President-maker, but a Peace-maker.' His
intelligence excited the admiration of his fellows, but his kindness touched
their hearts.

" It is fitting that this Society, of which he was so many years a member,
and the members of which, loved him not only for what he had done for his
country and for Ohio, for Ills prestige, his prominence and his accomplish-
ments, but loved him for his cordial handclasp and his genial, kindly smile —
it is fitting that this Society should spread upon its minutes a tribute to his
worth, and that in token of their sincere and respectful sympathy with his
wife and family, a copy of this resolution should be sent to them.

" James H. Hoyt, Chairman^
"Myron T. Herrick,
" Charles Dick,
" Samuel Mather,
" John J. McCook,

" Committee on Resolutions."

486

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

In the October meeting the following gentlemen were named as a com-
mittee on nominations of officers: H. H. Sisson, H. H. Brockway, C. D.
Hilles, Warren Higlcy, L. D. INIorrison, L. H. Crall, John M. Chandler. In
the meeting of November 14th, Mr. Crall, as chairman of the nominating
committee, reported the ticket for officers for the coming year, to be elected
at the annual meeting of November 29, 1904. The report was as follows :

" In its work of nominating a ticket for the coming year, your committee
has held three full meetings, besides numerous consultations. For president
there was but one thought, and quoting the language of one of the members
of the committee, ' It goes without saying. Colonel McCook forever ! '

" F'or vice-presidents, the committee presents representative men of the
Society, of much experience, who are largely in affairs, and of known standing
in this city, Mr. Thomas Ewing, Jr., Mr. John D. Archbold, Mr. Flamen Ball
Candler, Mr. Eben B. Thomas and Mr. Emerson McMillin.

" Our present efficient secretary, Mr. Fi'ancis M. Applegate, has con-
sented to serv^e another term, and we therefore present his name for reelection
to the office of secretary of the Society.

" There is a vacancy in the office of recording secretary, made by the
recent death of the incumbent, Mr. Charles Morris, and we have had some
difficulty in selecting a member who is willing to give the necessary time to
this work. By virtue of his office, the recording secretary is a member of the
board of governors. It is a very responsible position, and upon this officer
the smooth running of the business of the board of governors, as well as of
the Society, largely depends. The committee is most fortunate in securing
its acceptance by a gentleman most admirably qualified to fill the position,
Mr. Seth Thayer Stewart, who is district superintendent of the New York
schools, and for many years was corresponding secretary of the Union League
Club of Brooklyn.

" In the opinion of the committee one most important and exacting
office of the Society is that of treasurer. The present efficient treasurer
positively refused the nomination. In fact, some months ago, giving as his
reasons that he could not afford the time necessary for the performance of
the duties of this office, he presented his resignation to the board of governors,
and consented to sers-e out his term only under strong pressure. Several
members who could fill the office most acceptably were sounded, but declined
to accept the nomination. A suggestion was made by one of the members of
tlie committee which met with hearty approval, to nominate for treasurer
one of the best known and most popular members of the Society. Unfor-
tunately, this gentleman was a member of our committee; worse still, he was
our chairman, and that fact placed him in a delicate and embarrassing position.
It required all our powers of persuasion to prevail upon him to accept the

487

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

nomination. He was one of the founders of our Society, and during the
eighteen years of its existence, has taken an active interest in its affairs; he
has served upon more committees than any other member, has been a mem-
ber and chairman of the board of governors, a vice-president, and it is only
because of his love for and loyalty to the Society that he has consented to as-
sume the onerous and exacting duties of the office. The members of the com-
mittee are more than gratified to nominate as treasurer of the Society, Hon.
Warren Higley.

" Three of the nine trustees retire from the board annually. It is wise
that the trustees be men of marked business ability, and that they be thor-
oughly familiar with the Society's affairs, as they, together with the presi-
dent, recording secretary, and treasurer constitute the board of governors.
The committee nominate three members for trustees who fully meet these re-
quirements, Mr. H. B. Brundrett, one of our earliest members, Mr. Albert F.
Hagar, our secretary for several years, and our retiring treasurer, Mr.
Samuel H. Parsons."

Recapitulating, the ticket reported was as follows: President: John J.
McCook; Vice-presidents: Thomas Ewing, Jr., Flamen Ball Candler, John D.
Archbold, Eben B. Thomas, Emerson McMillin; Secretary: Francis M. Apple-
gate ; Recording secretary : Seth Thayer Stewart ; Treasurer : Warren Higley ;
Trustees: H. B. Brundrett, Albert F. Hagar, Samuel H. Parsons.

On the evening of November 14th, Orrel A. Parker, Esq., a member, deliv-
ered before the Society a most admirable address on Porto Rico, illustrated by
stereopticon views. A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Parker for the enter-
tainment.

The annual meeting of 1904* was held on November 29th, and took the
form of a most excellent dinner at the Hotel Manhattan, with President Mc-
Cook in the chair. The following gentlemen sat at the president's table : Col.
John J. McCook, Colgate Ployt, Leander H. Crall, H. B. Brundrett, Gen.
Henry L. Burnett, Chancellor MacCracken, David Homer Bates, John T.
Granger, Hon. Milton I. Southard, George Follett, Louis D. Clarke, Ernest
E. Baldwin.

The reports of the various officers and committees were presented, that of
the governing committee being as follows :

" At its first meeting the committee was organized by the selection of
Flamen B. Candler as its chairman. Therefrom the following house com-
mittee was appointed : Andrew J. C. Foye, chairman ; Leonard D. Morrison
and Norman C. Raff.

" In accordance with the recommendation of Mr. Candler, it was ordered
that the president appoint a committee of three members to consider whether
the by-laws of the Society do or do not require alteration and amendment.

488

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The following were appointed: Lcander H. Crall, H. L. Burnett, Andrew
J. C. Foye."

Treasurer Parsons presented his third annual report, showing that the
finances of the Society were in excellent condition, with a balance of $18,-
537.08.

The secretary was instructed to cast one ballot for the ticket proposed at
the last meeting, and those gentlemen were declared unanimously elected.

The Society then had the pleasure of listening to short addresses from
Colonel McCook, Chancellor MacCracken, Colgate Hoyt, Hon. Milton I.
Southard and Gen. H. L. Burnett.

The governing committee met immediately after the adjournment of
the meeting of the Society. President McCook announced that Mr. Stewart,
the newly-elected secretary, would record the proceedings of the meetings, as
secretary of the governing committee. Andrew Ernest Foye was unani-
mously elected chairman of the committee. It was decided that the treasurer
give a bond in the sum of $10,000, and that the expense of arranging for the
bond with the surety company be borne by the Society. The committee again
met on the evening of December 8th at the Hotel Astor, as the guests of
Leander H. Crall, at an informal dinner. The following gentlemen were
unanimously elected as a house committee: Andrew J. C. Foye, chairman;
Leonard D. Morrison and Nonnan C. Raff.

Mr. Crall moved that a committee of three be appointed to confer with
the entertainment committee, the house committee and the membership com-
mittee, as to the policy to be adopted for the fiscal year in providing enter-
tainment for the regular monthly meetings. The motion was adopted, and
the following gentlemen named as that committee: A. E. Foye, A. F. Hagar
and Warner Ells.

The December meeting of the Society was held on the evening of the
12th, with Vice-President Ewing in the chair. Judge Higley moved that the
Society have an annual banquet at such time during the winter as might be
decided upon, and that the president be authorized to appoint a banquet com-
mittee. It was so ordered.

A communication was received from President McCook announcing the
standing committees, and historian and chaplain, to serve during the coming
year as follows : Literature and art : Albert Shaw, Robert Johnstone Mooney,
Edward J. Wheeler, Howard Chandler Christy, Cass Gilbert; entertainment:
Orrel A. Parker, Francis X. Butler, Sturges S. Dunham, Roland Hazen,
jNIilton P. Jackson; auditing: Edward H. Childs, David Homer Bates, A. S.
Gorham, S. Frederick Tavlor, J. M. Chandler; library: Winchester Fitch, P.
Tecumseh Sherman, V. Clement Jenkins, Frederic L. Matthews, E. F. Bald-
win ; membership : Charles D. Hilles, Colgate Hoyt, James G. Newcomb, Emory

489

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

A. Stedman, L. C. Ruch; historian: James H. Kennedy; chaplain: Rt. Rev.
Wilhani A. Leonard, LL.D.

At a meeting of the governing committee on January 9, 1905, the treas-
urer was authorized to have one thousand year books printed. At the meeting
of the Society on the same evening, Charles D. Hilles reported a series of
resolutions in honor of the memory of Hon. George K. Nash, a former gov-
ernor of Ohio. They were adopted, and it was ordered that an engrossed
copy be sent to the family of the deceased. The president announced the fol-
lowing gentlemen as a committee for the annual banquet, to be held on the
evening of Saturday, March 18, 1905: Colgate Hoyt, chairman; Henry L.
Burnett, Milton I. Southard, Whitelaw Reid, Eben B. Thomas, John D.
Archbold, William H. Truesdale, J. G. Schmidlapp, Tod B. Galloway, Nich-
olas jMonsarrat, James G. Newcomb, Samuel H. Parsons, Emerson McMillin,
William L. Brown, E. W. Oglebay, Andrew J. C. Foye, Thomas Ewing, Jr.,
William S. Hawk, George W. Perkins, James H. Hoyt, Samuel Mather, Lean-
der H. Crall, Charles C. Tegethoff, Henry W. Taft, Thomas H. Wheeler,
Francis Key Pendleton, William C. Beer, George S. Russell, Warren Higley,
treasurer; Francis M. Applegate, secretary.

Judge Higley moved that a ladies' reception be arranged for February ;
the time and character to be announced by the entertainment committee, with
the approval of the governing committee. The motion was unanimously
adopted. Colgate Hoyt was, on motion, delegated to convey to the Ohio
Society of Philadelphia the greetings of the Ohio Society of New York, on the
occasion of the first formal banquet to be given by the Philadelphia organi-
zation. Changes in the composition of the entertainment committee were
announced by the president; the committee to consist of the following m.em-
bers: Francis X. Butler, Sturges S. Dunham, Orrel A. Parker, Roland
Hazen, Milton P. Jackson.

In the meeting of the Society on February 11th, Thomas Ewing. Jr.,
was requested to convey to Hon. Milton I. Southard the sympathy of the
Society because of his long-continued illness. President McCook called
especial attention to the coming ladies' reception, and also to the annual
banquet to be given on March 18th at the Waldorf-Astoria, adding the pleas-
ant and welcome announcement that the Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, vice-
president of the United States, would be the guest of honor.

Hon. David Kemper Watson, of Washington, ex-attorney-general of
Ohio, a member of the commission appointed by President McKInley to revise
the laws of the United States, was then introduced, and delivered an instructive
and interesting address on " Lincoln as a Lawyer."

On the evening of Thursday, February 23d, the Hotel Astor, on Times

490

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Square, was temporarily in the possession of the Ohio colony in New York,
from an early hour of the evening until an hour or so after midnight.

The occasion was the winter reunion and reception of the Ohio Society
of New York, which on this occasion took the form of a dinner and a dance.

The arrangements were in the hands of the standing entertainment com-
mittee, which was composed as follows : Orrel A. Parker, chairman ; Francis
X. Butler, Roland Hazen, Sturges S. Dunham, Milton P. Jackson. These
gentlemen were ably assisted by the chairman of the house committee, A. J. C.
Foye, and a floor committee constituted as follows : A. Ernest Foye, Charles
D. Hilles, Winchester Fitch, Robert M. Fulton, William L. Stout, Addison W.
Gilmore, Mark A. Noble, George M. Parker, E. H. Patrick, Kirke E. Bishop,
Andrew McL. Parker. The members of the entertainment committee were
designated by the wearing of red carnations, and the floor conMnittee by the
same flower in white.

The rooms engaged for the evening are what was known as the large ball-
room and the small ballroom, although either of them is sufScient in size to
come under the former designation. They are connected, and have a large
coiTidor, cloak rooms and balconies attached. The dinner was served in the
large room, and dancing occurred in the other.

The members and their guests began to arrive at seven, the hour set for
the reception, and it was a half hour and more before the seats were taken at
the tables. There were some forty of these, averaging seven or eight persons
to a table. There were also three or four tables larger in size, for the accom-
modation of special groups arranged among the members and their friends.

There was no speechmaking or foniial exercises of any sort. Thomas
Ewing, Jr., the first vice-president, presided in the absence of President John
J. McCook, and in a few words welcomed the guests of the evening.

The music furnished, both during the dinner and at the dance, was by
Van Baar's orchestra, one of the best in the city. The committee in charge
did not think it wise to arrange a formal order of dances in advance, but
made up the progi'amme as the evening advanced, selecting such dances as
seemed most desired by the dancers. A card was hung out before each dance,
naming the one then announced and the one next succeeding.

The evening was one of unalloyed enjoyment. A guest from Ohio
touched upon one feature in these words : " I had no idea that Ohio could
muster in New York any such an assemblage of ' fair women and brave men.'
The ' three hundred Buckeyes ' need not feel afraid to compare themselves
with the ' four hundred ' of New York."

In the meeting of the governing committee, on March 13th, a sub-
committee suggested that the Society should secure oil portraits of ex-Presi-
dents Grant, Hayes, Harrison and McKinley.

491

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The nineteenth annual banquet of the Ohio Society of New York, given
on the evening of Saturday, March IS, 1905, in the banquet hall of the
Waldorf-Astoria, was an unqualified success, as have been all of the festal
gatherings of this organization. It was given in honor of Hon. Charles
Warren Fairbanks, vice-president of the United States, a son of Ohio. He was
for a number of years a non-resident member of the Society, and recently, by
unanimous vote, had been enrolled upon its small and select Kst of honorary
members. Beside the vice-president a number of other prominent men, whose
names will be found below, were present as the guests of the Society.

Fully five hundred members and their guests sat down to the banquet,
while the two galleries were filled with ladies, who came in when the speech-
making commenced.

The vice-president and the other guests from the seat of government
arrived in New York in a special car placed at the disposal of the Ohio
Society by courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. They were
escorted to the Manhattan Hotel, whose proprietor, William S. Hawk, is a
member of the Society, and always insists upon entertaining its guests free
of charge. At a little after six, the vice-president and the others were es-
corted to the Waldorf-Astoria by members of the reception committee, where
for a half hour and more an informal reception was held.

At a little after seven o'clock the doors of the banquet hall were thrown
open, and the members entered and took their designated places. The guests
of honor were then conducted to the president's table, Vice-President Fair-
banks heading the procession under escort of President John J. McCook.
Grace was said by Rev. Charles E. JeiFerson, D.D., pastor of the Broadway
Tabernacle.

The names of those who had been invited to occupy seats at the table of
honor were as follows. With few exceptions, all of the gentlemen were present :

Mr. Colgate Hoj^t, past president Ohio Society; Mr. Gilbert E. Roe,
president Wisconsin Society; Mr. Marion J. Verdery, president Southern
Society; Rev. J. Nevett Steele, president Maryland Society; Rev. Wayland
Hoyt, D.D., president Ohio Society of Philadelphia; Hon. James E. Camp-
bell, ex-governor of Ohio; Mr. W. Butler Duncan, president St. Andrew's
Society; Hon. Charles A. Towne, M.C., of New York; Brig.-Gen. Frederick
D. Grant, U. S. A. ; Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard, president New England So-
ciety; Maj.-Gen. James F. Wade, U. S. A.; Hon. M. Linn Bruce, Heutenant-
goveraor of New York; Hon. Stephen B. Elkins, senator from West Virginia;
Mr. Andrew Carnegie, of New York; Hon. Charles Warren Fairbanks, vice-
president of the United States ; Mr. John J. McCook, president of the Ohio
Society; Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, secretary of the treasury; Mr. E. H. Harri-
man, of New York; Hon. Nathan B. Scott, senator from West Virginia;

492

/f,'T

A^ L r-^^ Donor ojL^ V — y

Or VH :
UNIVERSiTY

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Hon. Warren G. Harding, lieutenant-governor of Ohid ; Rear-Admiral Joseph
B. Coghlan, U. S. N. ; Mr. August Belmont, of New York ; Mr. Samuel Rea,
vice-president Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Hon. Melville E. Stone,
president Illinois Society ; Hon. George C. Holt, United States District Judge ;
Rev. Charles E. Jefferson, pastor Broadway Tabernacle; Dr. Henry N. Tifft,
president Board of Education of Greater New York ; Hon. Robert C. Ogden,
president Pennsylvania Society; Hon. Oscar S. Straus, of New York; Gen.
Henry L. Burnett, past president Ohio Society.

The room presented a beautiful sight, especially after the ladies had
filled the boxes surrounding the haU in the two balconies. There was a raised
dais at one end, where was placed the president's table, while the members
and their friends sat at round tables in groups of ten. Flowers were upon each
table, while a beautiful array of flags filled the wall space behind the dais.
The star spangled banner was there in abundance, as were also the flags and
coats of arms of New York state and New York city. Conspicuous among
them was the flag of the buckeye state, bearing the word " Ohio " in letters
of gold, with the coat of arms of the state woven into the silken folds of the
banner.

At each plate was a handsome souvenir programme, prepared by the
souvenir committee. Judge Warren Higley, chairman. It was designed by
Thomas A. Sindelar.

The programme was in a fine kid-finished box with the seal of Ohio upon
the lid. The cover was a bucke3'e brown, tied with a white silk ribbon and the
words, " Ohio Society of New York, nineteenth annual banquet," were printed
upon it in old-fashioned text.

The frontispiece was a photogravure portrait of Vice-President Fairbanks.
Opposite was a handsome design, containing the maps of Ohio and Indiana.
On the map of Ohio was a picture of a log cabin like that in which Mr. Fair-
banks was bom. On the map of Indiana was a picture of his modest home in
Indianapolis. Perched on top of the maps was an American eagle, with the
national capitol as a background. The maps were surrounded by an artistic
arrangement of buckeye leaves and blossoms. Beneath were the words:

Nineteenth Annual Banquet
Ohio Society of New York

in honor of

Charles Warren Fairbanks

Vice-President of the United States

at the

Waldorf-Astoria

Saturday, March 18, 1905

493

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

On succeeding pages were the menu, the programme of toasts and a list
of the committees. The banquet committee has been ah'eady given. The
reception and souvenir committees were constituted as follows: Reception:
Andrew Ernest Foye, chairman; H. B. Brundrett, Charles E. Warren, Charles
C. RuthraufF, Edward W. Parker, Charles D. Hilles, Winchester Fitch, Orrel

A. Parker, Scott R. Hayes, George A. Beaton, H. H. Brockway, P. S. Jen-
nings, Horace J. Morse, Charles A. Moore, P. Ryan, James G. Shaw, Andrew
]McC. Parker, Leonard D. INIoii'ison, Peter H. Burnett, John J. Welch, Philip

B. Gaynor, Lewis C. Ruch, John E. Weeks.

Souvenir: Warren Higley, chainnan; Charles D. Hilles, Carlton T.
Chapman, Lewis C. Ruch, Orrel A. Parker, Seth Thayer Stewart.

At the plate of each member and guest was a small box containing a re-
production of " One Bucke3^e Cabin," upon which was the date of the even-
ing of the banquet, in letters of gold, and the name of the Ohio Society of
New York.

The order of toast was as f oUows :

John J. McCook, presiding. Grace by Rev. Charles E. Jefferson, D.D.,
pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle.

" The President of the United States." The members of the Society and
their guests will respond by standing while the band plays " The Star Spangled
Banner."

" Ohio in its Relation to the Nation." Responded to by the Hon.
Charles Warren Fairbanks, vice-president of the United States.

" The Empire State Salutes Her Adopted Bucke^^e Sons." Responded
to by the Hon. M. Linn Bruce, lieutenant-governor of the state of New York.

" Ohio Patriotism." Responded to by the Hon. Warren G. Harding,
lieutenant-governor of Ohio.

" The Great Ordinance of 1787." Responded to by the Hon. Charles A.
Towne, M.C.

"The Anny." Responded to by Maj.-Gen. James F. Wade, U. S. A.

" The Navy." Responded to by Rear-Admiral Joseph B. Coghlan,
U. S. N.

At 9:28 p. m.. President McCook arose, and after obtaining silence said:

" Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Members of the Ohio Society, and Our
Honored Guests: — It is the privilege of the president of our Society, at each
of these annual gatherings, to extend a cordial and hearty welcome, a genuine,
heartfelt, buckeye welcome to all who are present with us, and this I do to-
night. ( Applause. )

" No one can cast his eye about this room without being proud of a state
that has given birth, or a sheltering home, to so many fair women and brave
men. The Ohio Society is unquestionably the oldest of the state organiza-

494

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tions here in New York, and it is undoubtedly the largest, unless the progres-
sive Pennsj'lvania Society, under the leadership of its aggressive president,
Mr. Ogden, who honors us by his presence to-night, may have relegated us
to a second place. We question the fact, however, and we will still claim to
be the oldest and the largest of the state societies.

" The other states, carved out of the original Northwest Territory, have
each established societies here in New York, with the exception of Indiana, and
their organization is now being effected. We have the honor of welcoming
here to-night the Hon. Melville E. Stone, president of the Illinois Society
(applause), and the Hon. Gilbert E. Roe, president of the Wisconsin Society
(applause), and we hope before long to welcome on these occasions the repre-
sentatives of the Michigan and Indiana societies. (Applause.)

" At the date of the annual meeting two years ago, the Society had
435 members; in 1904 we had an enrollment of 536 members, including the
honorary members; and this year we have a membership of over 600, ex-
clusive of our honorary members. Ought we not, as a matter of state patriot-
ism and pride, see to it that our Society is strengthened and increased by
the addition of many new and valuable members during the next twelve
months ?

" During the last year the Society has lost by death, the Hon. George
K. Nash,* an ex-governor of the state, and twelve ether valuable members.
As these, our friends and companions, pass over to the great majority, we
mourn their absence, but we rejoice in their lives and will always cherish
their memory.

" This Society has no debts, and has a surplus fund of some $15,000.
(Applause.) That is not a very large sum, but it is adequate for our pur-
poses, and 3'et not so large as to be a temptation to any aggressive female
Ohio financier. (Laughter and continued applause.)

" I call the attention of the treasurer to the manner ( applause and laugh-
ter) in which that innocent remark was received, and warn him to see that
our funds are not ' Cassied,' as I believe they call it now in Cleveland. (Ap-
plause and laughter.) The satisfa,ctory membership and financial condition
of our Society reflects credit upon the officers, the members of the governing
board, and the committees who have administered its affairs during the past
year. I can say without hesitation that no organization that I know of (with
the exception of its president) is better officered, and has more efficient com-
mittees, with stronger, abler, hard-working members than those working in
the interest of this Ohio Society.

" Patriotism is always recognized as holding a high place, if not the
highest, among the civic virtues. Ohio as a state, and Ohio men have always
been patriotic, and they have been patriotic at a time when it meant some-

495

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

thing for them to be patriotic, when they were called upon to make sacrifices
in the interest of their state and of the nation.

" There are two characteristics which all Americans like to see, but un-
fortunately do not always find in their public men, namely, honesty and cour-
age. Personal honesty, honesty of conviction, and the courage to carry into
effect what the conviction teaches to be right, at the time and in the way that
God permits the man with the conviction to see what he conceives to be the
right. The exceptionally great honor recently paid to an American citizen
by the people of all parties, irrespective of creeds, irrespective of any divisive
line, makes us feel that the people of this country have found a man, with
those characteristics of honesty and courage in Theodore Roosevelt, the presi-
dent of the United States. (Applause and cheers long continued.)

" On an occasion like this it always becomes the loyal sons of Ohio to
indicate their sentiments of national loyalty by drinking the health of the
president of the United States. The members of tlie Society and their guests
will respond to this toast by standing, while the band plays the ' Star Spangled
Banner.' "

(The members remained standing until the conclusion of the national
hymn, which was followed by applause.)

President McCook : " The ordinary annual meetings of the Ohio So-
ciety are held on the S9th day of November in each year, an anniversary
which is surrounded by much uncertainty, and yet it is claimed by many of us
as one of great interest to our state. There is possibly more satisfaction in
celebrating an event, the date of which you are not sure of, than one that
is absolutely certain. However that may be, we hold our annual meetings on
the 29th day of November. On such occasions a good dinner is usually served,
and then the retiring officers present their final reports, new officers are elected,
and we have a heart to heart talk about anything that is of interest to Ohio
people, especially that kind of interest that makes an Ohio man leave his native
state to better his condition in another, or to find one where there is less com-
petition for public office.

" On the 29th day of November, two years ago, we had such an ordinary
annual meeting, but we had with us two members of our Society, first, the
Hon. Whitelaw Reid, who has since been honored by his promotion to the
highest diplomatic post in the gift of our government by his appointment as
ambassador to the Court of St. James. Mr. Reid is absent to-night in Cali-
fornia, but he asks me to express his cordial salutations and heartiest regards
to all members of the Society and their guests present. The other distin-
guished member who was with us on that occasion was Hon. Charles Warren
Fairbanks. (Applause and cheers.) Something that was said or done by
Mr. Fairbanks, Senator Fairbanks, as he was then, moved one of the mem-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

bers of the Society to prophesy. The prophecy was that Senator Fairbanks
would be the next vice-president of the United States. (Applause and cheers.)
With that easy manner and grace with which the great pohtician can turn
away a tempting proposal (laughter) Senator Fairbanks gave us to under-
stand that such an event was not at all likely to occur. I was, however, deeply
impressed by the prophec}' , and alwaj^s having the interest of the Ohio Society
at heart, I turned to the Senator at once, and said, ' I engage you now as the
guest of honor at the next annual banquet of the Ohio Society, when we shall
expect you to appear as vice-president of the United States.' And here he
is. (Applause.)

" I am not going to engage in any prophecy to-night. It is a bad thing
to foretell the future too often, for the best informed prophet will some-
times slip up, but that effort worked out splendidly, and Senator Fairbanks
received the honor in which we all rejoice, and which is for the great good of
tliis country. He is an Ohio man born; he was brought up in Ohio; he had
the advantage of receiving his education at what was then a small Ohio col-
lege ; he studied law in Ohio ; was admitted to the bar in Ohio ; and best of
all he got his wife in Ohio. (Applause and cheers.) With this wonderful
equipment of Ohio advantages he stepped over into Indiana to see what oppor-
tunities were offered for that kind of a man. (Laughter.) It has been my
privilege to have known him personally and professionally for many years
— I won't tell how many years — and I am glad to say that at the end of every
five years his friends could not fail to note that Charles W. Fairbanks oc-
cupied a higher, better, and loftier position than ever before. I will not
take your time by speaking of his great professional success, or of the fine,
even brilliant services he has rendered to the country in the United States
Senate. That record is written and read of all men. It has stood the test
of numerous campaigns, which is, I believe, the best test of a record. We
have the satisfaction of receiving him to-night as our chief guest of honor,
and I consider it a great privilege to present to this assemblage of Ohio men
and their guests, the Hon. Charles Warren Fairbanks, vice-president of the
United States." (Applause and cheers, given standing.)

To the toast, " Ohio in its Relation to the Nation," Mr. Fairbanks re-
sponded as follows : " President McCook, Members of the Ohio Society of
New York, Ladies and Gentlemen : — I thank you for this cordial greeting, for
your more than generous welcome. It is always a real pleasure to me to meet
the members of the Ohio Society of New York, and it was never more gratify-
ing than it is to-night.

" The distinguished chairman, the president of this great Society, whose
name has added honor to the state of Ohio, has been guilty of a little bit of
ungenerous and unkindly treatment. You would not suspect it, looking at

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

him. (Laughter.) When he came to Washington to extend the invitation of
this Society, he said to me at the outset, ' You will not be expected to make
a speech.' I instantly accepted the invitation. (A voice: "Oh, McCook!"
Mr. McCook: " WTiat did you think we wanted you for.'' ")

" I was betrayed then, and I am in the trap now. Think of my surprise,
after that very generous statement, asking me simply to come and have a
heart to heart ' talk ' with the boys from Ohio, as he affectionately expressed it,
when day before yesterday I received a telegram reading, ' When will the
manuscript of j^our speech be sent to New York.' (Laughter.) Now, he
has got to take just what I am going to give him.

" Fellow Buckeyes, as we meet about this festal board, we seem to be
brought closer and closer together. We are brought into more intimate fel-
lowship; we seem to have a common interest in each other; our memories go
back to the old state of Ohio, venerable mother of us all, where cluster so
many happy recollections of the long ago. I am not in favor of class dis-
tinctions in the United States, but having talked much of Ohio to one of my
young boys, he said to me once, ' You seem to be in favor of creating classes
in the United States.' I said, ' No, what do you mean? ' ' You seem to be
in favor of creating two classes, those born in Ohio, and those who were not
bora in Ohio.' (Laughter and applause.)

" There is something about the Buckeyes I like. How they take pride
in their state ! They love it ; they have an affection for it ; they have alwaj^s
believed in the ascendancy of its star, in Ohio's destiny. I think I never knew
the pride of Ohioans in Ohio illustrated better than in the case of a justice of
the peace who exercised his high judicial functions in the old neighborhood
where I was born, in Union county, Ohio. He appreciated the great privilege
the good Lord had given him of being born in Ohio, and what was greatest
and best of all, next to being born in Steubenville was to be born in Union
county, Ohio. This justice of the peace was elected to the high and honor-
able office he held by the partiality of his neighbors, and when he came to try
his first case and swear the first witness, he seemed to be impressed with the
fact, first, that he was an Ohioan ; second, that he was a justice of the peace.
Said he to the trembling witness, ' Hold up your right hand.' The witness
held up his hand. Said he, ' You do solemnly swear, before me and Almighty
God, that you will tell the truth.' (Laughter and applause.) And I may say
that he was one of the most modest of our fellow citizens.

" We are all proud of Ohio. She has been a «trong and conservative
state. She has been a patriotic state. Wherever the nation's good name was
involved, she responded in full measure. She has made her ample contribution
of men in all the walks of life. She has contributed men who have been
mighty in the councils of the nation. She has contributed some of the great-

498

Hon. Charles Warren Fairbanks

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

est captains that ever haA^c led annies doA\n to the battlefields of any country.
(Applause.) We ai'e proud not only of what she has been, but we are proud
of what she is. We are gratified to know that, great and splendid as her past
has been, her present is greater, and her future looms high with hopeful
promise. The sons of Ohio are to-day upholding the best traditions of those
who in the past added lustre to her name.

" We are not only proud of Ohio, but we are proud of our countr}- to
which she has made her mighty contribution. We are proud of our country be-
cause she has taken a guiding place in the affairs of the world. We are proud
of Ohio — of the United States — Mr. Chairman, that slip was not an unnatural
one, for Ohio and the United States are almost synonymous. (Laughter and
applause.) We are proud of the United States because of her incomparable
material resources. The centuries may come and go, and they will not be
exhausted. We may say without boastfulness that the United States can,
if supreme need be, stand against the entire world. The United States fears
not the strongest among the alien powers, not only because of her mighty
armies, not only because of her fleets which have so splendidly vindicated her
name upon the seas, but because of the spirit of justice which abides in the
American heart. (Applause and cheers.)

" We are gratified to see — but, Mr. Chairman, I don't wish to take up
any more time."

Mr. McCook : " Please go ahead."

" Now he is asking me to go ahead. When I came here Senator Scott,
from the state of West Virginia — and the best thing about him is, he was
bom in Oliio — took me aside and said, ' How long are you going to speak.'* '
I said, ' Ten minutes.' ' Good,' he said, ' you'll make a hit, and,' said he, ' if
you make it five minutes you will carry the audience before you.' (Laughter
and applause.) And now the chairaian wants me to speak on."

Voices : " Go on ! Go on ! "

" We are gratified to know that there is abroad among the people of the
United States, a strong, healthy, a growing sentiment in favor of settling in-
ternational differences by an appeal to the supreme court of reason. (Ap-
plause. ) And in making that remark I am gratified to know that there sits at
my right here one of the most powerful advocates of that great doctrine in
the United States, the Hon. Andrew Carnegie. (Applause and cheers.) We
are gratified to see, in the onward and upward march of the human race that
the tribunal at The Hague has been established, and in the centuries to come,
when the councillors of the nations of the earth meet about the deliberative
board to settle great international questions, they will meet under a roof raised
by the hand of the greatest philanthropist since the world began, (Con-
tinued applause and cheers.)

499

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" I realize that we share a common pride in the glories of a common state.
I realize that we share in common the honor of a great republic, yet we do
not share allegiance to a. common political party. Nevertheless, I may say,
without fear of violating the proprieties of this non-partisan occasion, that
there has been rendered inestimable sei-vice to the cause of international ar-
bitration by the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. (Ap-
plause and cheers.)

" There is a difference among eminent statesmen with respect to details,
but it is proper to say that the President has given to the cause of international
arbitration an impetus world-wide and of lasting benefit. Differences as to
details will be eradicated or harmonized. In good time the doctrine of inter-
national arbitration will be firmly established, and in the future most of the
questions which vex the governments of the earth will be settled, not by a cold
and merciless appeal to arms, but in the deliberative chamber, where a high
sense of international justice holds supreme sway. (Cheers.)

" The world is coming more and more to think at the same time upon the
same questions. The cable and the telegraph knit together capitals and
centres of commerce; railways bind governments to each other; the mighty
merchantmen of all powers thread the seas, bringing the marts and the cita-
dels of commercial power into closer touch with each other than ever before.
We read in the same paper the debates in the American Congress, in the French
Chamber of Deputies, in the House of Commons, in the German Reichstag,
upon social, political, and commercial questions. The United States is des-
tined in the future to exercise a more wholesome and a more powerful in-
fluence on the world than ever in all of her splendid past. (Applause.)
She will exercise it not through the sword; she will exercise it not through
her mighty ships of war ; she will exercise it not through her invincible armies ;
she will exercise her influence upon the thought of the world through her high
ideals; high and lofty they are. (Applause.) For the United States is
inspired with a spirit of justice. Let us inculcate amongst our countrymen
that commanding sense of international right, which makes for international
righteousness and international peace. (Applause.) That international
peace which is the result of the operation of moral forces is to be desired far
beyond that peace which is enforced as a matter of might. That peace which
comes to the nations of the earth by the exercise of justice, is a peace which
is abiding, which is everlasting. Let us hope, my countrymen, that the United
States will be true to her supreme opportunity; and while she prepares her
ships of war, while she makes more efficient her armies, that she lead in the
eff'ort to bring the nations of the earth to the serene, deliberative chamber where
the voice of reason wiU be the all important, the omnipotent voice. (Applause
and cheers.)

500

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" My friends, pcmiit me to again acknowledge, from the depths of a
Buckeye heart, my gratitude for j^our kindly greeting. I shall carry it
through life as one of my most cherished memories. In leaving you, as I am
loath to do, let me indulge the hope, and I have no doubt our good friends who
>were not bom in Ohio will share in it, that tlie Oliio of to-day may prove a
truthful prophecy of the Ohio of to-moiTOw. I thank you all." (Continued
applause and cheers, the audience standing.)

Mr. McCook: "Those of us who have unselfishly surrendered the joys of
life in Ohio for the benefits, delights and satisfaction of life here in New York
can never be sufficiently grateful for the open-anned welcome with which we
have been received and with which we are encouraged to remain and live on for-
ever here in New York. We shall now listen to a few remarks, responsive to
the toast ' Tlie Empire State Salutes Her Adopted Buckeye Sons,' which will
be responded to by the Hon. M. Linn Bruce, lieutenant-governor of the state of
New York." (Applause.)

Lieutenant-Governor Bruce said : " Colonel McCook, Members of the
Ohio Society and Fellow Guests: I also am here under some misapprehension.
Like the distinguished vice-president, I was given the impression that I was
not expected to say anything, I assumed that our presence was desired simply
to lend distinction to the occasion.

" I am very glad to have a scat at this board, and to look into the faces of
so many prodigals from the old Buckeye state Avho are here in New York
wasting their substances in riotous living. (Laughter and applause.) Let me
give you a word of counsel. These good times may not always last. The
other fellows may get in, and then, of course, there will arise a mighty famine
in this land and you will begin to be in want. The surplus in your treasury
will dwindle down. You will then no longer assemble in this gilded hall, but
somewhere over on the East Side and dine on husks. Then you will turn your
faces backward to the old Buckeye state, but I assure you that the older
brothers are there and they are not out in the fields either. Tliey are sitting
around holding fat jobs, wearing the best robes and the rings, and keeping
one eye on the veal in the stall. You need not expect to get the welcome that
the prodigal of the Scriptures received.

" This magnificGnt assembly, however, is as much a tribute to the Empire
state as it is to the Buckeye state. "When we hear a Bucke^^e talk we think
there is no place so desirable as old Ohio, but I notice that a great many have
been Avilling to leave the Buckeye state (laughter) and establish their homes
here in the Empire state. In fact much of the achievement that has given this
state the title of the Empire state is due to the splendid serv^ice and the splen-
did work of her adopted sons. I am willing to admit this because I myself
was bom in Pennsylvania. I remarked this to my distinguished neighbor upon

501

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

my left (Mr. Carnegie), a citizen of New York, Pennsylvania, Scotland,
Great Britain and the whole world (applause), and he said: ' Yes, New York
is getting along pretty well, but she is pretty hard pushed by Pennsylvania,
and if it wasn't for Greater New York she would be passed.' And he intimated
that the pre-eminence of Pennsylvania was soon coming. Well, if we are to
give way to any other state, I prefer to give way to the state in which I was
bom.

" It has been said that ' Next to the worship of the Father of us all, the
grandest and the noblest of human emotions is love for the land that gave us
birth.' There is a certain sort of patriotism, however, among some men which
manifests itself in a love for the entire country, but no love for any particular
town or city or state. I am glad to know that such men are not reared in
Ohio. A Buckeye man is always talking to you about the Buckeye state and
what the Buckeye state has done. Of course it would be a great impropriety
for those of us of the Empire state to boast. Those who lead may leave boast-
ing to others. Other cities may be great, but New York is always Greater.
(Laughter and applause.)

" We are citizens of no mean state and of no mean city. And I wish
that we had more pride of the city in which we live. I was bom, or reared,
rather, up in a little village in Delaware county with less than 500 inhab-
itants, and do you know if any fellow went out of that town and didn't say
a good word for the town it were well if he never came back. You don't find
the same sentiment in those living here, the second city of the world, the first
on this continent, yes, upon this hemisphere; first in population, in finance, in
commerce, in all that should make us proud. You never meet a man from
' Frisco ' but 3'ou find him praising ' Frisco.' You meet a man from Denver
and he will tell you that it is the finest city in the West. You meet a man from
Chicago and you can't stop him talking about the greatness of Chicago. You
meet a man from Boston and he is all the time sounding the praises of Boston.
But you meet a man from New York and he is usually finding fault, whining
about the shortcomings of New York.

" New Yorkers, let us learn a lesson right here to-night from these Buck-
eyes. Let us start right out from this time, and wherever we are, sound loud
and long the praises of tliis the grandest city in the world. (Applause and
cheers.) I was speaking not long ago with a citizen of New York, and he
spent most of the time berating the police and other departments of the city
of New York. Well, now, we have our troubles ; troubles in the police depart-
ment, but they are up near the top. There is not a city in the world that has
a braver or better rank and file than we have in the police department of the
city of New York. Look at our fire department; at our public charities ; at our
public parks ; at our magnificent harbors ; at our financial and commercial su-

502

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

premacy. New Yorkers, wake up ! Sound the praise of New York ! New York
cit}^ and New York state, as tlie Bucke^'e shouts for the Buckeye state. I pro-
pose the toast. The City and State of New York." (Applause and cheers.)

Mr. McCook said : " Fellow members, I have been especially warned to do
no prophesying to-night; but it won't hurt any man who is interested in and
who wishes well to the greater city of New York and the great Empire state of
New York to keep his eye on the man who has just spoken to us, M. Linn
Bruce, the lieutenant-governor of New York. (Applause and cheers.)

" The next toast comes very close to the heart of every Buckeye. We
always have at these annual meetings an official representative of our dear
old home state. Last year, you will remember, we had with us our good
friend, the true and devoted friend of Senator Hanna and President McKinley,
Governor Myron T. Herrick. (Applause.) This year we have v/ith us the
lieutenant-governor of the state of Oliio, the Hon. Warren G. Harding, who
will speak to us upon ' Ohio Patriotism.' " (Applause and cheers.)

Lieutenant-Governor Harding said: "Mr. Toastmaster, Gentlemen and
Ladies : If I may make official response to the speech of the lieutenant-governor
of New York, I bid you know, when you want to return to Ohio, that there are
a thousand fatted calves browsing upon the hills awaiting your return.
(Laughter and applause.)

" I wish I might make excuses, but the introduction of your toastmaster
has forbidden it. I was invited here to speak."

President McCook : " Thank you."

" I feel just a little bit like a j'oung friend of mine in my own county,
who is now our prosecuting attorney, a well meaning, industrious young Re-
publican, who ran for office in a Democratic county, without means ; and he
made a personal canvass throughout the county, and stopping one evening at
the Messenger home, he found Mr. Messenger busy milking. The cow was
very restless and the milking was difficult, and Mr. Clark, to further his
political influence, said, ' Mr. Messenger, can't I help you in your work, milk-
ing that cow? ' And he said, ' You might stand at her head, if you will, and
distract her attention.' So Mr. Clark, true to his promise, stood at the cow's
head, and thus distracted she yielded the milk. And then Clark, true to his
candidacy, said, ' Mr, Messenger, I am a candidate for prosecuting attorney ;
I am running against Wilbur Jacob}' on the Democratic ticket.' And Mr.
Messenger said, ' Yes, I know.' And Clark said, ' Well, has Jacoby been out
to see 3'ou 3'et.'^ ' And he said, ' Yes, he is back of the straw stack now, hold-
ing that pesky calf.' (Laughter and applause.)

" You know, I am suspicious, sometimes, of these distinguished public
speakers. I heard Daniel Sully tell the story of Father O'Brien, who an-
nounced to his parish that inasmuch as the October days had come, on the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

next Sunday he would take up a collection to raise funds to buy coal with
which to heat the church. ' We have a large church,' he said, ' and it will
require a large fund to buy coal, and next Sunday I want every one of you
to contribute according to his means, if only a penny, or a nickel, or a dime,
or a dollar if you can.' The next Sunday he again announced the collection
and said, ' To make sure you will do j^our duty, I am going to take the col-
lection myself.' And then the good Father started out with the box, and
everybody contributed a penny, or a nickel, or a dime or more, until he struck
O'Haggerty, and as he handed the box to O'Haggerty, O'Haggerty winked
and gave nary a cent. Meeting O'Haggerty on the street the next day, the
good Father said, ' O'Haggerty, what did you mean yesterday, when you
winked in my face, and gave nary a cent to the contribution ? ' And O'Hag-
gerty said, * Oh, Father, I was the only man in the congregation onto your
game; you heat this church with steam.' (Laughter and applause.)

" One story sometimes suggests another. Senator Scott of West Vir-
ginia, who is good enough to be an Ohio man, in addition to being one by
birth, said, ' You ought to tell these fellows the story of the minister, who
asked his congregation, or the members of it who wanted to go to heaven, to
stand up.' They all stood up but one man, and he marvelled a little at that,
and then said, ' All of you who want to go to ' — well, I need not mention the
place — ' stand up.' And nobody stood. There was that lone, uncommitted
man. And he said, ' I would like to know from the brother sitting in the end
of pew No. 3, what he means by not taking either end of this proposition.'
And the man said, ' Well, Mr. Minister, if it doesn't make any difference to
you, I live in Ohio, and I would like to stay there just as long as I can.'
(Laughter and applause.)

" I wish I might make some fitting remark, on an occasion of this kind,
that would be a fitting tribute to your native state. Sitting here, gazing upon
you sons of Ohio, and on those balconies rich with the womanhood of Ohio, I
have been seeking for a reason to account for the accomplishment and the
attainment of the buckeye state, and it seems to me I have found the reason
in the splendid womanhood that finds its birth in Ohio. Don't you know
that back of every achievement, back of the development of genius and art,
and everything of value accomplished, is somewhere a woman's love?

" Mr. Toastmaster, to speak of Ohio patriotism is to speak of American
patriotism, which has made this new-world republic the astonishing nation
of the earth. Whether one alludes to patriotism as it flames in war, or as it
proves the enduring energy of peace, buckeye patriotism is firmly rooted in
an exultant and exalted citizenship, is the best the world knows, not necessarily
indigenous to the soil, but developed in the very atmosphere which is the
breath of a hopeful and confident people. All Americans love this matchless

504

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

country of ours. Pulses arc quickened and hearts are aglow when thoughts
are turned to,

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble, free.

" Pride is well developed and firmly anchored, and I fancy sometimes
that the Buckeye has just a little reason for that spirit and the special pride
in his heart. Ohio was the first territory to be illumined by the glorious star
of empire in its westward course. Our hills and fertile valleys and the
stretches of plains for which the adventurous settlers contended against
savage and foreign foe, when heroes perished without Fame's acclaim — this
was the first pearl in the crown of an expanded republic. The sturdy fore-
fathers had thundered their proclamation of liberty at Lexington and Con-
cord, and reared new standards of freedom in battling for their inherent
rights. But peace brought the problem of government to be solved, and a
mighty task was that. Old world republics had come and gone, monarcliies
had held their sway and had crumbled or faded and been forgotten save in
the warning pages of history; but these new world patriots, warriors and
statesmen, all conquering and unconquerable, turned to build a temple to a
new and enduring republic. On Bunker Hill, Liberty's beacon was lighted,
was set aglow, to guide the oppressed and down-trodden of the old world
to this haven of refuge, where they might drink freely of the waters of
political life, and those stalwart men, filled with the enthusiasm of a new
era, snatched the torches of hberty and enlightenment, started to plant
them an imperishable flame in a westward course that encircles the globe
to-day. ( Applause. )

" With contagious hopefulness and ii-repressible determination they
came westward by the lakes, or pushed through the gateway of the Alle-
ghanies, planting the banners of hope and freedom and laying the foundation
of American homes. Puritan, Quaker and Cavalier joined in shaping tliis
western jewel for fair Columbia's crown, but more important than their
blending of stalwart colonial strains was the impelling purpose back of
these sturdy, yea, these heroic pioneers. Don't you know, the first settler is
a conqueror in heart and mind, and a giant in accomplishment? Two types
make up the class, one loving adventure and impelled by a desire to accom-
plish, the other driven by firm resolution and an unalterable purpose to start
anew and attain for himself. Little wonder that they accomplished mightily.
Nothing strange that they proved a sturdy race and bred stalwart men and
women. By the very laws of inheritance and development they gave to the
state and the nation a race of men and women who were dominant at home,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and sped on their sons and daughters to the awakening of the West and the
development of this incomparable country of ours. (Applause.)

" Participants in every struggle for liberty, until the name in America
stands for the best type the world has ever known, hating intolerance, and
believing in enlightenment and activity as the best means of accomplishment
and attainment, the proud bucke3^e citizen may well glory in Ohio patriotism,
in peace or war.

" When an ambiguity in the constitution and the freedom of a race led
to a tragedy that gi'ieved the world, the men of Ohio gave 300,000 soldiers
to the cause of Union. I will not yield to the promptings of pride to remind
you of Ohio leaders who wrote their names in enduring fame. In the forum
or on the battlefield, Ohio leadership has been ineffaceably written in history,
but I think that Ohio patriotism is best revealed in the glad offering of her
brave sons, the men and boys Avho made up more than one-ninth of all the
armies that executed the commands of that hero of heroes, the great, sad-
faced Emancipator of a human race, stalwart savior of the Union, Abraham
Lincoln. (Applause and cheers.)

" From out the Northwest Territorj^, Virginia's splendid gift to this Gov-
ernment, which must ever be her pride, and of which Ohio is a large and im-
portant unit, there were sent to war, to battle, in the four years of civil strife,
a million muskets and thirty thousand swords. These men who devoted them-
selves to the Union were willing volunteers for the Union's preservation. In
history, the mighty army of the Potomac is written as made up almost ex-
clusively of Eastern men ; but gaze on Gettysburg's silent field to-day, and
standing well to the front of the great battle line which turned the tide of
rebellion, are monuments to Ohio regiments, grateful marks of buckeye patriot-
ism, which flamed and perished there in the cause of Union forever.

" When the draft riots threatened this great city in the stirring days
of '63, and troops were needed to execute the honorable purposes of the
government without fear or favor, the victorious troops from Gettysburg
were summoned, and two regiments of Ohio soldier boys stacked their arms
in Wall street, and pitched their tents on Long Island's nearby shores. And
New York went to grateful sleep when the Ohio soldier boys came.

" Why, Ave men of to-day, we younger fellows, know little of the char-
acter of the stirring events of those trying times ; but stand with me, ye men
of Ohio, before Chattanooga cemetery, near where Grant looked from Orchard
Knob, and saw our Ohio soldiers charge up Missionary Ridge : on the gateway
you read, ' On Fame's eternal camping gi-ound, etc' Gaze on the far-
stretching lines of modest stones that make one fancy the martial heroes in
line of light eternal, and the eye moistens and the heart is stirred, to read
in eloquent and pathetic frequency, ' Ohio, Ohio, Ohio, Ohio ; ' until there are

506

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a thousand softened echoes of the subHme pathos of the patriotism that
made this sacrifice that a nation might endure.

" Sometimes, my fellow citizens, former Ohio neighbors, there are
triumphs of patriotism in peace. We are making the farms yield their trib-
utes and the mines their wealth; we are sharing in the development of com-
merce and industry. We are apace with American progress, but we take our
fliers of course when we accumulate wealth rapidly ; we do a Chadwickian stunt
now and then. (Laughter.) Now and then, just to remind Wall street that
she is not the only only, and incidentally to bring our friend, Mr. Carnegie,
out to see what Ohio is like. But I want to remind you that in Ohio, in the
villages, and the cities, and on the farms, is a gi'eat, tranquil, sober-headed
people, confident and grateful, which is the balance wheel to the public senti-
ment that makes the law of this republic.

" And so we look with confidence, glorifying Ohio's sons and their
achievements in the past. We look with confidence on our sons to-day; and
for the future there is inspiring assurance, for there is the sparkling music
of schochng j^ouths who breathe the same atmosphere the fathers did, and
they are gathering inspiration and exalted purpose from their traditions and
glorious history. And, my friends, we know that American history has only
begun. It is only sunrise to the national day. A century and a quarter is
only a little while; and yet, how mightily we have achieved. Yet the won-
ders accomplished are mere suggestions of the future. Who can foretell
what the human thought is equal to, wliat the sun at its meridian will reveal,
what God intended in peopling this nation, this country with a dominant race
of liberty-giving, liberty-loving men. And so I say that, vrhile we may not
be called upon to rule the world, with our ideals and an ideal republic we
may idealize the governments of the earth. And when that day comes,
around the festal fires illuminating the world will be sung the songs of the
triumphs of peace; and on that day the glad voices of Ohio's sons and
daughters, from every company, regiment, and division, from every state
and province, will swell the heaven-reaching strains. And that will be pride
enough for the sons of Ohio." (Applause and cheers.)

President McCook said : " This organization of ours has always been
kept entirely free from any political or partisan bias. It Is sometimes difficult
to demonstrate this proposition, for if you bring Ohio men here to New York
to speak about Ohio, with such Republican majorities as are given out there,
you are not alwaj's sure of finding a Democrat.

" We have the great satisfaction of welcoming to-night a man of dis-
tinguished, I may properly say national reputation as a Democrat. While
not Invited here in any political capacity, this gentleman had the good for-
tune of being bora in Miclilgan, one of the states set off from the Northwest

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Territory. He has rendered distinguished service in Congress, both in the
House of Representatives and in the Senate from a northwestern state, and
he is now a representative, a Democratic representative in Congress from our
own great city of New York. The Hon. Charles A. Towne, of this city,
will speak to us upon ' The Year 1787.' " (Applause and cheers.)

Hon. Charles A. Towne said : " Mr. Toastmaster, Mr. Vice-President,
Ladies and Gentlemen: — If I might paraphrase the language of a very
familiar anecdote, I should venture to observe that this is scarcely the place
for a modest man. If I may say it without offence, I am quite reconciled,
at this stage of the performance, to not having been born in the state of
Ohio. After all that has been said as to the unparalleled merits of Ohio
citizenship, a man who should at this hour arise and claim to exemplify it
would be justly suspected of mature self-complacency. But I desire, sir,
to render my acknowledgments, as one born in another of the sister states
carved out of the Northwest Territory, for that generous latitude of con-
struction which permits me to participate in your festivities almost after the
manner of one native in the great commonwealth whose name sanctions tliis
occasion. In fact, sir, I very narrowly missed an opportunity to challenge
a vested right to be here ; for my birthplace in Michigan was only a few miles
northward of that line of demarcation between the two commonwealths which
was long a subject of controversy, resulting, as those familiar with the
ancient history of Oliio and Michigan will recall. In what is known as the
' Toledo War.' The condition, by the way, of the compromise that ter-
minated hostilities was, as is usual in cases where Ohio is a party to the com-
promise, that the boundary established was the line that Ohio wanted.
(Laughter.) Now, sir, if Ohio had only chosen to lay claim to a little more
of southern Michigan, it would have been my lot to be born under the
auspices of the Ohio constellation. Therefore, while I may not avail myself
of the privileges of a native son, I may venture to speak with something of
the freedom of a kinsman."

Mr. Towne spoke eloquently of Ohio and of the Northwest Territory.
He then discussed the Philippine question and others in relation to our foreign
policy, and in conclusion said:

" The ultimate national sovereignty is reserved to the people. Our
liberties depend upon the obsen^ance of its constitutionally delegated func-
tions by each branch of the national government. Any substantial impair-
ment of this peculiar and characteristic adjustment of our system Is a crime.
Said Daniel Webster : ' Other misfortunes may be borne or their effects over-
come. If disastrous war should sweep our commerce from the ocean, an-
other generation may renew it ; if it exhaust our treasury, future industry' may
replenish it; If it desolate and lay Avaste our fields, &till, under a new culti--

508

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ration, they will grow green again and ripen to future harvests. It were but
a trifle even if the walls of yonder capitol were to crumble, if its lofty columns
should fall and its gorgeous decorations be all covered with the dust of the
valley. All these might be rebuilt. But who shall reconstruct the fabric of
demolished government? Who shall rear again the well-proportioned columns
of constitutional liberty.'' Who shall frame together the skilful architecture
which unites national sovereignty with state rights, individual security and
public prosperity.'' No, if these columns fall they will be raised not again.
Like the Coliseum and the Pai*thenon they will be destined to a mournful, a
melancholy, immortality. Bitterer tears, however, will flow over them than
were ever shed over Grecian or Roman art; for they will be the remnants of
a more glorious edifice than Greece or Rome ever saw, the edifice of consti-
tutional American liberty.'

" And so, men of Ohio, men of America, as we face the new problems
and the new glones of the twentieth century, let us remember that we can be
worthy of such a destiny only upon the condition of fidelity to the spirit of
1787; to the principles of morality, education and justice embodied in the
great Ordinance, and to the obsei'vance of those wise provisions of political
liberty and responsibility secured to us by the constitution of the United
States." (Applause.)

]\Ir. McCook said : " At our banquet a year ago, which took the fonn of
an army and navy function, we had present with us the Secretary of War, an
Ohio man, Lieutenant-General Chaffee, an Ohio man, and Maj or-General
Corbin, then commanding this part of the United States, an Ohio man. We
have with us to-night, as the senior major-general in command of this division,
another Ohio man, who bears a name beloved of all Ohioans, the name of Wade.
A son of that able, brave, forceful, aggressive, splendid Buckeye, the repre-
sentative of Ohio on the floor of the United States Senate during the stormy
period of the Civil War, whom we all admired and like to recall as ' Old Ben
Wade,' of blessed memory. We will now hear a word of salutation from
Maj .-Gen. James F. Wade, United States Army." (Applause.)

General Wade, responding to the toast, " The Army," spoke as follows :
" ]\Ir. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: — The subject assigned me to-
night is a very large one. The first training of an army officer is to see and
take instant advantage of conditions as they occur, and the reference by our
distinguished guest of the evening to five or ten minutes was not lost upon
me. (Laughter.) I am not going to keep you here to give you a history of
the United States army, which would be a history of the United States, and
the colonies preceding it. The United States army reminds me forcibly of the
Ohio Society. The Ohio Society is made up of men of Ohio. The United
States army is made up of men of the United States. The first requisite to

509

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

a man joining that army is that he must be a citizen of the United States.
It is made up of the people you know. Looking at this audience to-night, so
far as any marks or anything is to distinguish them, they may be officers of
the United States army in plain clothes. I want you to remember, when you
hear of the United States army in our own country or abroad, that it is
brave, patriotic, and efficient. Of course it is. It is made up of our own
people, our relatives, our neighbors, our friends. When you hear that it is
binital, bloodthirsty, and cruel, say, ' It cannot be so, our people are not
that way; that is not characteristic of the American people.'

" Another thing I would like to say : That when I entered the army
in 1861, it was then, as now, the United States army; but in many sections
of the country it was known as ' our army,' or ' your army,' the ' federal
anny,' and by various names. To-day, wherever you go. North, South, East
or West, it is ' Our army,' the army of the United States." (Applause.)

Mr. McCook said : " The heart and affection of every American goes
out not only to our army, but especially to the navy of the United States.
We will have a word now from Rear-Admiral Coghlan, who commanded the
U. S. ship ' Raleigh,' under Dewey at the battle of Manila Bay, who is now
in command of the New York navy yard." (Applause.)

Admiral Coghlan said : " IMr. Pi^sident, Ladies and Gentlemen : —
Being a sailor, and this being Saturday night, before I say anything I will
give you the toast of the sailor at this time of night and this day of the week,
and that is, ' Sweethearts and Wives.' (Applause.) Mr. Toastmaster, and
members of the Ohio Society, I was very much struck this evening when I
came in with the number of Ohioans who were present. I imagined that there
were very few of you remaining at home in the state, until fortunately I
remembered the returns of last November in Ohio. And then I saw that
you had left enough there to roll up big majorities in the right way. That
is not partisan, nor is it political. (Laughter.) This reminds me of a story
I heard some time ago — I mean the speaking this evening has reminded me
of the story. A man was traveling along the road and had got near the
boundary line of the state of Indiana, on the east, and came to a milestone,
inscribed, ' 1 M.,' as usual, ' 1 M. from Ohio.' And he declared that even
in death Ohioans were proud of themselves. ' Look at that tombstone,' he
said, ' the only thing on it is, " I'm from Ohio." ' (Laughter.)

" Ohio ! The fame of the state has gone all over the world. I am sure
you don't know it as well as I do, I was riding in a carriage in the city of
Yokohama, in Japan, when your grand old man, Judge Bingham, had been
recently appointed minister to that country. The friendly salutation of the
Japanese is to bow low and to draw in his breath, forming the sound,
' 0-ai-o ' ; and when Mr. Bingham heard that he grasped my arm and said,

510

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

' Would you have thought it? These are the most intelligent people on God's
earth. Who would ever imagine that that poor peon there would have known
that I was from Ohio.' That is true. That anecdote I can vouch for.

" Brother Townc, over on the right there, has been talking about the
Philippines. I, too, am a little interested in the Philippines, because I hap-
pened to be with the admiral when we got them. (Applause and cheers.)
I have listened to many argniments pro and con about holding the Philip-
pines, and I never heard but one good one against holding them. That was
by a disappointed officeseeker from Indiana. He said, ' Of course we can't
hold the Philippines ; it is impossible.' He said, ' Think of it ! We have
fourteen hundred islands in the Philippine group. That means fourteen
hundred governors, fourteen hundred secretaries, fourteen hundred marshals,
five or six time fourteen hundred other officers. It will be utterly impossible to
hold them. We can't afford it. It would depopulate Ohio.' (Laughter and
applause.) Well, I notice that Ohio is not depopulated, and that we have
the Philippines.

" I have been taught by various experiences in New York, that the art
of after dinner speaking consists in saying nothing, and saying that very
briefly. I think you will admit that I have shown the attributes of an orator
in this respect, because I now bid you all good-night."

Mr. McCook : " It is now my duty to declare the nineteenth annual ban-
quet of the Ohio Society at an end. I bid you all good-night."

511

CHAPTER XXII
1905

IN the meeting of the Society on April 10, 1905, President McCook con-
gratulated the members, and especially the officers and committees, on the
success which had attended the banquet. A vote of thanks was extended to
President A. J. Cassatt and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for favors
extended in connection with that event, and to William S. Hawk, proprietor
of the Manhattan hotel, for repeated favors in the way of entertainment of
the Society's guests ; not only on the occasion of this banquet, but in times
past.

The thanks of the Society were extended to Hon. Myron T. Herrick,
governor of Ohio, for the handsome portrait of himself, sent on request of
President McCook. A letter was read from Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks,
vice-president of the United States, conve^dng an expression of appreciation
of the honor conferred upon him in electing him an honorary member of the
Society, and also for the courtesy shown him at the annual banquet.

Secretary Applegate announced that on April 13th a meeting was to
be held for the formation of an Ohio Society in Portland, Maine, and Presi-
dent McCook added that another Ohio Society had recently been launched
in Detroit, Mich.

Winthrop E. Scarritt, recent president of the Automobile Club of
America, delivered an interesting and instructive address on " The Auto-
mobile a New Factor in Civilization."

The meeting of the Society on May 8th was saddened by the announce-
ment of the death in Zanesville, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 3, 1905, of Hon.
Milton I. Southard, a former president of the Society, and for many
years one of its most active, useful and best beloved members. President
McCook stated that he had sent to Mrs. Southard, in the name of the Society, a
telegram of which the following is a copy :

" New York, May 4, 1905.
"Mrs. Milton I. Southard, ZanesvUle, Ohio:

" The Ohio Society of New York deeply sympathizes with you and
the members of your family in your irreparable loss. In the death of Mr.
Southard the Society parts with one of its most highly esteemed members

512

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and ex-presidents. He possessed the respect, admiration and affectionate
regard of every member of the Society, and we all feel his death as a per-
sonal loss.

" John J. McCook,
" President of the Ohio Society of New York."

President McCook, on instructions from the Society, appointed the fol-
lowing gentlemen as a committee to prepare resolutions in honor of Mr.
Southard's memory: Henry L. Burnett, Colgate Hoyt, Warren Higley,
Leander H. Crall, Thomas Ewing, Jr. To this committee the names of
President John J. McCook and Secretary Francis M. Applegate were
added.

The Society then listened to a lecture, with stereopticon views, on " The
Wonders of Colorado," by Mr. William L. Mason.

The meeting of June 12th was largely of a memorial nature. The
president announced that, following the death of Mr. Southard, had come
that of Andrew J. C. Foye, whose services of years in various capacities,
and especially as a most able and industrious chairman of the house com-
mittee for many years, had left an impress of obligation upon the Society
that could never be forgotten. Mr. Foye had died at his home in New York
city, after a sudden and brief illness, on May 26, 1905. The president then
called for the report of the committee on the death of Mr. Southard, which
was read by Mr. Applegate, as follows:

" Our past president, Milton Isaiah Southard, having been called from
this life, we who have known him as an officer of our Society and as an
intimate personal friend, wish to record the esteem and affection which, we
felt for him while he was among us and with which we now cherish his
memory.

" Mr. Southard was born on the 20th day of October, 1836, in Perryton,
Licking country, Ohio, and died at the residence of his brother, the Hon.
Frank H. Southard, at Zanesville, on May 4, 1905. He was graduated from
Denison University, with the class of 1861, and was admitted to the bar in
1863. He settled at Zanesville in 1866, where' he entered upon the practice
of his profession in partnership with his brother. Though later called to
other duties and wider fields, he ever after looked on Zanesville as home. He
was for three terms prosecuting attorney for Muskingum country, and later
was a member of Congress from 1873 to 1879. Here he took conspicuous
rank among the leading Democrats who served under Samuel J. Randall, in
the heated and troublous contests of the second administration of General
Grant and the administration of General Hayes. Removing to New York,
in 1881, he formed a partnership with our first president, the late Gen.

513

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Thomas Ewing, which was continued for many years. Tlie intimacy between
them was broken only by death.

" As member and officer, the welfare of this Society lay very close to
his heart. He was one of its founders. His devotion is illustrated by the
fact that he attended every one of the nineteen annual meetings which have
been held. It was very soon after the meeting of last November that he was
stricken with his fatal sickness.

" Confined to his bed for nearly five months with a malady which caused
him excruciating and unremitting pain, he bore his suff^ering with fortitude
and resignation. But as the dreary months passed by, his heart turned more
and more toward the deai* brother and the home which overlooks the beautiful
valley of the Muskingum River, until at last the yearning overcame all warning
or entreaty. On the perilous journey everything that love and skill could do
or provide was brought to his aid. The joy of returning to the old home
was so great that for a time hopes of recovery were entertained. But the
end was near.

" Mr. Southard was a distinguished lawyer, of wide reading and of
great industry, gifted with a retentive memory and sound judgment, in
manner, dignified and elegant; in speech, ready and apt; he filled with ease
the eminent position which he won by his honorable career. But we, whose
Society he adorned, rather enter in our minutes that he was a simple Christian
and a generous and gracious man, whom we loved and whom we sadly miss.
Therefore, be it

" Resolved, That we record our deep sense of loss in the death of Milton
I. Southard, and that an engrossed copy of these minutes be sent to his
bereaved widow and son as a faint expression of our sympathy with them in
their great sorrow.

" Signed, John J. McCook, president; Henry L. Burnett, Colgate
Hoyt, Warren Higley, Leander H. Crall, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Francis M.
Applegate, secretary."

The report and the resolutions were unanimously adopted. Remarks in
tender recollection of Mr. Southard were made by a number of the members.

Resolutions on the death of Andrew J. C. Foye were read by Judge
Higley, and unanimously adopted, as follows:

" At his home. No. 163 West Seventy-ninth street. New York city,
May 26, 1905, after an illness of three weeks, our fnend and fellow-member,
Andrew J. C. Foye, died, leaving a wife and only son and a host of devoted
friends to mourn his loss.

" Mr. Foye's unselfish devotion to the interests of the Ohio Society was
remarkable. He was one of the original members and earliest officers. For
several years he was our first vice-president; and for many years and up to

514

^^^^- ^'

Andrew J. C. Foye

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tlic time of his death was chairman of the house committee, and as such faith-
fully guarded the Society against unnecessary expenses. In all matters re-
lating to the finances of the Society he was wise and conservative. In all the
dinners and banquets given by the Society he personally took charge and
worked untiringly for their success, and ser\'ed the Society in these matters
as no other member could.

" There was no member of our Society so well and so generally known
as he. No member brought into the Society so many new members as he.
He apparently knew every member of the Society and could call them by
name as he extended his enthusiastic and cordial greeting.

" How greatly, indeed, will he be missed from our gatherings at which
for so many years he was an inspiring presence! And how much more
greatly will he be missed in the general conduct of the Society's affairs !

" Mr. Foye was a successful business man. The zeal and energy and
good judgment which he brought to every undertaking gave assurance of a
favorable outcome. At the time of his death he was president of the Standard
Grapliite Company — a business he founded ; a director in the Consolidated
National Bank, and a director in the Parker-Ryan Construction Company.
His business integrity was never questioned, and he commanded the confidence,
respect and esteem of all with whom he had to do in business matters.

" Few men were endowed so generously with the helpful spirit as he.
The sick and suffering he visited and comforted; the worthy unfortunate he
relieved and put in the way to help themselves. The beggar never went hun-
gry from his door. His kindly nature embraced humanity in its care. He
was a true philanthropist.

" Mr. Foye was a singularly devoted and loving husband and father, and
liis home was full of peace and joy. He loved this Society next to his home,
and we loved and respected him for what he was and what he did. He was
a true friend, generous and kind. His lofty character and purity of life
ever commanded the confidence, respect and esteem of all who had the good
fortune to know him. His life was fruitful in good works which will en-
dure, and the world is far, far better for his having lived.

" Resolved, That the Ohio Society of New York most sincerel}^ mourns
the death of our late fellow-member, Andrew J. C. Foye ; and that we hereby
extend to his bereaved widow and family our sincerest condolence and sym-
pathy in their great sorrow.

" Resolved, That the forgoing memorial be spread upon the minutes of
the Society and that an engrossed copy thereof be sent to the widow and son.

" Signed, John J. McCook, president ; Warren Higlev, chairman ;
Henry L. Burnett, Colgate Ho^^t, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Leonard D. iNIorri-
son, Leandcr H. Crall, Francis M. Applegate, secretary; committee."

515

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The adoption of the report was followed by appropriate tributes to
the memory of Mr. Foye on the part of President McCook and others.

At a meeting of the governing committee, held on the same evening, it
was decided that the vacancy in the chairmanship of the house committee,
caused by the death of Mr. Foye, should not be filled until the next annual
meeting, and Mr. Morrison was designated to act as chairman until that
time.

The opening meeting for the fall of 1905 was held on the evening of
October 9th, A committee for the nomination of officers was selected, as
follows: Henry L. Burnett, Colgate Hoyt, Richard J. Chard, Samuel H.
Parsons, Orrel A. Parker, Leonard D. Morrison, Leander H. Crall. The
president called the attention of the members to the receipt by the Society
of a portrait of Andrew J. C, Foye, painted by Franklin Tuttle, a member
of the Society. A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Tuttle. Those present
listened to an interesting lecture, with stereopticon views, on Berlin, by
Prof. Henry Zick.

At the gathering of November 13th, the chairman of the nominating
committee read the report of that body, proposing the following gentlemen
to serve as officers during the ensuing year : President : John J. McCook ;
Vice-presidents: Henry P. Taft, Eben C. Thomas, Thomas Ewing, Jr.,
Emerson McMillin, William S. Hawk ; Secretary : Francis M. Applegate ;
Recording secretary: Seth Thayer Stewart; Treasurer: Warren Higley;
Trustees : Charles D. Hilles, Horace J. Morse, James G. Newcomb.

Tlie president was duly authorized to appoint a committee on the an-
nual banquet of 1906, with power to determine its character. The house
committee also received power to make arrangements for the annual dinner,
on the evening of November 29th. Those present then listened to a very in-
teresting lecture on " Ohio in Education," especially prepared for the Ohio
Society, with stereopticon views, by Charles Whitney Williams, assistant
to the president of Oberlin College. The address was followed by remarks
by President McCook and Dr. Charles F. Thwing, president of Western
Reserve University.

The report of the committee on the death of Hon. John Hay, late
United States secretary of state, an honorary member of the Society, was
read and approved; and remarks in honor of the great statesman who had
passed away were made by President McCook and Colgate Hoyt. These
speeches expressed the love felt for John Hay by all who came under his per-
sonal influence. Tribute was paid to the manner in which he had aided in mak-
ing the Diplomatic banquet one of the great events of its kind. The resolu-
tions, as follows, were ordered engrossed and sent to the family of the great
secretary :

516

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/i^Kwy

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The annual meeting of 1905 was held at the Hotel Manhattan, on the
evening of November 29th. At the close of a very enjoyable dinner, the
annual reports were presented. That of the governing committee showed
the Society to have had a successful year, and to be in a flourishing condition.
The treasurer's report showed a balance of $17,557.29, the largest the
Society ever had. The secretary read the list of members who had died
during the year past, and at the request of the president the members arose,
and in silence drank to the memory of the dead. The membership committee
reported that at that date the list of those belonging to the Society stood
as follows : Honorary, 6 ; Resident, 358 ; Non-resident, 262 ; total, 626.

The election of officers being in order, the rules were suspended and the
secretary directed to cast a unanimous vote for the gentlemen nominated.

President ^IcCook made a graceful acknowledgment of thanks on be-
half of the officers for the honor conferred upon them by the vote that had
just been recorded. He then called upon a number of members for remarks,
the following gentlemen briefly responding: Melville E. Ingalls, Colgate
Hoyt, Henry L. Burnett, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Emerson ]McMillin and
William S. Hawk. At a meeting of the governing committee held immedi-
ately after the adjournment of the Society, Albert F. Hagar was unani-
mously elected chairman of that body, and Andrew Ernest Foye chosen
chairman of the house committee. At a later date. President McCook an-
nounced his appointments for the coming year as follows : Committees :
Literature and art : Albert Shaw, Robert Johnstone INIooney, Carlton T.
Chapman, Howard Chandler Christy, Oscar B. Thomas; entertainment:
Orrel A. Parker, Roland Hazen, Karl R. ^Nliner, Lewis C. Ruch, Roy H.
Haskins; auditing: David Homer Bates, Frank W. Hubb\, Jr., Warner
Ells, John :\I. Chandler, Joseph W. Yost; library: Winchester Fitch, P.
Tecumseh Sherman, Elmer Dover, R. J. Chard, Frank S. Stelling; mem-
bershrp : Colgate Hoyt, Emory A. Stedman, William C. Beer, Francis X.
Butler, Mark A. Noble; historian: James H. Kennedy; chaplain: Rt. Rev.
William A. Leonard, D.D.

Banquet committee for 1906: Henry L. Burnett, chairman; Colgate
Hoyt, Leander H. Crall, Whitolaw Reid, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Ebcn B.
Thomas, William S. Hawk, Emerson !M'cMillin, Henry W. Taft, AVarren
Higley, Samuel Mather, Charles B. Landis, Samuel H. Parsons, Melville
E. Ingalls, H. B. Binindrett, John D. Archbold, George W. Perkins, William
H. Truesdale, Henry D. Lyman, James Kilbourne, Andrew Ernest Fc''
Jacob G. Schmidlapp, James H. Hoyt, John H. Patterson, D. S. Gray,
Nicholas INIonsarrat, Thomas H. Wheeler, James G. Newcomb, Francis Key
Pendleton, William C. Beer, James H. Kennedy, Isaac Foster ^Nlack, William
E. Curtis, Francis M. Applegate, secretary.

528

APPENDIX

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT IN OHIO

By John Q. Mitchell

A Paper Read Before the Ohio Society of New York, Septemher 13, 1886

THE first step toward establishing a permanent settlement in the great
territory " Northwest of the River Ohio," was taken in the month of
June, 1783, by 288 officers and soldiers of the colonial army, under the
lead of General Rufus Putnam. It was the result of an appropriation of
lands by the Continental Congress in the year 1776, and enlarged four years
later, to all who had fought or would fight for independence ; the grants vary-
ing in size from 100 to 1,100 acres each, according to the various ranks in the
army. But this appropriation was made without determining where the lands
so appropriated were, or might be located. Before the army had been dis-
banded at Newburgh, therefore, the officers and soldiers before mentioned
petitioned Congress to locate their promised bounties somewhere between Lake
Erie and the Ohio River. They spoke of that tract as " not being the property
of any particular state of the Union," and also as " suitable and of sufficient
extent to form a distinct government, in time to be admitted as one of the
Confederated States of America." This petition was forwarded by General
Putnam to General Washington for presentation to Congress, with a long letter
detailing the advantages that would accrue to the whole country from the
founding of a colony in the Ohio Valley. Washington labored earnestly both
at Princeton and Annapolis to secure favorable action by Congress upon this
petition ; but that body was not ready to regard that territory as the common
property of the several states — which had hitherto possessed nothing in com-
mon except an enemy — nor would it recognize the individual state claims ;
and as some of the new states had large amounts of territory of their own in
the market, the request of these soldiers met with strong opposition and even
ridicule. So the project failed.

But General Putnam and some of his associates were not to be turned from
their purpose. They foresaw the value and importance of the Ohio country
and did not abandon the idea of starting a state. The second and successful
plan for making the first settlement upon national ground, and the germ of
the present state of Ohio, began with an all-night conference between General
Putnam and General Benj. Tupper, at the residence of the former, in Rut-
land, Mass., January 9, 1786. At that meeting they drew up and signed a
request addressed to all who were interested in Western emigration, to choose
delegates in the several counties of Massachusetts on February 15, to meet

531

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

at Boston on the following 1st of March. This call was pubhshed in the
Boston papers of Januai-y 25th, 1786, under the head of " Information,"
and announced the obj ect of the proposed meeting to be " to raise a fund in
Continental certificates for the sole purpose of buying lands in the Western
territory and making a settlement."

At the appointed time eleven delegates, representing eight counties, met
at the " Bunch of Grapes," tavern, Boston, and organized by electing General
Putnam president and Winthrop Sargent secretary. This was the first Ohio
Society. It was called the " Ohio Company of Associates," and its officers
were to be five directors, a treasurer and a secretary. The fund to be raised
was not to exceed a million dollars in certificates, each share to consist of one
thousand dollars in certificates and ten dollars in gold or silver for incidental
expenses. No person was to hold more than five shares or to represent more
than twenty shares. The land, when purchased, was to be divided and appor-
tioned by lot. In these respects the company was somewhat different from a
syndicate of the present day.

At the expiration of one year, which was allowed for obtaining sub-
scriptions, a second meeting, called in the same manner as the first, was held
at Brackett's Tavern, Boston, when it appeared that two hundred and fifty
shares had been subscribed and that many were restrained from subscribing
" only by the uncertainty of obtaining a sufficient tract, collectively, for a
great settlement." Thereupon, three directors. General Putnam, Gen. Samuel
H. Parsons and Rev. Dr. Cutler, were elected to make immediate application
to Congress for a purchase of lands. This board employed Dr. Cutler to make
a contract with Congress for a tract of land in the great " Western Terri-
tory of the Union." In the following July he went to New York (where Con-
gress was then sitting) for that purpose, arriving there the evening of the 5th.
An ordinance for the government of the Northwest Territory was then pend-
ing, awaiting its third reading; and it awaits its third reading still. For two
or three days after Dr. Cutler's offer to purchase lands was made, a new com-
mittee on an ordinance for the government of the Northwest Territory was
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Carrington, Lee, Dane, Kean and Smith,
who reported an ordinance on the 11th, which was read the second time on the
12th, the third time on the 13th, and passed. This was the famous ordinance
of 1787, to which the nation's greatest men have vied with each other in at-
tempts to give sufficient praise. In his " History of the Constitution," Mr.
Bancroft says : " Before the Federal Convention," then in session at Phila-
delphia, " had referred its resolutions to a committee of detail, an interlude in
Congress was shaping the character and destiny of the United States of
America. Sublime and humane and eventful in the history of mankind as
was the result, it will not take many words to tell how it was brought about.
For a time wisdom and peace and justice dwelt among men, and the great
ordinance which could alone give continuance to the Union came in serenity and
stillness. Every man that had a share in it seemed to be moved by an invisible
hand to do just what was wanted of him; all that was wrongfully undertaken

532

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

fell to the ground to wither by the wayside; whatever was needed for the
happy completion of the mighty work arrived opportunely, and just at
the right moment moved into its place." On the same subject Mr. Webster
said : " We are accustomed to praise the law- givers of antiquity ; we help to
perpetuate the name of Solon and Lycurgus ; but I doubt whether one single
law of any law-giver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of more dis-
tinct, marked and lasting character than the ordinance of 1787."

Upon the adoption of this ordinance, although the land ordinance of
1785 directing sales to be made through the loan commissioners of the different
states was still in force. Congress directed the board of treasury of the United
States to accept the proposition of the Ohio Company made by Dr. Cutler;
and the board sold him fifteen hundred thousand acres of land at two-thirds
of a dollar per acre, one-half to be paid when the contract was closed and the
land to be conveyed when the payment should be complete. The contract was
executed October 27, 1787, and was signed by Samuel Osgood and Arthur Lee
of the board of treasury, and Manasseh Cutler and Winthrop Sargent of the
Ohio Company. This contract, written upon parchment — the first ever exe-
cuted by the United States — togethei- with the deed for the lands, executed
May 10, 1792, and signed by George Washington, president, and Thomas
Jefferson, secretary of state, are now carefully treasured in the library of
Marietta College.

The location selected by Dr. Cutler was at the mouth of the Muskingum
River, between the 7th and 17th ranges of townsliips, counting westward
from Pennsylvania, and extending from the Ohio River northward far enough
to include the requisite numbei' of acres.

The final preparations of the Company before starting to its new home
were made at a meeting held at Brackett's Tavern, November 23d, 1787.
General Putnam was elected superintendent of the emigrant party, which con-
sisted of forty-eight men in two divisions. Seven days later the first division,
containing twenty-two men, started from Danvers, Mass., in charge of Major
Haffield White. The second division, under command of General Putnam, left
Hartford, Conn., January 1, 1788. The journey was both difficult and tedi-
ous ; when they reached the mountains the roads were found to be impassable
by wagons on account of the great depths of snow. They were compelled to
construct sleds and sledges with which to transport their baggage and pro-
visions over the Alleghanies. Thus the raw material of the new state, if not
the star of empire, was wended westward. The two divisions of the party
united at Sumrill's Ferry on the Youghiogheny river, about thirty miles
above the site of Pittsburg, the one having been fifty-four days on the way and
the other forty-five. About six weeks were spent at this place in constructing
boats for the completion of their journey. Their fleet, when completed, con-
sisted of one boat about forty-five feet long and twelve feet wide, which they
facetiously named " The Mayflower," and a flat boat and three canoes. On
the first of April they started down the river, reaching their destination at
the mouth of the Muskingum April 7, 1788, where they landed about noon

533

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and in the rain. This may be called the first instance of infant baptism north-
west of the Ohio river. The tradition that Ohio derives her nickname from
the belief that a buckeye tree, being the most easily cut, was the first to fall
by the hands of a settler, is probably not true.

The pioneers were heartily welcomed by a tribe of the Delawares, which
happened to be encamped near, and were greatly encouraged by the contrast
in the appearance of vegetation between the region they had left a few days
before, where the snows still lingered, and that of the bottoms of the Ohio,
which at once furnished food for their hungry horses. The survey of their
lands and the erection of houses were immediately begun, giving abundant
proof that they had come to stay. A letter from one of their number to a
friend in Worcester, Mass., dated May 18th, about six weeks after their arri-
val, says : " This country, for fertility of soil and pleasantness of situation, not
only exceeds my expectations, but exceeds any part of Europe or America that
I was ever in. We have started twenty buffaloes in a drove. Deer are as plenty
as sheep with you. Beaver and otter are abundant. I have known one man
to catch twenty or thirty of them in a single night. We have already planted
a field of one hundred and thirty acres in corn." A letter dated July 9th con-
tains the surprising statement that " the com has grown nine inches every
twenty-four hours for two or three days past." This com was planted among
the deadened timber and of course received Httle attention during the growing
season, although the woods were comparatively free from underbrush, owing
to the very wise practice of the Indians which white men have not yet learned,
of burning their forests over every Autumn. The yield was about thirty
bushels per acre, which is not very much below what the present owners of the
same lands with all their improvements produce on the same number of acres.

The first formal meeting of the directors and agents of the company, west
of the mountains, was held on the 2d of July, 1788, when the new settlement,
which had as yet been known as " The Muskingum," was, by a formal resolu-
tion, named " Marietta," in honor of the beautiful though unfortunate Queen
of France. It was believed that much of the very substantial friendship of that
country for the Americans was due to her influence with the king.

The first Fourth of July was not allowed to pass without proper celebra-
tion. Thirteen cannons were fired in the morning from Ft. Harmar, and a
like number in the evening. The municipal laws were written and published
by being posted upon the ^;mooth bark of a beech tree. A sumptuous dinner
was served upon the bank of the Muskingum, at which fourteen toasts, at least,
were drunk. Gen. James M. Vamum, who had been added to the board of
directors, delivered an oration, which was the first political address ever de-
livered within the present borders of the state. A number of others have been
delivered since. The first one was published, by request, before the close of
that year, by Peter Edes, of Newport, R. I., and compares favorably with any
that have followed.

On the 14th of July General St. Clair arrived at Ft. Harmar, and the
following day at 5 p. m. he was formally received by the citizens of the terrl-

534

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tory, when his own commission as governor, together with those of three newly
appointed federal judges, was publicly read. These commissions were dated
the 1st of tlie preceding February. The judges were Generals Parsons and
V^amum and John Cleve Symmes, who had not yet arrived.

Work was now being rapidly pushed by General Putnam upon " Campus
Martins," the famous garrison, consisting of a square inclosed by bullet-proof,
two-story log houses. The space within was 144< feet square, and in the center
was a well 80 feet deep. The house at each corner was larger and one story
higher than the rest, from which observations might be had in every direction.
In the house at the northwest comer, on the 2d of September, 1788, was held
the first court. The people attended in a procession, preceded by the sheriff
with a drawn sword. It was a court of common pleas and was opened with
prayer. The commissions of the three judges. Generals Putnam and Tupper
and Col. Archibald Gray, were then read, and Paul Fearing was admitted to
the bar, thereby becoming the first lawyer in the territory. But to the credit
of the people, be it said, no case, either civil or criminal, was brought before
the court at its first session. In the same place, on the 20th of July, the first
sermon preached in the teri'itory to white men was delivered by Rev. William
Broeck.

In the course of the year 1788 eighty-four men with several women and
children were added to the settlement, making the whole number nearly two
hundred. At the close of that year there was not a single white family within
the present borders of the state except those in this settlement. As early as
1762 the famous Moravian missionaries gathered a number of Indians into a
settlement on the Tuscarawas, but it Avas broken up by the massacre of the
Indians in 1782. Fort Laurens was built in 1778 by General Mcintosh, but
abandoned the following year, and Colonel Harmar, with most of his officers
at the fort, across the Muskingum bearing his name, were now members of the
Ohio company. Thus one of the few individual attempts to gain a foothold in
the territory had been successful.

The colony grew rapidly until the outbreak of the Indian war. During
the year 1789, 152 men and 57 families were added to its number. The fol-
lowing year nearly four hundred French emigrants arrived, for whom houses
and food were provided without pay. On January 2, 1791, nearly three
years after the settlement was begun, the Indians made their first attack,
killing fourteen persons and carrying five into captivity. This was the begin-
ning of the Indian war, which continued for four years. It was a sad reverse
of fortune, as few of the settlers had any considerable store of provisions or
money to support their families, nor could they go on tilling their lands during
a state of hostilities. The attack was prudently made upon those settlers
farthest up the Muskingum river, who were least able to defend themselves.
Those at Marietta, owing to the wise foresight of General Putnam, had a safe
refuge in Campus Martius, which probably saved the colony from total destruc-
tion. In all of its buildings there were seventy-two rooms, sufficient in case of
necessity for eight hundred people. " For four years the pioneers lived within

535

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

this garrison, in a condition very similar to a besieged city. Although they
were not closely infested by an Indian army, no one could leave the walls of the
fort without hazard from the rifle or tomahawk of an Indian, as they were con-
tinually lurking arovmd and watching for the unwary white man, several of
whom fell victims to their temerity in venturing too far from their defenses."
In the prosecution of this war the colony spent about $11,000 of its own
money, for which it was never reimbursed. The war, too, turned the tide of
emigration down the Ohio, so that large numbers who would otherwise have
added to its strength passed it by.

Something should be said about the character of the men by whom and of
whom the state of Ohio was founded. If she has been fortunate in her pros-
perity, she was no less happy in her origin. Among the many distinguished
men who were members of the Ohio Company, but who never became actual set-
tlers, were Hamilton and Dexter, the first and third secretaries of the treasury ;
Henry Knox, the first secretary of war; three governors of Massachusetts, of
whom one was also a vice-president of the United States ; a governor of Rhode
Island and a governor of Connecticut ; a United States senator from Connecti-
cut, a postmaster-general under the Continental Congress, an associate justice
of the United States supreme court, and a president of Harvard College.

And of those actively connected with the first settlement there were many
eminent and at least two remarkable men, Rufus Putnam and Manasseh Cutler.
General Putnam spent no less than eighteen years of the prime of his life fight-
ing for the soil upon which he spent his last thirty-six years. At the age of
seventeen he abandoned his occupation to serve as a private in the French
war ; as a colonel in the war of the Revolution he was charged with the defense
of New York by fortifications; constructed the fortifications at West Point
and commanded a regiment in General Wayne's brigade until victory was won ;
and finally as a brigadier-general, he was successful in a long and bitter conflict
with the Indians, closing his military services with Wayne's army at Detroit.
His sword is now one of the choicest relics in Marietta, where he died in 1824<.
As leader of the pioneers he insured their success. His heart was not a whit
fainter nor his hand a bit weaker than that of Miles Standish.

Dr. Cutler was a highly educated man, a graduate of Yale College, and a
member of various philosophical societies. His agency in securing the adop-
tion of the " immortal ordinance " is well established. The similarity of that
ordinance to the constitution of Massachusetts indicates that it was MTntten
mainly by himself. To him, therefore, we are largely indebted for that " inter-
lude " which " shaped the character and destiny of the United States," and
that law of which some of the " marked and lasting effects " are the addition
of twenty-five states to the Union and slavery in none. A man more wise or
diplomatic than Dr. Cutler at that time was not needed.

In his " Pioneer History " Dr. Hildreth says : " Had the settlement at
Marietta commenced like most others in the western country since that period,
it would doubtless have been broken up and destroyed. But the wisdom and
firmness of the agents and directors, backed by the counsel of so many old offi-

636

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

cers of the Revolution, with General Putnam at their head, preserved it in
safety amidst all the difficulties and dangers that surrounded it." In a letter
dated June, 1788, Washington wrote: " No colony in America was ever settled
under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at the Mus-
kingum. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I
know many of the settlers personally and there never were men better calculated
to promote the welfare of such a community." A short time before he had
written to Lafayette, " Congress has sold in the year past a pretty large
quantity of lands on the Oliio for public securities and thereby diminished the
public debt considerably ; many of your military acquaintances, such as Gen-
erals Putnam, Parsons and Vamum, Colonels Tupper, Sproat and Sherman,
with many more, propose settling there. From such beginnings much may be
expected."

So the state of Oliio is not to be blamed for becoming great.

637

THE SECOND SETTLEMENT IN OHIO AT CINCINNATI

By Hon. Waeren Higley

A Paper Read Before the Ohio Society of New York, November 8, 1886

THE war of the Revolution was over. The treaty of Paris had been
signed. The people of the new-bom Republic were addressing them-
selves to the amicable adjustment and settlement of foreign and inter-
state questions — to devising and working out a form of government, wiser,
juster, freer and stronger than that under the Articles of Confederation — to
strengthening national credit, and to the development of the vast natural re-
sources of the new nation. Under the treaty of Paris the United States had re-
ceived from England's king liis title to all that territory stretching from the
Alleghanies to the Mississippi, and from the Ohio river to the great lakes, a
territory 241,421 square miles in extent, nearly twice as large as that of
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales combined ; with great variety of climate ;
with marvelous productiveness of soil ; with inexhaustible mines of coal and iron
and copper and salt; with numerous broad and navigable rivers and lakes
Annding through its vast area and along either side of it, and flowing for thou-
sands of miles to the ocean and the gulf, inviting the future commerce of the
world to their shores.

This new acquisition of territory to that of the original colonial states
soon came Into the possession and control of the nation and naturally attracted
the attention of Congress and the public spirited citizens of the Ea.st to its
Importance and development. It seemed to offer to the government the means-
for payment of the national debt, which at that time hung like a pall over the
people.

Nor was this territor}'^ at that time a terra incognita. For more than a
hundred years had the Indomitable Jesuit missionaries traversed its wilds and
held aloft the emblem of the religion of Christ for conversion of the savage
tribes ; and France had erected a line of fortifications to protect the territory
against the invasion of her English enemies.

But no settlements had been made save those on the shores of the northern
lakes, and a few within the territory, and these were established for missionary
purposes, to aid in the work of converting the Indians to Christianity, rather
than for permanent settlement and the Introduction of a new civilization. It
now remained for the citizens of the new republic to go In, purchase from the
natives, and take possession and build up, on this wide border-land homes and
free local government, and a prosperity before unsurpassed, under the benefi-
cent Ordinance of 1787.

538

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

THE MIAMI PURCHASE

On the 29th of August, 1787, John Cleves Symmes, of Morristown, New-
Jersey, being encouraged by the resolutions of Congress of the 23d and 27th
of July previous, stipulating the conditions of a transfer of federal lands on
the Scioto and Muskingum rivers unto Winthrop Sargent and Manasseh
Cutler, Esquires, and their associates, of New England, petitioned Congress,
on behalf of the citizens of the United States westward of Connecticut, to direct
that a contract be made with him by the Hon. Commissioners of the Treasury
Board, for him and his associates, similar to the contract with Sargent and
Cutler, for the purchase of the tract lying north of the Ohio river and between
the Great and Little Miami rivers. Upon this application Congress, on the 3d
of October, 1787, authorized the Treasury Board to enter into a contract with
said Symmes for the purchase of the tract, to be known as the Miami Purchase,
and on the 26th day of November following Judge Symmes issued a proclama-
tion " To the respectable Public " setting forth the terms and conditions of
purchase and settlement and inviting co-operation. The price required to be
paid was two-thirds of a dollar per acre, in hquidated certificates, exclusive of
the interest due on such certificates, to be paid by the purchaser on the receipt
of his land warrant.

After the 1st of May following the price was to be raised to $1 per acre,
and after November 1st to a still higher price, if the country should be settled
as fast as was expected.

General Knox, the secretary of war, had assured him of his friendly dis-
position to support the settlers against the Indians by replacing a garrison of
federal troops in the fort which was still remaining on the land at the mouth
of the Great Miami, and this he claimed would greatly facilitate the settlement
and in some measure secure safety to the first adventurers.

In this proclamation Judge Symmes announced that he reserved certain
rights as follows:

" The subscriber hopes that the respectable public will not think it un-
reasonable in him, when he informs them that the only privilege which he re-
serves for himself, as a small reward for his trouble in this business, is the ex-
clusive right of electing or locating that entire township which will be the low-
est down in the point of land formed by the Ohio and Great Miami rivers, and
those three fractional parts of townships which may be north, west and south,
between such entire township and the waters of the Ohio and Great Miami. This
point of land the subscriber intends paying for himself, and thereon to lay out
a handsome town plot, with eligible streets and lots of 60 feet wide in front and
rear and 120 feet deep, every other lot of which shall be given freely to any
person who shall first apply for the same " on condition of improvement and
occupancy within two years after purchase, and to continue for a consecutive
period of three years.

The purchase money for the whole tract was not paid within the time stip-
ulated, but by special act of Congress passed in 1792, a patent was issued to

539

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

John Cleves Symmes and associates for so much of the lands as he might be
able to pay for^ and on settlement with the treasury department in 1794 it was
found that he had paid for 248,540 acres of land, for which he received a
patent September, 1794. But as the law of 1792 provided for granting a
college toAvnship for the use of the Miami Purchase, this with other reserved
sections were included in the patent ; so that the boundaries described in it con-
tained 311,682 acres.

SETTLEMENTS

The first attempt toward the establishment of a permanent settlement in
this purchase was made in the early fall of 1788.

Matthias Denman, of Springfield, New Jersey, had purchased from Judge
Symmes the fractional section lying on the banks of the Ohio opposite the
mouth of the Licking river, and the section adjoining on the north.

On the 22d day of September, 1788, Matthias Denman, Colonel Robert
Patterson, of Lexington, Ky., and John Filson, a surveyor, in company with
Judge Symmes, Israel Ludlow, of Morristown, New Jersey, who had been
appointed by Surveyor-General Hutchins to make a survey of the purchase,
and others, arrived at the present site of Cincinnati for the purpose of observa-
tion, and of laying out a town opposite the mouth of the Licking river, in
accordance with the plan previously agreed upon. Patterson and Filson had
taken each a one-third interest in Denman's purchase, and they had named their
proposed town Losanteville (Le-os-ant-e-ville) the village opposite the mouth,
a name said to have been suggested by an imaginative Frenchman.

Ludlow's business was to survey the Miami Purchase, Filson's to lay out
the town according to the plat agreed upon. By the terms of the contract the
east line of Denman's purchase was to be twenty miles from the mouth of the
Gfeat Miami, and he required that this should first be established. While
Denman and Ludlow were engaged in this work, Symmes, Patterson, Filson
and others made an excursion into the wilderness. Filson separated from the
party, or got lost, and was never after heard of. The natural inference was
that he was surprised and slain by the Indians. The party at once returned
to the site of the new town with this sad news, and such was the consternation
and fear from the loss of Filson that they abandoned their work, and the whole
party went back to Limestone, now Maysville, Ky.

Here Denman and Patterson took Ludlow into their enterprise with one-
third interest, in the place of John Filson, and he was to make the surv^ey of the
town. A new plat was made, modeled after that of Filson's, and the name
of the future city was changed to Cincinnati. So that while the young settle-
ment was for some time popularly known as Losanteville, it never officially had
any other name than Cincinnati.

Denman's purchase amounted to about eight hundred acres, for which
he paid five shillings per acre in continental certificates, worth only five shillings
on the pound or 15d. per acre^ £50 for the whole. While the Denman party

540

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

were perfecting their plans and gathering recruits at Limestone to make their
settlement a permanent thing, Major Benjamin Stites, with a party of eighteen
or twenty associates, landed near the mouth of the Little Miami river, near the
present site of Columbia, about five miles above the site of Cincinnati, in No-
vember, 1788, built a block -house for protection against the Indians and made
a settlement which prospered well, and for two or three years had more inhabi-
tants than any other in the purchase.

Among these first settlers were Colonel Spencer, Major Gano, Judge
Gofoi-th, Francis Dunlavy, Judge Foster, Colonel Brown, Major Kibby, Rev.
John Smith, Mr. Hubble, Captain Fhnn, Jacob White and John Riley, all
men of energy and character, well fitted to battle successfully with the hard-
ships and dangers of this wild country.

On the 24th of December, 1788, Denman, Patterson and others to the
number of about twelve or fifteen, landed a second time at the site of their
proposed town opposite the mouth of the Licking, and proceeded to provide the
necessary means for shelter and protection against the treacherous Indians.

A third party under Judge Symmes left Limestone January 29, 1789,
and after a perilous voyage, down the Ohio, consequent upon the floating ice,
reached North Bend in the early part of February, where he proposed to lay
out and build up the important to^vn of the purchase.

Thus were the three settlements begun that were afterwards to be welded
together and become the Queen City of the West.

On application of Judge Symmes, General Harmar, in command at
Marietta had sent Captain Kearsey with forty-eight rank and file to protect
the settlers in the Miami country. The soldiers landed at North Bend, and
finding no fort fit for occupancy and having no tools with which to erect
one, they soon after left the settlem.ent and proceeded down the river to Louis-
ville where they found comfortable accommodation with other troops.

The Judge wrote to the commandant at Louisville complaining bitterly
of the action of Captain Kearsey, whereupon a company of seventeen or
eighteen men under com.mand of Ensign Luce were dispatched to North Bend,
with instructions to select a suitable site for erecting a block-house or fort for
the protection of the Miami settlements. They arrived promptly and the
settlers were thus assured of safety.

The Ensign seemed to feel that he was charged with the duty of erecting
fortifications at such place as was best calculated to aff^ord the most extensive
protection to all the INIiami settlers, and in spite of the persistent entreaties
and opposition of Judge Symmes he left the Bend and with his command
went to Cincinnati, where he at once selected a favorable place and com-
menced to build strong military works. This military movement was fol-
lowed by very important results. The settlers at the Bend realizing the
dangers to which they were exposed, in the absence of trained soldiers, soon
removed to Cincinnati, and the hopes for the future city, so fondly dreamed
of, were thus destroyed.

The following summer, 1789, Major Doughty arrived at Cincinnati

541

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

with one hundred and forty troops from Fort Harmar and, approving the
mihtary judgment of Ensign Luce, began the construction of Fort Wash-
ington, the most extensive and important mihtary work in the territory.

While it is no doubt the simple fact that the reason for building Fort
Washington on the site where it was erected, on the first shelf, fifty feet above
low water and almost opposite the mouth of the Licking, was purely a mihtary
one, being near the place where the old Indian trail from the lakes down
through the Miami country crossed the Ohio and led into Kentucky and the
South, and that this location was by far the best for the protection of the
Miami settlers, still there is a romantic story connected with the location of
this site, related by Judge Burnett in his " Notes on the Northwest Territory,"
that may be of interest. It is this:

" It was said and believed that while officer Luce was looking out very
leisurely for a suitable site on which to build a block-house he formed the ac-
quaintance of a beautiful, black-eyed female, who called forth his most as-
siduous and tender attention. She was the wife of one of the settlers at the
Bend. Her husband saw the danger to which he would be exposed if he
remained where he was, and therefore removed to Cincinnati.

" When the gallant commander discovered that the obj ect of his admira-
tion had changed her residence he began to think that the Bend was not an
advantageous situation for a military work. This opinion he communicated to
Judge Symmes, who strongly opposed it. His reasoning, however, was not
as persuasive as the sparkling eyes of the fair dulcinea. He visited Cincinnati,
found the military position there superior to that at the Bend, and com-
menced the building of a block-house."

That movement, produced by a cause whimsical, and apparently trivial
in itself, was attended with results of the greatest importance.

It settled the question whether North Bend or Cincinnati was to be the
great commercial town of the Miami country.

" The incomparable beauty of a Spartan dame produced a ten years'
war, which terminated in the destruction of Troy; and the irresistible charms
of another woman transferred the commercial emporium of Ohio from the
place where it had been commenced to the place where it now is. If this cap-
tivating Helen had remained at the Bend the garrison would have been erected
there, population, capital and business would have continued there, and there
would have been the Queen City of the West."

Upon such slender threads hang the fate of cities and nations.

INDIAN HOSTILITIES

The professions of friendship on the part of the Indians made in th''
winter of 1788-89, under the treaty of Fort Harmar, were of short dura-
tion. The lives and property of the settlers were insecure. Acts of violence
and murder followed in quick succession. The settlement of Major Stites, at
Columbia, was plundered; an attack was made upon the Bend and one of
the settlers there was killed. Hunt, Cutler, Freeman, Truman, Hardin, and
many others were assassinated not long after. The protecting influence of

542

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Fort Washington was circumscribed within narrow limits, and the utter ex-
teiinination of the Miami settlement was seinously threatened.

On the 1st of October, 1790, General Harmar, with 1,300 men, mostly
undisciplined militia, started north from Fort Washington an expedition
against the Indian villages. When within forty miloe of them he learned
they were unoccupied, and immediately sent forth a detachment of 600 men to
destroy them. The villages were burned to the ground, and the corn and
fruit trees were utterly destroyed. The expedition returned to the main
body, when General Harmar sent one-third of his troops back, under Colonel
Hardin, to find and engage the enemy. They found the enemy and were
badly defeated and cut to pieces. The survivors and the remainder of the
army hastened their retreat to Fort Washington, followed and harassed by
the victorious enemy. The expedition was a failure, and the savages were
naturally more hostile than before.

The following year General St. Clair set out from Cincinnati with an
army of 2,300 men, determined to put a stop to the Indian hostilities. On
his way up the Miami country he built Forts Hamilton and Jefferson, about
fortj' miles apart. But misfortune attended the expedition from the start.
When twenty-seven miles beyond Fort Jefferson, on the morning of the 4th
of November, 1791, the American army was attacked by Indians in great
force, and was defeated with heavy loss. Among the killed were the gallant
Ma j or-General Butler, Colonel Oldham and Major Ferguson.

The settlements naturally had few accessions while subject to threatening
dangers from an infuriated foe. This uncertain condition continued until
the spring of 1794, when Gen. Anthony Wayne, with 2,000 regulars and
1,500 mounted volunteers from Kentucky, met the enemy in their own country,
at Fallen Timbers, a few miles above the present Maumee City, and defeated
them. He maintained every advantage gained and rendered his fortifications
impregnable to his wily foe. The Indian chiefs gradually came to a reahzing
sense of their inability to succeed against the army of General Wayne and
began to consider the terms of peace that had already been urged by the
United States, and their deliberations finally resulted in the Treaty of Green-
ville, signed on the 3d day of August, 1795, settling a permanent peace with
all the Indian tribes northwest of the Ohio River, and giving security to the
settlers.

PEACE

It is not difficult to imagine with what joy the suffering pioneers at
Cincinnati hailed the proclamation of peace. It was no longer necessary for
them to attend divine serv'ice with loaded rifles by their side. They could now
extend and cultivate their fields beyond the range of the Fort and the block-
house.

The white population of the whole northwestern territory, including aU
ages and both sexes, was, at the close of 1795, only 15,000. In 1800, by the
census then taken by the authority of Congress, the number was 45,365.

543

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Authorities differ as to the population of Cincinnati in 1795, but it
probably fell considerably short of 500. In 1800 it is given at 750; 1810,
2,540; 1820, 9,602; 1830, 46,338; 1840, 54,851. Cincinnati became a city
in 1819.

Prior to the Treaty of Greenville, the improvements of Cincinnati were
few, and of anything but a permanent character. Fort Washington was the
principal object of interest and was located between Third and Fourth streets
produced east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, which was then a two-pole
alley, and was the eastern boundary of the town as originally laid out. Fort
Washington was evacuated in 1804 and the troops transfered to the New Port
Barracks. Colonel Sargent, secretary of the territory, had a convenient
frame house, on the north side of Fourth street, immediately behind the fort.
On the east side of the fort Dr. Allison, the surgeon-general of the army,
had a plain frame dwelling, in the centre of a large cultivated garden, called
Peach Grove.

The Presbyterian church, built in 1792, stood on Main street. Here the
Rev. James Kemper was installed October 23d of that year. It was a sub-
stantial frame building about 30x40 feet, enclosed by clapboards, but neither
lathed, plastered nor ceiled. The floor was of boat plank, laid loosely on the
sleepers; the seats were of the same material, supported by blocks of wood.
There was a breastwork of unplaned cherry boards, called the pulpit, be-
hind which the clergyman stood on a piece of plank resting on blocks of wood.
In that humble edifice the pioneers and their families assembled statedly for
pubhc worship ; and during the continuance of the war they always attended
with loaded rifles by their sides. The frame school house stood on the north
side of Fourth street, opposite where St. Paul's church lately was. A room
in the tavern of George Avery, near the frog pond, at the comer of Main
and Fifth streets, had been rented for the accommodation of the courts, and
as the penetentiary system had not then been adopted and Cincinnati was a seat
of justice, it was ornamented with a pillory, stocks and whipping post, and
occasionally with a gallows. These were all the structures of a public char-
acter then in the place, according to the authority of Judge Burnett, who
took up his residence in Cincinnati in 1796.

FIRST NEWSPAPER

The first newspaper printed north of the Ohio was established at Cin-
cinnati by William Maxwell, November 9, 1793, and named The Sentinel of
the Northwest Territory. It was evidently non-partisan in its character, with
the motto " Open to all Parties — Influenced by None."

It was printed on a half sheet, royal quarto size, and naturally had a
very limited circulation.

At a legislative session held at Cincinnati in the summer of 1795, the
governor and judges, discovering that their enactments had not been legally
approved, as required by Congress, and were therefore of doubtful authority,
prepared a code of laws adapted from the statutes of the original states.

544

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

This was printed at Cincinnati by William Maxwell, in 1795, and hence
was called the Maxwell Code. It was the first job of printing ever executed
in the northwestern territory.

In 1799 the first regular weekly newspaper was published by Joseph
Carpenter, called the Westei-n Spt/ and Hamilton Gazette.

After the Treaty of Greenville, the territory was rapidly settled, and
the country between the Miamies, from the Ohio up to the Mad River soon
became thickly dotted with farms and abounded with evidences of a rapidly
growing and abiding prosperity.

TEREITORIAL GOVERNMENT

Under the ordinance of 1787 the people were entitled to a change of
government when there should be 5,000 free males of full age in the territory.
At the close of 1798 the northwest territory contained the requisite number
and Governor St. Clair issued his proclamation for an election to choose
representatives to a territorial legislature. The election was held accordingly
and on the 16th day of September, 1799, the first territorial legislature of
the northwest met at Cincinnati.

Hamilton county was represented in the first legislature by Jacob Bur-
nett, William McMillan, John Smith, John Ludlow, Robert Benham, Aaron
Cadwell and Isaac Martin, men of strong character and eminent ability.

William Henry Harrison, at that time secretary of the territory, was
chosen as the delegate to the national Congress.

Judge Burnett, in speaking of the habits and character of the soldiers
and citizens of Cincinnati at this period says :

" Idleness, drinking and gambling prevailed in the army to a greater
extent than it has done at any subsequent period."

This may be attributed to the fact that they had been several j^ears
in the wilderness, cut off from all society but their own, with but few com-
forts or conveniences at hand, and no amusements but such as their own in-
genuity could invent.

Libraries were not to be found; men of literary minds, or polished man-
ners, were rarely met with ; and they had long been deprived of the advantages
of modest, accomplished female society, which ahvays produces a salutary
influence on the feelings and moral habits of men. Thus situated, the officers
were urged by an iiTesistible impulse to tax their wits for expedients to fill
up the chasms of leisure, after a full discharge of their military duties ; and
as is too frequently the case in such circumstances, the bottle, the dice box
and the card table were among the expedients resorted to, because they were
the nearest at hand and the most easily procured.

It is a distressing fact, that a very large proportion of the officers under
General Wayne, and subsequently under General Wilkinson, were hard drink-
ers. Harrison, Clark, Shomberg, Ford, Strong and a few others, were the
only exceptions.

As a natural consequence, the citizens indulged in the same practices

545

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and formed the same habits. As a proof of this it may be stated that when
Mr. Burnett came to the bar there were nine resident lawyers engaged in the
practice, of whom he was for many years the only survivor. They all be-
came confirmed sots and descended to premature graves, excepting his brother,
whose life was terminated by a rapid consumption in the summer of 1801.

I am happy to know that the character of the Cincinnati bar has radi-
cally changed in tliis respect since those early days.

NAVIGATION OF THE OHIO

The original mode of navigation down the Ohio was by flat-boats, im-
pelled by sail and oar, with the aid of the current.

The pioneer from the east came over the mountains at first with pack-
horses to carry his goods, and later in the Pennsylvania wagon to Pittsburg,
and there took a flat-boat and floated down the river to his destination. Up
to 1795 they were exposed to the attacks of hostile savages from either shore.

In 1794 a line of two keel boats, with bullet proof covers and port-holes,
provided with cannon and small arms, was established between Cincinnati and
Pittsburg, making the trip once in four weeks. The brawny muscle and sinew
of crew and passengers furnished the power for propulsion ; and so, for sev-
eral years, was the traffic and commerce of enterprising Cincinnati carried on
from Pittsburg to New Orleans, and up the tributaries of the Ohio and the
Mississippi by the pole, the oar and the current.

It was a necessity during this period, and a custom for man}^ years after,
for traders to load their large flat-boat at Cincinnati, float with the current
to New Orleans, dispose of their cargo and boat, and walk back.

In 1811, Flilton and Livingston established a shipyard at Pittsburg
and built the " Orleans," as an experimental boat, the first ever placed on our
western waters. This boat had a stern wheel and masts; her first trip from
Pittsburg to New Orleans was made in the winter of 1812.

In 1816 Cincinnati began to build steamboats and to trade with the most
distant parts of the Mississippi valley.

Cincinnati's remarkable growth is due to her favorable situation for com-
merce, and the energy and business push of her pioneer citizens. She became
the mart of a vast commerce and the distributing point of a large territory
depending upon her for supplies.

The voyages to distant places were now made in as many days as it had
taken weeks ; and suddenly 30,000 miles of river coast opened to this young
queen city a commerce and traffic as extensive as if she had been placed on
the shores of the Mediterranean or the Pacific. New Orleans at 1,500 miles
distant, and the tributaries of the Missouri at thousands, were as accessible to
her as Rome was to ancient Alexandria.

Nor were the advantages of Cincinnati and her early and rapid gi'owth
due alone to the remarkable river whose commerce she so largely controlled.

546

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

FAVOEABLE LOCATIOK

The site upon which the city is built is pecuharly favorable to comfort
and health. It lies on a natural plateau, through which the Ohio passes from
the southeast to the southwest. This plain is nearly twelve miles in circum-
ference, and is bisected by the river into nearly equal parts. On the north
half is Cincinnati and on the south are Covington and Newport, separated
by the Licking River. This great plain is almost entirely surrounded by
hills three hundred feet in height, forming one of the most beautiful natural
amphitheatres to be found anywhere on the continent, from whose hilltops
may be seen the splendid panorama of the cities below, with the winding Ohio,
its steamers and barges and incessant movements along its shores. No other
large city of the United States affords such a variety of position and scenery.
It is one which a painter would have chosen for its beauty, and a shrewd me-
chanic for the utmost facilities of building, of water and of drainage.

The growth and commanding influence of a city depend more upon the
energ3', faith and wisdom of its citizens than upon the most favored gifts of
nature. Fortunately for Cincinnati, her early pioneers were men and women
of great energy and force of character. They established manufactories, fos-
tered and built up an extensive commerce, opened and sustained large whole-
sale houses, and made Cincinnati for many years the New York of the north-
west. Nor did they neglect the still more important matters of education,
religion and culture. In these things they held equal rank with the older civi-
lization of the eastern cities.

The public schools of Cincinnati were the first in the United States into
which was introduced a graded system of instruction.

In all the growth and prosperity of this metropolis of Ohio, we discern
the beneficent influence of her hardy pioneers whose stalwart characters sowed
the seed and nurtured the tender plant for the abundant fruitage of after
years.

All honor, then, to the enterprising spirit, patient courage, lofty faith
and energetic character of those who in the summer and fall of 1788 made the
second permanent settlement of Ohio, at Cincinnati.

647

THE ORDINANCE OF 1787 AND THE WAR OF 1861

By Generai. Wager Swayne

An Address Delivered before the Ohio Society of New York,
September 8, 1890

THE fruits of the late Civil War are gathered and preserved, so far as
its direct effect upon our own government are concerned, in three short
paragraphs which are amendatory of the federal constitution. They
were adopted soon after the war, and with the express intention to make its re-
sults secure.

There have been fifteen amendments to that instrument since it was
adopted on the first Wednesday in March, 1789. The first ten were adopted
as one, immediately after the original indenture, and under circumstances
which made them really part of the original transaction. Another followed
within ten years, and the next one five years later. Then there were sixty
years without a change.

The three amendments which followed the last war are therefore known
as the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth. The first of them was adopted in
1865, the next in 1868 and the last in 1870.

The first of these amendments provides that:

" Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within
the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The second provides that:

" All persons bom or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein
they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state de-
prive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor
deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The third provides that:

" The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude."

Each of them, in addition, provides that Congress, or " The Congress,"
as the constitution designates our national legislature, may enforce its provi-
sions " by appropriate legislation."

There are subsidiary sections of the fourteenth amendment, which regu-
late representation in Congress, prohibit men from holding office (until
pardoned) who having, before the war, taken an oath of office to support the
constitution of the United States, were not deterred by that fact from at-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tempting to overthrow that constitution ; proliibit questioning the vahdity
of the public debt incurred in suppressing the rebelhon; and prohibit, also,
the United States and every state from paying any debt incurred in aid of the
rebelUon.

AU these, however, are of incidental or transient operation. The tliree
clauses : inhibiting slavery ; making all persons bom or naturalized in the
United States its citizens, and citizens of their respective states; and then as-
suring to the citizen the fuU enjoyment of all liis rights and privileges; these
are the substance of these three amendments to the federal constitution, and
these three, when grouped together, are perceived to be one. That one is but
the ripened growth of the primary enactment, which is itself an adaptation
of the corresponding phrase in the eventful " Ordinance of 1787 " — " There
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, other-
wise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted."

It will be easily remembered that by this Ordinance, enacted by Congress
before the present constitution, the United States assumed jurisdiction over,
and estabhshed a government for, what was then known as the Northwest
Territory, comprising the whole vast area between the Ohio, the lakes, and the
jNIississippi, which last was at that time the western boundary of our country.

Originally applicable to but a limited area, this precept of that Ordin-
ance is now made to apply to the whole Union; it is amplified to include all
the rights of citizens, and for its honor and security its beneficiaries are en-
dowed with the right to vote. The war was a purchase of the rights of man ;
these three amendments are the title deeds, and all their value rests upon this
declaration: that there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude, EXCEPT FOR CRIME.

It is a touching fact, when we recall how much it means, that only this
should be the fruit of tliat great war. We personally remember how for four
years it kept this country torn apart, and how it gathered and accumulated
and intensified with death and desolation all of those feelings which urge upon
the human heart the most vindictive retribution. One of the parties came to
be in a position to inflict such retribution. The situation of the other left it
nothing but submission. The years since have disclosed the scope of what
was actually exacted. The historian will find no list of executions or im-
prisonments; no lasting confiscations or disfranchisements; no state impaired
in full and equal sovereignty. Nothing, except three short amendments to the
federal constitution, all securing, even to the vanquished, equal rights. Per-
haps it is because of this that since that date this nation has grown so great
that even the future of the world seems brighter.

This precept against slavery stands, moreover, as the final guaranty of
individual freedom in this country; and even beyond this, I cannot but feel
that, involved with its history are not only the origin of the late war and the
final triumph of the right, but, also, as to very many of us, our own direct
and personal relation to the war.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

I have not known till recently, and possibly you do not fully know, how
far the officers and soldiers of the revolution were the source of life and
strength of that great Ordinance, nor how their lives have by its means become
involved with our own lives, nor how far that inscription came from them
which is at once the basis of our liberties and the seal of our own mihtary
service.

I begin with the first oflicial record. In a report made in March, 1792,
by a congressional committee of the House of Representatives, to whom had
been referred a petition from the " Ohio Company of Associates," the com-
mittee says:

" They find said Ohio Company laid its foundation in an application to
the United States in Congress assembled ; a copy of which marked ' No. 1 '
is herewith presented to the House."

The petition referred to is dated June 16, 1783, and is signed by two
hundred and eighty -five officers of the Continental army. The army was at
that time encamped at Newburgh in this state, waiting to be discharged when-
ever news should be received that the treaty of peace and independence had
been formally concluded.

Of these signers seven were general officers — Knox, Putnam, Stark, Pat-
erson, Huntington, Greaton and Dayton. Besides these, colonels, lieutenant-
colonels, surgeons, majors, chaplains, paymasters, captains, lieutenants and
ensigns were duly represented. One hundred and fifty-five were from Massa-
chusetts, thirty-four from New Hampshire and forty- six from Connecticut;
making two hundred and thirty-five from the New England states. Thirty-
six were from New Jersey, thirteen from Maryland, and one, Captain John
Doughty, of the artillery, from our own state of New York.

To me so much of interest attaches to this petition that I beg leave to
present it entire.

" To His Excellency the President, and Honorable Delegates of the United
States of America in Congress Assembled:

" The petition of the subscribers, officers in the continental line of the
army, humbly showeth:

" That by a resolution of the honorable Congress passed September 20,
1776, and other subsequent resolves, the officers (and soldiers engaged for the
war) of the American army, who shall continue in sei-vice until the establish-
ment of peace or in case of their dying in service, their heirs are entitled to
receive certain grants of land according to their several grades, to be procured
for them at the expense of the United States.

" That your petitioners are informed that that tract of country bounded
north on Lake Erie, east on Pennsylvania, southeast and south on the River
Ohio, west on a line beginning at that part of the Ohio which lies twenty-four
miles west of the River Scioto; thence running north on a meridian line till
it intersects with the River Miami (Maumee) which falls into Lake Erie;
thence down the middle of that river to the lake is a tract of country not

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

claimed as the property of or in the jurisdiction of any particular state in
tlie Union. That this country is of sufficient extent, the land of such quality
and situation, such as may induce Congress to assign and mark it out as
a tract or territory suitahle to form a distinct government (or colony of the
United States), in time to be admitted one of the Confederated States of
America,

" Wherefore, your petitioners pray that, whenever the honorable Con-
gress shall be pleased to procure the aforesaid lands of the natives, they will
make provision for the location and survey of the lands to which we are en-
titled within the aforesaid district; and also for all officers and soldiers who
wish to take up their lands in that quarter.

" That provision also be made for a further grant of lands to such of the
army as wish to become adventurers in the new government, in such quantities
and on such conditions of settlement and purchase for public securities as
Congress shall judge most for the interest of the intended government, and
rendering it of lasting consequence to the American empire.

" And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

" June 16, 1783."

We have here a body of officers of the Continental army, while yet in
camp, petitioning Congress " to assign and mark out a tract of territory suit-
able to form a distinct government (or colony of the United States), in time
to be admitted one of the Confederated States of America " ; and " to make
provision for the location and survey of the lands to which we are entitled
within the aforesaid district; and also for all officers and soldiers who wish
to take up their lands in that quarter " ; and, further, that upon proper con-
ditions of settlement and purchase, provision also be made for a further grant
of lands " to such of the army as may wish to become adventurers in the new
government."

In other words, here is a movement originating with officers of the Con-
tinental army, and resulting aftei-Avards in their formal organization, which
from the first contemplated the distinct and apparently exclusive settlement
of a new state by officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary war. In the end,
they seem to have accomplished more than this, and, as I have suggested, to
have left their distinct impression on that war which has associated us. Mean-
time, however, the earlier history of the petition is instructive and pathetic.

By the terms of confederation of the thirteen colonies, " all charges of
war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defense or
general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled,
shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the
several states in proportion to the value of all land within each state. * * *
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority
and direction of the legislatures of the several states." * * *

This method presupposed, and required for its effective working, that
the continental Congress be cordially supported by the several legislatures,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and all its requisitions promptly met. As a matter of fact the legislatures
did neither. Concerning them, Washington wrote, in 1783, to General Greene
at Newburgh:

" I have written almost incessantly to all the states, urging, in the most
forcible tei-ms I could make use of, the absolute necessity of complying with the
requisitions of Congress in furnishing their contingents of men and money,
and am unhappy to say the success of these apphcations has not been equal
to my expectations."

This unsatisfactory condition of affairs may have been caused by jeal-
ousy of the centralized power of Congress; it may have been that popular
opinion in the colonies did not, after its first impulse, fully support the
Revolutionary War; but it is clear from Washington's writings, and from
those of other contemporary witnesses, that the requisitions of Congress and
the obligation which it had incurred were the subject of indifference, if not of
aversion, by the states. Thus, in a letter to Governor Harrison of Virginia,
Washington writes:

"How well the states are provided for a continuance of the war, let their
acts and policy answer. The army, as usual, is without pay — and a great
part of the soldiery without shirts — and though the patience of them is equally
threadbare, the states seem perfectly indifferent to their cries — in a word, if
one were to hazard for them an opinion on this subject, it would be that the
army had contracted such a habit of encountering difficulties and distress, and
of living without money, that it would be impohtic to introduce other customs
into it."

Perhaps here is an explanation of the fact that with bare and bleeding
feet the soldiers of the Continental army crossed the Delaware. In a letter
to Hamilton, Washington says that to the defects of the Articles of Con-
federation, and to " want of power in Congress may justly be ascribed the
prolongation of the war, and consequently the expense of it." He adds:
" More than half of the perplexities I have experienced in the course of my
command, and almost the whole of the difficulties and distress of the army, have
had their origin there."

The disposition of the states towards Congress, its obhgations and its
army, did not improve when peace put the objects of the war in possession,
and when the possibility of centralized control need no longer be endured as the
alternative of foreign subjugation. A review of the situation, caustic, but
probably just, is found in a letter to James Monroe, which was written from
this city by William Grayson, of Virginia, one of the foremost members of
Congress, during one of its sessions here:

" The delegates from the Eastward are for a very strong government,
and wish to prostrate all ye State Legislatures, and form a general govern-
ment out of ye whole, but I don't learn that ye people are with them ; on the
contrary, in Massachusetts they think that Government too strong, and are
about rebelling again, for ye purpose of making it more democratical. In
Connecticut they have rejected ye requisition for ye present year decidedly,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and no man there would be elected to ye office of a constable, if he was to
declare that he meant to pay a copper towards ye domestic debt. Rhode
Island has refused to send members; ye cry there is for a good government
after they have paid their debts in depreciated paper; first, demolish ye
PhiUstines (i. e., their creditors) and then for propriety. N. Hampshire has
not paid a shilling since peace, and does not mean to pay one to all eternity.
If it was attempted to tax ye people for ye domestic debt, 500 Shays would
arise in a fortnight. In N. York they pay well, because they can do it by
plundering N. Jersey and Connecticut. Jersey will go great lengths from
motives of revenge and interest. Pennsylvany will join, provided you let ye
sessions of ye Executive of America be fixed in Philadelphia and give her
other advantages in trade to compensate for ye loss of State power. I shall
make no obserA^ations on jt Southern States, but I think they will be (perhaps
from different motives) as little disposed to part with efficient power as any
in ye Union."

It was under these circumstances, and as usual, without pay, that the
army at Newburgh confronted the close of the war. The country was fairly
prosperous ; distress affected only its preservers. The army was not slow to
see this. In January, 1783, a committee of officers presented themselves at
Philadelphia and complained that " shadows have been offered us, while
the substance has been gathered by others. Our situation compels us to
search for the causes of our extreme poverty. * * * Our distresses are
now brought to a point. We have borne all that men can bear ; our property
is expended ; our private resources are at an end ; and our friends are wearied
out and disgusted with our incessant applications. * * * The army en-
treat that Congress, to convince the world that the independence of America
shall not be placed on the ruin of any particular class of her citizens, will
point out a mode for immediate redress."

The testimony of Pickering, their quartermaster-general, shows that
their complaint was in no degree exaggerated:

" To hear the complaints of the officers and see the miserable condition
of the soldiery is really affecting. It deeply penetrates my inmost soul to
see men destitute of clothing who have risked their lives like brave fellows, hav-
ing large arrears of pay due them and prodigiously pinched for provisions.
It is a melancholy scene. * * * Those brave and deserving soldiers, many
of whom have for six years exposed their lives to save their country, who
are unhappy enough to have fallen sick, have for a month past been destitute
of every comfort of life. The only diet provided for them has been beef
and bread, the latter generally sour."

Out of this situation grew the movement I am attempting to review.
In March, 1783, news was received in camp that, while the treaty of peace was
not yet formally signed, it was definitely settled by the preliminary articles,
which had been signed, that the territory westward of the colonies and ex-
tending to the Mississippi River woiild be ceded to the United States.

We have also seen by the petition that soon after the Declaration of

553

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Independence, and by other subsequent resolutions, Congress had expressly
pledged grants of land to the officers and soldiers of the army, " to be pro-
cured at the expense of the United States." The United States, being now
about to come into possession of this vast territory, the plan at once sug-
gested itself to these expectant grantees to secure from Congress that their
grants might be located together in that part of the territory which would
be nearest their original homes, and then to settle on these lands in a bod}'.
To that end they would require for their new ■ homes an established govern-
ment. Hence, they determined also to ask leave to organize a state.
Just at this time Pickering writes:

" But a new plan is in contemplation — no less than the formation of a
new state westward of the Ohio. Some of the principal officers are heartily
engaged in it."

We have already seen that this project contemplated the settlement of
the new state mainly, if not exclusively, by officers and soldiers of the Con-
tinental army. It seems also to have contemplated that the constitutional
provisions, by which its government would be controlled, should be deter-
mined in advance by the associates with whom the project originated. We
are again indebted to Pickering for a record of the " propositions for settling
a new state hy such officers and soldiers of the federal army as shall associate
for the purpose."

Aside from such of these propositions as are repeated in the petition
under review, I can pause only to notice that one of them which provides
that " a constitution for the new state can be formed by the members of the
association previous to their commencing the settlement, two-thirds of the
associates present at a meeting duly notified for that purpose agreeing
therein. The total exclusion of slavery from the state to form an essential
and irrevocable part of the constitution."*

This has been well said to be the first known proposition among men
to estabhsh a government whose distinctive feature should be universal free-
dom. It came from those who for freedom had lost all, and we shall find

* This was thirteen years before slavery was abolished in New York, and twenty years
before New Jersey made provision for its gradual extinction. Vermont had done so as
early as 1777, others of the New England states in 1780, or soon after. The original
responsibility for the presence of slavery in the remaining states is well illustrated by the
history of Virginia in this respect, as summarized by Professor Miner in his Institutes.
Commencing in 1699, the General Assembly, between that time and 1772, passed twenty-three
enactments on that subject, each designed to exclude slaves or make their importation diffi-
cult. In 1772 the last of these laws was supplemented by a strong petition to the king not
to permit "a trade of great inhumanity and dangerous to the very existence of his majesty's
American dominion," in order that a few of his subjects "might reap emolument from this
sort of traffic." The king's response was cruel and outrageous. Under his own hand he
commanded the governor, " under pain of his highest displeasure, to assent to no law under
which the importation of slaves should be in any respect prohibited or restricted." In this
same year the English courts decided that a slave who set his foot on English soil was free,
and a year later the Quakers in England began the agitation which ended in the abolition of
the slave trade. This action of the King of England is that "inhuman use of his negative"
which is referred to in the Virginia Bill of Rights.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

their later history full of this proposition and its outcome, fuller, doubtless,
tlian they tliemselves contemplated.

" In the eye of reason and truth," says Bancroft, " a colony is a better
offering than a victory. It is more fit to cherish the memory of those who
founded a state on the basis of democratic liberty." These men of whom I
speak first made their country offerings of victories, then founded states
upon the basis of universal liberty, and afterwards, as it appears to me,
controlled the fortune of that war in which we were engaged, and stamped
their own inscription upon its result.

The project to form a new state at once enlisted the warm sympathy of
Wasliington. He wrote a long letter to Theodoric Bland, a member of Con-
gress from Virginia, and asked that Hamilton also be made acquainted with
his views. Bland presently introduced an ordinance, seconded by Hamilton,
too long and too elaborate to be read or discussed here, but essentially in accord
with the views of the associates; except that provision was made for the ulti-
mate division of the whole area into states. It was, moreover, conditioned
upon the consent of Virginia to a change in the terms upon which that state
had offered to surrender to the United States her claims to the entire territory
between tlie Ohio, the Mississippi and the lakes.

This was referred to what was called " Tha Grand Committee," and was
never afterwards heard from. Doubtless the intercourse between Congress*
and the army which attended its introduction gave the army to better under-
stand the opposing interests that were involved. Congress, also, meantime
was paying off the army in certificates of money due, " final certificates," as
they were called, such as were issued to us under the same name at the end of
our own enlistment. The difference was that these certificates would not be
paid at once in full, as ours were.

They were nominally to be paid in six months, with interest at six per
cent. ; but they sold in the market at two and three shillings specie in the
pound. Hence we find the petition urging, first, grants in fulfillment of
the pledges made by resolutions of Congress, passed at different times during
the war ; and, second, provision for further grants " to such of the army as
may wish to become adventurers in the new government, in such quantities
and on such conditions of settlement and purchase with public securities " as
Congress should approve.

The head of this movement, from first to last, as we shall hereafter see,
was General Rufus Putnam.* The fact that the movement dates from the

* General Rufus Piitnam, a man of strong mind and great character, was born in
Sutton, Mass., April 9, 1738. When he was seven years old his father died. For two years
thereafter he was under the care of his maternal grandfather, who gave him such opportuni-
ties to gain knowledge as he could. He learned to read, and the divine fire of zeal for learn-
ing was kindled within him. His stepfather, a rude and illiterate man, did everything in his
power to quench this flame, but without success. The boy was not allowed to go to school,
nor to use a candle in the night season, but he taught himself to write, and saved his pennies
to buy a spelling-book and an arithmetic, which were more valuable to him than any earthly
treasure.

When he was sixteen years old he was apprenticed to a millwright. He worked by day
and studied by night as best he could. At the age of nineteen he was free. He immediately

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

arrival in camp of news that the northwest territory would be ceded to the
colonies, is taken from a memorandum of his own. The propositions for set-
tlement, Pickering writes, " are in the hands of Gen. Rufus Putnam and
General Huntington." It was Putnam who sent to General Washington the
petition, with a long letter detailing the considerations in its favor. We shall
see him more and more prominent as the project becomes tangible, until its
consummation. This was not to be, however, for four long years.

Washington transmitted to Congress tlie petition, accompanied by Put-
nam's letter to liim, and also himself wrote urging the movement as " the
most rational and practical scheme which can be adopted by a great pro-
portion of the officers and soldiers of our army." Already before the war
he had advertised for sale " upwards of twenty thousand acres of land on the
Ohio and the Great Kanawha/' and urged their advantages for settlement.
Once at least during the revolution, when his military staff was depressed by
foreign news, and the question was put to him, " If this be true, and we are
driven from the Atlantic seaboard, what, then, is to be done? " he replied:

enlisted in the army, and was a soldier in the wars against the French until the conclusion
of those wars in 1760. He then resumed his trade as millwright, giving his leisure time to
study, learning much about surveying and navigation. So when the war of the Revolution
broke out he was a mature man, well equipped for usefulness. He was one of the first to
take up arms in behalf of his country, becoming lieutenant-colonel of a Massachusetts regi-
ment. His services as engineer were at once required, and under his direction the fortifica-
tions at Roxbury and Sewell's Point were successfully constructed. His genius led to the
erection of works on Dorchester Heights, which compelled the evacuation of Boston by the
British army. Soon thereafter he was sent to New York, where, as chief engineer, he was
charged with the duty of laying out and overseeing the defensive works which were erected
in and around that city. In January, 1778, he was at West Point, superintending the build-
ing of fortifications there, in accordance with plans which have not been essentially modified
even to this day. Washington thought him to be the ablest engineer oflBcer in the American
army. During part of the war he fought valiantly at the head of two Massachusetts regi-
ments, and before its close rose to the rank of brigadier-general.

When peace came, he found that the quiet farm life of his New England home was no
longer satisfying. Besides, he longed to do something towards bettering the earthly condition
of many of his fellow-soldiers, who had lost their all in the revolutionary struggle and were
in deep distress. He urged upon Congress that lands should be appropriated for their use,
in which plea Washington joined him, doing all in his power. The plea was at last success-
ful. On the 31st of December, 1787, he made the following entry in his journal: "Set out
from my own house, in Rutland, in the state of Massachusetts, in the service of the Ohio
Company, for the mouth of the Muskingum river; wages to be $40 per month, and expense
borne by the company." Of this simple farm-house the Hon. George ,F. Hoar writes truly:
" It is a plain wooden dwelling, perhaps a little better than the average of the farmers'
houses of New England of that day. Yet about which of Europe's palaces do holier mem-
ories cling? Honor and fame, and freedom and empire, and the fate of America went
with him as he crossed the threshold." He was the leading spirit of the new colony, " again
and again called to take the helm when storms arose." In the wars with the Indians, and
in negotiating terms of peace, his services were invaluable. So great was Washington's
personal appreciation of his ability, that without solicitation, in 1796, he issued to him a
commission as surveyor-general of the United States. His character had already won for
him the lasting friendship of him who was " first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen." General Putnam was greatly interested in aU that concerned education.
He was also a deeply religious man, recognizing in his diary many things "so evidently
marked by the hand of an overruling Providence." In 1807 he drew the plan of a church,
which still stands as a monument of his skill and of his interest in the work on earth of the
Divine Saviour of men. He died at his home in Marietta, respected and venerated by all
who knew him, on the 4th of May, 1824.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" We will retire to the Vallej^ of the Ohio, and there we will be free." The
same thought of settlement there, and apparently also of purchase of lands by
officers and soldiers who should make payment with certificates of money due,
is presented again in his farewell address in which he says:

" The extensive and fertile region of the West will yield a happy asylum
to those who are fond of domestic enjoyment and are seeking for personal
independence. Nor is it possible to conceive that any one of the United States
will prefer a national bankruptcy and a dissolution of the Union to a com-
pliance with the requisitions of Congress and the payment of its just debts."

A little later, September 7, 1783, in a letter to James Duane, a member
of Congress, he proposed the first definite plan for the establishment of new
states west of the Ohio, and with it he suggested meeisures for a comprehensive
policy of dealing with the very serious " Indian question " of those days.

The officers' petition arrived at precisely the wrong time. Five days after
its date Congress in Philadelphia was sun*ounded and put in peril by mutin-
ous unpaid Pennsylvania troops, and forthwith betook itself to Princeton.
Until it came here to New York, in January, 1785, it was always a migratory
and often a fugitive body from the necessities of war. It was often for long
periods without a quorum.

In addition to the inopportuneness of its presentation to Congress, it
was also unfortunately true that the petition was inaccurate in stating that
the tract whose boundaries it defined was not claimed as the property of or
within the jurisdiction of any particular state, for it was, in fact, all claimed
by Virginia, and parts of it also by other states.

In 1778 Gen. George Rogers Clark,* armed with a commission from
Virginia,- and literally with nothing else, had, single-handed, raised troops,
gathered supplies and had subdued and kept possession of the English forts
at Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi, near St. Louis, Cahokia, and at Vincennes,
on the Ohio.

Upon this fact of possession the American commissioners at Paris had
successfully asserted that the treaty of peace should cede to the United States
the entire territory between the Ohio, the INIississippi and the Lakes. The

* It is a fact of importance in estimating the character and claims of General Clark
on the American people that the legislature of Virginia did not furnish him with money or
other means to accomplish the service they had appointed him to perform. They merely
sent him a commission accompanied with power to recruit men and make contracts obligatory
on the state. . . . On the credit of that document he was enabled for some time to raise
supplies of provision, clothing, etc., for the sustenance and comfort of his troops, for which
he drew on the commonwealth in favor of the persons who had furnished the supplies; his
drafts being accompanied with such vouchers as are usually furnished on similar occasions.
To his astonishment and the surprise of all who knew the facts, these drafts were dis-
honored, " for such reasons as could not but wound the feelings of the gallant chief who had
drawn them." He was compelled to impress supplies for the use of his troops, and " the
persons whose property was taken by force commenced suits and obtained judgments against
the general in the courts of the territory, on which portions of his property were attached
and sold." The cruel ingratitude of which he was the victim drove him to intemperance.
His health became infirm. He suffered severely from rheimaatism, which resulted in
paralysis. In this way was an officer who was the foremost actor in doubling the area of his
country rewarded with personal destruction.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

position at once taken by Virginia was that the United States comprised and
could comprise only the states themselves, so that all lands within the United
States must of necessity belong to some one of the states. For herself, her
charter ran " from sea to sea, to the west and northwest." Sir Francis
Drake had reported that, standing on a mountain on the Isthmus of Darien,
the Atlantic and Pacific were both witliin his view. Probably from this fact an
impression had grown up in Europe that this strip was comparatively nar-
row. Hence other early charters ran somewhat in the same way; and when
in 1608 an expedition under orders direct from England was sent to explore
the James river, a barge was sent out for Captain Newton which could be
easily taken apart, and he and his company were directed " to go up the
James river as far as the falls thereof (where the city of Richmond is now
situated), and from thence they were to proceed, carrying their barge beyond
the falls to convey them to the South Sea, and were ordered not to return
without a lump of gold or the certainty of the said sea."

This charter of Virginia was not originally granted to Virginia as a col-
ony, but to a corporation styled " The Treasurer and Company of Adven-
turers and Planters of the City of London for the First Colony of Virginia."
They were to have:

" All those lands, countries and territories situate, lying and being in
that part of America called Virginia, from the point of land called Cape or
Point Comfort all along the sea coast to the northward two hundred miles, and
from the said Point Comfort all along the sea coast southward two hundred
miles, and all that space and circuit of land lying from the sea coast of the
precinct aforesaid up into the land throughout from sea to sea, west and
northwest; and also all the islands lying within one hundred miles along the
coa^t of both seas, of the precinct aforesaid ; to hold the same in free and com-
mon socage."

This charter had been taken from the London Company in 1624, by a
quo warranto proceeding instituted by the king. The boundaries, however, on
the north and south continued to be those of the colony, and no new western
boundary had otherwise than by implication been established. Hence, the
colony regarded its own area as coextensive with the original grant so far as
north and south boundaries were concerned, and to the westward also, till the
Spanish boundary was reached.

Arguing its own right from this basis, fortified by the fact of conquest by
the troops of General Clark, Virginia passed a legislative act in October, 1778,
reciting that,

■ — " by a successful expedition of the Virginia militia on the western side of
the Ohio river, several of the British posts Tvithin the territory of this com-
monwealth, in the country adjacent to the Mississippi river, have been reduced,
and the inhabitants have acknowledged themselves citizens thereof and taken
the oath of fidelity to the same."

The same act went on to provide that
— " all citizens of this commonwealth, who are already settled or shall here-

658

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

after settle on the western side of the Ohio as aforesaid, shall be included in a
distinct county, which shall be called Illinois county."*

Further provision is then made for the protection and development of
the country, under the auspices of a county lieutenant or commandant-in-
chief, and " for supplying the said inhabitants, as well as our friendly Indians
in those parts, with goods and other necessaries, either by opening a com-
munication and trade with New Orleans or otherwise," etc.

This was succeeded by other legislative acts reserving specific areas for
distribution to Virginia troops, both the militia and her own contingent in the
Continental Army, and finally, in 1781, by an elaborate system for disposing
of other lands to purchasers.

This provoked the remaining colonies, the state of Maryland especially
forwarding to Congress resolutions that the

— " extensive tract of country which lies to the westward of the frontiers of
the United States had been or might be gained from the King of Great Britain
or the native Indians by the blood and treasure of all, and ought, therefore, to
be a common estate to be granted out on terms beneficial to all the United
States."

The other states so far sympathized with this view that, after the war
was closed, they held aloof, mainly on this ground, from further cementing
the union of the states. Meantime, New York, " to promote the general inter-
est and security, and more especially to accelerate the federal alliance," by an
act of its legislature, relinquished all its claim.

Virginia and Connecticut thereupon did the same, but with conditions,
and it was not until 1785, or two years after the petition, that the United
States was in a position either to bestow the lands or autliorize a plan of
government.

The petition itself, indeed, recognizes the necessity of treaties with the
Indians before any attempt at occupation should be made. I cannot here
detail the steps by which these difficulties were removed. It was not until
January, 1786, that the last of them was removed by a treaty with the Wyan-
dottes, Delawares and Shawnees, formally ceding to the United States, except
as to certain reservations, all title to the Northwest Territory.

Simultaneously with this treaty (January 25, 1786) General Rufus
Putnam and Colonel Benjamin Tupper, also a signer of the petition, published
in the newspapers of Boston a call headed " Information," addressed to
" all officers and soldiers who have served in the late war, and who are, by a
late ordinance of the Honorable Congress, to receive certain tracts of land in
the Ohio country, and also all other good citizens w^ho wish to become adven-
turers in that delightful region," to hold a meeting in each county on Wednes-
day, tlie fifteenth of February, to choose a delegate or delegates " to meet at
the Bunch of Grapes Tavemf in Boston on Wednesday the first day of

* Laws of Virginia, Hening's Statutes at Large, Vol. 9, p. 552, Chap. XXI.

f The Bunch of Grapes Tavern was situated at the corner of King, now State street,
and Mackerel lane, in Boston. It acquired celebrity previous to the Revolution under the
management of Francis Holmes. " It is quite safe to assume," says Mr. Edwin L. Bymer in

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

March next," in order to form " an association by the name of the Ohio
Company of all such as wish to become purchasers, etc., in that country, who
reside in the commonwealth of Massachusetts only, or to extend to the inhabi-
tants of other states, as may be agreed on." It will be recalled that in 1792
a Congressional committee reported that this "Ohio Company " " laid its
foundation " in the petition signed at Newburgh for a new state west of the
Ohio. This was less than nine years from the date of the petition and less
than five years after the company was organized. Numerous signers of the
petition were at the time in Congress and in federal official place, so that per-
sonal knowledge on the subject was abundant.

Forty-seven signers of the petition became members of the company
when organized. To these should be added several persons who were sons of
deceased signers, and several other persons who were signers of the petition
and became settlers with the rest, but did not become members of the company.
Probably they had sold their certificates and were without other means of
acquiring an interest. The plan adopted as the basis of this organization
was a purchase of lands in bulk, the purchase money to be subscribed in
shares, subscriptions payable in " final certificates," as the original petition
had contemplated. The call found favor, and the delegates met March 8,
1786, at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern as proposed. General Rufus Putnam
was elected chairman of the meeting. A committee, composed of himself,
General Samuel H. Parsons and Rev. Manasseh Cutler, was appointed to re-
ceive such subscriptions, payable in public securities, and which securities,
when received, should be applied to the purchase from Congress of a quantity
of land west of the Ohio, upon which the subscribers were to settle. One year
was allowed for procuring subscriptions, and on March 8, 1787, the associa-
tion reconvened, this time at Brackett's Tavern,* Boston. The subscriptions

the Atlantic Monthly, "that Holmes kept a house both of good order and abundant cheer;
else, be sure, the Hon. Samuel Sewall had not so much affected it. Nothing would have
tempted that staunch old Puritan to frequent an inn of ill or indefinite repute. The fact that
in 1728 the Bunch of Grapes was chosen as the lodging place of Governor William Burnet
shows that it had already attained the first rank among the hostelries of the town." In 1735
the first Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in America was organized here. The
earliest benevolent association in Boston, and one of the oldest in America, the Scots'
Charitable Society, held its meetings during 1767 and 1768 at the Bunch of Grapes. A tra-
dition is also current that the first meeting for the organization of Trinity Church, Boston,
was held at the Bunch of Grapes. The Boston Massacre took place almost before its very
door, and after the evacuation of Boston by the British, Washington was a guest at this
tavern. The Sons of Freedom gave an entertainment in honor of General Stark in 1777, and,
at a late period, Lafayette was a visitor at the Bunch of Grapes. The first meeting for the
organization of the Ohio Company was held at this hostelry, and, "on the whole, it may
perhaps be considered the most memorable event connected with its history." — Atlantic
Monthly for December, 1889.

* Brackett's Tavern, or Cromwell's Head, was in School street, Boston. " It was kept
by Anthony Brackett in 1760, by his widow from 1764 to 1768, and later by Joshua Brackett.
Its repute was good, for we find the Marquis Chastellux alighting there in 1782, before paying
his respects to M. de Vaudreuil, commander of the French fleet that was to carry away
Rochambeau's army." After Braddock's defeat in 1756, Lieutenant-Colonel Washington
visited Boston, and was a guest at the Cromwell's Head. — Old Landmarks of Boston, by S.
A. Drake.

560

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

were considered enough to waiTant the undertaking. The company was then
formally organized as the Oliio Company of Associates.*

General Rufus Putnam, General Samuel H. Parsons and Rev. Manasseh
Cutler were elected directors. Gen. James M. Varnum was subsequently
added to their number. Major Winthrop Sargeant was appointed secretary.
General Parsons was empowered to proceed at once to New York and there
negotiate with Congress for the purchase of the lands.

General Parsons differed seriously, and perhaps wisely, from the major-
ity of the associates as to what lands it was best to purchase, if they could
purchase at all. He preferred the Valley of the Scioto, for its rich and level
bottoms. They preferred the Valley of the Muskingum, for its several navi-
gable streams and for the long front on the Ohio which the bend in that river
gave. The difference between the associates and General Parsons led to the
transfer of his mission, quite early In the summer, to the Rev. Dr. Cutler.
This gentleman had been an army chaplain in the Revolutionary War, and at
the time of his appointment to succeed General Parsons was a Congregational
clergyman preaching at Ipswich, Mass. He drove in a sulky from Ipswich
to New York, arriving at the latter place July 5, 1787, and In his diary says :

" About three o'clock I arrived at the city by the road that enters the
Bowery. Put up my horse at the sign of the Plow and Harrow, In the
Bowery."

The day after his arrival he writes :

" At eleven o'clock I was Introduced to a number of members on the
floor of Congress chamber In the City Hall by Colonel Carrington, member
for Virginia."

This City Hall stood on the corner of Wall and Nassau streets, the site
of the present sub-treasury of the United States. The city authorities had
tendered It to the Congress convened under the Articles of Confederation, by
whom it was occupied, until they In turn were succeeded by the Congress ,
assembled under the present constitution. A statue of Washington now desig-
nates the spot where he was first Inaugurated, on the balcony of the hall,
April 30, 1789. To me the site of this hall has another and a pecuhar Inter-
est from the fact that It was here also that the Ordinance of 1787 was enacted.

Let me now take up again the connection between the Petition and the Or-
dinance. We have seen that, at the first Inception of the project, and In
advance of the petition, Washington wrote to Theodoric Bland, who Intro-
duced In Congress an ordinance apparently designed to carry out the views of

* " Among the many distinguished men who were members of the Ohio Company, but
who never became actual settlers, were Hamilton and Dexter, the first and third secretaries
of the treasury; Henry Knox, the first secretary of war; three governors of Massachusetts,
of whom one was also a vice-president of the United States ; a governor of Rhode Island and
a governor of Connecticut; a United States senator from Connecticut, a postmaster-general
under the Continental Congress, an associate justice of the United States supreme court,
and a president of Harvard College." — From a paper read before the Ohio Society of New
York by John Q. Mitchell.

More than a hundred officers of the Revolutionary army were also members of the
company.

561

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK;

the petitioners, but that facts then existing made the project at the time
impracticable. In September, 1783, General Knox wrote to General Wash-
ington :

" I am daily solicited for information respecting the progress of the
officers' petition for a new state westward of the Ohio.

" Were the prayer of the petition to be granted, the officers in a few
years would make the finest settlement on the frontier, and form a strong
barrier against the barbarian.

" Congress have evinced so much wisdom and magnanimity in their con-
duct that it cannot be doubted that they will make the most substantial ar-
rangements for future exigencies consistent with their revenue and their nicest
economies."

During the same month, as I have said, Washington wrote to James
Duane, a member of Congress from New York, proposing " the first definite
plan for the formation of new states in the West," and also outlining a broad
scheme of poHcy for dealing with the Indian question, thus dealing at once
with the two points most essential to the wish of the petitioners. In the same
month Congress accepted the cession from Virginia, with a single condition
precedent, which was eventually approved of by that state.

April 5, 1784, General Rufus Putnam wrote to Washington again :

" You are sensible of the necessity, as well as the possibility, of both offi-
cers and soldiers fixing themselves in business somewhere as soon as possible,
as many of them are unable to lie longer on their oars, waiting the decision
of Congress on our petition, and, therefore, must unavoidably settle them-
selves in some other quarter which, when done, the idea of removing to the
Ohio country will probably be at an end with respect to most of them. Be-
sides, the commonwealth of Massachusetts have come to a resolution to sell
their eastern country for public securities, and should their plan be formed
and propositions be made public before we hear anything from Congress
respecting our petition and the terms on which the lands petitioned for are to
be obtained; it will undoubtedly be much against us by greatly lessening the
number of Ohio associates."

In reply to this Washington wrote, June 2, 1784:

" I could not answer your favor of the 5th of April from Philadelphia,
because General Knox, having mislaid, only presented the letter to me in the
moment of my departure from that place. The sentiments of esteem and
friendship which breathe in it are exceedingly pleasing and flattering to me,
and you may rest assured they are reciprocal.

" I wish it was in my power to give you a more favorable account of the
officers' petition for lands on the Ohio and its waters than I am about to do.
As to this matter and information respecting the establishment for peace
were my inquiries as I went through Annapolis solely directed, but could not
learn that anything decisive had been done in either. . . . Surely, if
justice and gratitude to the army and general policy to the Union were to
govern in this case, there would not be the smallest interruption in granting its

562

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

request. ... At Princeton, before Congress left that place, I exerted
ever}- power I was master of, and dwelt upon the argument you have used, to
show the propriety of a speedy decision. Every member with whom I con-
versed acquiesced in the reasonableness of the petition. All yielded or seemed
to yield to the policy of it, but plead the want of cession of the land to act
upon ; this is made and accepted, and yet matters, as far as they have come
to my knowledge, remain in statu quo."

It did befall, however, that just two weeks later, Mr. Jefferson, of Vir-
ginia ; Mr. Chase, of Maryland, and Mr. Howell, of Virginia, " a committee
appointed to' prepare a plan for the temporary government of the Western
territory," reported a substitute for the Bland ordinance of the preceding
year, and which, largely amended, presently became a law. Its controlling
feature was the following provision:

" Provided, that both the temporary and permanent governments be
established on these principles as their basis:

" 1. That they shall forever remain a part of the United States of
America.

" 2. That, in their persons, property and territory, they shall be sub-
ject to the Government of the United States in Congress assembled, and to the
Articles of Confederation, in all those cases in which the original states shall
be so subject.

" 3. That they shall be subject to pay a part of the Federal debts, con-
tracted or to be contracted, to be apportioned on them by Congress, according
to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall
be made on the other states.

" 4. That their respective governments shall be in republican forms,
and shall admit no person to be a citizen who holds any hereditary title.

" 5. That, after the year 1800 of the Christian era, there

SHALL BE neither SLAVERY NOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE IN ANY OF THE
SAID STATES, OTHERWISE THAN IN THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES WHEREOF THE
PARTY SHALL HAVE BEEN DULY CONVICTED TO HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY
GUILTY."

This is the first appearance of these immortal words which have now such
transcendent associations.*

The designation " involuntary servitude " is not, as here used, a mere

* Jefferson was undoubtedly their author. The original draft of this ordinance, on file
in the department of state, is entirely in Jefferson's handwriting. His views in regard to
slavery are forcibly expressed in his Notes on Virffinia. He says: "Can the liberties of a
nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the
minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God ; that they are not to be violated
but with His wrath. Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that
His justice cannot sleep forever; that considering numbers, nature and natural means only,
a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation is among possible events, that
it may become probable by supernatural influence ! The Almighty has no attribute which
can take sides with us in such a contest." He hoped that a way " was preparing, under the
auspices of Heaven, for a total emancipation."

563

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

synonym of " slavery." It was meant to preclude the enforcement of con-
tracts to serve for a term of years, or for life, and was of large practical value
in that sense.*

That intending settlers might rely upon these provisions as irrevocable,
this forerunner of the ordinance went on to provide:

" That all the preceding articles shall be formed into a charter of com-
pact; shall be duly executed by the President of the United States in Con-
gress assembled, under his hand and the seal of the United States; shall be
promulgated and shall stand as fundamental conditions between the thirteen
original states and these newly described, unalterable but by joint consent of
the United States, in Congress assembled, and of the particular state within
which such alteration is proposed to be made."

This feature is fully preserved in the subsequent Ordinance of 1787.

This toleration of slavery until 1800 the committee reported in deference
to the situation of the old French families, and perhaps some others, who al-
ready had slaves within the territory, and were protected there in holding
tliem by treaty stipulations. f

* An Act of the territory of Indiana, passed September 17, 1807, and continued in
Illinois after that territory was made separate from Indiana, provided as follows:

Sec. 1. " It shall and may be lawful for any person, being the owner or possessor of
any negroes or mulattoes of and above the age of fifteen years, and owing labor and service
as slaves in any of the states or territories of the United States, or for any citizen of the said
states or territories purchasing the same, to bring the said negroes and mulattoes into this
territory." Sec. 2. " The owner or possessor of any negroes or mulattoes, as aforesaid, and
bringing the same into this territory, shall, within thirty days after such removal, go with
the same before the clerk of the court of common pleas of the proper county, and in the
presence of said clerk, the said owner or possessor shall determine and agree, to and with
his or her negro or mulatto, upon the term of years which the said negro or mulatto will and
shall serve his or her said owner or possessor, and the said clerk is hereby authorized and
required to make a record thereof, in a book which he shall keep for that purpose."
Sec. 3. "If any negro or mulatto, removed into this territory, as aforesaid, shall refuse
to serve his or her owner, as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for such person, within
sixty days thereafter, to remove the said negro or mulatto to any place which by the laws
of the United States or territory, from whence such owner or possessor may, or shall be
authorized to remove the same" (sic).

Repeated litigations were had under this act, and it was uniformly held invalid, be-
cause in conflict with the prohibition of the ordinance. Something of the same kind was
attempted in some of the Southern states immediately after the war.

Probably the idea was suggested to Mr. JeflFerson by the custom at that time prevalent
in this country with shipmasters and merchants, of bringing over white immigrants under
contracts to serve for a term of years, in lieu of the payment of passage money. This, in its
turn, is now to some extent reproduced among us by Italian padrones and others.

" Conditional servitude under indentures or covenants had from the first existed in
Virginia. Once, at least, James sent over convicts, and once, at least, the city of London a
hundred homeless children from its streets. The servant stood to his master in the relation
of a debtor bound to discharge by his labor the costs of emigration. White servants came
to be a usual article of merchandise. They were sold in England to be transported, and in
Virginia were to be purchased on shipboard." — Bancroft's History of the United States,
Vol. I., f. 125.

f At Vincennes, on the Ohio, at this time, and at Cahokia, on the Mississippi, nearly
opposite St. Lx)uis; at Kaskasia, thirty miles southeast of St. Louis, and at Detroit there
were small French settlements. These, with a few famdlies who claimed Virginia citizenship,
made up in all about three thousand people other than the Indians in the whole of that vast
area. Even these were not citizens of the United States; and the majority of them gradually
removed across the Mississippi to " Louisiana," or to Canada, taking their slaves with them.

564

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Even this prospective exclusion was struck out in committee of the whole,
on motion of Mr. Spaight, of South Carolina. Thus modified, the ordinance
passed Congress and became a law April 23, 1784<.

The men who had fought so many years for a free country, and who
proposed to make the total exclusion of slavery an essential and irrevocable
feature of the constitution of the state they were to found, had no use for a
grant of governmental powers from which the power to exclude slavery was
entirely withdrawn. The ordinance of April 23, 1784, fell flat, and no at-
tempt of any kind was ever made to set up under it an actual government. It
was a dead letter on the statute book until it was replaced by the renowned
Ordinance of 1787, in which the total exclusion of slavery was made an essen-
tial and irrevocable feature.

Years afterwards, the Ohio Company's famous agent, Rev. Manasseh
Cutler,* in explaining to his son. Judge Ephraim Cutler, how it came that

* Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL.D., was a remarkable man. He was a clergyman, but he
was a great deal more: a lawyer, a physician, an educator, a politician, a man of aflfairs, a
farmer and a scientist; and in all of these callings he did good work. He was born in
Killingly, Conn., on May 30, 1742; graduated from Yale College in 1765, and admitted to
the Massachusetts bar in 1767. Being attracted to the work of the Christian ministry, he
studied theology, and in 1771 was ordained as pastor of a Congregational society in Ipswich
Hamlet, since 1793 knowTi as the town of Hamilton, Mass. He remained with this society
until his death, a period of more than half a centuiy. When the Revolutionary War began
he stirred his townsmen with rousing words, and soon thereafter was appointed chaplain in
the army. Towards the close of the war he studied medicine, that he might minister alike to
the bodily and the spiritual needs of his flock. The cause of his interest in the Ohio Com-
pany is explained by the following memorandum, preserved in his handwriting:

" At this meeting by ye desire of Major Sargent, I attended. I had suffered exceed-
ingly in ye war, and after it was over, by paper money and ye high price of articles of
living, my salary small and family large, for several years I thought ye people had not done
me justice, and I meditated leaving them. Purchasing lands in a new country appeared
to be ye only thing I could do to secure a living to myself and family in that unsettled state
of public affairs. I had long before entertained a high opinion of ye lands in ye western
country, which was a particular inducement to attend this meeting. The representations
and plans of ye country gave a still more favorable idea, and I determined to join ye asso-
ciation, but without ye most distant thought of taking an active part."

McMaster, in his history of the people of the United States, writes of Cutler at this
period : " He had been bred first to the bar and then to the ministry, but his true calling was
politics. He was clear of head, sound of judgment, of great push and energy, and in the
pursuit of his aims not over careful of the means used. He was chosen, therefore, to go
before Congress and purchase the land, and the choice could not have fallen on a better
man."

The words of Senator Hoar, spoken at the Marietta Centennial, are even more " fitly
chosen." " Manasseh Cutler was probably the fittest man on the continent, except Franklin,
for a mission of delicate diplomacy. Putnam was a man after Washington's pattern and
after Washington's own heart. Cutler was a man after Franklin's pattern and after Frank-
lin's own heart. He was the most learned naturalist in America, as Franklin was the great-
est master in physical science. He was a man of consummate prudence in speech and con-
duct ; of courtly manners ; a favorite in the drawing-room and in the camp, with a wide circle
of friends and correspondents among the most famous men of his time. During his brief
service in Congress he made a speech on the judicial system, in 1803, which shows his pro-
found mastery of constitutional principles. It fell to his lot in 1797 to conduct a negotiation
second only in importance in the history of his country to that which Franklin conducted
with France in 1778. Never was ambassador crowned with success more rapid or more
complete."

In 1788 Cutler made a journey to the West. He was nearly a month on his way from
his home in Massachusetts, traveling in a sulky to the new settlement on the Ohio. He had

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" the prohibition of slavery and the recognition of religion, morality and
knowledge as foundations of civil government were incorporated into the
ordinance, said, ' I was acting for associates, friends and neighbors, who
would not embark in the enterprise unless these principles were unalterably
fixed.' "

In June, 1785, while Congress was still deliberating, we find Pickering
writing about the " plan " to Rufus King, afterwards a distinguished citizen
of New York, United States senator and minister to England, but who was
at that time a member of Congress from Massachusetts. It will be remem-
bered that the draft which Mr. Jefferson reported proposed the exclusion of
slavery only from and after the year 1800, while the total exclusion of slavery
was the purpose of the petitioners of 1783. Hence, early in 1785, Pickering
writes to King a long letter, from which the following is condensed:

"I should have objected to the period (A. D. 1800) proposed for the
exclusion of slavery, for the admission of it for a single day or an hour ought
to have been forbidden. It is infinitely easier to prevent the evil at first than
to eradicate or check it at any future time. For God's sake, let one more
effort be made to prevent so terrible a calamity."

To this Mr. King replied as follows:

" New York, 15th April, 1785. if

" The best return in my power to make you for your ingenious com-
munication on the mode of disposing of the Western Territory, is to enclose
for your examination the form of an ordinance reported to Congress on the
subject. You will find thereby that your ideas have had weight with the
committee who reported this ordinance, and I have only to add that I shall
hold myself particularly obliged by your further communications on the
subject.

" I likewise enclose you the report of a committee on a motion for the ex-
clusion of slavery from the new states. Your ideas on this unjustifiable prac-
tice are so just that it would be impossible to differ from them,"

Mr. King here refers to the fact that at his instance the Congress had, in
committee of the whole, adopted the following as a clause to be reported for
enactment as an amendment to the ordinance as at that time in force :

" That there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of

considered the matter of a permanent residence at Marietta and decided against it; but his
interest in the new country was very great. It was interesting to him as a naturalist, as a
patriot and as a religious man. The national grants of land for educational and religious
purposes were obtained through his foresight and earnest solicitation. With him also the
establishment of a university was "a first object," and "lay with great weight on his mind."

From 1801 until 1805 he was a member of Congress, declining reelection.

He was a member of many scientific bodies, and was also a correspondent of learned
men in all parts of the world. An early taste for astronomy, and especially for botany, re-
mained with him as long as he lived. The honorary degree of doctor of laws was conferred
upon him, in 1791, by Yale College.

" Patriotism glowed in his heart ; whether at home or abroad his mind was intent on
projecting great and good plans, consulting the benefit of generations to come."

He died at his home in Hamilton, Mass., on the 28th of July, 1823.

566

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the states described in the resolve of Congress of the 23d of April, 1784,
otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have
been personally guilty ; and that this regulation shall be an article of compact
and remain a fundamental principle of the constitution between the thirteen
original states, and each of the states described in the said resolve of the 23d
of April, 1784."

This was, however, never taken up for final action, and never became a
law. About this time Pickering bought land in Pennsylvania and settled
there. He does not figure afterAvards as one of the associates.

A principal cause of this dilatory course was the fact that the deeds of
cession, by Virginia and Massachusetts, stipulated that the new states in the
Northwest Territory should not exceed in area one hundred and fifty miles
square, and the terms of this requirement had by resolution of Congress been
accepted.

In Congress and out of it there existed a strenuous feeling that this limi-
tation was unwise and would prove most unfortunate. The most active exponent
of this feeling was James Monroe, who had been at the pains to personally
visit the Northwest Territory, after which, January 19, 1786, he wrote to
Thomas Jefferson the following complimentary description of the present
states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois :

"A great part of the territory is miserably poor, especially that near
Lakes Michigan and Erie; and that upon the INIississippi and Illinois con-
sists of extensive plains which have not had, from appearances, and will not
have a single bush on them for ages. The districts, therefore, within which
these fall will, perhaps, never contain a sufficient number of inhabitants to
entitle them to membership in the Confederacy, and in the meantime the people
in them will be governed by the resolutions of Congress, in which they will not
be represented."

This feeling led Monroe to take such action in Congress that, on his
motion, that body, March 24, 1786, resolved:

" That it be and hereby is recommended to the legislature of Virginia to
take into consideration their act of cession and revise the same so far as to
empower the United States in Congress assembled to make such a division of
the territory of the United States lying northerly and westerly of the River
Ohio into distinct republican states, not more than five nor less than three, as
the situation of that country and future circumstances may require."

It is not to be overlooked, however, that other causes were in force, con-
tributing at least to defer an active movement to restore the anti-slavery cause.
The petition itself asks only that " whenever the Honorable Congress shall
be pleased to procure the aforesaid lands of the natives, they will make pro-
vision for the location and sur\'ey of the lands ;" and that then the grants re-
quested may be made.

No further attempt was made to amend the ordinance of 1784 until
April 26, 1787, when a committee composed of Mr. Johnson, of Connecticut;
Mr. Pinckney, of South Carohna; Mr. Smith, of New York; Mr. Dane, of

567

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Massachusetts, and Mr. Henry, of Maryland, reported to Congress what was
doubtless that ordinance in an amended form. It was essentially different
from the ordinance of 1787, and it contained no provision whatever on the
subject of slavery. On May 10, 1787, it was ordered to a third reading, and
from that time remained unmolested until July 6, when, as we have seen, the
agent of the Ohio Company of Associates appeared upon the floor. The
" total exclusion of slavery " as " essential and irrevocable " was now, from
whatever cause, at once to reappear. Nine days after Dr. Cutler's arrival
Richard Henry Lee wrote to Washington, enclosing a copy of the ordinance
of 1787, and saying : " I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of an
ordinance that we have just passed in Congress for establishing a tem-
porary government beyond the Ohio as a measure preparatory to a sale of
lands."

The Ohio Company's application for a sale of land having been the
immediate occasion for the passage of the ordinance, it is worth while to
look into their share in securing the important result that it should embrace
the anti-slavery proviso which it finally included, and which has proved its
vital clause.

It must be borne in mind that at the time the ordinance was passed by
the Congress sitting in New York, there was also in session, in Philadelphia,
the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. The qual-
ification of the anti-slavery clause in the ordinance, providing for the recla-
mation of fugitive slaves, is in harmony with the corresponding provision
of the Constitution of the United States, and the two were contemporaneously
adopted. Many members of Congress, indeed two of the five members of the
committee to whom at an earlier date had been referred the original memorial
of the Ohio Company presented by General Parsons, were also members of
the Constitutional Convention. One of these was Rufus King, on whose
motion the provision as to fugitive slaves was inserted in the constitution, and
the same whom we recall as having at Pickering's instance reported to Con-
gress in 1785 an anti-slavery amendment to the resolutions of 1784. Under
these circumstances any evidence tending to show that the concurrent position
of these two bodies and the incorporation with the ordinance of the anti-
slavery proviso was the result of an agreement between persons who were mem-
bers of both Congress and the convention is strongly corroborated by the cir-
cumstances of the case.

The other member of the committee of five, to whom was referred the
original memorial of the Ohio Company, was James Madison, afterward
President of the United States. His situation certainly enabled him to be
well informed. His private secretary, while President, was Edward Coles, of
Virginia, afterwards governor of Illinois, a man of great worth and force of
character. In an address before the Pennsylvania Historical Society in 1857,
on the history of the ordinance, Governor Coles says:

" This brings to my recollection what I was told by Mr. Madison, and
which I do not remember ever to have seen in print. The old Congress held

568

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

its sessions in 1787 in New York, while at the same time the convention which
framed the Constitution of the United States held its sessions in Philadelphia.
Many individuals were members of both bodies, and thus were enabled to know
what was passing in each — both sitting with closed doors and in secret ses-
sions. The distracting question of slavery was agitating and retarding the
labors of both, and led to conferences and intercommunications of the mem-
bers, which resulted in a compromise by which the northern or anti-slavery
portion of the country agreed to incorporate into the ordinance and consti-
tution the provisions to restore fugitive slaves ; and this mutual and concur-
rent action was the cause of the similarity of the provision contained in both,
and had its influence in creating the great unanimity by which the ordinance
passed, and also in making the constitution the more acceptable to the slave
holders."

A compromise upon the basis that the ordinance should provide that fugi-
tive slaves found within the territory should be returned carried with it, of
course, a reciprocal agreement that slavery itself should be excluded by the
ordinance.

In harmony at least with such an agreement. Congress, after the adop-
tion of the Constitution, applied to the territory south of the Ohio and east
of the Mississippi a substantial re-enactment of the ordinance of 1787, but
without the anti-slavery provision.

The anti-slavery proviso, however, was not in the ordinance (as re-
ported by the committee). It was moved, as an amendment, b}'" Nathan Dane,
of Massachusetts, and was unanimously carried. The ordinance was thereupon
adopted, with one dissenting vote. Mr. Dane was the secretary of the com-
mittee. In a letter to Rufus King, ■mritten three days after the passage
of the ordinance, he gives the following account of the passage of the amend-
ment:

" We have been employed about several objects, the principal of which
have been the government enclosed (the ordinance) and the Ohio purchase;
former, you will see, is completed, and the latter will probably be completed
to-morrow. We tried one day to patch up M s system of W. govern-
ment— started new ideas and committed the whole to Carrington, Dane, R. H.
Lee, Smith and Kean. We met several times, and at last agreed on some
principles — at least Lee, Smith and myself. We found ourselves rather
pressed. The Ohio Company appeared to purchase a large tract of federal
lands — about six or seven millions of acres — and we wanted to abolish the
old system and get a better one for the government of the country, and we
finally found it necessary to adopt the best system we could get. All agreed
finally to the enclosed plan, except A. Yates. He appeared in this case, as
in most others, not to understand the subject at all. * * * When I drew
the ordinance (which passed, a few words excepted, as I originally formed
it) I had no idea the states would agree to the sixth article, prohibiting slav-
ery, as only Massachusetts, of the eastern states, was present, and therefore
onutted it in the draft; but, finding the house favorably disposed on this

569

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

subject, after we had completed the other parts, I moved the article, which
was* agreed to without opposition."

Mr. Dane is here writing to his colleague from Massachusetts, who
had been a member of the committee, about that feature of the committee's
report which would naturally most interest Mr. King. He explains that
they " had agreed on some principles," but that in drawing the report, he
had at first omitted this feature, having no idea that Congress would accept
it. AftenN'ards, finding himself mistaken as to the disposition of the house,
he moved it as an amendment and it was unanimously adopted.

At the time of which he speaks, Lee and Carrington were both present
in Congress. Lee certainly knew what had been agreed on in committee.
Carrington certainly, and probably Lee, were warmly in favor of the ex-
clusion of slavery, and both of them doubtless were familiar with the agree-
ment which Madison afterwards related to Governor Coles. Their presence
makes it not hard to account for Mr. Dane's being suddenly better informed,
and for his motion to restore to the report what he had omitted from it.

While these suggestions tend to show that the controlling influence which
determined the presence and complexion of the anti-slavery proviso moved
upon a broader plane than the mere views or influence of the Ohio Company,
it is well to remember that the company's application was nevertheless the
immediate occasion of the passage of the Ordinance. Passed as a measure
preparatory to a sale to them, their views and wishes naturally entered into
the deliberations by which it was framed. When these are traced out, we
are permitted to feel that the larger and controlling influence which I have
mentioned allowed itself to be led by, and to give its sanction to the initiative
of the company. Dr. Cutler, their agent, has left behind him a diary at
once comprehensive and specific. On the 25th of June he was in Boston
preparing to set out for New York. Among the events of that day, he
chronicles : " Conversed with General Putnam. Received letters. Settled
the principles on which I am to contract with Congress for lands for account
of the Ohio Company." Dr. Cutler's reference long afterwards, in con-
versation with his son, to these same " principles," has been related already.
Having arrived at New York, and as we have seen, been introduced to a
number of members on the floor by Colonel Carrington of Virginia, he
writes : " Delivered my petition for purchasing lands for the Ohio Com-
pany, and proposed terms and conditions of purchase. A committee was
appointed to agree on terms of negotiation, and report to Congress." Doubt-
less what is here mainly referred to is conditions of price, payments, loca-
tion, subdivisions and the like; but the record fully discloses that this com-
mittee was also formally charged with the reporting of an ordinance for

* The original of the committee's reports is preserved in the library of Congress. One
leaf, printed on both sides, contains the whole. Slight alterations, in manuscript, have been
identified as in Grayson's handwriting. The report as printed does not include the sixth
article, prohibiting slavery and providing for the return of fugitive slaves. There is, how-
ever, on the second page, pasted to the edges of the leaf, a piece of foolscap paper on which
the sixth article is written out in full, in the handwriting of Nathan Dane.

570

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

government as a preparatory measure, and that the " principles " were
fully considered between the committee and the company's agent.

Grayson was at that time chairman pro tempore of Congress. The com-
mittee appointed by him consisted of Carrington, Dane, R. H. Lee, Kean of
South Carohna, and Smith of New York. Of Grayson, and of tliis com-
mittee, Cutler writes : " Grayson, Carrington and Lee are certainly my
warm advocates." Carrington was afterwards a shareholder in the Ohio
Company. To this committee, July 9, was referred the ordinance which on
May 10th had been ordered to a third reading, but had not since been taken
up. Cutler now writes under date of July 10th:

" As Congress was now engaged in settling the form of government
for the federal territory, for which a bill had been prepared and a copy
sent to me, with leave to remark upon and to propose several amendments,
I thought this the most favorable opportunity to go on to Philadelphia.
Accordingly, after I had returned the bill with my observations, I set out
at seven o'clock and crossed North River to Paulus Hook."

Not more is certainly known as to the scope of these amendments than
has been already stated, except that Dr. Cutler left among his papers a
copy of the ordinance, printed on a sheet on the margin of which is written,
" that Mr. Dane requested Dr. Cutler to suggest such provisions as he
deemed advisable, and that at Dr. Cutler's instance was inserted what relates
to religion, education and slavery."*

Three days later the ordinance was enacted. Dr. Cutler did not see
it until July 19th on his return from Philadelphia. He then writes:

" July 19th. Called on members of Congress very early this morning,
and was furnished with the ordinance establishing a government in the
western federal territory. It is, in a degree, new modeled. The amendments
I proposed have all been made except one, and that is better qitalified. It
was that we should not be subject to continental taxation, unless we were
entitled to a full representation in Congress. This could not be fully ob-
tained; for it was considered in Congress as offering a premium to emi-
grants. They have granted us representation, with the right of debating,
but not of voting, upon our being first subject to taxation."

* Temple Cutler, of Hamilton, Mass., writing September 29, 1849, to Judge Cutler, of
Ohio (both sons of Dr. Cutler), and speaking of the interest in New England on the subject
of the Ordinance of 1787, says: " Hon. Daniel Webster is now convinced that the man whose
foresight suggested some of its articles was our father."

Judge Ephraim Cutler, on November 24., 1849, wrote as follows: "I visited my father
at Washington during the last session he attended Congress. In his boarding-house he occu-
pied a room with the reverend gentleman who represented Hampshire and the Connecticut
counties, whose name I have forgotten. We were in conversation relative to the political
concerns of Ohio, the ruling parties and the eflfects of the (Ohio) constitution in the promo-
tion of the general interest; when he observed that he was informed that I had prepared that
portion of the Ohio constitution which contained the part of the Ordinance of July, 1787,
which prohibited slavery, he wished to know if it was a fact. On my assuring him it was,
he observed that he thought it a singular coincidence, as he himself had prepared that part of
the Ordinance while he was in New York negotiating the purchase of the lands for the Ohio
Company."

571

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

It is not easy to reconcile this language, and the fact that he evidently
found nothing in the ordinance by which he was surprised, with any other
hypothesis than that the anti-slavery amendment was one of those which he
had himself proposed.

Even the action of Congress, making tlie ordinance a law, declaring its
provisions also to be articles of compact, was insufficient of itself. What it
still needed was life, the power that grasps and that assimilates. That
power came from the men who bore into the wilderness this ark of a new
covenant, and set up there their temple of new institutions in which it was
enshrined. From that spot, and by their aid, it grasped and held and fash-
ioned all those germs of great new commonwealths, which afterwards grew up
within the area of its jurisdiction and have given to it results of transcendent
value.

I must here ask you to distinguish between two matters to which Dr.
Cutler's efforts were directed. One was the settlement of terms and nego-
tiation of a purchase of the lands which the Ohio Company desired to ob-
tain. The other was the enactment by Congress of an ordinance which
should provide a plan of government acceptable to the associates, and which
should take the place of those provided by the ordinance or resolutions of
1784, the one which on that day had become a law, minus that anti-slavery
feature which Mr. Jefferson had originally incorporated with it. The or-
dinance of 1787 was this substitute, and as we here see was adopted " as a
measure preparatory to a sale of lands."

This preparatory measure, an indispensable prerequisite, being achieved.
Dr. Cutler indefatigably pushed his negotiation with Congress for a purchase
of public lands, and on July 23d a resolution passed approving a sale to
the associates of a tract comprising about five millions of acres* in the south-
west portion of the tract described in the petition of 1783, and being in
extent about one-fourth of that tract. It was not, however, until July 27th
that what he regarded as of vital importance in the terms of purchase was
by a subsequent resolution adjusted to his hking. The precise boundaries
were as follows:

Bounded by the Ohio from the mouth of the Scioto to the intersection
of the western boundary of the seventh range of township, now surveying;
thence by the said boundary to the northern boundary of the tenth township
from the Ohio; thence by a due west line to the Scioto; thence by the Scioto
to the beginning.

That is to say, beginning at Portsmouth on the Ohio, thence up that

* The Ohio Company's first application, presented bv Dr. Cutler on July 6th, was for
the purchase of one and a half million acres, and the purchase as first passed, July 19th, con-
templated no more than that. But, on July 20th, Colonel Duer, secretary to the treasury
board, made a secret proposition to Dr. Cutler to enlarsre the contract and take in another
company, offering him generous conditions to accomplish the business for them. This re-
sulted in a contract for " nearly 5,000,000 acres of land, amounting to three millions and a
half of dollars; one million and a half of acres for the Ohio Company, and the remainder
for a private speculation in which many of the principal characters in America are con-
cerned."—Cutler's Life, etc., I., 295, 305,

572

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

stream to a short distance aboA'e Marietta; thence north about half-way to
Lake Erie ; thence west to a point somewhat northwest from Columbus ; thence
southeast to Portsmouth again.

Of the whole tract it was understood that the Ohio Company of Asso-
ciates would purchase for itself one and a half million acres. The rest it
was understood would be taken by " some of tlie principal characters of
America who had become interested in the scheme." Without this conces-
sion to " some of the principal characters in America," says Dr. Cutler,
Congress would not have approved the sale. The resolution of July 23d
fixed the purchase price at •' one dollar an acre, payable in specie, loan
office certificates reduced to specie value, or certificates of liquidated debts
of the United States " at par. These last were the " final certificates " paid to
the officers at Newburgh in 1783. At the time the sale was authorized they
were worth but a few shillings in the pound. Their actual value, with abate-
ments and donations authorized by the resolutions, reduced the cost of the
lands, in current funds, to about ten cents an acre. Hence, the interest in
the scheme of " some of the principal characters in America." Suffice it to
say that these last soon tired of their bargain and did not complete their
purchase.*

After the passage of this second ordinance, the associates were allowed
three months in which to prepare for the first payment on their lands, and
on the 27th of October their contract was finally closed, covering one and a
half million acres. They paid down in " final certificates " five hundred
thousand dollars. For this they received immediate possession (with power
to improve and cultivate) of seven hundred and fifty thousand acres. They
were to pay as much more within one month of the completion of the sur-
vey, and thereupon to have a clear title to the whole. The price per acre
was determined by the rate paid at the purchase of the land. Congress
had authorized the board of treasury to sell at one dollar per acre subject to
a reduction of one-third for bad lands. The board of treasury, upon this
authority, sold to the Ohio Company a million and a half acres of land for
one million dollars. It was also agreed that within the tract, and in addition

* What they did do has, I think, been fairly told in Howe's " Historical Collections of
Ohio":

" A contract was made for a purchase of a part of the lands included in the Ohio
Company's purchases. Plots and descriptions of the land contracted for were, however,
made out, and Joel Barlow was sent as an agent to Europe to make sales for the benefit
of the company, and sales were eflFected of parts thereof to companies and individuals in
France. On February 19, 1791, two hundred and eighteen of these purchasers left Havre de
Grace in France and arrived in Alexander, D. C, on the 3d of May following. During their
passage two were added to their number. On their arrival they were told that the Scioto
Company owned no land. The agent insisted that they did, and promised to secure to them
good titles thereto. . . . When they arrived at Marietta about fifty of them landed.
The rest of the company proceeded to Galliapolis, which was laid out about that time, and
were assured by the agent that the place lay within their purchase. Every effort to secure
titles to the lands they had purchased having failed, an application was made to Congress,
and in June, 1798, a grant was made to them of a tract of land on the Ohio above the
mouth of the Scioto river, which is called the ' French Grant.' "

Here is material for a romance.

573

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

to it, two entire townships of six miles square should be reserved for the es-
tablishment of a university; for common school purposes, section No. 16
(640 acres), in each township; " for the purposes of religion," section No. 29
in each township; and, to be subject to future disposition by the United
States in each township, sections Nos. 8, 11 and 26. In negotiating their
contract, the agents of the Ohio Company had expressly stipulated that the
university lands should be included in the same conveyance with the very
first tract which the company should pay for ; " for to fix it in the centre of
the proposed purchase might too long defer the establishment."

Their agent having thus completed the purchase, and secured for them
the plan of government they wished, the " Ohio Company," as they had now
come to be called, held further meetings at Brackett's Tavern, Boston, on
the 21st and 23d of November, 1787. At the first was adopted a plan for
starting a town at the mouth of the Muskingum, and for allotment of town
lots and lands in severalty. At the second, the engineers and boat builders
were directed to proceed to the headwaters of the Ohio, and there during the
winter build boats in which the settlers in a body might in the spring descend
the Ohio to the mouth of the Muskingum. The next meeting was held at
Rice's Tavern, Providence, Rhode Island. At that meeting the Rev. Dr.
Cutler, Colonel May and Maj. Haffield White were appointed a committee
" to consider and report upon the expediency of employing some suitable
person as a public teacher at the settlement now making by the Ohio Com-
pany." They reported in favor of the measure, and the Rev. Daniel Story
was appointed. The engineers and boat builders, twenty-two men, started
from Danvers, Mass., in December, 1787, under charge of Maj. Haffield
White.* They arrived quite late in January, 1788, at Sumrell's Ferry, on
the Youghiogheny, about thirty miles above Pittsburg.

* One detachment of the party came to Danvers from Ipswich in a body. Dr. Cutler
himself supervised their departure, and one of his sons was among them, Jervis Cutler. An-
other son. Temple Cutler, has left a graphic account of the departure. Dr. Cutler's diary has
this entry:

" Mon., Dec. 3. This morning a part of the men going to the Ohio met here two hours
before day. I went on ^vith them to Danvers. The whole joined at Major White's. Twenty
men, employed by the company, and four or five on their own expense, marched at eleven
o'clock. This party is commanded by Major White [Haffield White, a native of Danvers].
Captain Putnam took the immediate charge of the men, wagons, &c. Jervis went off in good
spirits. He is well fitted for the journey."

The reminiscence of Temple Cutler, Dr. Cutler's youngest son, is as follows:

" The little band of pioneers assembled at the house of Dr. Cutler, in Ipswich, Mass.,
on the 3d day of December, 1787, and there took an early breakfast. About the dawn of day
they paraded in front of the house, and, after a short address from him, full of good advice
and hearty wishes for their happiness and prosperity, the men being armed, three volleys
were fired, and the party (one of whom was his son Jervis, aged 19) went forward, cheered
heartily by the bystanders. Dr. Cutler accompanied them to Danvers, where he placed them
under command of Major Haffield White and Captain Ezra Putnam. He had prepared a
large and well-built wagon for their use, which preceded them with their baggage. This
wagon, as a protection from cold and storm, was covered with black canvas, and on the sides
was an inscription in white letters, I think, in these words, 'For the Ohio at the Muskincjum,'
which Dr. Cutler painted with his own hand. Although I was then but six years old, I have
a vivid recollection of all these circumstances, having seen the preparations and heard the
conversations relative to this undertaking. I think the weather was pleasant and the sun

574

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Meantime, in the same month, the rest of the party met at Hartford,
and on January 1, 1788, began their march, in charge of Gen. Rufus Put-
nam, as director-general of the expedition. The second in command was
Col. Ebenezcr Sproat, who was also one of the signers of the petition of
1783. The snow in the Allcghanies was so deep that they built sleds for
the transportation of their baggage. They had marched in winter time
before — perhaps they had crossed the Delaware with Washington; and they
pushed on. About the middle of February they joined the boat builders at
Sumrell's Ferry.

Just at this time, Februar}- 7, 1788, Washington wrote to Lafayette
that " the spirit of emigration to the western country is very predominant.
Congress have sold in the year past a pretty large quantity of land on the
Ohio for public securities, and thereby diminished the domestic debt con-
siderably. Many of your military acquaintances, such as Generals Parsons,
Varnum and Putnam; Colonels Tucker, Sproat and Sherman, with many
more, propose to settle."

June 19, 1788, he wrote to Richard Henderson:

" No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices
as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. Information, property
and strength will be its characteristics. I know man}^ of the settlers per-
sonally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare
of such a community."

Mr. Cutler says that when Lafayette, in 1825, arrived at Marietta, he
inquired : " Who were the first adventurers to settle here ? "

On being told he said : " I knew them well. I saw them fight the battles
of their country at Long Island, Brandywine, Yorktown and many other
places. They were the bravest of the brave. Better men never lived."

By the last of March the boats deemed necessary were completed. They
were, a large boat forty-five feet long and twelve feet wide, a flat boat and
three canoes. The large boat was roofed over and made bullet-proof, as
a refuge from the Indians if need be. For some years afterwards it served
a useful purpose for safe transportation to and from the mouth of the INIus-
kingum. To this largest boat, the barge, was given the name " Union
Galley." It seems a dull mind's eye that does not see that as the true freight
of the original " Mayflower " was the " Compact " adopted in her cabin
" for our better ordering and preser^^ation to enact, constitute and frame
such just and equal laws, from time to time," so, of this " Union Galley,"
prophetically named, as we shall hereafter see, the true burden which she
bore was the Ordinance of 1787, with its " Articles of Compact," and chief
among them that there should be " neither slavery nor involuntary serv^itude
except for crime." As to each of these incidents, the things that were not
seen have proved to be the things that are eternal.

rose clear. I know I almost wished I could be of the party then starting, for I was told we
were all to go as soon as prepararation was made for our reception." — Life of Rev. Manasseh
Cutler, Vol. I., pp. 339, 330.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The party left Sumrell's Ferry on April 1,* 1788, and went down the
Ohio — some fifty men in all. Meeting with no interruption, they arrived on
April 7th at the mouth of the Muskingum. They at once commenced build-
ing a block-house and laying out a town. They called the settlement Mari-
etta, in honor of Marie A?itoinette, and in memory of her sympathy extended
to them in the Revolution. In July they were joined by the officers pro-
vided for by the Ordinance of 1787, who had been appointed by Congress in
New Y'ork, October 5, 1787. They were the Governor, General St. Clair,
who had been president of the Continental Congress; the secretary, Major
Sargent; and Generals Parsons and Vanium, two of the three judges. The
third judge, Maj. John Armstrong, had declined his appointment. On
July 18th the government of the northwest territory was inaugurated by the
proclamation of the Governor. It will be observed that all of these appointees
were ex-officers of the Continental army.

It is interesting to look back at these four or five men assuming thus in
the name of the United States, authority over a territory which extended
from Pennsylvania and Virginia to the Mississippi River, and from the
Ohio to the lakes. They were without troops, treasury or legislature; they
could scarcely have maintained a single bailiff. The whole region was in
control of great tribes of Indians who were unsubdued.

There could scarcely be said even to be then any United States. The
present constitution had not been fully ratified by the states, and the articles
of confederation which were in force were but a rope of sand. The federal
government had not been able even to pay these very men their dues for
services in war. Their faith was all that they and their associates had. It
proved, as faith so often does, to be enough, when coupled with endeavor.

From this beginning of established government the progress of settlement
was rapid. In August, 1788, the colony at Marietta was increased by the
arrival of eight families. It now numbered one hundred and thirty-two men,
besides some women and children. In October, John Cleves Symmes pur-
chased from the United States a million acres fronting on the Ohio, between
the Little and Great Miami Rivers. This gentleman had been chief justice
of New Jersey, and was afterwards appointed by Congress one of the judges
of the northwest territory vice John Armstrong, who declined. Three set-
tlements were made upon this tract in the winter of 1788 and 1789, one of
them being the first beginnings of the city of Cincinnati. The Ohio River
was the highway of these travelers and their vehicles were flatboats. In the
year 1796, one thousand of these " broad-horns," as they were called, passed
down the river to what is now Ohio and Indiana.f

* April 2d is the date commonly given. General Putnam's diary is authority for
April 1st.

t Flint, himself a pioneer, in his " Indian Wars of the West," thus speaks of early
emigration:

" The writer of this distinctly remembers the wagon that carried out a number of
adventurers from the counties of Essex and Middlesex in Massachusetts, on the second emi-
gration to the woods of Ohio. He remembers the black canvas covering of the wagon; the

576

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The number of these settlers grew until, in 1803, despite a dreadful
Indian war lasting from 1790 until 1795, the eastern division of the north-
west territory was in readiness to be, and was, admitted as a state. There
were not wanting those who made a struggle to remove, even at that date,
the inhibition against slavery. Congress, however, had recognized that
the provisions of the ordinance were a contract with the people who had
settled there. Hence the enabling act required that the constitution of the
state be not repugnant to those provisions. The struggle for a constitution
free from this restriction, on the part of the Virginia and Kentucky immi-
grants, was, nevertheless, sharp enough to bring to its front some of the
men of the Newburgh camp and their descendants. Foremost among them
was Judge Ephraim Cutler, one of the first colonists, and son of that Man-
asseh Cutler by whose immediate agency, as it appears to me, the anti-
slavery provision in the ordinance was inserted. The spirit of the ordinance
and of its Revolutionary sponsors triumphed, and the proviso that " there
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except in punishment of
crime," became part of the first constitution of Ohio.*

white and large lettering in capitals, 'To Marietta on the Ohio!' He remembers the food
which, even then, the thought of such a distant expedition furnished to his imagination. Some
twenty emigrants accompanied the wagon."

The older states looked with ill-favor on this emigration. They were as yet but sparsely
settled, and besides had lands within their own limits to sell. The criticism they experienced
induced the emigrants to justify themselves by coloring their reports of their experience. A
contest sprang up and families differed among themselves as to the wisdom of those mem-
bers who joined the movement.

Judge Timothy Walker, in his address delivered at Cincinnati, in 1837, narrates his
recollection of those times. He says:

" The powerful engine of caricature was set in motion, I have a distinct
recollection of a picture I saw in boyhood, prefixed to an anti-moWng to Ohio pamphlet, in
which a stout, ruddy, well-dressed man on a sleek, fat horse, with a label, ' I am going to
Ohio,' meets a pale and ghastly skeleton of a man, scarcely half-dressed, on the wreck of
what was once a horse, already bespoken by the more politic crows, with a label, ' I have
been to Ohio.' "

* " Judge Burnett's ' Notes ' ' and William Henry Smith's ' Life of St. Clair ' do not
convey the impression that an issue was really drawn in the Ohio convention of 180:3. But
Judge Ephraim Cutler's journal conveys that impression very distinctly. Those favorable to
slaves took the ground that, however it might be with the territory, the ordinance could not
bind a state unless the state herself, as a party to a compact, assented to it; and they
accordingly advocated a 'modified form' of servitude. Judge Cutler (a son of Dr.
Manasseh Cutler) was one of the Washington county delegates to frame the constitution,
and a member of the committee charged with framing the bill of rights, of which John
W. Brown was chairman. Cutler's journal gives this account of proceedings in the com-
mittee: 'An exciting subject was, of course, immediately brought before the committee, the
subject of admitting or excluding slaves, Mr. Brown produced a section which defined the
subject, in effect, thus: No person shall be held in slavery, if a male, after he is thirty-five
years of age; and if a female, after twenty-five years of age. I observed to the comniittee
that those who had elected me to represent them were desirous of having this matter clearly
understood, and I must move to have the section laid upon the table until our next meeting,
and to avoid any warmth of feeling, I hoped that each member of the committee would
prepare a section which should express his views fully on this important subject. The
committee met the next morning, and I was called on for what I had proposed the last
evening. I then read to them the section as it now stands in the constitution. Mr. Brown
observed that what he had introduced was thought by the greatest men in the nation to be,
if established in our constitution, obtaining a great step towards a general emancipation of
slavery, and was, in his opinion, greatly to be preferred to what I had offered.'

577

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK ^

Jefferson was then president, and it may have given him pleasure to
see tliis precept of his pen take on in this way a new permanence and power.

In the meantime, May 7, 1800, an Act of Congress had estabhshed a
new territory, Indiana, comprising the whole northwest territory, outside of
the limits of Ohio, then slightly larger than at present.

The enabling act provided for a government in all respects similar " to
that provided by the ordinance of Congress passed on the 13th day of July,
1787."

Possibl}^ this establishment of a new territory was brought about in
part by efforts of the old slave-holding element, which was there already
when the ordinance passed, particularly at Vincennes, where many slaves were
held. Certain it is that that element immediately besought Congress to re-
move the anti-slavery provision, and five times in four years their petitions
to that body were refused.

The most formidable of these originated with Gen. William Henry
Harrison,* aften^'ards president of the United States. At that time, and

" The section that Cutler prepared prohibited slavery in the very words of the
ordinance; it forbade the holding, as a servant, under pretense of indenture or otherwise,
any male person twenty-one years of age, or female person eighteen years of age, unless
such person had entered into the indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on con-
dition of a bojia fide consideration, received or to be received, for the service; closing with
the clause : ' Nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto, hereafter made and executed
out of this state, or if made in this state, where the term of service exceeds one year, be
of the least validity, except those given in the case of apprenticeships.'

" After a sharp discussion in the committee the section was adopted by a majority
of one, five votes to four ; it now went to the convention, where several attempts were made
to weaken or obscure the sense of the section on its passage. In committee of the whole a
material change was introduced. Cutler was imwell and so absent at the time. ' I went to
the convention,' he continues, ' and moved to strike out the obnoxious matter and made my
objections as forcible as I was able, and when the vote was called Mr. Milligan changed his
vote and we succeeded in placing it in its original state.' Thus by a majority of only one,
first in the conmiittee and afterwards in the convention itself, was the attempt to fasten a
modified slavery upon the state of Ohio defeated." — Hinsdale's " The Old Northwest."

* William Henry Harrison was born within the present limits of Virginia, at Berkeley,
Charles City county, February 9, 1773. He joined the army in 1792, and became captain in
1795. June 1, 1798, he resigned his commission in the army and was at once appointed by
President John Adams secretary of the Northwest Territory, under Gen. Arthur S. Clair as
governor. In October, 1799, Harrison resigned this position to take his seat, for a single year
of service, as territorial delegate in Congress. During the session of Congress for this year
part of the Northwest Territory was formed into the territory of Indiana, including the
present states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, and Harrison was made its
governor and superintendent of Indian afi'airs. To this post he was reappointed successively
b}^ both Jefferson and Madison. In 1805 he organized at Vincennes the legislature of the
territory. He was the son-in-law of John Cleves Symmes, the founder of Cincinnati and the
settlements in that vicinity. It was in connection with his ever memorable campaign for the
presidency, in 1840, that the name Buckeye came into general use, as applied to the state of
Ohio and to its most distinguished citizen. The first application of this word to anything
except the buckeye tree was made by the Indians, who were greatly impressed by the bearing
of Col. Ebenezer Sproat, who acted as high sheriff at the opening of the first court held in
the Northwest Territory in 1788 at Marietta, O. He marched at the head of the procession
with drawn sword. So imposing was he in stature, and so striking his dignity, that the In-
dians cried out " Hetuck," or " Big Buckeye." In 1840 a Democratic newspaper declared
that General Harrison was " better fitted to sit in a log-cabin and drink hard cider than to
rule in the White House." This expression was generally resented, and so began the log-
cabin and hard-cider campaign. Log-cabins sprang up all over the state and country, and

578

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

for some years afterwards, he was governor of the territory, and the petition
bore the endorsement not only of himself as governor, but also of the legisla-
tive council. It was prepared and forwarded in the winter of 1802-3, and
set forth urgently the advantages which would accrue to the ten'itory from
immigration from the older states if the intending settlers were not deterred
by the necessity of first disposing of their slaves. The petition was re-
ferred to a committee, at the head of which was John Randolph of Virginia.
He reported from this committee, March 2, 1803, the following resolution:
" Resolved, That it is inexpedient to suspend for a limited time the
operation of the Sixth Article of Compact between the ori^nal states and
the people and states west of the Ohio."

The report reads further:

" That the rapid population of the state of Ohio sufficiently evinced in
the opinion of your committee, that the labor of slaves is not necessary to
promote the growth and settlement of colonies in that region. That this
labor, demonstrably the dearest of any, can only be employed to advantage
in the cultivation of products more valuable than any known to that quarter
of the United States. That the committee deem it highly dangerous and
inexpedient to impair a provision wisely calculated to promote the happiness
and prosperity of the northwestern country, and to give strength and se-
curity to that extensive frontier. In the salutary operation of this sagacious
and bene^4olent restraint it is believed that the inhabitants of Indiana will, at
no distant day, find ample remuneration for a temporary privation of labor
and of emigration."

The illustration was significant and the prediction just. Thirty j'ears
later Chief Justice Chase, in his preface to the Revised Statutes of Ohio, thus
eloquently refered to the scope of the ordinance of 1787 and to its actual
operation :

" By the ordinance of 1785, Congress had executed in part the great
national trust confided to it, by providing for the disposal of the public lands
for the common good, and by prescribing the manner and terms of sale.
And by that of 1787 provision was made for successful forms of territorial

were even carried in political processions. The first of these, which became a model for
many others, was built of buckeye logs. It was filled, roof and all, with enthusiastic Buck-
eye boys, who sang lustily:

" O what, tell me what, is to be your cabin's fate ?
We'll wheel it to the Capitol, and place it there elate
For a token and a sign of the Bonnie Buckeye state."

The campaign was intensely exciting, and the buckeye figured in it largely. Myriads
of men shouted for General Harrison:

" Hurrah for the father of the Great West,
For the Buckeye who follows the plow."

General Harrison was indeed a " Big Buckeye." His " Big Buckeye " grandson now
worthily fills the presidential chair, which he himself filled for a period all too brief.

579

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

government, adapted to successive steps of advancement in the settlement
of the western country. It comprehended an inteUigible system of law on
the descent and conveyance of real property and the transfer of personal
goods. It also contained five articles of compact between the original states
and the people and states of the territory, establishing certain great funda-
mental principles of governmental duty and private right as the basis of
all future constitutions and legislation, unalterable and indestructible ex-
cept by that final and common ruin which, as it has overtaken all former
systems of human polity, may yet overwhelm our American union.

" Never, probably, in the history of the world did a measure of legisla-
tion so accurately fuliill and yet so mightily exceed the anticipations of the
legislators. The ordinance has been well described as having been a pillar
of cloud by day and of fire by night in the settlement and government of
the northwestern states. When the settlers went into the wilderness they
found the law already there. It was impressed upon the soil itself, while
it yet bore up nothing but the forest. The purchaser of land became by that
act a party to the compact and bound by its perpetual covenants, so far
as its conditions did not conflict with the terms of the cessions of the states.

" This remarkable instrument was the last gift of the Congress of the
old confederation to the country, and it was a fit consummation of their
glorious labors. At the time of its promulgation the federal constitution
was under discussion in the convention, and in a few months, upon the or-
ganization of the new national government, that Congress was dissolved, never
again to reassemble. Some, and indeed most, of the principles established
by the articles of compact are to be found in the plan of 1784 and in the
various English and American bills of rights. Others, however, and these
not the least important, are original. Of this number are the clauses in rela-
tion to contracts, to slavery, and to the Indians. On the whole, these articles
contain what they profess to contain, the true theory of American liberty.
The great principles promulgated by it are wholly, purely American. They
are, indeed, the genuine principles of freedom unadulterated by that compro-
mise with circumstances, the effects of which are visible in the constitution
and history of the union."

Five years after this, in an address delivered on the semi-centennial of
the ordinance. Judge Timothy Walker eulogizes the wonderful fact that in
spite of the great interests and wide areas which for half a century it had
controlled, not one of them all had ever made necessary an amendment of
the ordinance. Judge Walker, speaking at Cincinnati in 1837, said:

" Upon the surpassing excellence of this ordinance no language of
panegyric would be extravagant. It approaches as nearly to absolute per-
fection as anything to be found in the legislation of mankind; for after the
experience of fifty years it would, perhaps, be impossible to alter without
marring it. In short, it is one of those matchless specimens of sagacious

580

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

forecast which even the reckless spirit of innovation would not venture to
assail. The emigrant knew beforehand that this was a land of the highest
political as well as national promise, and under the auspices of another Moses
he journeyed with confidence towards his new Canaan."

Eai'lier than either of these, in the speech to which Hayne replied and
wliich was followed by the wonderful " Reply to Hayne," Webster had said :

" We are accustomed to praise the lawyers of antiquity ; we help to
perpetuate the fame of Solon and Lycurgus; but I doubt whether one single
law of any lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of more dis-
tinct, marked and lasting character than the Ordinance of 1787. We see
its consequences at this moment, and we shall never cease to see them, per-
haps, while the Ohio shall flow."

Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, brought his admirable and
eloquent oration at the jNIarietta centennial to this conclusion :

" We stand by the graves of great soldiers of the War of Independence.
This is the centennial of the state within whose borders were bom Grant, and
Sherman, and Sheridan, and Garfield. The men of the Revolution fought
that the principles of the Ordinance of 1787 might become living realities.
The great captains of the late war fought that the compact might be kept
and forever remain unalterable. The five states of the northwest sent nearly
a million soldiers into the war for the Union. * * * It is this that makes
the birthday of Ohio another birthday of the nation itself. Forever honored
be Marietta as another Plymouth. The Ordinance belongs with the Declara-
tion of Independence and the constitution. It is one of the three title-deeds
of American constitutional liberty. As the American youth for uncounted
centuries shall visit the capital of his country, * * * he will admire
the evidences of its grandeur and the monuments of its historic glory,
* * * but if he know his country's history and consider wisely the sources
of her glor}^, nothing will so stir his heart as two fading and time-soiled
papers, whose characters were traced by the hands of the fathers a hundred
years ago. They are original records of the acts which devoted this nation
forever to equality, to education, to religion, and to liberty. One is the
Declaration of Independence, the other the Ordinance of 1787."

The last report of one of these Indiana petitions for removal of the
anti-slavery prohibition of the ordinance was made to the senate in November,
1807, by Mr. Franklin, of North Carolina, upon a petition from the legisla-
tive council and house of representatives. The report was adverse and was
concuiTcd in by the senate without a dissenting vote.

This virtuall}'' ended the conflict. The eastern portion of the Indiana
tenntory filled up rapidly with settlers from Ohio and the north, and when,
in 1816, that eastern portion came to be the state, its constitution bore the
seal of the great ordinance that there should be " neither slavery nor in-
voluntary servitude, except for crime."

In Illinois there was the same struggle, with more peril as to the result.

The pro-slavery element in that portion of the northwest ten'itory was

581

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

even stronger and more violent than it had been in Indiana. In spite of the
provision of the enabling act that the new constitution should conform to
the requirements of the Ordinance of 1787, this element made strenuous
efforts, in the campaign for the election of delegates to the convention, and
aftenvards in that body, to secure a constitution that did not inhibit slavery.
It failed; and in 1818, once more came into being a new state, having the
old certificate of lineage, in a constitution which provided that within its
boundaries there should be " neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, ex-
cept for crime."

Once in the Union as a state, the state of Illinois was free to amend its
constitution with regard to slavery as was any other state. The slave power
was not slow to take advantage of this liberty, and in 1824; a tremendous
effort was made to secure a new constitutional convention with that end in
view. The rival candidates for governor were nominated on that issue.
The struggle was intense, but the call for a convention was defeated. This
result was large due to Edward Coles, whom I have already mentioned. He
was the anti-slavery candidate for governor, and was elected.

Thirty years afterwards — in 1856 — in his " History of the Ordinance
of 1787," he refers to his own part in that struggle as his consolation in old
age, at the same time that with prophetic foreboding, referring to the or-
dinance, he says: " Since its principles were repudiated in 1854 we have
had nothing but contention, riots and threats, if not the awful realities of
civil war."*

The subject matter of those apprehensions, which he thus expressed, is
part of that later history of the ordinance which most concerns ourselves.
In 1837 its illustrious phrase was stamped upon the constitution of Michigan,
and in 1848 upon that of Wisconsin. The five states of the northwest
ten-itory were thus all made bright with freedom, like the five points of a
star, and the whole area made radiant with the welfare of a free people.

Long before this the ordinance itself had entered on a new career.

From the first beginning of a feeling of opposition between the states
upon the slavery question, that feeling took the form of jealousy over the
relative number of the slave and free states which should be admitted into
the Union and should thus give to one side or the other a preponderance in
Congress.

The province of Congress to control the slavery question in the terri-
tories was determined by the fact that in law the slavery question is a question
of property right. A person who is a slave is, in the contemplation of the
law, the property of some one else. In the states, the care and province of
the state include all rights of person and of property; the province of the
federal government includes all interstate and international relations. In the
territories, however, the province of the federal government includes, also,

* Vide p. 68. Ck)les died in 1868, having first lived throusrh the storm of those realities
to see the same repudiated principles, in their time-honored phrases, restored and made ap-
plicable to the whole United States. He was a Virpnian, who had set his owti slaves free,
and had given to each head of a family 160 acres of land.

582

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the rights of person and of property, hence Congress controlled there the
question of the right to property in slaves.

For a time this question was easily disposed of. South of the Ohio the
settlers in territory not included in the states generally held slaves, while in
the territory north of the Ohio there were none. By tacit agreement new
states were admitted from alternate sides of the river. In this way came in
Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816), Mississippi (1817), Illinois (1818),
Alabama (1819), and Maine (1820). The territory east of the Mississippi
thus exhausted, Missouri the same year came knocking at the door. This
raised a stonny question. What of the whole vast territory west of the Mis-
sissippi.? That was settled by the famous "Missouri Compromise," an act
of Congress approved March 6, 1820, entitled: "An Act * * * to
Prohibit Slavery in Certain Territories," which in its eighth section applies
the language of the ordinance of 1787 to the territory westward of the
Mississippi :

" That in all that territory ceded by France to the United States, under
the name of Louisiana, which lies north of 36° SO' north latitude not in-
cluded within the limits of the state contemplated by this act, slavery and
kivoluntary servitude, otherwise than in 'punishment of crimes whereof the
parties shall have been duly convicted, shall he and is hei'eby forever pro-
hibited: Provided always that any person escaping into the same from whom
labor or service is lawfully claimed in any state or territory of the United
States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person
claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid."

This meant that it had been agreed upon in Congress that the line of
the southern boundary of the northwest territory should be prolonged due
west to the Pacific, and that new states, free and slave alternately from
north and south of that line, should be admitted as before. Upon the passage
of this act John Quincy Adams wrote to his wife :

" If the Union must be dissolved, the slavery question is precisely the
question on which it ought to break. For the present, however, that question
is laid to sleep."

It was supposed, and correctly, on both sides, that the territories,
when they became states, would adopt or exclude slavery in accordance, in
each instance, with their territorial condition. Hence it was that, on the
adoption of this compromise, Mr. Adams regarded the question as " laid
to sleep." If there was sleep, however, it was troubled sleep, not rest.
Florida and Iowa and Arkansas and Oregon, it is true, came in respectively
without contention. The acquisition of Texas and Mexico's teri'itorial con-
cessions tended to disturb the equilibrium by greatly enlarging the territory
south of the dividing line. California was a cause of contest, involved with
which were also the applications of New Mexico and Utah for ten-itorial
governments.

In 1854 these troubles culminated in the passage through Congress and
approval by the president of the " Kansas-Nebraska bill," by which the Con-

583

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

gress of the United States for the first time withdrew the protection of the
ordinance from territory which the flag with its inscription had once covered.
The repeal was in these words :

" The eighth section of the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri
into the Union, approved March 6, 1820, which, being inconsistent with the
principle of non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the states and
ten-itories, as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called the
compromise measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void."

I was a student in Yale College at the time. I remember that the church
bells in New Haven were tolled as for a funeral when the act of repeal was
passed. My father and mother were Virginians. They set their slaves free
when they were married, and began life in a free state, but my early asso-
ciations and my relatives were largely in the south. I was provoked by what
seemed to me so much uncalled-for and jealous feeling. To-day those bells
sound in my memory as the prophetic knell, I need not tell you of how many
or of whom. Nor need I here trace out for you how the breaking out of the
war arose from that appeal.

It is better to turn from these memories to the more pleasing contem-
plation of the majesty with which at the outbreak of the war, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas and Nebraska, as so many children
of the ordinance, each bearing on its constitution the inscription that there
should be " neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except for crime,"
came to the rescue of the Union. More than a million soldiers enlisted on
the side of freedom from these seven states. The influence of the ordinance
in fixing the character of those states has been made plain to you. Perhaps
their soldiers turned the scale; there were enough of them for that. In view
of the repealing act of 1854, it was the very poetry of justice, when the
victory came, to go back to the Ordinance of 1787 ; to take those words
which, in the Kansas and Nebraska act, it was decreed, should be " inopera-
tive and void," and to declare of those words that throughout the United
States, and in all places under their jurisdiction, they should be forever in
full force.

The circumstances which attended this transaction deserve notice. On
March 6, 1862, a special message of President Lincoln had urged upon Con-
gress the adoption of a joint resolution pledging the co-operation of the
United States, by both pecuniary aid and appropriate legislation, " with
any state which may adopt the gradual abolishment of slavery " — the special
idea in this being that the acceptance of it by the border states would cut
off from the South all hope that these states would ever join in demanding
the preservation of slaver3^ This suggestion the senate had adopted by a
vote of thirty-two to ten. Other like proposals had been brought forward
and considered in that body. There had been also some propositions in the
house. No legislation, however, was perfected, and the full weight of the
situation was left to be devolved upon the president, so far as concerned the
question of slavery in the states. An act of Congress, approved June 19>

584)

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

1862, enacted that from that date in any territory in the United States
there should be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except for crime.
A month later, July 19th, the president approved another act, which author-
ized the enlistment of colored men as soldiers, and provided that no fugitive
slave should be suiTendercd by any person in the mihtary or naval service ; but
that all slaves of rebels coming into the possession or under the protection of
tlic government should be free. This march of events was quickened by the
national success of September 17th, in the battle of Antietam, and on the
22d of that month President Lincoln issued his emancipation proclamation.
The United States was now fully and finally committed to the principle em-
bodied in the ordinance, and there remained only to fix that policy forever by
embedding it in the organic law.

On December 14, 1863, in the second week of the first session of the
thirty-eighth Congress, directly after the Speaker had announced the stand-
ing committees and during the call of states for bills on leave and joint reso-
lutions, both Mr. Stevens and Mr. Ashley, having introduced bills for the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, there followed the motion of which the fol-
lowing is the record:

" Mr. Ashley also introduced a bill to provide for the submission to the
several states of a proposition to amend the national constitution prohibiting
slavery, or involuntary servitude, in all of the states and territories now
owned or which may be hereafter acquired by the United States."*

Mr. Ashley further introduced a joint resolution to authorize the en-
listment of colored citizens in the rebellious districts; Mr. Love joy brought
in a very radical bill for giving effect to the Declaration of Independence
in the matter of the rights of colored persons ; and Mr. Arnold proposed a
measure in aid of the execution of President Lincoln's proclamation of eman-
cipation. To these proposals Mr. Wilson added one for a joint resolution
providing for the adoption by the states of an amendment to the constitution
declaring that " Slavery, being incompatible with a free government, is
forever prohibited in the United States ; and involuntary ser\-itude shall be
permitted only as a punishment for crime."

Both Mr. Ashley's proposal and Mr. Wilson's were referred to the ju-
diciary committee. No action was taken thereon before a joint resolution
came from the senate, which became through the action of the house, the
amendment for universal liberty everywhere in the United States.

The initiation in the senate of this grand completion of liberty in
America was due to John B. Henderson, a senator of Missouri, who was at
every stage of the great struggle conspicuous for the courage, sagacity
and unwaA^ering confidence with which he accepted, on behalf of the most im-
portant of the border states, whatever the new progress of the nation into
light and liberty required. It was on the 11th of Januari,'^, 1864, that Mr.
Henderson introduced in the senate a joint resolution providing for an
amendment, of which Article I was to be:

* Congressional Globe, 1st Sess. 38th Congress, page 19.

585

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" Slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime,
shall not exist in the United States."*

Mr. Sumner also introduced, February 8th, a resolution providing for
a constitutional amendment declaring that, " Everywhere within the
limits of the United States, and of each state or territory thereof, aJl
persons are equal before the law, so that no person can hold another as a
slave."

On February 10, 1864, Mr. Trumbull, from the judiciai'y committee of
the senate, to which these propositions had been referred, reported adversely
upon Mr. Sumner's, but returned Mr. Henderson's altered to read in its
chief section:

" Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within
the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The identical paper upon which Mr. Henderson had written his resolu-
tion was returned by the judiciary committee to the senate, with the altered
wording of the chief section. To this had been also added the second section
as it now stands. f

The question of the resolution thus reported came up in the senate on
the 28th of March, and on April 8th, after a vigorous debate, and fierce oppo-
sition, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 38 to 6.

Mr. Sumner obj ected in the debate to the retention of the language of the
Ordinance of 1787, and in reply to him Mr. Howard, of Michigan, pro-
tested that he preferred

— " to go back to the good old Anglo-Saxon language employed by our
fathers in the Ordinance of 1787, an expression which has been adjudicated
upon repeatedly, which is perfectly well understood both by the public and
by judicial tribunals; a phrase, I may say further, which is peculiarly near
and dear to the people of the northwestern territory, from whose soil slavery
was excluded by it."

The resolution thus adopted by the senate came up in the house on
May 31, 1864, and excited there, along with zealous and powerful support,
the most rancorous opposition, with the result, on coming to a vote, June 15,
of 93 in its favor, to 65 against, and 23 not voting; a victory which fell
short of the two-thirds requisite for initiating an amendment to the constitu-
tion. Mr. Ashley, not to lose what had been gained by the action of the

* Congressional Globe, 1st Sess. 38th Congress, page 145.

f As to this second section, Mr. Henderson writes me:

"Judge Trumbull, chairman of the judiciary conmiittee, thought it advisable, before
reporting the Thirteenth Amendment, to give express power to Congress to ' carry out the
amendment.' This suggestion came out of the difB.culties of construction as to the powers
of Congress touching certain provisions of the constitution as originally framed. And after
consultation with me, he added, before reporting back, the words giving Congress express
power to enforce the amendment. We both agreed that these words did not add to nor
detract from the meaning or force of the amendment as originally drawn, but thought it
better to insert them in order to exclude all possibility of adverse argument as to the power
of Congress to enforce by legislation the express words of the amendment."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

sciicate, and having changed his vote to the negative for the purpose, moved
a reconsideration of the vote of the house, and, pending action upon this, the
session came to an end.

The second session of the thirty-eighth Congress began December 5,
1864, and in his annual message President Lincohi, after stating that an
" attempted march of three hundred miles directly through the insurgent
region " was in course of execution by General Sherman, urged consideration
and adoption of the Henderson joint resolution upon the grounds which he
thus presented:

" Important movements have occurred during the year to the effect of
moulding society for durability in the Union. Although short of complete
success, it is much in the right direction that 12,000 citizens in each of the
states of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal state governments
with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to maintain and admin-
ister them. The movements in the same direction — more extensive though
less definite — in ]\Iissouri, Kentucky and Tennessee should not be overlooked.
But Maryland presents the example of complete success. Maryland is
secure to liberty and union for all the future. The genius of rebellion wiU no
more claim Maryland. Like another foul spirit, being driven out, it may
seek to tear her, but it will woo her no more.

" At the last session of Congress, a proposed amendment of the consti-
tution abolishing slavery throughout the United States passed the senate,
but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the house of representa-
tives. Although the present is the same Congress and nearly the same mem-
bers, and without questioning the wisdom or patriotism of those who' stood
in opposition, I venture to recommend the reconsideration and passage of the
measure at the present session. Of course, the abstract question is not
changed, but an intervening election shows almost certainly that the next
Congress will pass the measure if this does not. Hence, there is only a
question of time as to when the proposed amendment wiU go to the states for
their action. And as it is to so go, at all events, may we not agree that the
sooner the better.'' It is not claimed that the election has imposed a duty on
members to change their views or their votes any further than, as an addi-
tional element to be considered, their judgment may be affected by it. It is
the voice of the people now, for the first time, heard upon the question. In
a great national crisis like ours, unanimity of action among those seeking a
common end is very desirable — almost indispensable. And yet no approach
to such unanimity is attainable unless some deference shall be paid to the
will of the majority simply because it is the will of the majority. In this
case the common end is the maintenance of the Union; and among the means
to secure that end, such will, through the election, is most clearly declared in
favor of such constitutional amendment."

On January 6, 1865, Mr, Ashley called up his motion to reconsider the
vote upon the Henderson resolution. In the debate which followed not a few

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

former opponents were supporters of the measure,* although the opposition
was still determined and bitter, and on the 28th of January the motion for
reconsideration was carried, and the final passage of the Henderson resolution
accomplished, by a vote of 119 in its favor to 56 against, and 8 not voting.f

* The following nine representatives changed on this vote from opponents to supporters:

Augustus C. Baldwin, Michigan;

Alexander H. Coffroth, Pennsylvania;

Archibald McAllister, Pennsylvania;

James E. English, Connecticut;

Anson Herrick, New York.

William Radford, New York;

John B. Steele, New York;

Austin A. King, Missouri;

James G. Rollins, Missouri.

f Of this vote Governor Ashley has well said: "If the vote is analyzed, it will be seeii
that of the 119 votes recorded for the amendment thirteen (13) were by men from the border
states, and eleven (11) were by Democrats from the free states. If but three (3) out of
the twenty-four (24) who voted with us had voted against the amendment it would have
failed. If but four (4) of the eight (8) members who were absent had appeared and voted
against, it would have been lost. Had all the Northern Democrats who supported the
amendment voted against, it would have been defeated by twenty-six (26) votes. Had all
the border-state men who voted for it voted against, it would have failed by thirty-two
(32) votes.

"If the border-state men and Northern Democrats who voted for the amendment had
voted against, it would have failed by sixty-five (65) votes.

" Mr. Lincoln was especially delighted at the vote which the amendment received from
the border slave states, and frequently congratulated me on that result.

" Bancroft, the historian, has drawn with a graphic pen the character of many of the
able and illustrious men of the Revolution which achieved our independence. In writing
of George Mason, of Virginia, he said: 'His sincerity made him wise and bold, modest and
unchanging, with a scorn for anything mean and cowardly, as illustrated in his unselfish
attachment to human freedom.' And these identical qualities of head and heart were pre-
eminently conspicuous in all the border statesmen who voted for the Tliirteenth Amend-
ment.

" It would be difficult in any age or country to find grander or more unselfish and
patriotic men than Henry Winter Davis and Governor Francis Thomas, of Maryland, or
James S. Rollins, ^Frank P. Blair and Governor King, of Missouri, or George H. Yeaman,
of Kentucky, or N. P. Smithers, of Delaware. And not less worthy of mention, for their
unchanging fidelity to principle, are all the Northern Democrats who voted for the amend-
ment, prominent among whom I may name Governor English, of Connecticut; Judge
Homer A. Nelson and Moses S. OdeU, of New York; Archibald McAllister, of Pennsylvania;
Wells A. Hutchins, of Ohio, and A. C. Baldwin, of Michigan.

"Of the twenty-four (24) border-state and Northern men who made up this majority,
which enabled us to win this victory, all had defied their party discipline, and had delib-
erately and with unfaltering faith marched to their political death. These are the men
whom our future historians will honor, and to whom this nation owes a debt of eternal
gratitude."

One of these men, thus worthy of lasting honor, was the Hon. George H. Yeaman, of
Kentucky. At the risk of transgressing somewhat the privacy of personal correspondence
I venture to give the following extract from a descriptive letter which, some time ago, he
wrote to me at my request:

" The amendment abolishing slavery in the United States had been introduced, and
was approaching a vote in 1865. My first resolution was not to dodge, but to face the
responsibility. There was still a strong Union element in my district, but I believed that
the changes had been such that, on a full vote, the ' Southern Sympathizers ' (which was
then the name) would outnumber them, and I knew that those then ready for actual emanci-
pation were only a small minority. My table was groaning under piles of letters from
friends and Unionists — none from opponents — only two or three letters suggesting that as
slavery was inevitably doomed, why not let it go now and be done with it. The great

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The educating influence of the war had effected this great change. The
widest interest and the most intense feehng had watched and waited for the
sea] of the final affirmative of the house upon the senate's proposition, which
was inspired by the noblest sentiments of humanity. A great audience
crowded the galleries and every place of access. The senators, members of
the cabinet and judges of the supreme court were on the floor of the house
also to watch the issue of the roll call. When the speaker announced the re-
sult, less than one-third against and more than two-thirds for, there was an
uproar of delight. When this had lessened, Mr. Ingersoll, of Illinois, said:
" In honor of this immortal and sublime event I move that the house do now
adjourn." This commemorative motion passed with delighted approval.
The requisite acceptance of the proposed amendment by the several states,
and the official announcement of this fact by the Hon. William H. Seward,
secretary of state, December 18, 1865, fixed the Thirteenth Amendment in

majority contained earnest warnings against making a mistake, being too far in advance of
the people, and against spoiling what they felt were unusually promising political prospects.

" Now, you see the strain. In a small way a slaveholder (no real pecuniary interest
imperiled) representing a slave-holding and abolition-hating community, elected on the plat-
form of ' the constitution as it is, the Union as it was,' knowing perfectly well what was
right and what ought to be done, knowing that away down in the bottom of my heart I had
always been against the institution, because I knew it was wrong; yet with a fair prospect
of coming back to Congress if I voted against the amendment.

" This narration would not be truthful if I were to say that I did not hesitate. I claim
no such credit. I was troubled, I thought much, and I felt much. There seemed to be an
idea in the house that I was doubtful and was suffering a pretty severe ordeal. I must do
opponents of the amendment the justice to say that not one of them approached me to 'talk
it over.' Only one, Henry Winter Davis, came from the friends of the amendment. His
manner was delicate, discreet and so extremely deferential, while earnest, that it convinced
me he had read my thoughts in my countenance. He talked very much as he would to a
friend in sorrow. I gently put him off with the assurance that I was considering the matter
with all the care and earnestness a man could give to any question. Just because he had
walked across the house to talk to me about it my pride prevented me from telling him
that I had already found that I could not keep the peace with my own conscience, could not
preserve my own self-respect, without voting in the affirmative. If I had frankly com-
mitted myself then it would have saved the next struggle.

" Doubt, hesitation, came again. It was positively painful. Walking the floor of my
room at midnight, light and thoughts and resolution seemed to come as volunteers; and some
of the thoughts were not very pleasant. One silent, unspoken soliloquy was as follows:
' What are you hesitating about ? You know what is right. You know what you ought to do.
You are discussing and weighing questions of expediency, questions personal to yourself.
You are not really thinking about the question of freedom or slavery. You are a moral, a
political coward.'

" It is no exaggeration to say that I felt as if I heard those very words. The die was
cast; in another moment the Rubicon was passed. I stopped walking and stood still. With
hand raised toward Heaven, I literaUy and verbally swore a political oath, that I would
emancipate myself first, and then do what I could to emancipate other slaves.

" The rough material for my speech was soon put in form. The vote came soon after
it was delivered. As soon as the count was announced there was a great uproar. Colfax ran
across and threw his arms around my neck. Next day brought a manly and earnest letter of
congratulation from Judge Holt, the first of dozens and hundreds. Mr. Seward afterwards
conferred with me about going to Frankfort to get the amendment ratified by the Kentucky
legislature. I told him it was no use, it could not be done.

" At the next election, August, 1865, I was beaten by only seven or eight hundred
majority, showing that the people are sometimes better prepared for a forward move than
is supposed."

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the constitution, there to remain forever as the transplanted jewel of the
Ordinance of 1787.

Let these events drop out now that have intervened, that we may see
how close those men of '76 have come to us, and the part that they have
played in our own lives. In a most real sense the men from the states which
are within what was the Northwest Territory were soldiers of the Ordinance
of 1787. More than a million soldiers came from those five great states, be-
sides all those from Kansas and Nebraska, and from Oregon and California.
We were among those soldiers, or else they Avere our comrades. So far as
that million and more of men may have turned the scale of war, it was the
ordinance that gave to their lives that result. To whatever extent the
ordinance did that, to that extent our lives have been directly influenced by
those men of '76 who were the ordinance. The ordinance itself was not a
living force, and could not be till its articles of compact were put on as armor
by those heroes of the Revolution. They carried its flag into the wilderness,
and there they won new fields ; and they are buried there. That was not, even
for us, the last of them, I think. We read that when our Lord was crucified,
the bodies of the saints that slept arose and went into the city. So (rever-
ently) it seems to me that when Secession stretched upon its cross of war the
Love of Freedom in this land of ours, those Revolutionary heroes came again,
not to our sight as such, but as a million soldiers from those states from
which they had secluded slavery ; and in that guise they marched and fought
with us, until there came upon the earth a new and risen Liberty that builds a
broader and a higher peace.

Deep into its corner stone is cut the precept of the ordinance, that
There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except

AS A punishment FOR CRIME.

590

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THE TRIAL

OF THE ASSASSINS

By Gen. Henry L. Burnett
Delivered before the Ohio Society of New York on April 18, 1892

I WAS serving with my regiment, the Second Ohio Cavalry, along the
Cumberland in Southern Kentucky in the latter part of the year 1863,
when the judge advocate on the staff of General Burnside, Major J.
Madison Cutts (brother-in-law of the late Senator Douglas), committed an
offense for which charges were preferred against him. General Burnside sent
inquiries to the front for some officer who was a lawyer, and who could be
reconmiended as capable of trying his judge advocate. I was recommended,
and ordered back to Cincinnati, where General Bumside's headquarters then
were, as commander of the Department of the Ohio.

After finishing this case, I was kept on court-martial duty at Cincinnati,
Lexington and Louisville for some time, and finally, at the request of Gover-
nor Moi-ton, in September, 1864, I was ordered to Indiana to act as judge
advocate of the court detailed to try the members of the " Knights of the
Golden Circle," or " Sons of Liberty." These trials were finished some time in
December of that year, and I entered almost immediately upon the trial of
the Chicago conspirators — St. Leger, Grenfel, and others — who had come
over from Canada to engage in the enterprise of releasing the rebel prisoners
then in Camp Douglas, near Chicago. Wliile making the closing argument
in this case, on the 17th of April, 1865, I received a dispatch from the secre-
tary of war, directing me to report immediately to that department to aid in
the examinations respecting the murder of the President.

I started for Washington the same evening, reached there on the morning
of the 19th, and was " specially assigned by the secretary of war for duty on
the investigation of the murder of President Lincoln and the attempted as-
sassination of Mr. Seward," and a room was assigned to me in the War De-
partment.

The gloom of that journey to Washington and the feeling of vague
terror and sorrow with which I traversed its streets, I cannot adequately
describe, and shall never forget. To this day, I never visit that city with-
out some shadow of that dark time settling down over my spirit. All the
public buildings and a large portion of the private houses were heavily draped
in black. The people moved about the streets with bowed heads and sorrow
stricken faces, as though some Herod had robbed each home of its first bom.
When men spoke to each other in the streets there were tremulous tones in
their voices and a quivering of the lips, as though tears and violent ex-
pression of grief were held back only by great effort. In the faces of those

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

in authority — cabinet ministers, officers of the army — there was an anxious
expression of the eye as though a dagger's gleam in a strange hand was to
be expected; and a pale determined expression, a set of the jaw that said:
" The ti-uth about this conspiracy shall be made clear and the assassins
found and punished; we will stand guard and the government shall not
die."

For no ruler that ever lived, I venture to say, not excepting Washington
himself, was the love of the people so strong, so pecuharly personal and
tender, as for Abraham Lincoln. Especially was this so among tlie soldiers ;
all members of the old army will remember with what devotion and patriotic
affection the boys used to shout and sing, " We are coming. Father Abra-
ham ! " and will remember what a personal and confiding sort of relation
seemed to exist between the boys and " Uncle Abe," and how those brave
soldiers — veterans of four years of terrible war, inured to hardship, to sick-
ness and wounds, familiar with the faces of death — ^wept like little children
when told that " Uncle Abe " was dead. The scene at the bedside of the
dying president had been described in the press, and as the news swept around
the earth, all the children of men, in all the civilized world, wept with those
about his couch. That death-bed scene will never be forgotten. It was
surrounded by his cabinet ministers, all of whom were bathed in tears, not
excepting Mr. Stanton, the war secretary, with iron will and nerve, who
when informed by Surgeon-General Barnes that the president could not live
until morning exclaimed: " Oh, no. General! No, no," and immediately sat
down at his bedside and wept like a little child.

" Senator Sumner was seated on the right of the president's couch, near
the head, holding the right hand of the president in his own. He Avas sob-
bing like a tender woman with his head bowed down almost to the pillow of
the bed on which the president was lying."

At twenty-two minutes past seven the president passed away, and Mr.
Stanton exclaimed: "Now he belongs to the ages." Besides the persons
named, there were about the death-bed his wife and son, Vice-President John-
son, all the other members of the cabinet with the exception of Mr. Seward,
Generals Halleck, Meigs, Farnsworth, Augur and Ladd, Rev. Dr. Gurley,
Schuyler Colfax, Governor Farwell, Judges Cartter and Otto, Surgeon-
General Barnes, Drs. Stone, Crane and Leals, Major John Hay and
Maunsell B. Field.

When I entered upon the duty of assisting in the investigation of the
murder of the president, on the 19th of April, it must be borne in mind that
at that time it was not positively known who had assassinated the president,
or attempted the life of Secretary Seward; Booth was the alleged assassin.
How widespread was the conspiracy or who were in it, or of it, was not
known.

There was general apprehension and belief that further assassinations
would be attempted, and guards were placed around the private residences
of the cabinet ministers. General Grant's house and the public buildings;

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

soldiers patrolled the city and were scouring the country. All that was
then positively known as to the assassination of the president, was that a
tall dark man, apparently about thirty years of age, had forced his way
into the president's box at Ford's Theatre on the evening of the 14th, had
shot the president, stabbed Major Rathbone who attempted to detain him,
had leaped over the front of the box on to the stage below, fled across it
crying : " Sic semper tyrannis ! " — then out by the right side to the rear
door of the theatre, had there mounted a horse, galloped away into the night,
crossing the navy yard bridge; that another supposed confederate soon after
galloped after him and joined him, and this was the sum of the positive
knowledge at that time.

Of that scene in the box at the theatre, and on that night, Nicolay and
Hay, in the " Life of Lincoln," sa}" : " The whole performance remains in
the memory of those who heard it, a vague phantasmagoria, the actors the
thinnest of spectres. The awful tragedy in the box makes everything else
seem pale and unreal. Here were five human beings in a narrow space — the
greatest man of his time in the glory of the most stupendous success in our
history, the idolized chief of a nation already mighty, with illimitable
vistas of grandeur to come ; his beloved wife, proud and happy ;
a pair of betrothed lovers, with all the promise of felicity that youth,
social position and wealth could give them; and this young actor,
handsome as Endymion upon Latmus, the pet of his little world. The
glitter of fame, happiness and ease was upon the entire group, but in an
instant, everything was to be changed with the blinding swiftness of en-
chantment. Quick death was to come on the central figure of that company
— the central figure, we believe, of the gi'eat and good men of the century.
Over all the rest the blackest fates hovered menacingly — fates from which a
mother might pray that kindly death would save her children in their in-
fancj. One was to wander with the stain of murder on his soul, with the
curses of a world upon his name, with a price set upon his head, in frightful
physical pain, till he died a dog's death in a burning barn ; the stricken wife
was to pass the rest of her days in melancholy and madness; of these two
young lovers, one was to slay the other and then end his life a raving maniac."

At the same hour that Booth fired the fatal shot, Pa3me appeared at the
door of Secretary Seward's house, in the guise of a messenger from Dr.
Vedi, holding in his hand the package that Booth had prepared for him, and
demanded to see the secretary, saying that he had a verbal message which
was of particular importance in regard to the use, or application of the medi-
cine, and that he must see the secretary himself. Dr. Verdi had left his
patient but a short time before, and had consoled the family that had for
days been suffering the greatest anxiety on account of the secretary's con-
dition, by taking a favorable view of the symptoms. The family, worn with
watching and anxiety, we-^e disposing themselves for the night. Major A. H.
Seward had retired to his room. Sergeant George F. Robinson, acting as
attendant nurse, was watching by the bedside in company with Miss Seward,

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the secretary's daughter. Frederick D. Seward occupied the room at the
head of the stairs. All the rooms occupied by the secretary and his family
were on the second floor, and were reached by a flight of stairs in the hall-
way.

The second waiter, William H. Bell, a colored lad of nineteen, was
stationed at the hall door. Being somewhat relieved of their anxiety by the
doctor's favorable view of the case, all were anticipating a night of quiet
rest. The door bell rang and was responded to by Bell, the colored waiter.
Immediately upon the opening of the door, Payne stepped into the hall. He
was a tall, broad-shouldered, muscular man, as agile and ferocious as a
panther; a low-browed, scowling, villainous-looking specimen of humanity,
the animal preponderating largely in every feature of his visage and ex-
pression of his countenance. There he stood, holding in his left hand the
package, and keeping his right hand in his overcoat pocket. He demanded
of the boy to be allowed to see the secretary, telling his story about being sent
by Dr. Verdi to deliver the medicine with his directions. The porter told him
that his orders were to admit no one, and that he could not see Mr. Seward ;
that he would deliver the package himself. To this Payne would not consent,
but persisted in saying that he must see Mr. Seward. After considerable par-
leying, he started upstairs, and the porter, seeing that he would go, and
thinking that he might complain of his conduct to the secretary, asked him
to pardon him, to which Payne rephed : " Oh, I know ; that's all right."
He was wearing heavy boots and took no pains to walk lightly as he went up
the stairs, whereupon the porter requested him not to make so much noise,
to which, however, he paid no attention. As he approached the head of the
stairs, he was met by Mr. Frederick Seward who had been attracted by the
noise, to whom he said, " I want to see Mr. Seward." Frederick went into
his father's room, and finding him asleep, returned saying, " You cannot
see him." All this time Payne stood holding the package in his left hand,
grasping with his right hand the pistol in his overcoat pocket. Frederick
requested him to give him the package, saying he would deliver it ; but Payne
persisted in saying that that would not do, he must see Mr. Seward — he must
see him. Frederick finally said, " I am proprietor here, and his son ; if you
cannot leave your message with me, you cannot leave it at all." Payne still
continued parleying with Frederick for some time; but finding that his
talking availed nothing, ho started as if to go downstairs. This, however,
was only a feint on his part in order to throw Frederick off^ his guard and to
get rid of the porter who stood behind him. He again walked so heavily
that the porter requested him not to make so much noise ; but at that moment,
Payne having prepared himself for the encounter, turned quickly, and mak-
ing a spring towards Frederick, struck him two or three times with the pistol,
which he had all the time held in his hand, fracturing his skull and knocking
him senseless to the floor. Having learned which was the room occupied by the
invalid by seeing Frederick go into it, Payne rushed past the prostrate man,
opened the door of the secretary's room and was met by Sergeant Robinson.

594)

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Having broken and thrown down his revolver in his encounter with Frederick,
he had drawn his dagger, and at his first encounter with the sergeant, he
struck him with his knife, cutting an ugly gash in his forehead and partially
knocking him down. He then pressed rapidly forward, knife in hand, to
where the invalid lay in his bed. Throwing himself upon him, he com-
menced striking at his face and neck with his dagger. The secretary was re-
clining in a half sitting position, having the coverings well drawn up about
his neck and chin, to which circumstance the failure of the would-be assassin
to take his life was no doubt due. The sergeant, as soon as he recovered his
equilibrium, sprang upon Payne, and Major Seward, having been awakened
by the screams of his sister, sprang into the room in his night dress. Finding
the sergeant grappling him in such a way as to hinder the effectiveness of his
thrusts at the secretary, and probably thinking that he had accomplished
his purpose, the assassin turned his attention toward making his escape. In
disentangling himself from the grasp of the two men who now had hold of
him, he gave INIajor Seward several severe cuts about the head and face,
crying all the time, " I am mad ! I am mad ! " Finally tearing himself loose,
he started to make his way to the street. Meeting a Mr. Emrick W. Hansel,
another nurse, on the stairs, he made a thrust at him with his knife, in-
flicting an ugly wound. He now left the house, leaving five of the inmates
stabbed, cut and bleeding behind him. Having reached the street, he de-
liberately threw his dagger away, mounted the horse which he had hitched in
front of the door, and rode off.

After the attack at Secretary Seward's, Dr. Verdi and two or three
other surgeons were at once called to examine and treat the secretary and the
other victims of Payne's dagger. The house in which the onslaught was
made had the appearance of a charnel-house or slaughter-pen. The secretary
was found to have received three or four severe cuts about the face and neck,
which were only made dangerous by the loss of blood they had occasioned
and the weak condition of the patient.

The secretary made a slow but good recovery. Of the other four wounded
men, the wounds of Mr. Frederick Seward proved the most serious, as his
skull had been fractured and depressed, so as to render him unconscious, from
which condition he was only recalled by a surgical operation. All finally
recovered.

On the evening of the 14th, Booth had called at the Kirkwood House,
where Vice-President Johnson was stopping, and left a card on which
was written: "Don't wish to disturb you. Are you at home? J. Wilkes
Booth."

On the evening of the 13th, a man appeared at Secretary Stanton's
house, where General Grant was that evening, had asked to have both General
Grant and Secretary Stanton pointed out to him, which was done. He did
not speak to either of them, and lingered in the hall watching them and
sat down on a step of the front steps until he was driven away. This was
the sum of what was actually and positively known of the facts as to the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

assassination of the president, the attempted assassination of Secretary
Seward, and the movements of the conspirators on the 19th.

As I have said before, while it was rumored and generally believed that
J. Wilkes Booth was the assassin, for some days this rested only upon the
statements of some of the persons at the theatre that they beheved it was
Booth; they thought they recognized him as he ran across the stage, but
could not be certain about it. The first evidence which conclusively estab-
lished his identity in the minds of those investigating the facts, was ob-
tained about the 21st or 22d of April. It was known that the assassin had
injured himself when he jumped from the president's box, that he limped as
he ran across the stage, and it was subsequently ascertained that he had
broken one bone of his left leg. He was traced to Dr. Mudd's house, near
Bryantown, Maryland, and there, on the 21st, was secured the boot which Dr.
Mudd had cut from his leg, when he set the bone. On the inside of the boot
was the number of the boot and the name of the maker, and the words " J.
Wilkes." As soon as the boot was received at the War Department, I had
ex-Marshal Murray put aboard a special engine and sent to New York to look
up the maker and ascertain for whom the boot was made. That night a
telegram was received from him saying the boot was made for J. Wilkes Booth.
This settled the identity of the assassin in our minds beyond all doubt, and
was the basis on which we proceeded in our investigations as to who were the
aiders and abettors of the assassin and who were his co-conspirators.

The investigation of the facts was prosecuted under the personal direc-
tion of the secretary of war with earnest diligence, until the day the court was
ordered to convene. May 8th. A more indefatigable, tireless worker it has
never been my fortune to encounter, either in military or civil life, than
Secretary Stanton. Many nights I worked with him until the morning dawn
began to steal in at the windows, and many nights I left the department at
midnight or in the small hours of the early morning completely worn out,
and I left him still there working.

Early in my work I had a personal experience with Secretary Stanton
which illustrates some of his characteristics. Almost immediately after com-
mencing my investigation, I learned that a Mr. Weichman and a Mr. Holla-
han, who had been boarders with Mrs. Surratt, had been sent by the secretary
to Canada to find John H. Suratt, whom the secretary believed to have been
one of the conspirators, and if possible to bring him back to Washington.
A few days after learning tliis fact, two men appeared at my office from the
War Department, and announced themselves as Weichman and Hollahan.
I wrote their names on a card and went to the secretary, announced their
arrival and asked for instructions. He was busy and very briefly said, " Take
their statements and have them report from day to day." This I wrote on
the card and returned to my office. I then had their statements taken down
stenographically and instructed them to report from day to day. That even-
ing, I should think about twelve o'clock, a messenger appeared at my room
at Willard's Hotel, Mr. Olcott, a special agent then at work on this investi-

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gation, and said to me : " The secretary wants you, and the devil is to pay."
I said, " What is it? " He answered, " I don't know, but he is in a terrible
temper." When I appeared before him, he was walking up and down his
office apparently in a great state of excitement, and burst out with, " I hear
that Weichman and Hollahan were in your office to-day and that you let
them go." I said, " Yes, Mr. Secretary, — " I got no further when he broke
in with, " You had no business to let these men go. They are some of the
conspirators, and you have them here at tliis office by eight o'clock to-morrow
morning, or I will deal with you." I again commenced, " But, Mr. Secre-
tary,— " (intending to add that it was by his instructions) but he inter-
rupted by saying, " Not a word, sir; you have those men here to-morrow
morning by eight o'clock."

I saw there was no use to attempt any controversy with him or explain,
so turned back and went into my office, a good deal dismayed and dis-
heartened. I sat down at my desk, thinking what I should do. I then re-
called one of the military maxims, that where a grave and important duty
is imposed by a superior, the power is always equal to the duty, and I im-
mediately sat down at my desk and wrote out an order to General Augur, who
was then in command of the district at Washington, to at once detail a regi-
ment to command and guard all the usual modes of ingress and egress to
Washington, to examine every person who departed therefrom during the
night or in the morning until further orders, and to carefully inspect each
person departing, in order to find and bring to the War Department the next
morning by eight o'clock the two men, Weichman and HoUahan, giving as
near as I could a careful description of their persons. I further ordered
him to detail two companies to report at once at the War Department for
duty. When these companies arrived, I divided them into squads of ten each,
in command of either a commissioned or non-commissioned officer, and com-
menced at the Georgetown Bridge to ring up and examine all the occupants
on each street leading to the capitol, except of course, the residences of foreign
diplomats and cabinet ministers, taking charge personally of one squad and
one street. I directed them to report to me at Willard's at seven o'clock in the
morning. At seven o'clock all my squads reported to me and reported an
utter failure.

I then started up to the War Department as disheartened and discour-
aged a man as you could have found in the city of Washington to report to
the secretary and take my medicine. Just as I was passing along diagonally
in front of the presidential mansion, and nearly opposite General Augur's
headquarters, I nearly ran into a man, and looking up discovered it was
Weichman. I was almost overcome with conflicting emotions, threw my
arms about him for a moment and then linked my arm in his and said, " Come
with me." He was considerably surprised at my agitation, but made no ob-
jection, and we walked up towards the War Department. I inquired where
he had slept the night before and where Hollahan was. He said that as he
had formerly been employed in the quartermaster-general's office, some of the

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clerks had tendered bunks to himself and Hollahan for the night and they had
both slept there. (It had never entered my head the night before to examine
the military officers of the government.)

As soon as I reached my room I sent an orderly over to the Quartermaster
Department and he returned almost immediately with Hollahan.

Putting them both in my room and putting a sentinel at the door so
that they should not again vanish, I took the card that I had taken with me
in my interview the day before with Mr. Stanton, and went into his room.
It was then just about eight o'clock. As I came in, Mr. Stanton, who was
then seated at his desk, looked up and said, " Well, have you those men.? "
I said, " Yes, Mr. Secretary, they are in my office." His whole manner and
countenance changed from that of a grim sort of ill-nature to that of a pleased
smile, and I said — I was then a good deal aroused and indignant — and I
turned upon him and said, " And now, Mr. Stanton, I am through with the
service under you and I beg here now to tender my resignation to take effect
immediately. You would have condemned and disgraced me without a hear-
ing for obeying your own order, and I am damned if I will serve further
under any such man. Here is the card I brought in to you yesterday on
which the names of these two witnesses were written, whose names I gave dis-
tinctly to you, and on it I wrote the order you gave me — namely, to take
their statements, let them go, and have them report from day to day. Here
it is, and this order I implicitly obeyed, now I am through with you and
through with the service." He got up from his desk, came over to where
I was standing, placing one hand on my shoulder and said, " General, I
ask your pardon. I was wrong, but remember the great strain I am under
in trying to save the country. In seeking to achieve the best and the public
rights, sometimes individual right goes down. I am doing the best I can
with all the power with which God has endowed me. Forget this matter and
go back and go on with your work and help me and the great work I am
trying to do."

Thus ended the matter so far as I was concerned, and I went back and
went on with my work.

Prior to the first of May the president, Andrew Johnson, officially called
upon the attorney-general, James Speed, for an opinion as to whether or not
the persons implicated in the murder of the president and the attempted
assassination of William H. Seward, secretary of state, and in an alleged con-
spiracy to assassinate other officers of the government, and their aiders and
abettors, were lawfully triable before a military commission in Washington,
and the attorney-general having given his opinion in response thereto, that
the said parties were so lawfully triable, on the 1st day of May the president
ordered the adjutant-general to detail nine competent military officers to
serve as such commission. On the 6th of May the adjutant-general issued
an order appointing a military commission to meet at Washington on the
8th of May for the trial of Herold, Atzerodt, Payne, O'Laughlin, Spangler,
Arnold, Mrs. Surratt, Dr. Mudd, and such persons as might be brought be-

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fore it implicated in the murder of the late President Abraham Lincoln, and
the attempted assassination of Hon. William H. Seward, secretary of state,
and in an alleged conspiracy to assassinate other officers of the federal gov-
ernment at Washington city, and their aiders and abettors.

The detail of the court was as follows: Maj.-Gen. David Hunter, Maj.-
Gen. Lewis Wallace, Brevet Maj.-Gen. Augustus V. Kautz, Brig.-Gen. Albion
P. Howe, Brig.-Gen. Albert S. Foster, Brig.-Gen. T. M. Harris, Brevet
Brig.-Gen. James A. Ekin, Col. C. H. Tompkins, Lieut.-Col. David T.
Clendenin.

Brig.-Gen. Joseph Holt was appointed judge advocate and recorder
of the commission, and the Hon. John A. Bingham and myself were assigned
as assistants or special judge advocates.

The court convened on the 9th of May, but adjourned to the 11th, to
afford the accused an opportunity to procure counsel. The charge against
the accused was for conspiracy in aid of the existing rebellion against the
government with Booth, Surratt, Jefferson Davis, Saunders, Tticker, Thomp-
son, Cleary, Clay, Harper, Young and others unknown, to kill and murder
Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, and commander-in-chief
of the army, and Andrew Johnson, then vice-president, W. H. Seward, secre-
tary of state, and General Grant.

The specifications set forth the act or acts of the accused, done and per-
formed in the prosecution of said conspiracy.

It is not my purpose to review the history and scope of the conspiracy as
developed by the proof submitted to the Court. It is sufficient for the pur-
pose of this paper to say that nine brave soldiers and intelligent and con-
scientious officers, after two months of careful and laborious investigation,
did find and decide that the accused, together with Surratt, Booth, Jefferson
Davis and his rebel agents and confederates then in Canada, namely, George
N. Saunders, Beverly Tucker, Jacob Thompson, William C. Cleary, Clement
C. Clay, George Harper and George Young, were guilty of conspiring to
kill and murder President Lincoln, Vice-President Johnson, Secretary Seward
and General Grant. It should be remembered also in this connection, that
during all the two months of this investigation by the commission, each of
the accused were represented by one or more able counsel, among whom were the
Hon. Beverly Johnson, of Maryland; Gen. Thomas Ewing, then of Wash-
ington ; Frederick A. Aiken, W. E. Foster, Walter S. Cox and Frederick
Stone, and that the whole power of the government was put at the service of
the accused and used unreservedly by their counsel to bring from any part
of the United States any witnesses they might desire.

Some of the counsel for the accused seemed to be as much convinced as
the court of the guilty participation of the rebel authorities at Richmond
and their confederates in Canada in the conspiracy to assassinate President
Lincoln. Cox said in his argument, " the assassination of the president and
other heads of government may have been discussed in the South, as a measure
of ultimate resort to retrieve the fortunes of the Confederacy when at their

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lowest ebb; the rebel agents in Canada may have individually signified their
approval of the measure in the abstract, long since ; but I undertake to main-
tain upon the evidence that there never was any final determination, on the
part of any person or persons, with whom any of these accused can possibly be
connected, actually to attempt the life of the president or other functionary
until a few days — about one week — before the murder." Again he says,
speaking of Booth, " The theory of the prosecution is that Booth, who is
acknowledged to have been the head and front and soul of the conspiracy, if
there was one, was only the hireling tool of these rebel emissaries ; I think he
was probably something more, but it will not vary the result. I think he
was probably actuated, not only by the sordid hope of gain, but by a mis-
guided, perverted ambition. Of strong will and passions, and high nervous
organization, accustomed to play parts and those of a tragic character, he
had contracted perverted and artificial views of life and duty, and had
aspired to be the Brutus in real life that he had been or seen on the boards.
He well knew, however, that the act he contemplated would be execrated all
the world over, except possibly among those whom he intended to serve.
Therefore, whether pecuniary reward or false glory was his object, he could
hope for neither until he was secure of their approbation. Whatever his
principle of action, he was wholly without motive for so desperate an under-
taking until he supposed he had the approval of the rebel authorities. When
does the evidence show this was given.? "

Mr. Cox then proceeds to review the testimony, or a portion of it, given
upon this point, and adds, " Thus, in the end there is seen to be a substantial
accord between all the three witnesses, on the important question when the
formal sanction of the Richmond authorities was received in Canada, and
when consequently for the first time they were in a condition to give their
formal and official approval to the proposed assassination."

Let me say here personally, after this quotation from the argument of
counsel for the accused themselves, that my own judgment upon the testi-
mony was at the time that while the proposed enterprise of assassinating the
president and vice-president, members of the cabinet and General Grant had
been brought to the attention of the Richmond authorities and to Jeff'erson
Davis, there was no conclusive evidence to show that Davis sanctioned or ap-
proved this undertaking. The proof, I think, also shows that it was brought
to his attention and that he did not condemn or undertake to suppress the
movement. That the confederate agents in Canada did actually take part
in fomenting and forwarding the conspiracy, I think was conclusively es-
tablished.

As early as November, 1864, Booth was considering wild schemes either
of forcible abduction of the president or assassination, and was busy from
that time down to the day of the assassination in trying to enlist others in
the devilish enterprise.

It is part of the unwritten history of the time that on the day of Presi-
dent Lincoln's second inauguration, and while he was delivering his inaugural

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address, Booth sat near and just behind him with the purpose to stab him to
death then and there if any fit opportunity should occur in the press and
confusion of the ci'owd, for him to do the deed and make his escape. That
while the great president was uttering those immortal words, " With malice
toward none, with charity for all," this armed assassin was near his side
clutching the knife with which to stab him to death. Another curious fact
connected with this event is that Booth secured his ticket of admission to
these ceremonies through a United States senator, one of the most faithful and
earnest of the Union republican group, and that it was procured through the
intercession of his daughter, who, although she had only a casual acquaintance
with Booth, had often seen him on the stage, and, hke many of the romantic
young ladies of our own time, had caught the fever of stage-hero
worsliip.

Later on in the same month of November, an actual movement was made
to forcibly abduct or assassinate the president. About the 20th of that
month a party of seven armed and mounted men, four of whom were Booth,
Surratt, Payne and Atzerodt, appeared at Mrs. Surratt's house and rode
away on some desperate enterprise — alleged to have been the capture of the
president on his way to or coming from the Soldiers' Home, and delivering
him into the hands of the rebels. Through seme cause not known, the plan
was frustrated, and Booth, Payne and Surratt returned to Mrs. Surratt's
house very much excited and angered over their failure. Surratt threatened to
shoot any one who approached his room, uttering wild exclamations that his
prospects were gone, his hopes were bHghted. In the afternoon, after Surratt
and his party had departed on this enterprise, Mrs. Surratt was found in the
hall or passage-way of her house weeping bitterly, and said to one who at-
tempted to console her, " John is gone away ! " grieving as though he was
not to return, and showing some knowledge of the expedition.

About the 1st of April, 1865, Booth went to New York and returned
to Washington on the 8th, and from that time was busy with his confederates
in maturing his plans for the proposed assassination of President Lincoln
and the others. I do not propose to give you the evidence submitted to the
court bearing upon the general conspiracy and the act of assassination and
the connection of each of the accused therewith, further than to give briefly the
circumstances of the assassination of the president.

On the evening of the 14th of April, 1865, Major Rathbone and Miss
Harris, of Washington, joined the president and Mrs. Lincoln and drove with
them in the president's carriage to Ford's Theatre, reaching there about half-
past eight. When the president reached the theatre and the fact became
known, the actors stopped playing, the band struck up " Hail to the Chief,"
and the audience rose and received him with cheers and shouts of applause.
The party passed to the right into the president's box in the second tier
which was on the left of the stage. The president seated himself in an arm
chair, which had been provided for him that afternoon by Mr. Ford, to tlie
left of the box and nearest the audience. Mrs. Lincoln sat next on the right

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of the president and on her right was Miss Harris, and immediately behind
her sat Major Rathbone.

About nine o'clock of that evening Booth rode into the alley in the rear
of the theatre and called upon Spangler, a stage carpenter employee of the
theatre, to hold his horse. Spangler sent a young man named Burrows,
another employee. Booth stepped into the theatre through the rear door,
took a brief survey of the house, passed out the same way, and soon after
appeared at the front. There he held a private and hurried conversation with
two or three persons. Just before ten o'clock he went into a saloon near the
theatre and took a drink of whiskey. He then came out and joined his con-
federates, the parties he had been conversing with, and then passed into the
passage leading to the stage from the street. At this time, one of the con-
federates stepped into the vestibule of the theatre, looked at the clock, came
out and called the time, started up the street, was gone a few minutes, returned,
looked at the clock, and called the time again. By this time Booth had re-
appeared in front of the theatre. Presently the same party who had called
the time came and looked at the clock and called the time again in a loud
voice, " ten minutes past ten." He then started up the street and Booth
passed into the theatre. As stated, this was about ten minutes past ten
o'clock, and was during^ the second scene of the third act of " Our American
Cousin," then being performed by Laura Keene and her company at Ford's
Theatre. Booth passed to the right up near to the president's box, where he
stopped a moment and leaned against the wall. He then stepped down one
step, placed his hand on the door of the passage leading to the president's
box and his knee against it, and pushed the door open. He then placed a
brace against the door on the inside, which had previously been prepared,
whether by him or some one of his confederates for the purpose of preventing
an entrance or intrusion from the outside; passed along the passage way to
the door on the left opening into the president's box, stopped and looked
through a hole which had been cut in the door to see the president's position,
and if his attention was concentrated upon the stage; softly pushed the door
open and entered, no one observing him ; then, standing within two or three
feet of the president, fired. The ball entered the back part of the left side
of the head of the president. The pistol used was a large sized Derringer,
about six inches in length, carrying a large hand-made ball. Upon hearing the
discharge of the pistol, Major Rathbone looked around and saw through the
smoke a man between the door and the president. At the same time he heard
the man shout some word which he thought was " freedom." Another witness
thought he shouted " Revenge for the South ! " Booth, the moment he fired,
dropped his pistol and drew a long knife. Major Rathbone instantly sprang
upon him and seized him. Booth wrested himself from the major's grasp,
and made a violent thrust at his breast with the knife, which Rathbone parried,
receiving the wound in his left arm between the elbow and the shoulder, about
one and one-half inches deep and several inches in length. Booth then rushed
to the front of the box. Major Rathbone attempting to seize him again, but

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only caught his clothes as he was going over the railing. Booth put his left
hand on the railing, holding in his right hand the knife, point downward,
leaped over and down to the stage, about twelve feet. As he was going over or
descending the spur on his right foot caught in the flag, which had been
draped in front of the president's box in honor of his presence, and clung to
it, causing his left foot to partially turn under him as he struck the stage,
and thereby one of the bones of his left leg was broken. Had it not been for
this accident Booth doubtless would have made his escape into Virginia within
the confederate lines, possibly out of the country. Thus it was that the na-
tional flag was a mute instrument in the vengeance that overtook the president's
murderer. Booth, as he fled across the stage, partially turned facing the
audience, threw up his hand holding the gleaming knife, and shouted " Sic
semper tyrannis ! "

In taking the statements of persons at the theatre who had witnessed the
tragedy, an Irishman in the second row said that Booth shouted as he fled
across the stage, " Am sick ; send for McManus ! "

Booth passed out by the right side of the stage and through the pass-
age in the rear of the theatre, mounted his horse, which Burrows was still
holding, hit him a blow with the handle of his knife, fled across the navy
yard bridge, and arrived at Lloyd's tavern, Maryland, about twelve o'clock
at night. On the way he had been joined by Herold.

Stopping at Lloyd's tavern in Surrattsville, Herold dismounted and went
into the house, saying to Lloyd, " For God's sake, make haste and get those
things ! " Lloyd, understanding what he wanted from the notification given
him by Mrs. Surratt on the day previous, without making any reply went
and got the carbines which he had placed in his bedroom that they might be
handy, and brought them to Herold together with the ammunition and field
glass that had been deposited with him, and the two bottles of whiskey that
Booth had ordered through Mrs. Surratt the day before. Herold carried out to
Booth one of the bottles of whiskey, drinking from his own bottle in the house
before going out. Booth declined taking his carbine, saying his leg was broken
and he could not carry it. As they were about leaving Booth said to Lloyd,
" I will tell you some news if you want to hear it. I am pretty certain that
we have assassinated the president and Secretar}'' Seward." The moon was
now up and shining brightly. The next heard of them was at the house of
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, near Bryantown, in Maryland, and about thirty miles
from Washington, where they arrived at about four o'clock on the morning of
the 15th.

Booth's leg had been broken by a fracture of the fibula, or small bone of
the left leg, when he fell on the stage on leaping from the president's box,
and by this time had become very painful. He needed rest and surgical
treatment, but he could get neither; for although he had reached the house
of a co-conspirator, who was a country doctor, and well disposed to render
him all the aid he could, he appeared to have made a very bungling operation,
dressing the broken limb with some pasteboard and a bandage which gave

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but a very imperfect support. As to the rest he required, that was impossible,
for although Mudd placed him in an upstairs room and kept him until the
afternoon, he was admonished by seeing a squad of soldiers under Lieutenant
Dana passing down past Mudd's place, which was a quarter of a mile off
the road to Bryantown, that there was no rest for him; and as quickly as it
could be done, after the soldiers passed, Mudd got rid of his dangerous
charges by sending them by an unfrequented route to the house of his friend
and neighbor, Samuel Cox, about six miles nearer to the Potomac. Booth
was on no new ground ; neither amongst strangers either to his person , or to
his wicked purpose. He had spent a good deal of his time during the pre-
vious fall in that part of Maryland, preparing a way for his escape after
accomplishing his purpose. His way had seemed clear to him in advance; his
route had been selected; his friendly acquaintanceships secured. But alas!
the broken leg. Under the guise of looking at the country with a desire to
purchase lands, he had perfected all his arrangements and had expected to
pass swiftly over his route, accompanied by Atzerodt (whose home wgis in
their neighborhood and who knew all about the contraband trade with the
rebel capital, the underground mail route between Richmond and Washington,
and all of the people engaged in these operations and also the place and
facilities for crossing the Potomac), and also by Payne and Herold. He
had purposed to be safe on the soil of the Old Dominion ere this time. In-
stead of realizing all this, he found himself a cripple, scarcely able to travel,
and closely pursued by those whom he knew to be on his trail, with no other
companion than his devoted but inefficient friend Herold.

Mudd had done all he could to reheve him, but dare not try to conceal
and keep him. He could only forward him to the next stage of his journey
and to a safe place of concealment. This he faithfully did. Cox lived near
Port Tobacco, the home of Atzerodt; and as his was too public a place to
afford safety to the fugitives, he turned them over to his neighbor, Thomas
Jones, a contraband trader between Maryland and Richmond, who, in the
midst of a constant scouring of the country by pursuing parties, kept his
charges concealed in the woods near his house, supplying them with food and
doing everything he could for their comfort, waiting and watching con-
stantly to find an opportunity to get them across the Potomac. They were
hunted so closely that they could hear the neighing of the horses of the troop-
ers, and fearing they might be betrayed by their horses answering the calls,
Herold led them into a swamp near where they lay concealed in the pines and
shot them.

The river was being continually patrolled by gunboats, and the task
of getting his wards across proved both difficult and dangerous to Jones.
The proclamations offering one hundred thousand dollars for the capture of
Booth and warning all persons from aiding the fugitives in any way in
making their escape had been published broadcast, yet Jones was true to
his trust. Neither the offered rewards nor the warnings of the proclamation
had any effect on him; for a whole week he kept them secreted in the pines

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on his premises, where Booth lay night and day wrapped in a pair of
blankets that had most likely been furnished him by Dr. Mudd. Finally,
being furnished by Jones with a boat, they took their own risks and effected
a crossing; but they were seen by a colored man through whose report
General Baker got on their track and finally effected their capture.

There can be no doubt that Booth had selected this as the route for his
escape months before, and that all of his visits to this part of Maryland had
been made with reference to this plan. Being at length across the Potomac,
even though under such unfavorable auspices, Booth no doubt drew a free
and exultant breath at having been permitted to set his foot at last on the
soil of the Old Dominion. He felt that he was now amongst friends who
would aid him in his flight or help him by concealment, and his friend Jones
no doubt breathed with a freedom he had not known for some days at finding
himself relieved from his dangerous charge. Booth was greatly disappointed
at the cold reception g-iven him by the people on whom he had counted so
much after crossing into Virginia. He had expected to be lionized and
honored as the hero of the age; but instead of that he received a compara-
tively cold reception that stung his vanity like the poison of an asp.

It is true the people showed no disposition to betray him; but, at the
same time, they manifested a disposition to enter into no compromising friend-
ship with liim, and in a limited way only to assume any responsibility in his
behalf by helping him to escape. Sad, indeed, was Booth's condition at this
time. More than a week had elapsed since he had perpetrated his great crime
and commenced his guilty flight; and now he found himself on foot, so lame
and in such pain as scarcely to be able to walk a step, even with the help of
a crutch, and scarcely more than fifty miles from his starting point. His
companion in crime, Herold, was now the only human being on whose friend-
ship and fidelity he could certainly rely.

By the aid of this blind follower he was able to maintain his conceal-
ment, and after a wretched fashion to resume his flight in an old wagon drawn
by two miserable horses and driven by a negro. In this state he reached Port
Conway, on the Rappahannock, in King George county, Virginia. Here his
driver refused to take him further. It is just at this juncture and in this
dilemma that they were met by three confederate soldiers, Major Ruggles,
Lieutenant Bainbridge and Captain William Jett, the latter of Moseby's
command.

Herold, thinking they were recruiting for the rebel service, was quick
to see in them a means of assistance in getting South and under the protection
of the stars and bars, and so revealed their identity, appealing to them for
assistance. A Httle later. Booth getting out of the wretched conveyance,
came forward, and to assure himself of their disposition toward him, ac-
costed them with the interrogator}^, " I suppose you have been told who we
are? " Then throwing himself back on his crutch, and straightening himself
up, with pistol cocked and drawn, he said, " Yes, I am Wilkes Booth, the
slayer of Abraham Lincoln, and I am worth just one hundred and seventy-five

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thousand dollars to the man that captures me." His attitude and speech was
dramatic and that of a man at bay, under the power of a desperate purpose
never to be taken alive. These three officers of the confederate army (for they
were such at this time, not having been paroled), whilst mildly protesting
that they did not sanction his acts as an assassin, assured him that they did
not want any blood money, and promised to render him all the assistance in
their power in making his escape, a promise which they faithfully kept. Major
Ruggles dismounted and placed Booth on his horse, when the whole party
crossed over the Rappahannock from Port Conway, in King George county,
to Port Royal, in Caroline County, Virginia, and after an ineffectual effort
to find quarters for Booth in the town, they took him three miles on the road
to Bowling Green, the county seat of the latter county, where they succeeded
in getting a man by the name of Garrett to take him in, with the understanding
that he would do all he could for his comfort and safety. Garrett took
Booth and Herold in with a full knowledge of all the facts in the case, and
with some manifest reluctance from a knowledge of the danger he would
thus incur.

Bainbridge went on to Bowling Green, whilst Ruggles and Jett re-
mained over night in the woods near the house, Booth being hidden on the
premises and cared for. On the following day Captain Jett went to Bowling
Green on a visit, prompted by the tender passion, where he remained a few
days, and Lieutenant Bainbridge returned to the Garrett farm, where he
rejoined Major Ruggles. The two started for Port Conway, but before
getting there learned that the town was full of Union cavalry, when they lost
no time in returning to Garrett's and gave warning to Booth, advising him to
lose no time in fleeing to a piece of woods, which they pointed out to him, and
then turned to look after their own safety. The cavalry of which they got
this notice was a squad detailed from the Sixteenth New York Regiment,
commanded by Lieutenant Dougherty, which had been ordered to report to
Gen. L. C. Baker of the Secret Service Department.

Arriving at Port Conway on the afternoon of the day subsequent to the
crossing of the parties above referred to, and finding the wife of the ferry
keeper at the ferry house sitting and conversing with another woman. Col-
onel Conger exhibited to them a photograph of Booth, and informed them
that that was the man they wanted. It at once became apparent to him,
from the manner and actions of the women, that Booth was not far off. The
ferryman, a man by the name of Collins, was sent for, and being influenced
no doubt by fear of compromising himself, became very communicative. He
told them all about the party that had crossed the day before, one of them,
Captain Jett, he knew well ; and knowing that Jett had been paying attention
to a Miss Goldman, the daughter of a BowUng Green hotel keeper, he sug-
gested that he would most probably be found there. Colonel Conger pushed on
with his squad of cavalry, commanded by Captain, then Lieutenant E. P.
Dougherty, to Bowling Green, passing the Garrett farm after dark.

Arriving at Goldman's Hotel, he inquired of Mrs. Goldman as to the

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men that were in the house. She answered him that her wounded son was in
a room upstairs, and that he was all the man there was there. Colonel Conger
then required her to lead the way upstairs, telling her at the same time that if
his men were fired on he would burn the building and carry the inmates to
Washington as prisoners. As he entered the room which she showed him, up
one flight of stairs. Captain Jett jumped out of bed half-dresed, and admitted
his identity. Colonel Conger then informed him that he was cognizant of his
movements for the last two days, and proceeded to read to him the proclama-
tions of the secretary of war, telling him when he had done reading it that if
he did not tell him the truth he would hang him ; but that if he truly gave him
the information that he sought he would protect him. Jett was greatly ex-
cited, and told him that he had left Booth at the Garrett farm, three miles
from Port Royal. The colonel then had Jett's horse taken from the stable,
making Jett his unwilling guide to the place of Booth's concealment.

Arriving at Garrett's, the cavalry was so disposed as to prevent any one
from escaping, and after having extorted, by threats, the information that
Booth and Herold were concealed in the barn, it was at once surrounded. They
were ordered to come out and surrender themselves, which Booth refused to do.
After a considerable parley, Herold came to the door and gave himself up.
He was followed by the maledictions of Booth. Booth still refused to sur-
render. A wisp of hay was fired and thrown in on the hay in the bam. From
this start the barn was soon lighted up with the flames of the burning hay.
Booth was known to be armed and desperate, and as the burning hay began to
illuminate the bam he was seen, carbine in hand, peering through the cracks,
and trying to get an aim. He had before offered to fight the crowd for a
chance of his life if the colonel would but withdraw his men one hundred yards.
Being answered that they had come to capture him, not to fight him, he was
preparing to sell his life as dearly as possible. At this moment. Sergeant
Boston Corbett, of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, fired at Booth through a
crack in the barn, upon his own responsibility. The bullet struck Booth on the
back of his head, very nearly in the same part where his own ball struck the
President, only a little lower down, and passing obliquely through the base of
the brain and upper part of the spinal cord, it produced instantly almost com-
plete paralysis of every muscle in his body below the wound, the nerves of
organic life only sufficing to keep up a very difficult and imperfect respiration,
and a feeble action of the heart for a few hours. After Booth was shot he
was carried from the burning bam and laid under the shade of a tree on the
lawn of the Garrett premises. He was perfectly clear in his mind, but could
not swallow, and was scarcely able to articulate so as to be understood, although
he seemed anxious to talk. He requested the officer who was bending over him
trying to administer to him to tell his mother that he died for his country.
Booth expired in great agony on the 26th of April, twelve days after the
commission of his crime.

The body was brought to Washington and identified fully. It was buried
for a time secretly under the floor of the old Capitol prison, but afterwards was

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given to his friends and taken to Baltimore and there buried in an unknown
and unmarked grave.

At the moment the President was shot he was leaning with his hand or
arm resting on the railing of the box, looking at some person in the orchestra,
holding the flag aside to look between it and the post; he raised his head an
instant and then it fell backward. He was carried to the residence of Mr.
Peterson, just opposite the theatre, where he expired about seven o'clock on the
morning of the 15th.

The trial of the accused occupied the commission from the 10th day of
May to the 30th day of June, inclusive, and resulted in the conviction of Her-
old, Atzerodt, Payne and Mrs. Surratt, and their sentence to be hanged at such
time and place as the President might direct ; and the conviction of O'Loughlin,
Spangler, Arnold and Mudd, and the sentence of all except Spangler to im-
prisonment at hard labor for life. On July 5, 1865, these sentences were
approved by President Johnson, and the sentences of Herold, Atzerodt, Payne
and Mrs. Surratt were ordered to be carried into effect on the 7th of the same
month, between the hours of ten o'clock a. m. and two o'clock p. m.

On the morning of the 7th a writ of habeas corpus, issued by Justice
Wylie, of the Supreme Court, of the District of Columbia, was served upon
General Hancock, commanding him to produce before his honor the body of
Mrs. Surratt. Justice Wylie signed the order for the issuance of the writ at
ten o'clock in the morning, and at half-past eleven General Hancock appeared
in person, accompanied by Attorney-General Speed, before his honor, and
submitted the following return:

" I hereby acknowledge the service of the writ hereto attached and return
the same, and respectfully say that the body of Mary E. Surratt is in my pos-
session, under and by virtue of an order of Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States and Commander of the Army and Navy, for the purpose in said
order expressed, a copy of which is hereto attached, etc., and that I do not
produce said body by reason of the order of the President of the United States,
indorsed upon said writ, to which reference is hereby respectfully made."

The President's endorsement was:

" I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby declare
that the writ of habeas corpus has been heretofore suspended in such cases as
this, and I do hereby especiaDy suspend this wo-it and direct that you proceed to
execute the order heretofore given upon the judgment of the military commis-
sion, and you will give this order in return to the writ."

The court ruled that it yielded to the suspension of the writ of habeas
corpus by the President, and the sentences were duly carried into execution.

No trial which ever took place in this country excited so much interest
throughout the whole land as did the trial of these conspirators and assassins.
Not only because of the great love of the people for Abraham Lincoln, but
from a natural desire to learn from sworn testimony how widespread was the
conspiracy, what was its scope and purpose, who actually took part in carrying
it into execution, and how far the rebel authorities in Richmond and their

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agents in Canada had knowledge of the proposed assassination of the heads of
the government, sanctioned it, aided it, and were responsible for it. Perhaps
some additional interest was excited by the fact that a woman was charged
with being one of the conspirators.

For this trial, and especially for the trial and execution of Mrs. Surratt,
that portion of the press and the persons in sympathy with the late rebellion in-
dulged in most bitter denunciations of the court; the judge advocates ; General
Ilartranft, who was in immediate command of the detail having the prisoners
in charge, and who carried into execution the sentence of the court; and of
General Plancock, who was in command of the military forces in and around
Washington. No falsehood was too extravagant to be imagined, stated and
believed. As an illustration of this, I remember once, in passing along a street
in Cincinnati, when a lady beside whom was standing one of these rebel sym-
pathizers honored me with a bow and a pleasant smile. The gentleman turned
to her and said, " Do you know who that is you have just bowed to? " " Oh
yes, very well," she said. " Well, do you know that he hung INIrs. Sui-ratt with
his own hand, and smiled as he came down from the scaffold.'' "

The fact being that I never saw one of the accused after the close of the
trial on the 30th of June, and that I left Washington soon after the close
of the trial, I think on the 5th of July. But as illustrating still further the
malicious representations that followed this trial, let me recall to your minds
the letter of Mrs. Jane Swisshelm, published in the New York Tribime of
September 16, 1873. In this letter she gives the impression that Mrs. Surratt
was manacled in court during her trial, and vividly pictures how on one occa-
sion she (Mrs. Swisshelm) was present in the court, and gave public exhibi-
tions of her suffering and indignation at this outrage and cruelty. The
Washington Chronicle, noticing this letter of Mrs. Swisshelm's, addressed a
note to Mrs. Surratt's counsel, M. Aiken, making inquiry as to the fact. He
replied as follows:

" I have your letter of this date, inclosing the letter of Jane G. Swisshelm,
pubhshed in the Tribune, the 16th inst., and asking me, ' Is her statement true
that Mrs. Surratt was manacled during her trial.'' ' Without reference to any
other fact, or to any of the details of the case of that most unfortunate
lady, I have to say in reply that at no time during her unlawful trial was
Mrs. Surratt manacled, either on her wrists or her ankles, while in the pres-
ence of the court. I not only speak from my own absolute knowledge, but
from recollections of Mrs. Surratt's oft-repeated statements to me that she
was not manacled."

The Chronicle adds, " Now, can any fair-minded person, however preju-
diced, come to any other conclusion than that the garrulous lady had willfully
and maliciously misrepresented the facts for the mere purpose of glorifying
herself? " I must agree with this conclusion because I know personally that
Mrs. Surratt was not manacled, and that no such scene as Mrs. Swisshelm de-
scribed ever took place in the courtroom. But this letter of INIrs. Surratt's
counsel did not put underground the falsehood that she was manacled during
her trial — periodically it reappears, fresh and vigorous.

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General Hancock was especially denounced because he was obedient to the
order of the President — the Commander-in-Chief of the Army under the con-
stitution— and had failed to deliver Mrs. Surratt over to the custody of the
court under the habeas corpus proceedings. His rivals and enemies made
most unscrupulous use of this weapon against him as soon as he became promi-
nently talked of as Democratic candidate for President in 1880.

In 1871 one of the leading papers of St. Louis said: " Quite a number
of the federal officers, dissatisfied with the political character and partisan pur-
poses of the late war, resigned their positions in the army at one time or
another. Some of them felt that the ' Union ' had somehow come to be a sec-
ondary consideration in the fight ; others, that it was a merely partisan struggle
for the ascendancy; but General Hancock, the favorite of a few Western
Democrats as a candidate for President, seems to have detected none of these
objections. He did his duty like a stolid serving-man through the war.
When at New Orleans, he issued an order that made his great capital among
the Southern people ; and, when at the North, he distinguished himself equally
as a federal zealot. It was General Hancock, then in command of the Middle
Military Division of Washington, who declined to interfere with the order of
the court-martial sentencing Mrs. Surratt to death. It was he who became
himself party to one of the most inhuman crimes ever perpetrated in the name
of justice."

This sort of criticism and abuse embittered many an hour of General
Hancock's life up to the day of his death. General Hancock, as we all know
who knew him well, in his personal relations with his fellow-men was as kindly
and gentle as a child ; was a man with the highest ideals and rules of conduct,
and as a soldier was as brave and knightly as ever buckled sword.

Of a peculiarly^ proud and sensitive disposition, any word which assailed
either his personal honor or his record as a soldier tortured him like a festering
wound.

He talked with me several times about these attacks which had been made
upon him, and in 1873 I determined to write an article reviewing some of the
incidents of the trial of the assassins and General Hancock's relation to it.
This purpose I made known to him ; and he then informed me that an article
had been prepared by some friend of his upon the subject, and if I wished he
would have it sent to me, and I could make such use of it in the preparation
of my article as I wished. It was subsequently sent to me, and I still have it
in my possession. About the same time I received from him the following
note:

" New York, October 1, 1873.

" My Dear General : General Mitchell has the paper I spoke to you of.
It reached me this a. m. If you will notify General M. (W. G. Mitchell)
where to send it and when, he will send it by messenger to you.

" The latter part of the paper contains the matter I particularly desire
you to see, although it might be well for j^ou to read the whole. You are at

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libei-ty to use any part of it verbatim dr nil. It was not printed. I should be
pleased if you would preserve the paper for me.

" I leave for St. Louis this p. m. The only true plan is to meet and crush
out this Surratt matter, not to ' dally it ' — as this paper, for example. It is
about my idea of meeting the question. Yours truly,

" WiNFiELD S. Hancock.

" To General Burnett, N. Y."

This paper is too long to present here, but I will give only a few ex-
tracts showing General Hancock's views of his relation to the habeas corpus
episode and Mrs. Surratt's connection with the conspiracy. I quote from the
paper as follows:

" On the 7th day of July, 1865, the day of the execution, the Honorable
Andrew Wylie, a judge of the supreme court of the District of Columbia,
issued a writ of habeas corpus directed to General Hancock, commanding him
to produce the body of IVlary E. Surratt in court. Thereupon Andrew John-
son, as President of the United States, and as such superior in authority to
General Hancock, assumed the responsibility of suspending the writ of habeas
corpus and setting aside the order of the judge. The President's order was in
these words, and was indorsed on the writ of habeas corpus. (Here is given
the President's order, as given above.)

" Nevertheless, General Hancock deemed it his duty to appear before
Judge Wylie and submit himself to the judgment of the civil court. Having
appeared before the civil court, General Hancock filed the following statement
in writing, in obedience to the command of the writ of habeas corpus, setting
out the return above.

" Judge Wylie said : ' The court finds itself powerless to take any further
action in the premises, and therefore declines to make an order, which would
be vain for any practical purpose. As regards the delay, it having been fully
accounted for, the court has no fault to attach to the respondent (General
Hancock) in that respect." ....

" Against such a record as this nothing but inveterate malice would pre-
fer a censure against General Hancock. The conduct of General Hancock was
not only dutiful and obedient to the civil authority, but such as to manifest for
that authority profound respect and reverence.

" It was not necessary he should appear in person before the court. He
went, however, laid aside the sword, and submitted himself to its judgment.
He could have assumed an air of defiance. He could have spurned the puny
power of the civil magistrate, who had presumed to send his mandate to a mili-
tary commander of a hundred thousand soldiers. But no, he deemed it an im-
perative duty to submit himself personally to the authority and jurisdiction of
the court.

" If General Hancock was responsible for the non-production of the body
of Mrs. Surratt, the Court was armed with jurisdiction to fine and imprison him
for the dereliction of duty and for a contempt of the authority of the court.

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" But the court did neither. Judge Wylie dismissed the general from
his court without punishment and without censure; assigning the failure of
the writ, not to an act of General Hancock, but to the act of the Presi-
dent. . . . The suggestion that General Hancock should have resigned is
simply silly. His resignation could have no tendency to bring the body of Mrs.
Surratt into court or to prevent her execution.

" It has been a common thing for those who, from political partisanship
or personal maHce, have been most violent in their clamor against General
Hancock in this connection, to omit all mention of the other parties who suf-
fered with Mrs. Surratt. It would seem as if, in their opinion, no inhuman crime
was perpetrated in the execution of Herold, Atzerodt or Payne. The reason
for this is plain enough. There is always sypipathy for a woman. And it is
supposed that much will be conceded for her which could not be asked in the
case of another person. It is quite immaterial to our present purpose whether
Mrs. Surratt was innocent or guilty of the crime for which she suffered, since
General Hancock was in no wise responsible for it. But when she is pronounced
perfectly innocent and her execution ' an inhuman murder ' committed by nine
respectable officers of the army, and by the approbation of the President, with-
out evidence of guilt, it is not amiss to state the simple facts of her case.

" That nine men of ordinary respectable character in the federal army,
colonels, brigadiers and major-generals, should have been so lost to all sense of
duty and humanity, so ineffably brutal, as to sentence a woman to death for
nothing, is a very strong proposition.

" Any one who looks into the evidence will find out that for some weeks be-
fore the assassination Mrs. Surratt was holding frequent private interviews
with Wilkes Booth; and was also on terms of intimate communication in her
own house with Lewis Payne, alias Wood, alias Powell, who attempted the life
of Mr. Seward. Some weeks before the assassination, John H. Surratt, David
E. Herold and George A. Atzerodt left at the house of a Mr. Eloyd, near
Washington, two carbines, ammunition, and a rope sixteen to twenty feet
long, which were laid away under a joist until they should be wanted. On
the Monday preceding the assassination Mrs. Surratt came to Floyd's house
and inquired about the ' shooting-irons,' and told Floyd ' they would be wanted
soon.' On the very day of the assassination Mrs. Surratt was at Floyd's
house again, and told him ' to have the shooting-irons ready for that night.'
She then gave Mr. Floyd a field-glass and asked him to have all the things
ready, with two bottles of whiskey, for the parties who would call for them in
the night, and left.

" True to her prediction, at about a quarter-past twelve o'clock the same
night. Booth and Herold came to Floyd's and called for the carbines, field-glass
and whiskey, which Floyd delivered to them according to Mrs. Surratt's direc-
tions. Herold took his carbine, but Booth was unable to carry his, having
a broken leg, and so left it behind. The assassins were at Floyd's house about
five minutes. Booth said, as they rode off: ' I will tell you some news. I am
pretty certain we have assassinated the President and Secretary Seward.'

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" About midnight on the 17th of April, 1865, the third day after the
assassination, Payne, who till then had secreted liimself, came disguised to
Mrs. Surratt's house and was arrested by soldiers then in possession of it. He
said Mrs. Surratt had sent for him to dig a ditch.

" Mrs. Surratt, though she knew him well, denied she ever saw him. Her
words were, ' Before God, I do not know this man, and have never seen him.'

" It is not for us to pass upon the guilt of M'rs. Surratt. We would pre-
fer to behold her pure and stainless, ' as the angels in heaven.'

" But whomsoever indulges in wide-mouthed proclamations, or pronounces
her conviction ' an inhuman crime,' unsupported by evidence, betrays an ani-
mus, to say the least, not overcareful of the truth. The same malevolent animus
which, in defiance of all truth, calls General Hancock her murderer, also de-
nounces liim for having been a Union soldier, and not for resigning his com-
mission, and for all the gallant service he has rendered to his country.

" ' Cease, viper : you bite a file ! ' "

Of General Hancock's connection with the trial and the habeas corpus
proceedings, in an interview published in the New York World, August 5,
1880, after his nomination for the presidency by the Democratic party, al-
though I was a Republican and voted against liim, I took occasion to say :

" I do not think that anybody who ever examined the case fairly could
impute the least blame to General Hancock. I think from first to last he only
performed what was his strict military duty." After citing the record : " Thus
you see that General Hancock fully respected the writ of habeas corpus and
made a proper and respectful return to it, pleading a higher authority for not
obeying it by producing the body of Mrs. Surratt. . . . Any attempt to
cast blame on General Hancock for his action in connection with these events I
feel confident must fail. He simply performed his duty like a good soldier."

After the nomination of General Hancock for the presidency in 1880 by
the Democratic party, at the request of the editor of the North American Re-
view, Mr. Speed, Mr. Lincoln's attorney-general, prepared a paper for that
periodical on the trial of Mrs. Surratt. In that article, among other things,
in speaking of the military commission and the fairness of her trial, he said :

" The military commission which tried the assassins of the President was
carefully selected. It was composed of men taught by experience and habit to
maintain coolness and equanimity in the midst of the most exciting scenes. If
it was possible at that period and at that place to have secured a fair trial, the
method adopted was the most certain to secure it. That commission certainly
had no desire to wantonly and recklessly inflict punishment upon a woman. It
patiently investigated the case. If Mrs. Surratt had not been guilty — if there
had been any reasonable doubt of her guilt — she would have been acquitted,
as some of the other accused persons were. The government never showed any
disposition to deal severely with any of those guilty of crimes connected with
the rebellion. Its military power was exercised mildly and humanely. It was
only in a few instances of absolutely hideous crimes that the perpetrators suf-
fered the extreme penalty.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

" There is no ground for the complaint that the military court was harsh,
or unjust, or cruel. There is every ground for the conclusion that it did its
duty with judicial calmness and perfect conscientious impartiality. It found
the proofs of guilt clear and incontestable, and rendered judgment accord-
ingly. . . . There was an additional guarantee of fairness of the pro-
ceeding against the assassins of the President in the fact that General Han-
cock, a disciplined, trained and accomplished soldier, was in command at
Washington at the time. His calmness and equipose in the midst of excitement,
cultivated by familiarity with scenes of carnage in the whirlwind of scores of
terrific conflicts, would naturally inspire calmness in others. Had the assassins
been turned over to the civil courts for trial, the result would doubtless have been
the same; and in that case we would have heard a more just complaint, per-
haps, that, instead of a trial by an impartial military tribunal, they were re-
manded to the mercies of -an angry and revengeful mob of passionate civilians,
from whom it was impossible to obtain a fair jury."

This was the calm judgment upon this trial and the justice of Mrs. Sur-
ratt's conviction of one of the purest of men — one of the ablest lawyers of his
time — after the thought and reflection of fifteen years.

I have given briefly the circumstances connected with the assassination
and the trial of the assassins. The criticisms of those opposed to the govern-
ment in relation to the trial and the execution of Mrs. Surratt, but these criti-
cisms did not end the matter. There was attached to the record of the evidence,
when it was transmitted tO' the office of the judge advocate general of the army,
to be transmitted to the President for his approval, a recommendation to mercy
signed by five of the nine members of the court. While Mr. Johnson was still
President a charge had circulation through the public press that Mr. Johnson
never saw this recommendation to mercy, that it had been suppressed by the
judge advocate general. Judge Holt. Mr. Johnson liimself never openly made
the charge until after his term had expired and some time in 1873.

No graver charge could be made against a public officer than this against
Judge Holt, and if true no more cruel and treacherous betrayal of a public
trust was ever committed by a man in high official position. It would be mur-
derous in intent and eff^ect. This charge rested, so far as human testimony went,
upon the solemn assertion alone of President Johnson, and if untrue, was one
of the most cruel wrongs ever perpetrated by one man against another. This
controversy was heated and active for many years, and in a paper read several
years ago before the Commandery of the Loyal Legion of New York, I have
reviewed all the testimony bearing upon the question, and given my personal
connection with the aff*air, and I do not propose now to go into the matter. I
came to the conclusion without any doubt that the charge made by Andrew
Johnson was absolutely false.

The execution of the assassins was the closing scene of the greatest
tragedy in our history. The assassination removed from the stage of life the
greatest figure of the century.

As time goes on, his place seems to grow larger; the estimate of men

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higher; not only did he seem to be the special instrument raised up by Provi-
dence to save and preserve us a nation, but to strike the shackles from millions of
slaves. The mighty potency and significance of his utterances and his work in
preserving us a nation and making this a land of freedom each year grows in
the minds of men. Not only was he this mighty leader, but he had those
peculiar qualities which brought him close to the hearts of the plain people of
the country. No pen can quite describe his personality. Each historian gives
certain leading attributes to the man. I met him only two or three times, but
was brought in close touch with all the personal anecdote and the testimony
of those who were in daily intercourse with him during his presidential office.
What seemed to impress those about him most was his absolute honesty, his hon-
esty in thought, word and deed — that he was honest with every man with
whom he had to deal, and honest with himself; his love of truth and his perfect
confidence in the ultimate triumph of the truth, his grand simplicity of nature
and speech, the great brain that seemed to grow and fit itself to all new and
great occasions, to be equal to any and every emergency, and his loving, kindly
nature, which seemed to draw in and hold in his heart not only his fellow coun-
tryman, but all who lived and toiled and suffered; and he had no enmity, or
hatred of any human being, not even for those who were wicked or in the
wrong, only a hatred of the wrong itself, and a great yearning that the erring
might be brought to see the right and the truth and do the things which would
make for truth and righteousness.

Of his gentleness and tenderness and kindliness of heart, an instance given
by his friend Speed will best illustrate. Lincoln and the other members of the
bar from the capital at Springfield had been attending court at Christiansburg,
and Speed was riding with them towards Springfield. He tells us that there
was quite a party of these lawyers riding two by two along a country lane or
road. Lincoln and John J. Harding brought up the rear of the caval-
cade.

We had passed, said Speed, through a thicket of wild plum and crab-
apple trees and stopped to water our horses. Harding came up alone. " Where
is Lincoln.''" we inquired. "Oh," replied he, "when I saw him last, he
had got two young birds which the wind had blown down from their nest, and
he was hunting the nest to put them back." In a short time Lincoln came up,
having found the nest and placed the j'oung birds in it. The party laughed
at him, but he said, " I could not have slept if I had not restored those little
birds to their mother." You will remember also his letter to the mother who
had given all her sons to her country :

" I have been shown," he says, " in the files of the war department a
statement that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the
field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which
should attempt to beguile you from your grief for a loss so overwhelming, but
I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation which may be found
in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly
Father may assuage the anguish of 3'our bereavement and leave you only the

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cherished memory of the loved and the lost, the solemn pride that must be
yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."

I find nowhere a better statement descriptive of the man and of his at-
tributes than in Choate's address upon Abraham Lincoln before the Edin-
burgh Philosophical Institution in November, 1902. He says : " The growth
and development of Lincoln's mental power and moral force, of his intense
and magnetic personahty, after the vast responsibilities of government were
thrown upon him at the age of fifty-two, furnish a rare and striking illustra-
tion of the marvelous capacity and adaptability of the human intellect — of
the sound mind in the sound body. He came to the discharge of the great
duties of the presidency with absolutely no experience in the administration
of government or of the vastly varied and complicated questions of foreign
and domestic policy which immediately arose, and continued to press upon
him during the rest of his life; but he mastered each as it came, apparently
with the facility of a trained and experienced ruler. As Clarendon said of
Cromwell, ' His parts seemed to be raised by the demands of great station.'
His life through it all was one of intense labor, anxiety and distress, without
one hour of peaceful repose from first to last. But he rose to every occa-
sion. He led public opinion, but did not march so far in advance of it as to
fail of its effective support in every great emergency. He knew the heart
and thought of the people, as no man not in constant and absolute sympathy
with them could have known it, and so, holding their confidence, he triumphed
through and with them. Not only was there this steady growth of intellect,
but the infinite delicacy of his nature and its capacity for refinement devel-
oped also, as exhibited in the purity and perfection of his language and style
of speech. The rough backwoodsman, who had never seen the inside of a
university, became in the end, by self-training and the exercise of his own
powers of mind, heart and soul, a master of style — and some of his utterances
will rank with the best, the most perfectly adapted to the occasion which pro-
duced them."

And as a terse summing up of his characteristics, the words of Emerson :
" His occupying the Chair of State was a triumph of the good sense of man-
kind and of the public conscience. He grew according to the need ; his mind
mastered the problem of the day ; and as the problem grew, so did his compre-
hension of it. In the war there was no place for holiday magistrate, nor fair
weather sailor. The new pilot was hurried to the helm in a tornado. In
four years — four years of battle days — his endurance, his fertility of re-
source, his magnanimity, were sorely tried, and never found wanting. There,
by his courage, his justice, his even temper, his fertile counsel, his humanity,
he stood, a heroic figure in the centre of a heroic epoch. He is the true history
of the American people in his time, the true representative of this continent —
father of his country, the pulse of twenty millions throbbing in his heart, the
thought of their mind articulated in his tongue."

And finally may it not be said of him, " In his early days he struck roots
deep down into the common soil of the earth, and in his latest years his head
towered and shone among the stars."

616

THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM IN KANSAS

By General Thomas Ewing

Delivered before the Ohio Society of New York on May 9, 1892

IN February, 1854, I sat in the gallery of the senate chamber at Wash-
ington, and heard much of the debate on the bill to repeal the Missouri
compromise of 1820. I was then about ccmpleting my collegiate course
in BroAvn University, at Providence, Rhode Island. Four years before I
had sat in the gallery of the old senate chamber, now the supreme court room,
in company with Captain William Tecumseh Sherman (then in Washington
from the Pacific coast, and about to be married), and heard that ever memora-
ble debate which ended in the compromises of 1850, growing out of our vast
accessions of territory from Mexico, and in the enactment of the cruel and
barbarous fugitive slave law. I was intensely anti-slavery — far more so
than my Whig training would account for. I was hot with indignation at the
Whig leaders who supported the repeal of the Missouri compromise, or
acquiesced in it, or resisted it but feebly. I recollect my pang of disappoint-
ment at the labored speech against the bill of Edward Everett, who was re-
garded as representing the conservative Whigs. It was so cool, didactic, ele-
gant, without a glow of the indignant spirit of the North which blazed in the
hearts of the people.

The gauge thrown down by the South to fight for the possession of the
territories was promptly taken up; and Kansas became the battle-ground.
While studying law at Cincinnati, I watched every step in the struggle — saw
how the genius and energy of Eli Thayer taught the North to win Kansas
for freedom by organized emigration, against the sporadic hordes from the
populous borders of Missouri who poured over the line to plant slavery there.
When admitted to the bar in the winter of 1856-7, I was married, and re-
moved with my wife to Leavenworth.

On the seventh of October, 1854, Andrew H. Reeder had arrived at Fort
Leavenworth — ^the first of the ten governors, and acting governors, Reeder,
Shannon, Geary, Walker, Denver, Medary, Woodson, Stanton, Walsh and
Beebe, whose brief careers form part of the tragic history of Kansas.

The pro-slavery partisans of western Missouri, as soon as the Organic
Act was passed, invaded Kansas at the first election in the fall of 1854, and
again at the second election in the spring of 1855 ; and although few of
them intended to become settlers, they took possession of the polls and re-
turned the pro-slavery candidates for the territorial legislature as having
been elected. The first legislature assembled at Pawnee, near Fort Riley,
July 2, 1855 — very promptly ejected nine Free State men, who had been
inadvertently returned as elected; enacted all the general laws of Missouri,
modified so as to be applicable to Kansas ; and crowned their work by enact-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ing a complete slave code, specially invented for the occasion — requiring
every territorial officer to swear to support the fugitive slave law; making it
a felony, punishable with two years' imprisonment, to write or say that
slavery did not legally exist in Kansas; a felony, punishable with five years'
imprisonment, to bring into the territory or circulate any printed matter cal-
culated to create dissatisfaction among slaves ; and finally, making it a felony,
punishable with death, to interfere knowingly, in any manner, with the tenure
of slave property.

The Free State men, outraged by the forcible seizure of the territorial
government by mere invaders, and by the atrocious character of the laws
enacted, peremptorily and unanimously repudiated this government as a law-
less usurpation. They held a delegate convention at Topeka, September 19,
1855, and there provided for the election of members of a convention to form
a State constitution and apply for admission into the Union. The delegates
so elected assembled at Topeka, October 23, 1855, and sat until November
11th. They formed the Topeka constitution, which was ratified by an almost
unanimous vote of the Free State men of Kansas, and was by petition duly
laid before Congress. A bill was passed by the United States house of repre-
sentatives, July 3, 1856, admitting Kansas into the Union under this con-
stitution, but it was defeated in the senate, and no further action was taken
on it in Congress. This constitution, however, and the state officers and
legislature elected under it, formed the nucleus and rallying ground for the
Free State party, as against the usurped Lecompton territorial government,
until the election in October, 1857, when the overwhelming numbers of the
Free State men enabled them to elect a large majority of the legislature under
the Lecompton territorial government, which thereupon became universally
recognized as the law-making power of the people. The Topeka form of
state government then quietly passed out of even nominal existence.

Prior to this, on the nineteenth of February, 1856, the pro-slavery terri-
torial legislature had enacted a law providing for the election of a state con-
vention, which assembled on the seventh day of September, 1857, and formed
what was known as the Lecompton state constitution. This was submitted to
the people for adoption or rejection at an election held December 21, 1857.
There was a large majority of qualified voters ready and anxious to vote it
down. That would have ended slavery in Kansas forever. But the con-
vention had arranged an ingenious and rascally scheme for submission of the
constitution in such a manner that a majority could not vote it down. Part
of the tickets were printed, " For the Constitution, with Slavery," the other
part, " For the Constitution, without Slavery." No other votes could be
given or counted. All the votes cast were for the adoption of the constitu-
tion ; and even if the constitution should be adopted without slavery, the slaves
then in the territory, and their children, were to remain slaves for life.

As the time approached for this election a Free State delegate convention
was called and held at Lawrence, December 2, 1857, " to take into considera-
tion the present political situation of the territory." It resolved unanimously

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

that everything connected with the Lecompton constitution was a swindle,
and that the people could gain notliing by participating in the election on
tlie adoption of the constitution. So that election went by default in favor of
the pro-slavery party. The votes stood, for the constitution, with slavery,
6,143 (a large part of which votes were fraudulent), and for the constitution,
without slavery, 569. Three thousand and twelve of this vote were returned
from tliree precincts — Oxford, Shawnee and Kickapoo — which everybody
knew had not combined a voting population of three hundred — the two pre-
cincts first mentioned being in the Shawnee Reserve, where there were no white
men legally settled.

Then came the election for state officers and legislature under the Le-
compton constitution, which had been fixed in the schedule of that instrument
to be held on the 4th of January, 1858. The convention of the Free State
party, held on the 2d of December, was re-convened, to assemble in the Con-
gregational church at West Lawrence on the 23d of December, to settle the
question whether the Free State party should or should not go into the elec-
tion of officers under the Lecompton constitution, and elect, as they could
easily do. Free State executive officers and a Free State legislature.

This was the final crisis in the struggle for freedom in Kansas. If the
Free State men should elect a majority of the state and local officers and of
the legislature, under the Lecompton constitution, we would thereby kill that
attempted usurpation in Congress, because the South could gain nothing
by admitting the state into the Union, with the certainty that the constitution
would be immediately amended, prohibiting slavery utterly and forever.
While, if the Free State men should refuse to vote, the pro-slavery men would
control all departments of the proposed state government, and the state
would, in all probability, be admitted under the Lecompton constitution.

The expediency of our electing officers under the Lecompton constitution
was obvious to a large majority of the Free State men of Kansas, and was
well supported by The Herald of Freedom, the Leavenworth Times, and other
influential newspapers of our party. That policy was also urged on us by
many influential friends of free state in and out of Congress — by my father,
the Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, who wrote my elder brother, Hugh Ewing,
then in partnership with me in the practice of law at Leavenworth, most
strongly insisting that the Free State men in Kansas, who were known to
have a large majority in the territory, should elect the state officers and
members of the legislature under the Lecompton constitution, and thus take
possession of the government and control it, so as to make Kansas a free
state — ^just as in the then recent October election the Free State men chose
the legislature and took possession of the territorial government. The Hon.
Salmon P. Chase, then governor of Ohio, wrote an urgent letter to Governor
Robinson, advising the voting policy, which, as well as the letter from my
father, was read to the convention with great eff^ect. The Hon. Samuel F.
Vinton, an eminent member of the house of representatives from Ohio, wrote
a similar letter to me, which I read to the convention, in which he said that if

619

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

the Free State men should stubbornly and fanatically refuse to adopt this
policy, he for one would abandon the struggle in Congress in our behalf.

But that was the path leading to a peaceful solution of the Kansas strife,
and many of the most active Fi-ee State leaders in Kansas did not want to tread
it. They hoped for armed colUsions between the Free State men and the
general government, expecting that all of the states would become involved,
and that although the North would be in rebellion, and the South would have
the prestige and power of the legitimate government, the superior numbers
and resources of the North would certainly triumph. John Brown, of Osawot-
tomie, was the inspirer, though not the active leader, of this radical wing of the
Free State party. He regarded slavery as a crime, to be expiated in blood,
and himself as a chosen instrument of its expiation — " the sword of the Lord,
and of Gideon." His oft-repeated maxim was, " Without blood there can
be no remission." His dream was of the abolition of slavery by northern
bayonets, aided by the torch of the slave. He never doubted that the blacks
would rise en jnasse, as soon as the North should be in the field to support
them. He and his influential followers, mostly correspondents of eastern
papers, were, therefore, determined to defeat the proposition to vote for
officers under the Lecompton constitution, and were active and enthusiastic in
securing control of the convention, held on the 23d of December, 1857.

Charles Robinson, who had been chosen governor under the Topeka con-
stitution— a man of great ability, earnestness and honesty of purpose — ^pre-
sided at this convention and strongly urged the adoption of the voting policy.
Most of the recognized leaders of the Free State party supported it —
George W. Brown (now of Rockford, 111.); S. N. Wood, P. C. Schuyler,
M. F. Conway, J. P. Root, Robert Morrow, James Davis, S. C. Pomeroy, my-
self, and others, spoke for that policy. Gen. James H. Lane, who was by
many regarded as pre-eminently the leader of the Free State party, was
absent — non-committal — crafty-sick.

For several days preceding the assembling of the convention, it was
rumored through the territory that the United States marshal at Fort Scott
held a writ, issued out of the District Court there, commanding him to arrest
James Montgomery, one of the radical Free State leaders, on an indictment
for treason, and that the marshal had been furnished with a posse of two
companies of federal infantry to enforce obedience to the writ, and was about
to set out for Sugar Mound, in Linn county, where Montgomery lived and
where several hundred Free State men had assembled to resist and prevent
his arrest by force of arms.

The debate in the convention, on the proposition to take part in the
election, was protracted throughout the first day, and was very acrimonious
and exciting. On the second day, December 24th, the debate went on, and
the friends of the voting policy had almost silenced opposition, when " Gen-
eral " E. B. Whitman, one of General Lane's political lieutenants, rode up
to the church where the convention was being held, and, dismounting from
" his steed of foam," strode into the convention and onto the platform, booted

6S0

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and spurred, " stained with the variation of each soil " 'twixt Sugar Mound
and Lawrence, and in a passionate speech declared that he had just ridden
eighty miles, from Sugar Mound, without stopping for food or sleep, to
call the people of Kansas to arms ; that General Lane was in command there,
and a desperate battle was impending with the federal troops. The excite-
ment that followed this announcement was furious and indescribable. I
sprang on a table and bitterly denounced the statement as an obvious trick
and fraud to control the convention. But the vote was forced at once, and
the voting policy was rejected — ayes, sixty-four; noes, seventy- four. The
vote was taken by representative districts and proxies were received; but the
vote of persons actually present stood sixty-four for the voting policy to
sixty-five against it. In the excitement and confusion which followed, the
convention adjourned sine die.

While the assemblage was breaking up I called several friends to ac-
company me, and hastening to W. Y. Roberts, vice-president of the conven-
tion and a strong supporter of the voting policy, we persuaded him to an-
nounce to the dispersing crowd that the friends of that pohcy who were will-
ing to bolt the action of the convention would meet at Masonic Hall, on
Massachusetts street, at seven o'clock that evening, to nominate a state ticket
and organize the territory for the election. The announcement was received
with violent denunciations and yells of dissent. The bolters' meeting, when
convened that evening, was broken up by a mob, who put out the lights and
forcibly ejected all the bolting delegates from the hall. We re-convened, on
the invitation of George W. Brown, in the basement of his Herald of Freedom
printing-office. Only thirteen bolting delegates appeared, out of sixty-four^
who in the convention supported the voting policy to the last. A Free State
ticket was nominated, as follows : for governor, George W. Smith ; lieutenant-
governor, W. Y. Roberts ; secretary of state, P. C. Schuyler ; state treasurer,
A. J. Meade (now a resident of New York city) ; state auditor, Joel K.
Goodin; representative in Congress, Marcus J. Parrott, who was then dele-
gate in Congress from the territory — all tried and true Free State men ; all
pledged, if they should be elected and the state admitted under the Le-
compton constitution, to favor an immediate call of a convention, to wipe
out every vestige of that odious constitution, and to frame and adopt a new
one — a pledge which was exacted from every Free State candidate, big and
little, nominated in the bolting movement.

The next day — Christmas — a large edition of The Herald of Freedom
was gotten out by George W. Brown, its editor and proprietor — to whose
pen and purse, zeal and sense, the Free State cause, from beginning to end
of the struggle, was greatly indebted for its triumphs. It was filled with ar-
guments and information in favor of our movement, and with tickets for the
Free State candidates. I hired every livery stable horse and rider that
could be hired in Lawrence, and had many volunteers, who carried The Herald
of Freedom post-haste to every considerable settlement in the territory. It
will be considered, I hope, only a pardonable vanity in me to say that I por-

621

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

sonally expended in the movement over a thousand dollars — being all the
money I had or could borrow. We had but nine days in which to organize
and conduct the campaign, over a settled territory two hundred miles square,
without a railroad.

The pro-slavery men and newspapers fought us fiercely. Fully half
of the Free State newspapers supported our movement, but the other half
bitterly opposed and ridiculed it, calling our voters' assemblage " Brown's
cellar-kitchen convention," and calling us all " disappointed, ambitious kick-
ers " and " soreheads." S. N. Wood, of Council Grove, who had been ap-
pointed chairman of the executive committee by the bolters' convention, did
great work in organizing and conducting the campaign. Never was there
a nine days' canvass conducted over a greater area, under greater difficulties,
or more vigorously. The result was watched in Washington and throughout
Kansas with breathless interest, as likely to settle forever the vexed Kansas
question one way or the other.

At Leavenworth, a town of perhaps four thousand people, the largest
in the territory, the election was regular and the vote full, free and fair on
both sides. At Mound City, in Linn county, Montgomery seized and de-
stroyed the ballot-box and broke up the election when about half the votes
had been cast. At Sugar Mound, also, the ballot-box was destroyed and
the ballots scattered to the winds by a party of Free State men who were
hostile to the voting policy ; and so, also, at Clinton. In Wabaunsee county
it was the boast of some of the extreme Free State men that the feeling was
too intense there to suffer an election for officers under the Lecompton con-
stitution to be held in any precinct in that county. The night before the
election I organized a company of about thirty armed Free State men under
Captain Losee, and towards morning went with them to Kickapoo, a pro-
slavery village numbering a few hundred people, eight miles above Leaven-
worth and directly across the Missouri River from Weston, Missouri, a large
town which had contracted the habit of sending its men at every election to
swell the pro-slavery vote in Kickapoo. We rode into Kickapoo at daybreak,
and had tied our horses and taken position near the polling place before the
voting commenced, intending to see who voted and how many. Our appear-
ance caused great excitement, and threats of violence especially among the
MSssourians, who came from Weston as fast as the one ferry-boat could bring
them. By ten o'clock we were so overwhelmingly outnumbered that all of
our troop had been induced to return to Leavenworth, except only the vener-
able John C. Vaughan, Wolff, Currier and myself. We four gave our pistols
to our retiring comrades, as more likely to provoke attack on us than to be
useful in defence against such numbers. We then took position near the
polling window in a comer made by a projection of the building, where we
might be crushed, but from which we could hardly be ejected, and there we
stood all day. The voters, generally, made headquarters in several saloons,
from which they poured out from time to time, noisy, drunk, armed with two
revolvers to the voter — each man voting several times; several gangs voting

62S

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

as often as six times — threatening us with death if we did not leave for
Leavenworth. A friend of mine named Spivey, who was a clerk for General
Whitfield, in the Kickapoo land office, and who was a sober and sensible
man, acted as an intermediary between the mob and us, warning us most
solemnly to leave for Leavenworth, or we would be murdered. I told Spivey,
and had him tell the mob, that we would not leave until the polls should close,
and that they would not dare to fire on us, because they knew that if they
should kill one of us, the Free State people of Leavenworth would burn both
Kickapoo and Weston to the subsoil before morning. Just before the polls
closed, to mark the end, Mr. Currier and I voted — as we had a right to do,
being citizens of that county. Our votes were numbered 550 and 551. Only
two votes were cast after we voted, when the polls were closed the total vote
being 553. Whereupon, about dark, after having submitted to a good deal
of hustling and rough handling, we rode off for Leavenworth in a shower of
rotten eggs and pistol shots.

The returns of the election, as provided in the schedule of the constitu-
tion, were sent to John Calhoun, at Lecompton, who was surveyor-general
of Kansas, and president of the convention. He made and published his
official statement of the result in each county, showing the election of the
entire pro-slavery state ticket, and a pro-slavery majority in both branches of
the legislature. His decision was prima facie correct, and beyond review or
reversal by any territorial authority. Calhoun forthwith left for Washing-
ton to report the result to Buchanan's administration, that it might be officially
laid before Congress.

Immediately on this announcement, and solely on my own impulse and
initiative, I went to the territorial legislature, which had assembled at Law-
rence in regular session, January 4<, 1858, and was controlled by the Free
State party, and there procured the passage of a law, approved January 14,
1858, creating a board to investigate and report upon the frauds committed
at the election on the adoption of the constitution, December 21, 1857; and
also at the election for officers under the constitution, January 4, 1858, and in
the returns thereof. Henry J. Adams, J. B. Abbott, Dillon Peckering, E.
L. Taylor, H. T. Green, and myself, composed the board. L. A. McLean,
who was Surveyor-General Calhoun's chief clerk, was summoned to appear
before us as a witness, together with the other pro-slavery men emplo3"ed in
the office of the surveyor-general at Lecompton, where the election returns
and all the archives relating to the Lecompton constitution had been filed.
McLean appeared and swore that Calhoun had taken all the returns relating
to the elections under the Lecompton constitution with him to Washington.
This struck us as a very improbable story; but McLean stuck to it with a
respectfulness, dignity and sincerity of manner which was very impressive.
No one could be found to throw a doubt on his statement. We had the sur-
veyor-general's office at Lecompton searched for the returns by our sergeant-
at-arms, but not a scrap of them was found. Our investigation, obviously,
could amount to nothing without these returns ; so, with Calhoun in Washing-

623

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ton, and his subordinates swearing that he took the returns with him, we felt
utterly baffled and beaten.

At a late hour of the second night after McLean's testimony was given,
as I was returning to my room at the Eldridge House, I was accosted in the
dark, on a lonely street, by a man whom I did not know, who asked my name,
but refused to give his own. He handed me his revolver as an assurance of
his pacific intentions, saying that he had been watching on the street for me
for several hours. He said he had heard a report of McLean's testimony be-
fore our board, and desired to know if it was given as stated. I replied that
it was. He said it was a lie and he could prove it, if it would do any good.
He said, however, that he lived at Lecompton, and would in all probabihty
be murdered if he should be known to have informed on McLean and his
associates. I satisfied him that if he could and would give me information
exposing the falsity of McLean's testimony, his action should not be known,
and that with that information we could drive Calhoun and his gang from
the territory and defeat the Lecompton constitution.

He then said that late in the night preceding the day when McLean
appeared as a witness before our board, he (McLean) had buried a large
candle-box under a woodpile adjoining his office and that he had been seen by
Charley Torrey, the janitor, who slept in the building and who told my in-
formant. He then gave me his name as Henry W. Petrikin, and described
himself as being a clerk in the office of William Brindle, receiver of the United
States land office at Lecompton. This was a voucher for his good faith, for
I knew enough of Gleneral Brindle to know that he would have no rascals
about him.

Next day, aided by my official position as one of the commissioners to
investigate the election frauds, I obtained from Josiah Miller, probate judge
of Douglas county (now deceased), a search warrant directed to Captain
Samuel Walker, sheriff^ of Douglas county (who had already done loyal serv-
ive to the Free State cause and was eager to do more), commanding him to
enter upon and search the premises of the surveyor-general, in Lecompton,
and (if practicable) to find, take and bring before Judge Mailer all the
original returns of elections on or under the Lecompton constitution. En-
joining Judge Miller to secrecy, I then sought Sheriff^ Walker and requested
him to pick out a dozen fighting men well armed, to go with him as a posse,
and told him I had a writ for him to execute, and would tell him at daybreak
next morning where to go and what to do. Captain Walker was on hand
punctually, with his trusty squad in a back alley ; and after receiving the
warrant and full instructions from me, he set out unobserved from Lawrence
for Lecompton, eight miles away. He pounced upon the surveyor-general's
premises early in the morning, dug up a buried candle-box from under a
great woodpile adjoining the office, and before noon he rode up Massachusetts
street, in Lawrence, at the head of his squad, holding the candle-box on the
pommel of his saddle.

C. W. Babcock, president of the council ; G. W. Dietzler, speaker of the

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

house of representatives; and J. W. Denver, acting governor, met the in-
vestigating board in the office of Judge Miller. Sheriff Walker made return
of his search warrant and delivered the candle-box to Judge Miller, who
opened and produced from it all the returns of the election for officers of the
Lecompton constitution, which McLean had sworn had been taken by Calhoun
to Washington. The Kickapoo returns had swollen to 995, from 553, which
was the actual vote (chiefly fraudulent) when the polls closed, there being
442 names added to the list of voters after the names of Currier and Ewing,
and after the polls closed. Oxford, which had a legitimate vote of about one
hundred, had the number increased in the returns, through obvious forgery,
to 1,266; the returns from Shawnee showed about fifty real voters, to which
had been added names — fictitious names, bringing the total up to 729. The
fraudulent additions were as apparent on the face of the returns as would be
extensions of the legs in a boy's trousers. They were all on the pro-slavery
side ; but proving insufficient to effect the desired result, a return from Dela-
ware Crossing, in Leavenworth county, which had been honestly made by the
two judges of election, was forged, by splicing with a sheet containing 336
additional names of pro-slavery voters in a different handwriting and in
different ink — these fraudulent votes electing the whole legislative ticket of
eleven members from Leavenworth county, and giving both branches of the
legislature to the pro-slavery party.

These entire returns showed 6,875 votes cast for Free State candidates,
and, counting in all the returns, valid and fraudulent, a few hundred more
for pro-slavery candidates. On the same day, the 4th of January, 1858, an
election was held under a statute then recently passed by the Free State
legislature, to take a vote on the adoption or rejection of the Lecompton
constitution, at which 10,226 votes were cast against it and none in its favor.
This last-named vote shows the whole strength of the Free State party of
Kansas, while the vote of 6,875 for Free State candidates under the Le-
compton constitution, shows that 3,351 Free State men who voted against
the Lecompton constitution did not vote for officers under it. In other words,
the Free State men who opposed the voting pohcy were thus shown to com-
prise only one-third of the Free State party.

Immediately on this exposure (January 28, 1858), I swore out a war-
rant for the arrest of McLean for perjury. But as soon as the candle-box had
been dug up from the woodpile, he had fled with his fellow-conspirators, never
to return to Kansas. I met McLean six years later, when I was in command
of our troops at Fort Davidson, adjacent to Pilot Knob, Missouri, ninety
miles below St. Louis. He was then chief of staff of General Sterling Price,
who was marching on St. Louis at the head of an army of twenty-two thousand
men. McLean came to me under a flag of truce, demanding the surrender to
Price of the little fort and its garrison of 1,060 men, together with its en-
ormous accumulation of quartermaster, commissary and ordnance stores, which
were greatly needed by the rebel army. The demand being refused. Price
stormed the fort, but was repulsed with great slaughter.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

It is but just to McLean to say that I have a letter from Ely Moore, of
Lawrence, dated March 1, 1894, which says that he was living at Lecompton
on the 25th of January, 1858, when the candle-box containing the returns
was buried under the woodpile, and that it was done by another person, whom
he names, without McLean's presence or knowledge. And further, that Mc-
Lean really believed, when he testified before the board, that the returns had
been taken by Calhoun to Washington. He says McLean fled the night
following the unearthing of the candle-box, because appearances indicated
that he had committed perjury, though, in fact, he was innocent of the
crime.

The exposure of the frauds struck the Lecomptonites dumb. Every in-
cident was telegraphed and published everywhere. On the day of the ex-
posure, Henry W. Petrikin, who is now living at Montoursville, Pennsylvania,
got a brief statement of the facts signed by the presiding officers of the two
houses of the legislature, and by Acting-Governor Denver, which statement
he carried post-haste to Washington and laid before President Buchanan
in presence of Senator Bigler, of Pennsylvania; Senator Dickinson, of New
York ; General Sam Houston, of Texas ; Hon. Allison White, of Pennsjdvania ;
and R. Bruce Petrikin, of Pennsylvania. I followed in a day or two with
the report of our board to investigate the election frauds, accompanied by an
abstract of the candle-box returns, and a memorial to Congress, all of which
I caused to be printed at once and laid on the desk of each member of Con-
gress.

Thereupon, the bill then pending in Congress for the admission of Kan-
sas into the Union, under the Lecompton constitution, dropped dead. A few
months afterwards the English bill was forced through Congress by the ad-
ministration. It provided for the submission of the Lecompton constitution
to a free vote of the people of Kansas, and offered them five and a half mil-
Hons of acres of the public lands for common schools and a university, and
five per cent, of all the public lands in the territory (being about two and a
half millions of acres more) for internal improvements — all the grants being
conditioned on the acceptance of that constitution by the people. The offer
and the constitution were contemptuously rejected on the 2d of August,
1858, by a vote of 11,300 against the proposition, to 1,788 in its favor.
Thereupon, the Lecompton constitution was abandoned, and Kansas was kept
out of the Union for more than two years longer to do penance for its de-
votion to freedom.

The waves which rolled high in Kansas during the political storm of
1855-6-7 extended throughout the Northern states and were long in sub-
siding. As late as the fall of 1860, the Kansas questions were uppermost for
political discussion in every Northern state. On my way through Cincinnati
to Lancaster, Ohio, during the political campaign in October, 1859, I was
taken to make a speech at a Republican meeting in Fifth street, Market space,
then being addressed by Tom Corwin and Caleb B. Smith. When I reached
the stand, Corwin was speaking. He had been discussing only Kansas ques-

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

tions. As I ascended the steps he turned and greeted me with some pleasant
words of recognition, and then branched off on Kansas pohtics, appeahng to
me as a witness and a participant. He told with mock gravity of our many
governments there; spoke of the Lecompton territorial government, the To-
peka provisional government, the Lecompton state government, the Topeka
state government, and the Leavenworth state government, and described them
all as being in full operation, electing state, territorial, county, township,
and city officers under each government, and all in full operation at the same
time. He said it brought on a general election every month, and a county,
city or township election every other day. He said : " My fellow citizens :
Kind and benignant nature always responds to wants and habits of men;
and I now make the prediction that the next generation in Kansas will be
bom with ballot-boxes in their bellies, like 'possimis; so they can vote when-
ever they want to ! "

Thirty-six years have passed since the Free State struggle in Kansas
ended. I have never, until recently, told all of this story to any but my own
family. In making it public now, I wish not to seem unmindful of the hero-
ism of the Free State men in the earlier phases of the contest, when many
suffered capture, imprisonment and death in the cause ; nor of the wisdom and
forbearance of Governor Robinson and his associates, and the patriotic re-
sistance to party dictation of Governors Walker, Stanton and Denver, which
contributed so much to the happy solution of the controversy. I have written
only of the last phase of that protracted struggle, which ended in February,
1858, in the abandonment of all attempt to force slavery on Kansas.

Those brilliant, patriotic and enthusiastic young men of the press —
William A. Phillips, lately deceased, who crowned his glorious ser\dces for
freedom in Kansas, with a service equally glorious in the army; James Red-
path, Richard J. Hinton, and their associates, Kegi, Realf, Cook, Tappan,
Walden and others, whose political letters filled all the Republican papers of
that day with reports of the struggle for freedom in Kansas — were imbued
with John Brown's fervid faith that slavery would be abolished through a
war of the North against the South, brought on by collisions in Kansas be-
tween the Free State party and the federal government. In their correspond-
ence with the Republican newspapers, they wrought up and magnified the in-
cidents of the Kansas struggle in 1855-6-7, when it was a struggle of force
and blood ; but they were not friendly to the efforts by which the Lecompton
constitution was at last peacefully defeated. Hence the final and decisive move-
ments which I have here narrated were ignored or underestimated in the con-
temporary press, and have been almost overlooked in nearly all the histories
of the Kansas struggle.

The importance of that struggle cannot be overestimated. It was the
prelude to the war of the rebellion, and prepared the people to realize its
magnitude and to resolve that it should be a fight to the finish. But for this
long preparation, it is not improbable that the rebellion would have ended in
a compromise, leaving slavery, though crippled, a lasting cause of bad blood

627

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

and strife between the sections. Had John Brown's purpose to bring on a
war between the sections succeeded, with the South in possession of all the
power and prestige of the general government, and the North in rebellion,
all the nations of the world would have stood by the South and the general
government ; while the North would have been divided, overwhelmed and con-
quered. But there was a higher power which foiled John Brown's mad scheme.
The great sweep of events, from the Kansas-Nebraska bill to the surrender at
Appomattox, was no doubt divinely directed to unify and purify our people
for their Slorious mission. Whoever bore an honorable part, however humble,
on the Northern side in the great struggle, has reason to thank God for having
made him an instrument in preserving this beneficent republic, which is the
hope and light of the world.

SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

By David Homee Bates

Cipher Operator in the War Department Telegraph OflBce During
the Civil War, 1861-1865

Read before the Ohio Society of New York on the evening of
February 10, 1900

LINCOLN, " That kindly, earnest, brave, fore-seeing man ; patient, saga-
cious, dreading praise not blame."
This tribute from James Russell Lowell's " Commemoration Ode,"
uttered at Harvard forty-five years ago, less than three months after Lincoln's
tragic death, when his fame had only just begun to take on its brilliancy, is
still, after the lapse of all these years, a true estimate of his character. It
well expresses the judgment formed by me from daily intercourse with him
in the War Department telegraph office, during four long years of the Civil
War, confirmed by careful study since his death of his life and writings.

To those of my hearers who may have read my paper on Lincoln in the
symposium pubhshed in the New York Independent, April 4, 1895, I owe an
apology for now repeating some of the matter contained in that article, but as
partial compensation I will add a few bona fide stories which I can testify
are authentic. I was a mere youth when I first met Lincoln, in April, 1861,
only about ten days after Sumter's fateful signal to the world. Simon Cam-
eron, secretary of war, had appointed Colonel Thomas A. Scott general mana-
ger of mihtary railroads and telegraphs, and one of his first acts was to tele-
graph to Andrew Carnegie, then superintendent of the Pittsburg division
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, asking him to send expert telegraph opera-
tors to Washington at once. Mr. Carnegie selected four, and accordingly
about April 20, 1861, or a few days thereafter, David Strouse, Richard
O'Brien, Samuel M. Brown and David Homer Bates started for Washington,
via Philadelphia and Perryville. Arriving at the Susquehanna River, oppo-
site Havre de Grace, we learned that a band of rebels from Baltimore, evi-
dently encouraged by the disloyal sentiments of the mayor and other leading
citizens, had destroyed the railroad bridges over the Gunpowder and Bush
rivers, and we were, therefore, compelled to go by water to Annapolis. The
celebrated Seventh New York, under Col. Marshall Lefferts, had gone for-
ward to Annapolis a few days before, and the old steamer " Maryland," on
which they sailed, had just returned. Old-timers will remember this historic
vessel, which was used by the P. W. & B. Railroad Company for transferring
cars across the Susquehanna River to and from Havre de Grace, and which
after the war was burned and then rebuilt, and under the same name, " Mary-
land," is still in daily use between Jersey City and Mott Haven.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

On that April night, thirty-nine years ago, our little band of telegraph-
ers, the nucleus of the United States military telegraph corps, which during
the war rendered such confidential and important service to the government,
embarked on the old " Maryland " in company with a body of federal troops,
among whose officers was Ormsby M. Mitchel, celebrated astronomer and
soldier. We were compelled to pass the eventful night without any home com-
forts. I clearly remember that we were very hungry and that we could only
find rest and occasional sleep on top of bags of coffee that were being taken
to Annapolis for our troops. Arriving there next morning, the four young
operators reported to Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, who had just established his
headquarters at the Naval Academy after his exciting march through Balti-
more, where our troops were attacked by the mob of rebel sympathizers, and
where the first blood was shed in the Civil War. Little did we think, that
bright spring morning, as we landed on the banks of the beautiful Severn
and walked across the lovely grounds of the Naval Academy, that the great-
est war of the century, in the number of men engaged, the enormous loss of
life and the vital problems solved, was just begun. I had never before seen
a slave, and when the colored men took off their hats and bowed and the
women curtsied, it seemed we were in a strange land, everything was so 'new
and different, and besides we were sleepy, tired and hungry.

We called on General Butler and next day went to Washington by rail
and there reported at the War Department for orders. The secretary's office
was in the southeast room on the second floor of that old historic building,
since demoHshed. The telegraph instruments were in the adjoining room, and
as we were ushered in we saw Mr. Lincoln with Secretary Cameron, Gen.
Winfield Scott and one or two others. Lincoln was six feet four inches.
Cameron was by no means small of stature, while General Scott was massive
as well as tall. At the moment the commanding general was the chief object
of our curiosity, although the kindly face of Mr. Lincoln was singularly
attractive.

It was my lot during the succeeding four years, until the very night of
his taking off by the bullet of Booth, to see Mr. Lincoln almost every day
and generally several times a day, as he visited the War Department tele-
graph office about nine o'clock every morning, and again in the afternoon,
and almost invariably in the evening in order that he might receive the latest
news from the various military headquarters in the field, and at the same time
keep in touch with the secretary of war and the commander-in-chief; it
followed, therefore, that he made the telegraph office a sort of rendezvous,
sitting always, or generally, at one particular desk, that of Major Eckert,
the military superintendent of telegraph, for whom both Mr. Lincoln and
Mr. Stanton had a very high personal regard. Conferences would be had
almost daily between the President, Secretary Stanton and other members of
his cabinet, or their assistants, and with General Halleck, and afterwards
General Grant and other prominent generals, and many of these conferences
were held in the telegraph room. I was too young at the time to fully appre-

630

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ciate and avail of the opportunity thus thrown in my way, but as time passes
my mind reverts to many of these interviews at which, in the performance of
my official duties, I was necessarily present, and when grave problems of the
war were discussed by Mr. Lincoln and his cabinet or military officers.

On one occasion an official letter was received by me from the operator
at Wilmington, Del., on the route of the Washington-Fortress Monroe mili-
tar^^ line. The operator's name was John Wintrup, who for many years past
has been in the employ of the American Steamship Line in Philadelphia.
Mr. Wintrup's signature was written in a large, bold hand, with the final
letter of his name quite large, and ending with a series of flourishes which
tended to obscure the name. Mr. Lincoln, seeing the letter on my table, and
noting the peculiar signature, remarked that " it reminded him of a short-
legged man wearing a long'tailed overcoat, which, as the man walked through
the snow wiped out the tracks made by his feet."

Many of Mr. Lincoln's stories were in couples, like man and wife, one
corresponding to the other. For instance, most of you will recall Tom Hood's
spoiled child, which, as I remember it, was represented by a series of pic-
tures.

First, the nurse placing the baby in the arm chair before a grate fire
and covering it over with a shawl to shield it from the heat. The next scene
shows the fat aunt coming into the room and, being near sighted, she flops
down into the comfortable looking chair, and of course there is a rumpus and
scream, and the next scene shows the nurse entering the room, rescuing the
child from beneath the heavy weight, and, as she holds it in her arms in front
of her, the next scene shows the mother and father coming into the room,
and the baby is smashed so flat that the parents cannot see it. A reference
being made to this spoiled child story of Mr. Hood's, Mr. Lincoln thereupon
produced its companion as follows:

Scene, a theatre. Curtain just going up. Enter a man with a high
hat, who becomes so interested in what is transpiring on the stage that involun-
tarily he places his hat upside down on the adjoining seat, without observing
the approach of a fat dowager who, being nearsighted, like the aunt of the
spoiled child, does not observe the open door of the hat. She sits down and, of
course, there is a crunching noise, and the owner of the hat, too late to rescue
it, reaches out to take hold of it just as the fat woman arises, and holding the
hat in front of him says to the lady, " Madam, I knew that hat would not
fit you when I saw you try it on."

While all of Mr. Lincoln's stories were illustrative of some argument or
point he wished to make, some of them, I regret to say, were off color, and
to this date it has been a matter of sincere regret that I listened to any of
that character. Marc Antony, in his address over the dead body of Ca?sar,
says that " The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred
with their bones." So in this case, without detracting one iota from Mr. Lin-
coln's greatness or goodness, still the one thread of error in his character, as
I saw it, was in that direction. There were some stories of his which, while

631

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

not really bad, yet were suitable only for home consumption, and not for a
general assembly of saints.

In the spring of 1862, General Schenck, afterwards minister to Eng-
land, and perhaps more renowned as the author of a popular treatise on
" The Art of Playing Poker," was in command of our troops near Alexandria,
Va., and for weeks there had been almost daily skirmishes between the pickets
or small detachments from the two armies, but no considerable fighting, and
there had been numerous complaints in the daily press that some definite
movement was not made. Finally, a larger detachment than usual was sent
out by General Schenck and they succeeded in capturing twenty or thirty
rebel prisoners, each of whom, as the telegram reported, had a " Colt's " revol-
ver, and the president, upon glancing at the dispatch, remarked that we would
soon have an evidence of the great faculty possessed by newspaper correspon-
dents to enlarge upon facts, because, he said, no doubt by the time to-
morrow's papers are printed these Colt's revolvers will all have grown into
horse-pistols.

He then went on to speak of the dilly-dallying of the two armies and
said it put him in mind of two dogs barking and snapping at each other
on opposite sides of a rail fence, along which they both ran until finally
coming to an opening they pricked up their ears, ceased barking, and then
turning tail trotted off as if they had no further interest in the promised
fight.

One day in the early part of the war Mr. Lincoln brought to the tele-
graph office a photograph that some army surgeon had forwarded to him
in connection with his application for promotion or transfer. This photo-
graph represented a man of the type of the Boer General Joubert, with ex-
ceptionally long hair and whiskers, the latter reaching nearly to the bottom
of the picture, which showed only the bust down to the waist. Mr. Lincoln
remarked that he was glad to receive that picture, and if now he could only
get two long-haired persons of that sort, one a male and the other a female,
he would take measures to preserve them and raise them for their hair.

Apropos of this whisker story, Mr. John H. Littlefield, in an address
at the Pl^^mouth Church, Brooklyn, only two weeks ago, narrated some of
his personal recollections of Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Littlefield studied law under
Mr. Lincoln, and at one time practised in his office. He told of a letter which
Mr. Lincoln received in the summer of 1864, before his re-election, from a
young woman in Buffalo, in which she said :

" If you will allow your whiskers to grow I think I can get three votes
for you, those of my father and two brothers. They say they will never vote
for such a homely man as you are without your whiskers."

Once, not more than sixty days before his death, he came into the tele-
graph office with a photograph of himself, which had been addressed to his
wife and sent through the mail. The sender had added to the picture a
rope, which passed around the neck and then upward, tautly drawn, as in-
dicating his hellish desire. Mr. Lincoln remarked that it had caused Mrs.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Lincoln some anxiety, which he did not share, although he added some words
of sorrow that any human being could be so devoid of feeling as to thus
wound an innocent woman. As for himself, he said tliat he had received many
similar missives and had come to look upon them with nothing more than a
passing thought.

The crystaUized opinion of the generation since Lincoln's tragic death
is that his state papers as well as the many letters written by him, and the
speeches he made during his poUtical career, are models of clear, undefiled
Enghsh, and that some of them, notably his short Gettysburg address, are
classics, to which the present and coming generations may turn for inspiration
of liberty loving patriotism and for an education in the best forms of ex-
pression of great thoughts. But back of all this beauty of form and irre-
sistible force of argument inherent in the body of his utterances, whether
spoken or written, there was something more. There was the spirit of a great
man, tlie throb of a human heart that first of all loved all other hearts and,
loving, sought to do them good, and never did he allow force of logic or
attractiveness of diction, either in choice of words or manner of expression, to
obscure this one great thought and purpose.

It is well known that there were many sides to Lincoln's character. I do
not venture to speak of him as a story teller pure and simple, a pohtician, or
leader of men, a statesman, or even a writer of the best English, and he was
all these and, in the best sense, notably so, but I will refer briefly to that per-
sonal trait of his which always impressed me more forcibly than any other
feature of his character, namely, the evident kindly disposition always present
with him towards his opponents and the nation's enemies.

In hiis second inaugural address, March 4, 1865, he used two short ex-
pressions, which so well illustrate his trust in God and his love for man that I
quote them to point my meaning. One of these is from the Holy Writ, " The
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." The other ex-
pression he used is his own wording of Christ's love for humanity, " With
malice toward none and charity for all." If love be the fulfilling of that
divine law, then, in my opinion, Abraham Lincoln was the nearly perfect ex-
ample of his generation.

I do not refer specially to his belief in a Divine Being, nor in the Chris-
tian faith, although his manifold utterances on the subject of slavery and the
many quotations from the Bible in his state papers and messages to Congress
shall ever proclaim to the thinking world that at the very root of his spiritual
nature he held the teachings of Christ to be sacred and worthy of acceptance,
and his whole public life, as well as his words, when stripped of a certain rude-
ness incident to his early surroundings, exemplified those teachings. But I
am now referring to that period of his later career, during which, far more
than ever before, the inborn and inbred kindliness of his nature was taxed to
the uttermost by the treason of many of his former political acquaintances and
including some he had before called personal friends, and by the perfidy and
malice of the Northern Copperhead, and by the blind unreasoning impatience

633

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of a few otherwise patriotic men, prominent in the public eye, who seemed to
think the Civil War should be conducted according to their own narrow and
generally selfish ideas. Whatever may have been his inmost thoughts respect-
ing his enemies and their efforts to sting and crush him, his truly noble heart
in its outward expressions exhibited only love and charity for all and malice
toward none. His logic was unerring, his homely illustrations effective, and
his fund of good humor proverbially unfailing. Never once in the four years
did I ever discover in him any anger or malice, nor was he ever without a clear
opinion upon any subject presented, excepting when he gave good reasons for
not expressing at the time a final judgment. If others disagreed with him, he
sought to convince them that they were wrong, rather than that he was right.
I heard him say once that in trying cases in court he usually adopted that
plan. His habit of speech was conversational and argumentative and invaria-
bly convincing. Speaking of resentment, Mr. Lincoln once said to Gustavus
V. Fox, assistant secretary of the navy, who was urging Mr. Lincoln to some
retaliatory action in the celebrated " Blair " controversy : " Mr. Fox, you have
more of that feeling of personal resentment than I have; perhaps I have too
little of it, but I never thought it paid, and a man has no time to spend half
his life in quarrels. If any man ceases to attack me, I never remember the
past against him."

Some of my older hearers will doubtless remember a pictorial Book of
Nonsense which was popular many years ago, and which was once referred
to in my presence by Mr. Lincoln in illustrating his idea that the best method
of meeting or allaying anger on the part of others was to adopt a conciliatory
attitude. He referred to this Book of Nonsense, which he said he had seen
when a boy or young man, and he told of the picture in the book of the angry
cow in the field and the maiden seated on the stile, who is made to say :

" How shall I soften the heart of this cow.?
I will sit on this stile, and continue to smile,
Till I soften the heart of this cow."

After the death of Mr. Lincoln our troops captured Jefferson Davis
and some members of his cabinet and one of his aides. Col. Burton N. Harrison,
whose wife has made her mark in the literary world. The papers and baggage
of these parties were brought to the war department, and the secretary of war
detailed me to make up an inventory of these articles. In Colonel Harrison's
valise was found a copy of the " Book of Nonsense." I have met Colonel Har"
rison frequently since, and once told him of Mr. Lincoln's reference to it, and
asked him how he came to be in possession of the book. He answered that it
was given to him by the captain of the government vessel which brought him
from Charleston to Fortress Monroe, to help pass the time away.

The military telegrams were mostly in cipher and it was sometimes a
task to decipher a difficult message, because of telegraphic errors. Mr. Lin-
coln's interest and anxiety at such periods were very great, especially when
the dispatches referred to a battle. The late Charles A. Dana, long editor

634

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

of the New York Sun, had been assigned to the duty of visiting Grant's head-
quarters in Mississippi, and afterwards in Tennessee, and his telegraphic re-
ports were generally full and always of great interest. Mr. Lincoln looked
forward eagerly to Mr. Dana's accounts of the various engagements with the
enemy. The latter's strong, virile manner of expressing himself on important
questions is well known, and as the telegrams were audibly read by Mr. Lin-
coln, possibly merited criticisms were softened in the reading by side remarks.
It was his habit to read aloud and to bring his listeners into the current of his
thoughts by question or suggestion.

In our cipher code there were several words, each translated " Jefferson
Davis." Other words stood for " Robert E. Lee," and so on. Whenever Mr.
Lincoln came to these words he would shorten or transform them into some-
thing else; for instance, " Jeffy D.," " Bobby Lee," etc., so that there seemed
to go out from him at such times, and indeed on many other occasions, a
gentle, kindly influence. He appeared to be thinking of the leaders of th#
rebellion as wayward sons, rather than as traitorous brethren.

Secretary Stanton in his intercourse with the public was haughty, severe,
and exacting, especially in cases where he had even the smallest suspicion of
the loyalty of the person with whom he was in communication. In fact, he
never gave the other person the benefit of a doubt. Intensely in earnest him-
self, he required of everyone a like zeal and devotion, with an utter sacrifice
of self interest and convenience where the government was concerned. Accord-
ingly, Mr. Stanton was brusque, and oftentimes rude to newspaper men, mem-
bers of Congress and others who applied to him for news from the front. On
the other hand, Mr. Lincoln freely told what he heard in the way of early
dispatches from army headquarters in the field, and there were occasions when
he disclosed in advance maneuvers of special importance and in some way the
rebels got wind of the movement and its object was thus defeated. It was
Mr. Lincoln's custom when he came to the War Department telegraph office
to read over the military telegrams that were always placed upside down in a
special drawer in one of the cipher operator's desks, the latest on top. It
came to pass after awhile that we were instructed by Secretary Stanton not
to place in that drawer copies of dispatches referring in advance to specially
important movements of the army; for instance, a battle in progress or im-
pending, until he had first seen the dispatches, and in some cases the Secretary
retained both the original and the duplicate copies. Mr. Lincoln's keenness
soon led him to the discovery of the Secretary's order, and, without criticising
our course in the slightest, he would sometimes ask if there were not some later
news which he could get from Mr. Stanton. If there were, he would then go
to the adjoining room and see the Secretary, or " Mars," as Mr. Lincoln called
him.

On the afternoon of Friday, April 14, 1865, the day of his assassination,
Mr. Lincoln made his accustomed call at the War Department telegraph office.
He came earlier than usual, however, because, as we afterwards learned, of
his expected visit in the evening to Ford's Theatre.

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OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Although I was on duty at the time I have no distinct remembrance of the
occasion, for what occurred a few hours later was so appalling that memory
retained nothing clearly, except that which took place after the awful news
was received. First came word that the president was shot; then, horror fol-
lowing fast upon horror, the savage attack upon Secretary Seward, the frus-
trated efforts to reach and kill Secretary Stanton, Vice-President Johnson
and other members of the government, and as the successive accounts crystal-
lized, a fearful dread filled every soul lest it should be found that the entire
cabinet had been murdered. An hour or more of this awful suspense and we
received a message from Major Eckert, who had gone quickly with Secretary
Stanton to the house on Tenth street to which the president had been carried.
This news simply assured us of the present safety of Stanton, while confirm-
ing our worst fears concerning the president.

A relay of messengers was established between Major Eckert and the
War Department, and all night long they carried their portentous news in
the form of bulletins, in the handwriting of Secretary Stanton, addressed to
Gen. John A. Dix, commanding general. New York City, and which were dis-
tributed to the press throughout the country. As these bulletins were spelled
out in the Morse telegraph characters, over the wires leading north, it seemed
to us, as I remember, Albert Chandler, Charlie Tinker and myself, whose
fingers manipulated the keys, that never sadder signals formed.

The awfulness of the scenes transpiring before us hushed us into silence,
except for an occasional outburst of sorrow and amazement, and tears, of
which none of us were ashamed, were freely shed. As the hours slowly passed,
hope revived as to the president's life being spared, but at last, about 7 :30
A. M. the following morning, the tension broke and we knew for a certainty
that he was dead. Then we looked out upon the light of day, which before we
had not observed, or at least with consciousness, and the force of the blow
seemed to be increased by recalling the previous day when we had last seen
the president. We thought of his daily visits, and, most of all, in the close
presence of our great sorrow, did we think of his loving heart and the many
evidences he had given us of the entire absence from that heart of anger or
resentment towards his country's enemies.

Let me close this desultory sketch by a quotation from Mr. Lincoln's
midnight speech on November 10, 1864, as he was leaving the War Depart"
ment telegraph office after the welcome news had been received of his certain
re-election to the presidency: " So long as I have been here I have not will-
ingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom. While I am deeply sensible to the
high compliment of re-election and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty God
for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think for their
own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other man may be dis-
appointed or pained by the result. May I ask those who have not differed
with me to join with me in this same spirit towards those who have." Who
shall say that he did not have the mind that was in Christ .?

A REBEL CIPHER DISPATCH WHICH DID NOT REACH JUDAH

P. BENJAMIN

By David Homee Bates

Cipher Operator in the War Department Office During the Civil
War, 1861-1865

Read before the Ohio Society of New York on March 9, 1903

HERE appeared in the New York Herald, in the month of July, 1896,
an article headed, " Cryptograph Solved," in which was given a key to
certain cabalistic characters on an old tombstone in Trinity churchyard.
The full inscription reads thus :

mm \kH\LMBB a Q ji J n

HERE LIES
DEPOSITED THE BODY OF

JAMES LEESON

WHO DEPAETED THIS LIFE ON THE 28tH DAY OF SEP-
TEMBER, 1794.
AGED 38 YEARS.

From Harper's Magazine. Copyright, 1898, by Harper & Brothers.

The hieroglyphics at the head of the tombstone, when translated by the
method shown in the Herald article, reveal the motto, " Remember Death,"
and by analogy the remaining letters of the alphabet are discovered by the
writer of that article, who deserves great credit for his perspicacity.

The reading of the Herald article recalled to my mind certain rebel
cipher dispatches in 1863, which I helped to translate, and in which the same
hieroglyphics were used. These dispatches were written in New York by
J. H. Cammack, an agent of the rebel government, and were enclosed in an
envelope addressed to Alexander Keith, Jr., Halifax, Nova Scotia, to be for-
warded by him to Richmond, Va. One of them was addressed to Judah P.
Benjamin, and the other to Benjamin H. Hill, members of Jeff Davis's cabi-
net. As soon as possible I confirmed my recollection by referring to my war
records, and as the history of these rebel ciphers has never been written, ex-
cept briefly, I determined to give the facts to the public, beheving them to be
of general interest.

First let me speak of the United States military staff, to whose members
were entrusted all the more important military and state dispatches trans-
mitted from and to the government at Washington during the Civil War.
W. R. Plum, in his history of the military telegraph, says, " To the statement

637

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

that in no case did the enemy ever succeed in deciphering our messages, let
us add that neither did any federal cipher-operator ever prove recreant to
his sacred trust, and we have in a sentence two facts that reflect infinite credit
upon the corps."

Plum further says that " Col. Thomas A. Scott, assistant secretary of
war and general manager of m.ilitary railroads and telegraphs, called to his
aid four operators from the Pennsylvania Railroad line. These operators
reported at Washington on April 27, 1861, traveling via Philadelphia, Perry-
ville and Annapolis. Their names were David Strouse, D. H. Bates, Samuel
M. Brown and Richard O'Brien." This was the nucleus of the United States
military telegraph corps, which rendered such important service to our gov-
ernment during the Civil War. The outlines of the history of that war were
sketched by the telegraph.

Strouse was appointed superintendent. Brown was stationed at the Navy
Yard, O'Brien at the Arsenal and the writer at the War Department, where
he remained until after the close of the war as manager and cipher-operator,
two of his associates being Mr. Charles A. Tinker and Mr. Albert B. Chandler,
who have long occupied high official positions in the commercial telegraph serv-
ice of the country.

Two cipher operators were required to be at their post of duty during the
day time, holidays and Sundays not excepted, and, as a rule, until eleven or
twelve o'clock at night.

On the fateful night of April 14, 1865, we remained all night for the pur-
pose of transmitting Secretary Stanton's graphic bulletins to the newspapers,
giving the details of Lincoln's assassination and of the scenes at his deathbed.

The federal cipher codes were very simple and yet absolutely secret, ar-
bitrary words being used to represent proper names, and also many ordinary
words and military phrases. The words of the entire body of the dispatch,
after being concealed in this manner, were then arranged in one of over a
thousand possible combinations, the particular combination being indicated
by a key-word, and as each combination had several key-words, it was not
necessary to use the same one twice in succession. As a feature of the com-
bination blind words were interspersed at regular or varying intervals, which,
in translation, were of course discarded. When finally prepared for transmis-
sion, the dispatch was wholly unintelligible to the transmitting or receiving
operator, and no case is recalled of the enemy's having translated a federal
cipher dispatch. On the other hand, many of the rebel cipher dispatches,
which fell into our hands by capture or through our spies, were translated by
our cipher operators, and thus important military information was secured
by our commanding generals.

The rebels, instead of adopting a plan similar to ours, which was at once
secret and speedy, made use of the crude plan of transposing the letters of
the alphabet in various ways. I remember that when John Wilkes Booth was
captured there was found in his vest pocket a copy of the identical alphabet
square which formed the basis of many of the rebel ciphers.

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

In some cases the hieroglyphic plan was adopted by the rebels, and it
■was this method which was followed in the instances referred to below.

As the chief feature developed by the fortunate translation of these two
ciphers was a plot for the seizure by rebel emissaries of two ocean steamers
after leaving New York harbor, it is well to recall that during the latter part
of 1863 there was very great excitement in the North occasioned by the activity
and aggressiveness of the rebel navy, and by the fact that both England and
France were allowing rebel ships to be built and equipped in those countries.
The newspapers were full of accounts of damage done to our shipping by the
rebels, and it was feared that by means of a sudden dash they might even
capture and set fire to one of our seaport cities before suitable help could ar-
rive. Slidell, the rebel envoy, was in Europe trying to secure recognition,
and while he did not accomplish this result, he did obtain practical aid and com-
fort from English and French shipbuilders. Gunboats, iron-clad rams and
warships had been purchased by the rebels and were already on the high seas,
and others were then building in England under the quasi protection of the
authorities. Years afterwards, in the Geneva award of $15,000,000, the
United States received definite acknowledgment of the fact that England, in
allowing the " Alabama " and other rebel war vessels to be fitted out in Eng-
lish shipyards, had violated our treaty rights.

The state correspondence between the United States and Great Britain,
in 1863, shows how serious and critical the conditions were, for on September
4, of that year, our minister at London, Mr. Charles Francis Adams, after re-
peated protests addressed to the British government, received a note from Lord
Russell, prime minister, stating that " Her Majesty's government are advised
that they can not interfere in any way with these vessels " — referring to certain
iron-clad rams already completed by the Lairds at Birkenhead, and which
were about to sally forth to prey upon our commerce. Minister Adams
answered Lord Russell instantly in these words : " It would be superfluous for
me to point out to your lordship that this would be war."

In France the situation was equally grave, for Slidell was in close touch
with the French cabinet, and especially with Emperor Napoleon, the latter
having in a private interview promised that certain iron-clad rams and cor-
vettes, which were building at Bordeaux and Nantes for the rebel navy, should
be allowed to sail. The emperor also gave to the French shipbuilders like as-
surances.

On this side of the Atlantic the capture of the City of Mexico in June,
1863, by French troops, and the selection, in August, of Prince Maximilian,
of Austria, as Emperor of Mexico, by the hastily convened assembly of nota-
bles, were events of grave importance to us, and seemed likely to have an
immediate and favorable influence upon the fortunes of the confederate
cause.

Secretary Seward, in September, 1863, instructed INlinister Dayton to
convey to the French government the views of President Lincoln, which pointed
\io the maintenance by the United States of the iVIonroe doctrine, even at the

639

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

risk of ultimate war with France, if the latter persisted in imposing a mon-
archy upon Mexico.

In October the reply of the French government was received, to the effect
that " the sooner the United States showed itself satisfied, and manifested a
willingness to enter into peaceful relations with the new government in Mexico,
the sooner would France be ready to leave," etc.

This disturbance of our foreign relations was creating intense anxiety
in the North, and the public mind was further loused by various movements of
rebel vessels, including freebooters and pirates, as well as those acting under
regular commission.

For instance, in September, 1863, a plot was laid by the rebels to seize
the steamer " Michigan " on Lake Erie, and to make use of her to liberate
several thousand rebel prisoners near Sandusky. Fortunately, this failed in
execution, but attention was strongly drawn to the latent possibilities of sudi
movements, and the newspapers contained daily references to the subject, so
that the excitement in the public mind was running high. In December of
that year the United States steamer " Chesapeake " sailed from New York to
Portland, Me., and, when several days out from land, rebel emissaries, who
had shipped as passengers, assaulted the officers and crew, overpowered them,
and seized the vessel, which was then headed for the Bay of Fundy. The
cruise of these pirates was not continued, however, because some of the crew
stole the cargo and decamped.

But a far bolder plot was being hatched in New York City, having for
its immediate object the seizure of two large ocean steamers, when one or two
days out, by rebel agents, who were to ship as passengers or crew. The scheme
included also the shipment as freight of crates, packages and hogsheads, os-
tensibly containing merchandise, but which in reality contained guns, small
arms, ammunition, etc., for the use of the pirates after they had overpowered
the loyal crew and obtained control of the ship.

It will be readily seen that, at the time referred to — ^December, 1863 —
the seizure of two ocean steamers, and their conversion into privateers, would
create dismay and consternation in the North, and would, perhaps, be followed
by the capture of many small craft, merchant vessels and government trans-
ports, and possibly the destruction of some of our seaboard cities.

Meantime, the rebel government was actually having a large and varied
issue of confederate bonds engraved and printed almost within sight of the old
tombstone in Trinity churchyard, and communications on the subject of such
bonds were passing to and fro between the rebel government in Richmond and
its agents in New York City, the medimn of these communications being the
very same hieroglyphics which were carved on that old tombstone nearly one
hundred years before.

These deep'laid plots were fortunately revealed to the federal authorities
in time to prevent their fulfillment. The date set for the seizure of the two
ocean steamers was Christmas, 1863, and only four days previous to that time
the first of the two rebel ciphers was translated by the trio of War Depart-

640

OPIIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

ment cipher-operators, and the assistant secretary of war, Mr. Charles A.
Dana, started for New York at 7:30 P. M. the same day to confer with
General Dix, and before the date set for the seizure of the ocean vessels the
rebel plotters and agents had been spotted, a watch set upon their movements,
and within a week they had all been arrested and millions of rebel bonds seized
and destroyed, instead of being used in England and France to help pay for
the rebel ships of war then being built in those countries.

The history of these two rebel ciphers is as follows :

They were each enclosed in an envelope addressed to Alexander Keith, Jr.,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, and were mailed from New York City, the first one being
dated December 18, 1863, and the second one four days later.

United States Consul Jackson, at Halifax, had previously reported that
Keith was in frequent communication with rebel blockade-runners and with
rebel agents in the United States. The mails were therefore being closely
watched, and when Abram Wakeman, postmaster, discovered the envelope
bearing Keith's address, which was dropped in the New York postoffice on
December 18, he promptly sent it to the secretary of war, who, on seeing that
the inclosure was in cipher, turned it over to the War Department clerks,
who vainly puzzled over the mysterious signs for two daj^s. On the third day
the important document was turned over to the telegraph department and
placed in the hands of the trio, who set to work with a determination to do
what the War Department clerks had failed in doing.

Horace White, now editor of the New York Evening Post, was a clerk in
the War Department at that time, and may have tried to solve the puzzle.

In my boyhood days I was for a short period employed in the store of
John Home & Co., Pittsburg, and as one of their cost marks was based upon
the thirteen prime characters taken from the two geometrical figures shown be-
low, I was thus able to discern, perhaps, more readily than my associates, the
slight differences between the several characters of that series.

The basis or foundation referred to is as follows : The Arabic numerals
and the dollar and cent mark being shown in their respective places :

5 .

From Harper's Magazine. From Harper's Magazine.

Brothers. Brothers.

By placing a dot in each of the thirteen spaces all the letters of the alphabet
can be represented by the above signs, thus:

641

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

» 3 • •

• • •

« • •

From Harper's Magazine.

Brotiiers.

From Harper's Magazine.

Brothers.

The first thirteen letters being shown without the dot, and the other thirteen
with the dot. The close resemblance between these symbols and those on the
Trinity tombstone will be readily apparent.

In the rebel cipher letter the two words " before this " are represented
by signs taken from the series last above shown, and as the letter e occurred
twice, we followed the clew, but with only limited success.

Meantime my associates had found other clews, there being, in fact, at
least ten separate and distinct series of cipher characters used in the Keith
letter. Cammack, however, made the vital mistake of confining himself to
only one series for any given word. Had he varied the series of symbols, tak-
ing the characters from two or more different series to represent a given word,
the result of our efforts might have been far different. Together we labored
for hours, at first with only a few detached words being revealed, but little by
little the whole letter was deciphered.

The following is an exact copy, and is all we had to work from :

E^ 13 — /- r\ -u S ''f 5"-/ (±1 a

V-KK R.OI ac^r-i-rw .... «

\/ U, D tn 1 •( >

U o •• p

n •><■ L-> ■ — § u.<Ac: — o /-/.-/oai3--c3 -sFS

-I — K " n<- -^-^g. c^o^ ^-T-.= ^ .... t,

^CjjVPy.^ ■m.Jf-e. OIL J S. 'i xyt^-uu — | ••

1 -H' • K" 1- 3c K>; c^>LJM.■e>^^ oort -^

— J. — J. o • • . • oo -.-(^ oo • •

c: n V > a :3 u IT 3Z3 ><• T] ) a 3 <• 3 c •> □

u> urnn y^u.y Aarvvs t.-i<> d^d a->^=}
A>>c:n> ^vr3 /u^cta, yrt^ T^^J ^ ^ '" ^^^^
"^-^ -— ,— ®95? -P'r- S.^^ + ~ ©/-^.tsl :i:—-zz
^ .| — © o -— ^ ^£ -i. -— ;• =: o o (f — o o
/TN -^.= -=—£—/>— ■as? — 3nr<>nn
<• "i< a •>A'n 3 □>a'< cQi<s> c=s> ,Gb a=, ci3-.<zi

^ azn asD So <S <C

= -I /7^

From Harper's Magazine. Copyright, 1898, by Harper & Brothers.

642

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

After we had translated these hieroglyphics, the following is what
appeared :

N Y Dec 18 1863
Hon J P Benjamin Secretary of State Richmond Va

Willis is here The two steamers will leave here about Christmas Lamar
and Bowers left here via Bermuda two weeks ago 12000 rifled muskets came
duly to hand and were shipped to Halifax as instructed

We will be able to seize the other two steamers as per programme Trow-
bridge has followed the Presidents orders We will have Briggs under arrest
before this reaches you Cost $2000 We want more money How shall we
draw Bills are forwarded to Slidell and rects reed Write as before

(Signed) J H C

Two days after we had interpreted the first cipher dispatch, another one,
dated December 22, and also placed in an envelope bearing Keith's address,
was placed before us, and was quickly translated.

This communication proved to be of almost equal importance, referring,
as it did, to the fact that Confederate notes and bonds were being engraved
and printed in Ncav York City.

The second cipher was prepared in the same way as the first, and its
translation is as follows:

New York Dec 22 1863
Hon Benj H Hill Richmond Va

Dear Sir — Say to Memminger [Secretary of the Treasury] that Hilton
will have the machines all finished and dies all cut ready for shipping by the
first of January The engraving of the plates is superb

They will be shipped via Halifax and all according to instructions

The main part of the work has been under the immediate supervision of
Hilton who will act in good faith in consequence of the large amount he has
and will receive The work is beautifully done and the paper is superb A
part has been shipped and balance will be forwarded in a few days

Send some one to Nassau to receive and take the machines and paper
through Florida Write me at Halifax I leave first week in January Should
Goodman arrive at Nassau please send word by your agent that he is to await
further instructions Yours truly

(Signed) J H C

The following telegrams to the War Department, during the week fol-
lowing Mr. Dana's visit to General Dix, will show that no time was lost in
hunting up the rebel gang and placing them under arrest:

New York, 1 P. M., December 29, 1863.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

I have this morning seen evidence which affords good ground for the
belief that the United States * * * here is probably in full partnership
with the rebel operators of this city. From long personal knowledge of the

643

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

individual I have no doubt he is perfectly capable of such treasonable con-
duct.

C. A. Dana.

New York City, December 30, 1863.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

The man inside the bank note company reports that the work is not being
done there. He says they are capable of it, and informs me they have a branch
establishment at Montreal, and that there is no doubt but the work is being done
there.

Send the proper person to Montreal and Rouse's Point. In my opinion
the plates will come through to Albany and the Western Road to Boston, and
by Cunard steamer to Halifax.

Robert Murray, U. S. Marshal.

New York, 5 :30 P. M., December 31, 1863.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

I have arrested Hilton, and his partner and foreman, and secured the
plates for the rebel bonds, also 5's, lO's, 20's and 50's Confederate notes.

I have arrested the lithographer and printer, and taken possession of
Hilton's premises and the lithographer's, and placed a guard over them until
the evening, and I have no doubt I shall get the machinery also.

Robert Murray, U. S. Marshal.

New York, January 1, 1864.
E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

I secured machinery and dies this morning at 2 A. M., together with sev-
eral millions of dollars in bonds and notes of various denominations. I am
after the maker of the machinery, and will get him. From an intercepted
letter I learn that Cammack is in Havana.

Robert Murray, U. S. Marshal.

One result of our successful work in unravelling the rebel ciphers was
personal In its character, but not the less interesting to the trio, for on Christ-
mas day General Eckert, our chief, notified us that the secretary of war had
authorized him to make a substantial increase in our salaries from December 1.

Alexander Keith, Jr., the man to whom the rebel cipher dispatches were
enclosed, continued to act as rebel agent at Halifax until the close of the war,
and then disappeared from public view, only to turn up in 1875 as Thomassen,
who was blown up on the dock at Bremerhaven, Germany, by an infernal ma-
chine, which had been placed in a crate or box of merchandise for shipment
to the United States. The supposition at the time was that he was engaged
in the nefarious scheme of insuring packages of little value shIpDed on trans-
atlantic steamers, and one of which at least on each steamer contained an in-
fernal machine, set to operate In mid-ocean and sink the vessel and cargo,

644

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Thomassen then collecting his insurance. Not long before his tragic death
several ocean vessels, including the " Boston," had sailed from port never to be
heard from again.

My associate in the War Department, Mr. Charles A. Tinker was or-
dered to Halifax in the autumn of 1864 to watch Keith's doings, and from
his observations it was generally concluded that Keith was capable of any
crime in the calendar. Mr. Tinker has told me of his belief in the identity
of Keith and Thomassen.

645

INDEX

Abbett, Leon, 17

Abbey, Henry E., 11, 30, 69

Abbott, WiUard, 398

Abom, Miss, 252

Adney, Tappen, 448

Alger, R. A., 104

Allaire, Anthony J., 455

Allen, Theo. F., 30, 69

Allison, WilUam B., 33, 60, 166, 232, 253, 355,

356
Ambrose, H. T., 240

Amendment to Article III of By-Laws, 350
Andrews, Wallace C, 4, 14, 16, 30, 49, 56, 67,

73, 87, 98, 218, 220, 247, 306
Andrews, Mrs. Wallace C, 40, 51, 219, 280,

306
Annual entertainments, date for celebration

of, 49
Annual Meetings: 1886, 24; 1887, 47; 1888,

73; 1889, 85; 1890, 96; 1891, 118; 1892,

144; 1893, 162; 1894, 190; 1895, 220;

1896, 237; 1897, 248; 1898, 282; 1899,

307; 1900, 327; 1901, 347; 1902, 368;

1903, 435; 1904, 488; 1905, 528.
Annual publications, No. I., 422
Applegate, Charles H., 14, 30, 44, 68
Applegate, Francis M., 327, 347, 350, 366,

367, 368, 398, 425, 426, 435, 448, 450, 487,

488, 490, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 528
"Appleseed, Johnny," 327
Archbold, John D., 75, 87, 102, 118, 120, 140,

143, 145, 318, 222, 247, 251, 331, 356, 367,

397, 450, 487, 488, 490, 528
Arms, C. D., 33
Armstrong, George E., 30, 67, 87, 188, 194,

218, 220, 231, 236, 242, 248, 251, 280, 282,

284, 306, 307, 327, 356, 368, 397
Armstrong, Mrs. George E., 219, 306
Armstrong, P. B., 23, 30, 49, 87, 166, 218
Army and Navy Banquet. 449
Ashlev, James M., 17, 30, 116, 117, 119, 218

236
Atkinson, W. H., 32
Axline, H. H., 231, 241

Babcock, Charles H., 194
Badge for President's wife, 306
Baldwin, Ernest E., 488
Baldwin, E. F., 489
Baldwin, William W., 331
Banquet

— Reception and dinner to Ladies in place
of Annual, 219

— Committee for 1906, 528

—Eighth Annual, 159 to 161

— Eighteenth Annual, 451 to 483

—Eleventh Annual, 240 to 245

—First Annual, 16 to 21

—Fifth Annual, 87 to 92

—Fifteenth Annual, 331 to 345

—Fourth Annual, 75 to 82

— Fourteenth Annual, 309 to 325

— In honor of Charles W. Fairbanks, 492

— In honor of John Hay, 396

— In honor of George K. Nash, 331

— ^In honor of Peace Commission, 284

—In honor of Whitelaw Reid, 124, 125 to

139
—In honor of William L. Strong, 189, 194

to 218
— In honor of William L. Strong, 252
— In honor of William McKinley, 309
— In honor of United States Senators, 355
—Ninth Annual, 163, 165 to 186
—Nineteenth Annual, 490, 492 to 511
— Second Annual, and ball, 40 to 43
— Seventh Annual, 121 to 123
— Seventeenth Annual, 396 to 421
—Sixth Annual, 102 to 108
— Sixteenth Annual, 355 to 364
—Tenth Annual, 231 to 235
— Third Annual, 55 to 66
—Thirteenth Annual, 284 to 305
—Twelfth Annual, 251, 252 to 270

Bard, Amos A., 44

Barber, A. L., 33

Barney, Charles T., 143

Barber, George, 311

Barber, Miss, 311

Barrett, John, 31

Bartindale, T. H., 356

Bartlett, Geo. S., 30

Bates, David Homer, 145, 159, 162, 194, 218,
220, 222, 236, 237, 240, 247, 248, 251, 280,
282, 284, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 327, 331,
347, 356, 367, 368, 395, 397, 425, 450, 488,
489, 528

Bates, Mrs. David H., 219, 252

Bates, David H., Jr., 166, 220, 222, 240, 247,
251, 280, 283, 284, 306, 331, 356, 393

Battleship Ohio, launching of, 328

Bealle, Mrs., 252

Beaman, C. C, 159, 160

Beard, Daniel C, 13, 30, 51, 102, 145, 165,
23-2, 240, 283, 327

Beard, Henry, 30, 86

Beard, James C, 13, 30

Beard, James H., 14, 22, 23, 30, 36, 37, 51,
68, 148, 158, 159

Beard, J, N., 51

649

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Beard, T. Frank, 13, 30

Beard, William H., 23, 30, 36, 51, 68

Beardslee, John B., 33

Beasley, A. W., 13, 30

Beaton, George A., 451, 494

Beaton, Ralph H., 452

Beck, James M., 331, 353, 356, 357, 364

Beckwith, N. Mahlon, 13, 30, 187, 190

Beckmth, S. R., 162, 222

Beebe, A. O., 30, 69

Beer, Wm. C, 450, 490, 528

Beer, Mrs., 311

Beer, Miss, 311

Bell, Clark, 108

Belmont, August, 493

Belt, Washington, 8, 30, 44, 68

Benedict, R. D., 159

Benner, Mrs. E. I., 311

Bennett, A. L., 87

Bergen, Tunis G., 311

Bernard, Mrs. Alice, 22

Beveridge, Albert J., 355, 356, 357, 363

Bidwell, -Frederic H., 30

Bierstadt, Albert, 126

Bigelow, Mrs. Mary P., 70

Bishop, Kirke E., 491

Bishop, R. M., 17, 20, 60

Blair, Charles H., 4, 7, 8, 69

Blakewell, Allan C, 397

Blanchard, George R., 241

Bliss, Charles F., 73, 75, 102

Bliss, Cornelius N., 57, 80, 311

Blymyer, William H., 282, 307, 308, 310, 327,
331, 425

BljTnyer, Mrs. William H., 311

Boardman, Elijah G., 280, 283, 306

Bodman, E. C, 96, 102, 117, 143, 188, 194,
398

Bodman, E. H., 120

Bonner, Robert E., 126

Bonnet, Jacob N., 13, 30

Bookwalter, John W., 36

Bostwick, Charles F., 247

Bostwick, J. A., 30, 35, 40

Bostwick, W. W., 126

Boynton, E. M., 117

Boynton, George R., 117

Boys of the Ohio Society of N. Y., The, by
J. C. Zachos, 34

Brackett, John Q. A., 89

Brainard, Frank, 13, 30, 253, 347

Brainard, Walter H., 13, 30

Brewster, S. D., 30, 68, 75, 102, 218

Brice, Calvin S., 4, 5, 9, 17, 30, 44, 54, 56, 57,
66, 68, 70, 73, 85, 87, 88, 92, 100, 104,
121, 122, 125, 140, 159, 166, 194, 219,
222, 240, 241, 247, 251, 252, 284

Brice, Mrs. Calvin S., 40, 70, 246, 280

Brice, Stewart M., 280

Bristow, B. H., 57, 126

Brockway, Horace H., 13, 75, 165, 194, 222, •

251, 284, 356, 366, 398, 435, 487, 494
Bronson, William H., 449, 450, 452
Brown, Addison, 311

Brown, C. B., 398

Brown, J. Munroe, 23, 30, 68

Brown, Walston H., 30, 69, 75

Brown, WiUiam L., 11, 13, 14, 16, 30, 68, 121,
125, 159, 194, 218, 222, 231, 240, 242,
245, 247, 251, 280, 284, 306, 309, 331, 490

Brown, Mrs. Wm. L., 306

Bruce, M. Linn, 492, 494, 501

Bruch, Charles P., 30, 46, 49

Bruch, Edward B., 85, 87, 96, 97

Brundrett, H. B., 13, 30, 75, 194, 284, 356,
395, 398, 451, 452, 488, 494, 528

Bryant, Stanley A., 30

Buckeye Tree, The, by Cyrus Butler, 35

Buckeye Tree, by W. H. Venable, 168

Buckingham, C. L., 32

Buckingham, Geo., 30, 68

Bunnell, J. H., 44

Burke, C. E., 231, 241, 248, 331

Burdick, R. E., 241

Burnett, Henry L., 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16,
21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 38, 40,
43, 44, 47, 54, 55, 56, 68, 70, 73, 75, 84,
85, 87, 92, 93, 98, 100, 102, 103, 108,- 116,
117, 120, 121, 125, 139, 145, 155, 156, 159,
163, 163, 165, 166, 188, 189, 190, 194, 195,
196, 199, 204, 209, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219,
220, 222, 231, 233, 236, 237, 239, 240, 241,
242, 245, 248, 252, 253, 258, 262, 267, 268,
270, 282, 283, 284, 306, 307, 309, 327, 329,
331, 345, 350, 351, 356, 367, 368, 394, 395,
397, 398, 443, 448, 450, 451, 488, 489, 490,
493, 513, 514, 515, 516, 528

Burnett, Mrs. Henry L., 40, 219, 242, 246,

252, 280, 306, 311

Burnett, Peter H., 247, 280, 283, 306, 310,

356, 494
Busbey, Hamilton, 30, 283
Bushnell, Asa S., 231, 233, 235, 239, 241, 242,

247, 248, 285, 299, 448, 455
Bushnell, Martin, 327
Butler, Cyrus, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 23, 30, 34, 35,

36, 37, 44, 51, 54, 68, 75, 83, 85, 87, 96, 97
Butler, Francis X., 331, 347, 350, 366, 398,

427, 446, 489, 490, 491, 528
Butler, Nicholas Murray, 450, 452
Butler, Richard, 13, 30,' 36, 37, 126
Butler, Theron R., 28
Butterworth, Benjamin, 17
By Laws
—Adopted, 13
—Article IH, 350
—Article VIII, 393
Byrd, Mrs. S. C, 311

650

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Caldwell, \Vm. H., 73, 84, 85, 140, 141, 163,

165, 194, 240, 547, 251, 253, 280, 308, 327,

331 398
Campbell, James E., 89, 105, 116, 122, 159,

160, 232, 285, 301, 311, 322, 368, 369, 383,

392, 449, 450, 452, 492
Campbell, T. C, 222, 455
Candler, Flamen Ball, 307, 310, 331, 347, 349,

350, 398, 445, 448, 450, 487, 488
Canfield, James Hulme, 427, 429
Cannon, Henry W-, 126
Card, Henry P., 33
Carnegie, Andrew, 397, 492
Carr, Henry L., 283
Carr, Lovell H., 308
Carr, William Collett, 240
Carroll, Ralph W., 236, 248, 282, 306
Cartter, Judge, 17
Casement, John S., 57
Casino dinner and Fall of Babylon, 44
Cassini, Count, 396, 397, 398, 406
Cassatt, A. J., 512
Cassiday, C. P., 13, 30
Cecil, John R., 28

Celebration at Athens, Committee on, 446
Celebration at Chillicothe, 394, 426
Centennial Celebration at Marietta, 46
Centennial Celebration of First Settlement

of Ohio Valley, 46, 55, 56
Centennial of the inauguration of George

Washington, 73
— Commissioners from Ohio, to 84
Chaffee, Adna R., 449, 450, 451, 454, 483, 484
Champney, J. Wells, 51
Chance, Mahlon, 4, 5, 7, 14, 15, 30, 35, 38, 39,

44, 49, 52, 53, 68, 75, 85, 87, 95, 98, 102,

116, 117, 155, 165, 166, 220, 222, 231, 237,

240, 247, 251, 279, 280, 282, 283, 307, 308,

310, 327, 328, 350, 352, 356, 368, 394, 397,

455
Chance, Wade, 310, 331
Chandler, John M., 30, 67, 398, 446, 487, 489,

528
Chaplain : Leonard, W. A., 394, 489, 528
Chapman, Carlton, 445
Chapman, Carlton T., 453, 494, 528
Chard, James Alfred, 247
Chard, Richard J., 188, 222, 236, 240, 248,

251, 283, 284, 308, 309, 327, 331, 350, 356,

446, 451, 516, 528
Chard, Mrs. R. J., 352
Charter Members, book of. 66, 67
Chase, Salmon P., 28, 85, 219
Childs, E. H., 394, 398, 446, 489
Childs, George W., 125
Chisholm, Stewart, 366
Choate, Joseph H., 231. 234, 235
Christy, Howard Chandler, 453, 489, 528
Clark,' George K., Jr., 69
Clark, Heman, 30, 68

Clarke, Louis D., 282, 284, 309, 328, 331,
349, 350, 356, 367, 394, 397, 435, 446, 450,
488

Clarkson, James S., 450, 452

Clegg, Charles A., 240, 284, 308, 398

Clemens, S. L., 104, 341

Cleveland, 77, 92, 104

Coghlan, Joseph B., 493, 494, 510

Collier, Peter F., 239, 240, 251, 280, 282, 283,
284, 306, 445

Comly, G. S., 30

Conger, A. L., 35

Constitution, 5, 6, 7
—Amended, 8, 446

Convers, E. B., 13, 30

Converse, J. Stedman, 96, 166, 220, 222, 251

Cooper, John L., 89

Cooper, William C, 33

Corbin, H. C, 311, 427, 449, 450, 452, 483

Cortelyou, Geo. B., 348

Corwine, Quinton, 30, 68, 222, 240, 253

Cox, Jacob D., 23

Cox, S. S., 17, 28, 48, 77, 84, 85, 86

Coxe, A. C, 231

Crawford, J. J., 398

Crall, Howard Elmer, 280, 306, 366

Crall, Leander H., 22, 30, 44, 46, 49, 54, 56,
66, 67, 73, 84, 85, 96, 118, 124, 125, 139,
144, 145, 159, 162, 163, 166, 188, 189, 190,
194, 218, 219, 220, 222, 231, 236, 238, 248,
250, 251, 270, 280, 282, 283, 284, 307, 309,
327, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351,
356, 366, 367, 397, 435, 446, 447, 448, 450,
487, 488, 489, 490, 513, 514, 515, 516, 528

Crall, Mrs. L. H., 219

Cravath, Paul D., 253, 356, 367, 398

Crawford, John J., 347, 356

Crimmins, John D., 159, 166, 331

Critten, De Frees, 165, 218, 280, 306, 310,
331, 356

Critten, Mrs. De Frees, 311

Critten, T. D., 32, 102

Cullen, Edgar M., 450, 452

Curtis, Geo'rge Wm., 139

Curtis, William E., 528

Gushing, Mrs. E. T., 311

d'Absac, Paul, 126, 127

Dale, T. D., 33

Dana, Charles A., 57, 125

Darling, Charles H., 449, 450, 452

Daughters of Ohio. 352

Davies, Julien T., 311

Davis, James Sherlock, 349, 350, 394, 398,

446
Davis, Noah, 126
Dawes, E. C, 33
Dawes, Charles G., 312
Day, William R., 284, 285, 484
Day, Wilson, 231

651

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Dayton, L. M., 33, 115

Dean, Charles F., 253, 284

de Aspiroz, Senor, 396, 397, 398

Delamater, Jehiel, 30

de Margerie, Pierre, 396, 397, 398

De Milt, H. R., 222, 253

Depew, Chauncey M., 57, 87, 88, 90, 92, 104,

126, 131, 132, 194, 396, 397, 406, 415, 450,

452
Deshon, Charles A., 166
des Planches, Signor Edmondo Mayor, 396,

397, 398
De Witt, Henrv R., 32
Dick, Charles F., 309, 311, 450, 455, 486
Dickson, John, 29, 30, 38, 47, 54, 55, 69, 87,

Q6, 145
Dillon, John F., 126
Diplomats' Banquet, 396
Dodge, Grenville M., 450, 452
Dolph, J. H., 51
Donaldson, Andrew, 13, 30
Doren, D., 30
Douglas, Howard, 36
Douthirt, Walstein F., 327
Dover, Elmer, 528
Dowler, Frank N., 327
Doyle, Alexander, 70, 87, 97, 102, 117, 165,

308, 327, 350
Doyle, George, 30, 70
Drake, E. L., 484

Duncan, William Butler, 397, 450,- 452, 492
Dunham, Sturges Siegler, 446, 489, 490, 491
Dunham, Sumner T., 70

Eckert, Thos. T., 17, 30, 68, 126, 219

Eckert, T. T., Jr., 30, 68, 93

Eckert, William H., 29, 30, 44, 69, 70, 162,

218, 220, 236, 248
Edgerton, David M., 68
Edison, Thomas A., 87, 96, 98, 140, 310
Edson, Franklin, 126
Edwards, J. M., 30, 68
Ehlers, Henry C, 28
Elections
— Preliminary organization, 5
— Permanent organization, 8, 9
—1886, 29; 1887, 47; 1888, 73; 1889, 87
1890, 101; 1891, 120; 1892, 145; 1893,
162; 1894, 190; 1895, 220; 1896, 239
1897, 250; 1898, 282; 1899, 307; 1900,
327; 1901, 348; 1902, 369; 1903, 435
1904, 489; 1905, 528
Eliot, Samuel A., 241, 242, 243
Elkins, Stephen B., 9, 11, 12, 17, 29, 30, 57,
68, 75, 88, 103, 103, 122, 126, 130, 131,
194, 355, 356, 492
Elkins, Mrs. Stephen B., 40, 70
Ellis, John W., 30, 75, 140
Ells, Warner, 222, 308, 310, 331, 346, 350,
356, 367, 394, 398, 451, 489, 528

Emerson, N. W., 13, 30

Enos, H. K., 30, 46, 54, 68, 96, 102

Evans, Elmer O., 427

Evans, H. Clay, 311

Evans, Mason, 451, 452

Ewing, Hampton, 426

Ewing, Miss, 44, 51, 70

Ewing, Thomas, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 29, 30, 35, 39, 40, 41,
43, 44, 46, 49, 54, 56, 57, 68, 73, 75, 84,
87, 88, 89, 92, 98, 100, 104, 117, 119, 121,
125, 126, 140, 151, 159, 163, 165, 166, 189,
190, 194, 222

Ewing, Mrs. Thomas, 40, 219, 280

Ewing, Thomas, Jr., 44, 145, 157, 165, 166,
218, 219, 222, 240, 248, 284, 306, 307, 310,
347, 356, 367, 368, 369, 380, 394, 397, 398,
426, 435, 446, 450, 487, 488, 490, 491, 513,
514, 515, 516, 528

Ewing, Mrs. Thomas, Jr., 219, 331, 367

Fairbanks, Charles W., 32, 355, 356, 357, 362,

363, 490, 492, 493, 494, 497
Faunce, W. H. P., 356, 357
Fawcett, J. C., 32
Field, Henry M., 126
pisher, Frank L., 165
Fitch, Mrs. E. H., 311
Fitch, Winchester, 350, 356, 393, 398, 422,

446, 451, 452, 489, 491, 494, 528
Fitch, Mrs. Winchester, 311
Flagg, Jared B., 36, 37
Fleishman, Max, 30, 68
Flischman, Julius, 285
Fogg, William Perry, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14,

16, 22, 29, 31, 34, 35, 44, 46, 52, 53, 66,

67, 68, 75, 190, 351, 446, 447, 448, 452
FoUett, Austin W., 31, 44, 46, 68, 87, 194
FoUett, Edgar A., 166, 188, 218, 220, 240,

248, 253
FoUett, George, 8, 12, 29, 31, 44, 68, 162,

165, 222, 327, 366, 488
Foote, E. B., 239
Foraker, Joseph B., 56, 59, 232, 350, 351,

353, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 359, 451
Force, Manning F., 23
Ford, George, 33
Fordyce, John A., 240, 310
Foss," George Edmund, 449, 450, 451, 453,

471, 474
Foster, Charles, 17, 33, 125, 129, 130, 160,

231, 448, 455
Foster, Marion, 35
Foundation Principles, 3
Foye, Andrew Ernest, 247, 280, 283, 306,

307, 308, 310, 337, 331, 350, 356, 358,

367, 398, 421, 451, 489, 491, 494, 528
Foy^, Andrew J. C, 4, 5, 9, 12, 13, 29, 31,

35, 38, 40, 44, 47, 49, 53, 53, 54, 55, 56,

69, 70, 75, 87, 96, 103, 119, 120, 121, 125,

652

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Foy^, Andrew J. C. {Cont.)

139, 147, 148, 159, 16:;-', 163, 165, 166,
187, 188, 189, 194, 218, 219, 220, 222,
231, 236, 240, 242, 247, 248, 251, 280,

282, 284, 308, 309, 327, 328, 331, 345,
347, 349, 350, 351, 356, 365, 367, 393,
395, 397, 421, 436, 445, 448, 450, 488,
489, 490, 491, 513, 514, 516

Foy6, Mrs. A. J. C, 36, 219, 242, 252, 280,

311 352
Foye, Frank M., 31, 68, 194
French, H. L., 102
French, Hamlin Q., 31, 331
French, J. E., 368, 398
Frye, Wm. P., 285
Funk, Isaac K., 11, 31, 68
Fulton, Robert M., 491
Funston, Fred., 307

Galbreath, Mrs. C. C, 51

Galloway, Tod B., 490

Card, Anson A., 70

Gard, Mrs. Anson A., 70

Gardon, Hugh R., 123

Garfield, James A., 87, 310

Garfield, Mrs. Lucretia R., 36

Gavnor, Philip B., 494

Geddes, George W., 33

Gilbert, Cass, 347, 350, 398, 451, 489

Gillett, Benjamin W., 31, 68

Gillett, Francis M., 31, 68, 102

Gillett, Jerome D., 9, 12, 44, 46, 68, 188, 307

Gillett, M. G., 31

Gillett, Morillo H., 31, 68, 86

Gillett, IMiss, 51

Gilmore, Addison W., 310, 327, 366, 393,
398, 445, 491

Glassford, Henry A., 9, 31, 44, 46, 49, 52,
56, 67, 73, 85, 86, 88, 102, 108, 117, 121,
125, 159, 165, 194, 218, 222, 240, 251,

283, 308
Goddard, Calvin, 31
Goddard, Colin, 44
Goff, John W., 194, 195
Goodrich, B. F., 33
Gordon, Alexander, 241
Gordon, James Lindsay, 331, 345
Gorham, A. S., 31, 68, '489
Governing Committee, 29, 47
Governing Committee, Chairmen of

—1886, Burnett, H. L., 12
—1886, Burnett, H. L., 29
—1887, Burnett, H. L., 47
—1888, Dickson, John, 69
—1888, Glassford, H. A., 75
—1889, Packard, S. S., 87
—1890, Packard, S. S., 102
—1891, Archbold, J. D., 120
—1892, Fove, A. J. C, 144
—1893, Bates, D. H., 218

—1894, Bates, D. H., 218

—1895, Bates, D. H., 222

—1896, Palmer, Lowell M., 240

—1896, Chard, R. J., 240

—1897, Higley, Warren, 282

—1898, Hoyt, Colgate, 283

—1899, Ewing, Thomas, 308

—1900, Clarke, L. D., 328

—1901, Francis B. Stedman, 349

—1902, Newcomb, James G., 393

—1903, Candler, Flamen Bell, 445

—1904, Foye, A. E., 489

—1905, Hagar, A. F., 528
Granger, George F., 452
Granger, John T., 31, 68, 87, 102, 283, 307,

398, 488
Granger, Sherman M., 306
Grant, Fred D., 36, 492
Grant, Mrs. Fred D., 36
Grant, Harry C, 280
Grant, U. S., 87, 89, 140, 310, 491
Gray, D. S., 528
Gray, George, 285, 287
Green, Miss, 40

Green, Albert W., 4, 28, 31, 35, 68, 102, 166
Green, Edmn M., 31, 69
Griffith, G. F., 32
Griswold, A. Minor, 78, 89
Grosvenor, Chas. H., 17, 56, 60, 77, 79, 241,

242, 356
Grojean, J. H., 31
Groves, Mrs. Russell, 311
Guilford, Nathan, 222
Guiteau, John M., 39, 44, 52, 53, 75, 87, 102,

108, 115, 117, 121, 220
Guy, S. J., 36, 37

Hagar, Albert F., 308, 310, 327, 330, 331,

347, 348, 349, 356, 367, 368, 397, 488,

489, 528
Hain, Isaiah, 31
Hale, Harvey W., 33
Hall, Philander D., 31, 68
Halstead, Marshall, 46, 49, 70
Halstead, Murat, 17, 104, 123, 126, 240
Halstead, Mrs. Murat, 219
Hammond, D. S., 31
Hanford, R. G., 13, 31
Hanna, Marcus A., 33, 285, 309, 311, 350,

352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 360, 361,

396, 397, 413, 451, 455, 484
Hanover, M. D., 31, 67
Harbaugh, David F., 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 31, 68,

70, 218, 240, 247
Harding, Warren G., 493, 494, 503
Harman, George V., 31, 68
Harman, Granville W., 31, 68
Harman, John H., 54
Harman, John W., 4, 7, 13, 22, 23, 31, 68,

70, 85, 88, 118, 140, 141, 455

653

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Harman, Miss, 51

Harmon, E. M., 25:2

Harmon, Judson, 231, 252, 253, 262

Harper, William R., 285

Harraman, Curtis G., 102, 121, 125, 159,
162, 163, 165, 189, 218, 219, 222

Harriman, E. H., 492

Harrison, Benjamin, 17, 20, 60, 77, 87, 103,
116, 129, 231, 310, 349, 491

Harrison, Robert L., 450, 452

Harrison, Russell B., 126

Harrison, William Henry, 19, 87, 103, 310

Hart, Thomas N., 89

Harter, Michael D., 123, 159, 160

Haskins, Roy H., 528

Hatton, Frank, 17, 139

Hawk, Samuel, 28

Hawk, William S., 9, 31, 68, 73, 163, 166,
189, 194, 218, 222, 247, 251, 284, 310,
311, 327, 331, 356, 365, 367, 393, 398,
399, 421, 484, 490, 492, 512, 516, 528

Hawk, William L., 308

HawleA% Joseph R., 139, 241, 242

Hay, John, 139, 331, 349, 351, 352, 353, 354,
368, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 403, 407, 516

Hayes, Arthur S., 280

Hayes, Charles G., 284

Hayes, George S., 327, 346

Hayes, Rutherford B., 14, 21, 56, 77, 87,
146, 491

Hayes, Scott R., 494

Hayes, Webb C, 352

Hazen, Roland, 451, 489, 490, 491, 528

Hazen, W. B., 17

Heaton, William W., 31, 69, 75

Hedges, Charles, 356

Herbert, Sir Michael H., 396, 397, 39S

Herrick, Myron T., 439, 440, 445, 447, 449,
450, 451, 452, 454, 480, 486, 512

Hewitt, Abram S., 60, 253

Hewson, J. H., 68, 283

Hibbard, Georee B., 70, 87, 162, 188, 236

Hibben, J. H., 31

Higley, Warren, 4, 5, 22, 23, 31, 35, 39, 40,
44, 46, 49, 51, 54, 56, 59, 60, 68, 69, 70,
73, 85, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, 108, 117,
121, 125, 144, 146, 156, 162, 163, 165,
166, 168, 187, 189, 194, 218, 219, 222,
240, 245, 247, 251, 270, 280, 281, 282,
283, 284, 306, 307, 308, 309, 325, 327,
329, 331, 345, 346, 347, 349, 350, 352,
356, 365, 367, 368, 393, 394, 395, 397,
398, 427, 446, 448, 450, 451, 487, 488,
489, 490, 493, 494, 513, 514, 515, 516,
528

Higley, Mrs. Warren, 51, 219, 306, 311, 352

Hill, David J., 397

Hill, David B., 60

Hilles, Charles D., 398, 446, 451, 487, 489,
491, 494, 516

Hine, C. C, 31, 68

Hiscock, Frank, 139

Historian

—Kennedy, J. H., 394, 489, 528

History of the Society, Committee on, 448

Hoadley, George, 17, 36, 38, 44, 46, 57, 70,
75, 85, 92, 100, 251

Hoadley, Mrs. George, 36, 40, 70

Hoadley, Miss, 70

Hoagland, E. W., 75

Hoagland, C. N., 96, 102, 118, 140, 141,
143, 242, 347

Hoagland, Miss Ella J., 347

Hoagland, J. C, 248

Hoar, George F., 123, 219, 231

Hobbs, H. H., 87, 118, 194

Hoffer, W. H., 68

Hoffer, William M., 28, 31, 165

Holbrook, Mrs. 51

Hollowav, J. F., 73, 83, 85, 96, 98, 117, 157,
218,' 220

Holmes, AV. L., 285

Holt, George C, 493

Hopkins, Allison R., 247

Hopkins, Mrs. Allison R., 219

Hopkins, L. C, 31, 46, 145, 163, 166, 189,
194, 218, 219, 222, 247, 251, 307, 455

House Committee: 1886, 21; 1887, 34; 1887,
47; 1888, 75; 1889, 87; 1890, 102; 1891,
120; 1892, note p. 145; 1893, 165; 1894,
— ; 1895, 222; 1896, 240; 1897, — ; 1898,
— ; 1899, 308; 1900, 328; 1901, 349; 1902,
393; 1903, 445; 1904, 489; 1905, 528

Houston, A. D., 248, 310, 327, 347

Houston, Mrs. A. D., 311

Howard, James Q., 4, 5, 7, 14, 15, 21, 22,
23, 31, 44, 54, 68, 75

Howard, Mrs. J. Q., 36

Howard, O. O., 82

Howells, William D., 17, 32

Howes, Mrs. George, 311

Howlett, Giles N., 28, 31, 68

Hoyt, Misses, 366

Hoyt, Colgate, 31, 44, 68, 75, 236, 240, 247,
251, 282, 284, 306, 307, 308, 309, 337,
331, 345, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 353,
354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 362,
363, 364, 365, 366, 368, 374, 380, 383,
392, 393, 394, 396, 397, 398, 399, 401,
406, 407, 412, 415, 420, 422, 424, 426,
427, 436, 446, 447, 450, 484, 488, 489,
490, 492, 513, 514, 515, 516, 428

Hovt, Mrs. Colgate, 242

Hoyt, James H., 231, 235, 241, 244, 251,
253, 263, 311, 318, 349, 396, 397, 407,
441, 450, 486, 490, 528

Hoyt, Mrs. James H., 242

Hovt, Miss Jessie, 311

Hoyt, Wavland, 492

Hubbard, Thomas H., 312, 450, 452, 492

654

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Hubbv, Frank W., Jr., 451, 528
Hunt,' John L. N., 31, 68
Hlinter, William, 23, 31, 68
Hurd, Frank, 166
Hutchins, Miss, 51
Hutchinson, Grote, 427

Inauguration of Myron T. Herrick, 447
Incorporated, 54
Informal Dinner, 117
Ingalls, MelviUe E., 528

Jackson, Milton P., 489, 490, 491

Jackson, William H., 451, 452

James, Charles F., 285

Jefferson, Charles E., 492, 493, 494

Jenkins, V. Clement, 489

Jennings, A., 28

Jennings, J. AV., 307

Jennings, P. S., 31, 68, 240, 284, 398, 494

Jennings, W. H., 283, 306

Jewett, Hugh J., 4, 8, 31, 67

Jewett, W. K., 31, 68

Johnson, S. E., 366

Jones, B. ^., 17, 57

Jones, John P., 17, 33, 60, 355, 356, 426

Jones, William, 21

Juilllard, Augustus D., 9, 28, 31, 68, 73, 86,
140, 143, 145, 159, 219, 220, 231, 236,
240, 241, 248, 251, 282, 347, 398, 450

Julies, H. S., 356, 368, 397

Keifer, Warren J., 250

Kennedj% James H., 356, 366, 367, 368, 369,

371, 394, 395, 398, 422, 424, 446, 447,

452, 490, 528
Kennedy, R. F., 60
Kidd, George W^, 32
Kilbourne, James, 528
King, Thomas S., 31, 68
Kingsbury, F. H., 188, 194, 220, 222, 236,

248, *309, 455
Kincsley, H. L., 241
Kimball, R. C, 13, 14, 23, 31, 68, 166
Kimball, William C, 33
Kniselv, William, 31, 68
Knox, "p. C, 353, 355, 356, 359
Krans, Edwin H., 312
Kurtz, C. L., 285

Ladies, Entertainments for, 34, 35, 37, 49,

70, 162, 187, 246, 280, 306, 329, 345, 366,

425, 448, 491
Ladies' Ohio Society, 347
Lahm, Frank M., 31, 68
Lake, Carson, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 31, 35,

36, 37, 44, 49, 52, 53, 54, 56, 60, 68, 75, 85
Lake, Mrs. Carson, 70
Landis, Charles B., 449, 450, 452, 454, 474,

483, 528

Langstreet, Mrs. John H., 311
Larocque, Joseph, 194, 195, 216
Lauer, E., 31

Lawrence, Frank R., 125, 138
Lawson, D. T., 13, 31
Laying, J. D., 435
Leavitt, John B., 13, 31

Lee, Homer, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 21,
25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 40,
44, 46, 49, 54, 56, 67, 70, 75, 87, 89.
92, 101, 102, 104, 117, 120, 121, 125,
147, 159, 163, 166, 189, 190, 194, 218,
219, 222, 231, 240, 242, 245, 251, 253,
284
Lee, Mrs. Homer, 219, 242, 252
Lee, Joseph, 421
Lee, John Lloyd, 349
Lee, W. D., 31

Lefler, Charles W., 307, 425, 426, 446, 452
Le Fevre, Benjamin, 54, 87
Leland, Warren F., 247
Leonard, Wm. A., 394, 397, 401, 422, 446,

490, 528
Letters and Telegrams received

—Allison, W. B., 232

—Burnett, H. L., 54

— Bushnell, Asa S., 235, 248

— Campbell, James E., 89, 116

— Clemens, Samuel L., 341

— Cortelyou, George B., 348

—Cox, S. S., 17, 77

—Dick, Charles F., 455

— Fogg, William Perry, 67

— Foraker, Joseph B., 59, 232, 354

— Hay, John, 354

— Hayes, Rutherford B., 77

—Hoar, George F., 123

— Hoyt, Colgate, 456

— Hoyt and McCook, 447

— Hanna, Marcus A., 354

—Mark Twain, 341

— McKinley, William, by John Addison
Porter, 251

—McKinley, William, 232

—Morton, Levi P., 139

— Mosley, John B., 92

— Parkhurst, C. H., 214

— Patenotre, 139

— Rosecrans, W. S., 77

— Reid, Whitelaw, 89

— Schenck, 77

— Sherman, John, 59, 89

— Upson, William Ford, 69
Lewis, S. C, 166
Lexow, Clarence, 194
Linn, Andrew, 327, 350
Lloyd, William S., 31, 69
Loeb, Solomon, 143
Long, J. A., 33
Long Lost Son of Ohio, 422

655

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Longworth, Nicholas, 450, 452

Loomis, Francis B., 397

Loud, Enos B., 33

Lounsbury, 105

Loveland, Frank C, 32, 44, 70, 75, 85, 87,

102, 165, 218, 222, 240, 247, 251, 280,

306, 308
Loveland, Mrs. Frank C, 70
Loving Cup presented to L. H. CraU, 366
Low, Seth, 194, 195, 200, 353, 356, 358, 397
Lowes, J. E., 285
Lozier, H. A., 455
Lyall, WiUiam, 252
Lyman, Henry D., 368, 398, 451, 528
Lynn, Andrew, 356

MacCracken, Henry M., 102, 140, 143, 144,

159, 161, 190, 252, 488, 489
Mack, Isaac Foster, 528
Mackev, Charles W., 252
Magrath, C. D., 451
Manderson, Charles F., 166
Mather, Samuel, 331, 345, 356, 367, 397, 393,

486, 490, 528

Matthews, Frederic L., 446, 489

Matthews, Stanley, 14, 33

Maxwell, Sidney D., 117

Mayo, Wallace, 8, 31, 68

McBride, John H., 33

McCall, John A., 126

McCall, Mrs. John A., 311

McClure, Alexander K., 126, 135

McCook, Mrs. Anson G., 40, 240, 242, 306,
331

McCook, John J., 126, 222, 251, 284, 331,
347, 356, 367, 392, 397, 435, 436, 437,
439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 450, 451,
453, 454, 470, 474, 479, 483, 484, 486,

487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 494, 496,
499, 501, 503, 507, 509, 510, 511, 512,
513, 514, 515, 516, 528

McCracken, W. V., 31, 68, 70

McDonald, Joseph, E., 17

McFadden, F. T., 13, 31

McFall, Gaylord, 13, 31

McGill, George W., 31

McGufFey, Edward M., 31

McKelway, St. Clair, 126, 138, 194, 195, 205

McKinley, Abner, 251, 282, 284

McKinley, Mrs. Abner, 311

McKinley, Miss Mabel, 311

McKinley, William, 17, 122, 160, 166, 170,
187, 188, 194, 217, 231, 232, 236, 251,
286, 309, 310, 311, 313, 323, 325, 345,
346, 348, 349, 491

McKinley, Mrs. Wm., 311, 348

McKinney, R. C, 241, 285

McKisson, Robert E., 231

McLean, George P., 331, 344

McLean, John R., 60

McMahon, Fulton, 194, 218

McMUlan, Emerson, 247, 251, 309, 327, 331,

350, 395, 487, 488, 490, 516, 528
McMillan, Samuel, 220, 222, 240, 248, 253,

306, 331, 345
McMillan, Mrs., 252
McPherson, James B., 87
Means, William, 33
Members

— First official election of, 13
—List of, to April, 1886, 30
Membership Committee, first appointed by

President, 446
Membership
— Letter to members regarding Ohioans

eligible to, 351
— Letter to those eligible to, 161
— Reception to Ohioans eligible to, 484
Merriam, William R., 194
Merritt, Wesley, 284, 285, 301
Merser, E. P., 327
Merser, I. Pennock, 455
Miles, Nelson A., 194, 356
Miller, Gus M., 31, 68
Miller, J. W., 31

Miller, Marion M., 163. 163, 165, 188, 189
Miller, Warner, 125, 138
Mills, D. O., 125
Mills, Mrs. D. O., 126
Mihnine, C. E., 87, 102
Milmine, George, 49, 56, 73, 85, 87, 95, 104,

117, 222, 241
Miner, Karl R., 528
Mitchell, John Q., 15, 22. 23, 29, 31, 35, 44,

46, 49, 54, 56. 67, 70, 75, 218, 232, 240
Monahan, John W., 165
Monett, Henrv. 31, 46, 67
Monsarrat, Nicholas, 451, 490, 528
Moonev, Robert Johnstone. 445, 489, 528
Moore,' Carv W., 31, 44, 69, 70, 75, 87, 96,

222, 240, 280
Moore, Mrs. Carv W., 70
Moore, Charles A., 347, 356, 450, 494
Moore, John B., 285
Moore, John P., 352
Moore, Lycurgus B., 13, 31
Morgan, Henry M., 32
Morgan, J. P.,' 397
Morgan, RoUin M., 284, 306, 308, 309, 328,

331, 356
Morris, Charles W., 236, 282, 327, 347, 367,

435, 487
Morrison, George A., 166
Morrison, Leonard D., 282, 284, 306, 307,

327, 331, 350, 356, 367, 393, 395, 398,

445, 451, 452, 487, 488, 489, 494, 515,

516

656

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Morse, H. J., 75, 451, i52, 494, 516

Morse, Theodore G., 31

Morton, Levi P., 17, 139, 311

Mosby, John B., 92

Moss, Jay O., 4, 31, 49, 56, 75, 398, 450

Moulton, Charles W., 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, !•?, 13,
14, 15, 21, 22, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40,
44, 46, 52, 53, 67, 163, 189, 190

Moulton, Mrs. C. W., 36, 39, 40

Moulton, J. S., 87

Moulton, Sherman, 44, 69

Munson, William S., 13, 31

Munroe, Robert |F., 356

Musical Program, 37, 50, 71, 247, 325, 329,
330, 365, 425, 450

Nash, George K., 311, 321, 331, 343, 349,

352, 369, 374, 375, 397
Newberry, J. S., 13, 31
Newcomb, James G., 253, 280, 283, 284, 310,

327, 331, 350, 356, 393, 427, 435, 446,

450, 489, 490, 516, 528
Nevv^on, Ensign, 31, 69

New York University subscription fund, 141
Nichol, Thomas M., '31
Nicholas, Frederic M., 446
Niehaus, Charles H., 306, 308, 327, 350, 393,

445, 447, 452, 453
Noble, John W., 159
Noble, Mark A., 491, 528
Nominating Committee: 1886, 23; 1887, 46;

1888, 70; 1889, 85; 1890, 96; 1891, 117;

1892, 145 (see note); 1893, 162; 1894,

188; 1895, 220; 1896, 236; 1897, 248;

1898, 283; 1899, 307; 1900, 327; 1901,

346; 1902, 366; 1903, 427; 1904, 487;

1905, 516
Nye, Theo. S., 46, 87, 93, 165, 218, 222

Oberholser, Jacob, 31, 68

Ochs, Adolph S., 451, 452

Odell, Benjamin, Jr., 358

Ogden, Robert C, 356, 450, 452, 493

Oglebay, E. W., 451, 490

O'Gorman, James A., 312

Ohioans, Reception to, 426

Ohio Field, 140, 143, 144

Ohio Night, 145, 158, 325

Ohio Societies, 512

Ohio Society of Philadelphia, 490

Oldham, J.L., 32

Organization, Permanent, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Organization, Preliminary, 3, 4, 5

Origin of the Society, History of, 27, 28

Orr, Wm. P., 241, 285

Osborne, Mrs. Emma Archer, 353

Otis, Charles A., 245

Outhwaite, Joseph H., 122, 166, 183

Paar, Charles L., 350, 394

Packard, Miss, 252

Packard, Silas S., 73, 87, 88, 96, 97, 98, 100,
102, 108, 116, 117, 118, 121, 125, 139, 140,
141, 145, 147, 158, 162, 163, 165, 166,
188, 189, 190, 194, 214, 218, 220, 222, 231
236, 240, 242, 248, 251, 267, 270, 281 '

Packard, Mrs. S. S., 219, 242, 252, 280, 282,
307

Palmer, LoweU M., 32, 68, 87, 166, 188, 240,
284, 310, 331, 356, 367, 368, 397, 435,
450, 451

Parker, Andrew McClean, 435, 491, 494

Parker, Edward W., 494

Parker, George M., 491

Parker, James, 13, 32, 366

Parker, Orrel A., 394, 398, 451, 452, 488, 489,
490, 491, 494, 516, 528

Parkhurst, Charles H., 195, 214

Parsons, Samuel H., 283, 284, 310, 327, 331,
345, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 356, 364, 365,
367, 368, 369, 397, 420, 435, 446, 450,
453, 484, 488, 489, 490, 516, 528

Parsons, Mrs. S. H., 311

Patterson, John H., 450, 528

Patrick, E. H., 491

Pavey, Frank T., 284, 451

Payne, Henry B., 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 33

Pease, George L., 87

Peet, Charles B., 75, 87, 96, 102, 103, 120,
163, 165, 166, 188, 189, 218, 222

Peet, William C, 13, 32

Peixotto, B. F., 13, 32, 35, 36, 37, 39, 51,
70, 85, 87, 100

PeLxotto, George D. M., 70, 72, 73, 75, 350,

Pendleton, Francis Key, 92, 490, 528

Pendleton, Geo. H., 36, 92, 100

Pendleton, Raymond C, 280, 307, 310, 331,

350, 356, 365, 393
Penfield, Mrs., 252
Penfield, Mrs. R. C, 311
Permanent Organization, Committee on, 5

— Committee Increased, 7
Perkins, George W., 231, 251, 347, 368, 398,

450, 490, 528
Perkins, Mrs., 311
Perry, Miss, 70
Peters, Bernard, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 32, 46, 68,

73, 102 » . »

Peters, Mrs. Bernard, 280
Phelps, E. J., 139
Phillip, M. B., 32

Pictures Exhibited, 37, 50, 72, 162, 353
Pierson, Frank H.. 32
Plimpton, Henrv B. C. 247, 280 «8'' 084

306, 307, 308, 310, 327, 331, 349, 350, "356

657

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Plumb, P. B., 33, 44, 60, 77

Pool, Harvvood R., 32, 35, 46, 68

Pool, Joseph, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 29, 32, 35,

40, 44, 47, 68, 75
Pool, Mrs. Joseph, 36, 40
Porter, D. M., 28

Porter, Horace, 126, 166, 178, 241, 245
Porter, John Addison, 251
Portrait, A. R. Chaffee, 484

— E. L. Drake, 484

—A. J. C. Foye, 516

— James A. Garfield, 346

— ^^Villiam Henry Harrison, 85

— William Henry Harrison, 103

—Myron T. Herrick, 512

— Cornelius N. Hoagland, 347

—Charles W. Moulton, 190

—Silas S. Packard, 307

—William T. Sherman, 95

—William T. Sherman, 148

—William L. Strong, 187

—William L. Strong, 190

— Wager Swayne, 117

—William H. Taft, 484
Post, Charles A., 32, 69
Potter, Henry C, 231, 252, 253, 255
Powell, J. H., 33

Prentiss, Evarts L., 162, 188, 220, 222, 236,
237, 238, 248, 250, 251, 280, 284, 306, 307,
310, 327, 331, 347, 349, 350, 356, 366, 368,
393 398
Prentiss, Frederick C, 13, 32
Prentiss, Frederick J., 13, 32
Presidents

— Preliminary Organization, Ewing,
Thomas, 5

—1886, Ewing, Thomas, 8

—1886, Ewing, Thomas, 29

—1887, Ewing, Thomas, 46

— 1888, Swayne, AVager, 73

—1889, Swayne, Wager, 85

— 1890, Swavne, Wager, 96

—1891, Strong, Wm. L., 117

—1892, Strone, Wm. L., 145

—1893, Strong, Wm. L., 162

—1894, Burnett, Henry L., 188

—1895, Burnett, Henry L., 220

—1896, Burnett, Henry L., 236

—1897, Burnett, Henry L., 248

—1898, Southard, Milton I., 282

—1899, Southard, Milton I., 307

—1900, Southard, Milton I., 327

—1901, Hovt, Colgate, 347

—1902, Hovt, Colgate, 367

—1903, McCook, J. J., 435

—1904, McCook, J. J., 488

—1905, McCook, J. J., 516
President's Badge, 163

— Speech of presentation, 165
PrettjTnan, H. H., 231, 241

Pritchard, Daniel, 32, 44, 102, 117, 165, 222,

251, 306, 308, 310, 446
Pryor, Roger A., 77, 80
Putnam, Rufus, 27, 87, 219, 245

Quinn, W. H., 13

Raff, Norman C, 356, 398, 445, 451, 488, 489

Randolph, George F., 331

Rea, Samuel, 493

Recording Secretary
—1886, Lake, Carson, 8
—1886, Mitchell, J. G., 29
—1887, Upson, William Ford, 46
—1888, Bliss, Charles F., 73
—1889, Bruch, Edw. B., 85
—1890, Bruch, Edw. B., 96
—1891, HoUis, H. H., 118
—1892, Ewing, Thomas, Jr., 145
—1893, Miller, Marion M., 162
—1894, Miller, Marion M., 188
—1895, Swayne, Noah H., 2d, 220
—1896, Swayne, Noah H., 2d, 236
—1897, Swayne, Noah H., 2d, 248
—1898, Sullivan, Walter S., 282
—1899, Sullivan, Walter S., 307
—1900, Morris, Charles W., 327
—1901, Morris, Charles W., 347
—1902, Morris, Charles W., 367
—1903, Morris, Charles W., 435
—1904, Stewart, Seth Thaver, 488
—1905, Stewart, Seth Thayer, 516

Reed, Joel, 28

Reed, Thomas, 28

Raid, Whitelaw, 8, 12, 16, 22, 28, 29, 32,
46, 49, 56, 57, 68, 75, 89, 124, 125, 126,
129, 131, 137, 140, 236, 239, 251, 284,
285, 295, 309, 331, 347, 354, 356, 367,
397, 398, 399, 450, 490, 528

Reid, Mrs. Whitelaw, 126, 399

Reinmund, H, J., 33, 166

Resolutions

—In honor of H. L. Burnett, 271 to 278
— In honor of Mayor-elect Strong, 188
— In memory of James M. Ashley, 236
— In memory of J. Munroe Brown, 23
— In memory of Asa S. Bushnell, 448
— In memory of S. S. Cox, 84
— In memorj' of Thomas Ewing, 222 to

229
— In memory of Charles Foster, 448
— In memory of A. J. C. Foy^, 514
— In honor of Marcus A. Hanna, 484
— In memory of John Hay, 516 to 527
— In memory of Rutherford B. Hayes, 146
— In memory of George Hoadley, 367
— In memory of Wm. Hunter, 23
— In memory of William McKinley, 345
— In memory of Mrs. McKinley, 251
— In memory of Charles W. Moulton, 52

658

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Resolutions (Cont.)
— In memory of Geo. K. Nash, 490
— In memory of Silas S. Packard, 281
— In memory of Wm. T. Sherman, 108 to

115
— In memory of M. I. Southard, 513
— In memory of Wager Swayne, 394
— In memory of Wm. L. Tidball, 147
— In memory of Samuel Thomas, 395
— In memory of William Windom, 103

Rice, W. T., 144

Richards, John K., 311, 353, 356

Richardson, J. M., 231

Rickoff, Andrew J., 14, 32, 68

Ricksecker, Theo., 32, 46, 68, 222

Riley, James Whitcomb, 104

Rixey, P. M., 311

Roberts, Ellis H., 159, 166

Robinson, Daniel, Jr., 33, 166, 345, 451

Rockefeller, John D., 240, 397

Rockwell, C. O., 36

Rockwell, Mrs. C. O., 36

Rodarmor, John F., 32, 166, 222

Rodgers, Frederick, 449, 450, 452

Roe, Gilbert E., 492

Rooms at Waldorf-Astoria, 247

Roosevelt, Robert B., 356

Roosevelt, Theodore, 232, 309, 311, 323, 325,
399

Root, E. W., 32, 69

Root, Henrv B., 345

Rosecrans, W. S., v7, 104

Ruch, Lewis C, 398, 427, 446, 451, 490, 494,
528

Rusk, J. M., 104, 122, 139

Russell, George S., 490

Russell, William E., 104

Ruthrauff, Charles C, 494

Ryan, Patrick, 356, 366, 398, 451, 452, 494

St. Clair, Arthur, 87
Sadler, J. F., 32, 69
Safford, W. M., 4, 32, 69
Sanford, Mrs., 242
Sargent, Winthrop, 27
Savler, JNIilton, 4, 33
Scarritt, Winthrop E., 512
Schenck, General, 17, 77
Schmidlapp, J. G., 450, 490, 528
Schooley, John C, 32, 75
Schuckers, J. W., 85
Schwan Louis M., 4, 32
Scott, George, 33, 103
Scott, Ir\ing M., 355
Scott, N. B., 355, 356, 492
Scovel, Sylvester F., 166, 182
Seal, design adopted, 14
Secretary
— Preliminary Organization, Harbaugh,
David F., 5

—1886, Lee, Homer, 8
—1886, Lee, Homer, 29
—1887, Lee, Homer, 46
—1888, Higley, Warren, 73
—1889, Higley, Warren, 85
—1890, Higley, Warren, 96
—1891, Upson, Wm. Ford, 118
—1892, Upson, Wm. Ford, 145
—1893, Prentiss, Evarts L., 162
—1894, Prentiss, Evarts L., 188
—1895, Prentiss, Evarts L., 220
—1896, Prentiss, Evarts L., 236
—1897, Prentiss, Evarts L., 248
—1898, Blymyer, Wm. H., 282
—1899, Blymyer, Wm. H., 307
—1900, Hagar, Albert F., 327
—1901, Hagar, Albert f ., 347
—1902, Applegate, Francis M., 367
— 1903, Applegate, Francis M., 435
— 1904, Applegate, Francis M., 488
— 1905, Applegate, Francis M., 516

Seigfried, A. H., 32

Severance, Louis H., 283, 284, 452

Seward, Wm. H., 397

Shattuck, Mrs. A. D., 352

Shaw, Albert, 327, 350, 445, 489, 528

Shaw, James G., 494

Shaw, Leslie M., 492

Shayne, Christopher C, 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 70,
73, 190, 194, 218, 219, 233, 237, 238, 239,
251, 280, 283, 284, 356

Shayne, Mrs. Christopher C, 51, 219

Sheldon, Frank L., 327

Sheridan, Philip H., 14, 60, 87, 89

Sherlock, James, 356

Sherman, Hoyt, 455

Sherman, Miss, 36, 51

Sherman, John, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 33, 43,
46, 56, 59, 89, 104, 188, 253, 307, 400,
452

Sherman, P. Tecumseh, 231, 394, 398, 446,
451, 452, 489, 528

Sherman, William T., 13, 36, 57, 60, 87, 88,
89, 91, 92, 93, 108, 115, 119, 145, 233, 437

Sherman, Mrs. W. T., 36

Shillito, Wallace, 13, 33

Shoppell, R. W., 33

Shotwell, Theodore, 32, 68

Shotwell, William W., 32, 68

Silk banner presented by John T. Granger,
283

Silver wedding of First Cleveland Troop,
367

Sindelar, Thomas A., 400, 493

Sisson, H. H., 85, 165, 350, 356, 487

Sloan, John, 159

Slocum, J. J., 21, 29, 32, 33, 68

Smith, Ballard, 126

Smith, Isabell, 36

Smith, John A., 32, 69, 102, 162, 188

659

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Smith, Richard, 17, 126
Smith, Mrs. Sydney, 311
Smith, WiUiam Henry, 14, 17, <2-2, 23, 29, 32,

56, 68, 87, 97
Southard, Milton I,, 4, 5, 7, 8, 23, 32, 44,
54, 68, 73, 92, 100, 102, 104, 145, 162,
163, 166, 188, 194, 220, 222, 231, 236, 240,
242, 248, 251, 280, 282, 283, 284, 285,
287, 306, 307, 309, 311, 312, 313, 325,
327, 328, 330, 331, 341, 345, 347, 348,
349, 350, 351, 356, 366, 367, 394, 395,
397, 398, 427, 443, 445, 447, 448, 450,
451, 452, 484, 488, 489, 490, 512
Southard, Mrs. M. I., 36, 219, 252, 280, 306,

311, 512
Souvenir of Army and Navy Banquet, 452

—Plate, 400
Speech, Beck, J. M., 364

— Beveridge, A. J., 363

— Bliss, Cornelius N., 80

— Brice, Calvin S., 92

— Bruce, M. Linn, 501

—Burnett, Henry L., 156, 196, 232, 443

— Bushnell, Asa S., 233, 242, 253, 299

— Cassini, Count, 406

— Choate, Joseph H., 234

— Coghlan, J. B., 510

—Campbell, James E., 30, 105, 122, 160,
322, 383

— Canfield, J. H., 429

— Dana, Charles A., 65

—Dayton, L. M., 115

— Depevv, Chauncey, 63, 87, 90, 132, 415

— Elkins, Stephen B., 130

—Eliot, Samuel A., 243

— Ewing, Thomas, 9, 17, 41, 57, 73, 89, 151

— Ewing, Thomas, Jr., 157, 380

—Fairbanks, Charles W., 363, 497

— Fogg, William Perry, 53

— Foraker, Joseph B.,359

—Foster, Charles, 130

— Foss, G. E., 471

— Goff, John W., 209

—Gray, George, 286

— Griswold, A. Minor, 78

— Grosvenor, C. H., 79

— Guiteau, John M., 115

— Hanna, Marcus A., 361, 413

—Harding, W. G., 503

— Harmon, Judson, 262

— Harrison, Benjamin, 104, 116, 231

— Hawley, Joseph R., 243

— Hay, John, 403

— Herrick, Myron T., 440, 480

— Higley, Warren, 168

— Hoadiev, George, 65

— Holloway, J. F., 157

—Howard, O. O., 82

— Hoyt, Colgate, 358, 369, 401, 436

— Hoyt, James H., 263, 318, 407, 441

— Hutchinson, Grote, 427

— Kennedy, James H., 371

—Knox, P. C, 359

— Landis, C. B., 474

— Larocque, Joseph, 216

—Low, Seth, 200

— Lounsbury, 105

— McClure, Alexander K., 135

— McCook, J. J., 392, 437, 454, 494, 496

— McKelway, St. Clair, 138, 205

— McKinley, William, 170, 217, 313

— McLean, George P., 344

— Merritt, Wesley, 301

—Nash, George K., 321, 343, 375

— Outhwaite, Joseph H., 183

—Packard, S. S., 147, 158, 214, 267, 270

—Plumb, P. B., 44

— Porter, Horace, 178

—Potter, Henry C, 255

— Pryor, Roger A., 80

— Reid, Whitelaw, 61, 126, 295

—Roosevelt, Theodore, 323

— Scovil, S. F., 182

— Sherman, John, 18

— Sherman, William Tecumseh, 60, 91

—Southard, Milton I., 285, 312, 341, 443

— Spitzer, CeUan M., 450

— Spitzer, Lyman, 451, 452

— Spooner, John C, 355, 356, 358

— Sprague, Charles, 32, 69, 87

—Strong, William L., 155, 166, 198, 259

— Swayne, Wager, 45, 54, 64, 104, 115, 126,
146, 148, 268

— Taft, W. H., 457

— Thoman, Le Roy D., 107

— Towne, C. A., 508

—Wade, L. F., 509

— Walden, John IM., 177

—Watson, David K., 108

— Wheeler, Joseph, 345

— Windom, William, 61, 81

—Wise, John S., 90

—Woodruff, Timothy L., 316

—Wolf, Simon, 77
Standing Committees: 1885, 14, 22; 1886, 29

1887, ; 1888, 75; 1889, 87, 1890, 102

1891, ; 1892, note p. 145; 1893, 165

1894, 218; 1895, 222; 1896, 240; 1897
251; 1898, 283; 1899, 308; 1900, 327
1901, 350; 1902, 393, 394; 1903, 445, 446
1904, 489; 1905, 528
Staples, H. B. B., 166
Stedman, Emory A., 331, 368, 397, 446, 490,

528
Stedman, Edmund C, 356, 397
Stedman, Francis B., 284, 307, 308, 310, 331,

328, 349, 350, 356, 366, 368, 398
Steele, J. Nevett, 492
Stelling, Frank S., 528
Sterl, O. W., 33

660

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Sterling, F. W., 44

Sterling, T. \V., 117

Stem, Louis, 450, 452

Stevenson, J. Ross, 450, 453

Stewcart, George D., 397

Stewart, Seth Thayer, 487, 488, 489, 494, 516

Stewart, W. M., 355, 356

Stone, Melville E., 493

Stout, John W., 15, 32, 44, 46, 68, 85, 87, 96,

102, 145, 162
Stout, William L., 491
Straus, Oscar S., 493
Strong, Clayton E., 452
Strong, Miss, 51, 70
Strong, Mrs. Hannah B., 21
Strong, Putnam Bradlee, 240, 247, 251, 280,

307, 308, 310, 327

Strong, William L., 4, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16,
21, 28, 29, 32, 35, 40, 43, 44, 46, 49, 52,
54, 56, 57, 68, 70, 73, 85, 87, 88, 93, 96,
102, 104, 117, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 139,

140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155,
159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 169, 176, 178, 181,
183, 186, 188, 189, 190, 194, 195, 198, 218,
219, 222, 231, 235, 239, 240, 242, 247, 248,
252, 253, 259, 279, 280, 284, 287, 306, 307,

308, 309, 326

Strong, Mrs. W. L., 36, 40, 70, 219, 242, 245,
252, 280, 306, 311

Struble, I. J., 32, 69

Struble, J. J., 44

Subscription dinner, 16

Sullivan, Algernon S., 8, 11, 16, 21, 23, 28,
29, 32, 44, 46, 47, 68

Sullivan, Mrs." Algernon S., 40, 41, 280

Sullivan, Walter S., 282, 306, 307, 310, 331,
451, 452

SwajTie, Francis B., 284, 451, 452

Swayne, Noah H., 2d, 220, 235, 236, 248, 251,
280, 282, 283, 306, 308

Swayne, Wager, 8, 11, 16, 21, 22, 29, 32, 44,
46, 49, 52, 54, 56, 57, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74,
75, 77, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 92, 96,
100, 103, 104, 105, 115, 116, 117, 118, 121,
123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130, 137, 139, 140,

141, 144, 146, 147, 148, 155, 159, 161. 163,
165, 166, 187, 189, 194, 219, 222, 231, 236,
237, 239, 240, 245, 247, 251, 252, 268, 270,
280, 281, 283, 284, 285, 306, 309, 312, 326,
327, 331, 345, 348, 356, 367, 394, 395

Swayne, Mrs. Wager, 51, 280, 306, 395

Taft, Charles P., 450, 452
Taft, Henry P., 516
Taft, Henry W., 450, 490, 528
Taft, William Howard, 448, 449, 450, 451,
453, 457, 470

Taggart, Rush, 240, 331, 347, 348, 350, 450
Tangeman, George P., 102, 145, 240, 247, 253,

284
Taylor, Frederick, 160

Taylor, S. Frederick, 398, 427, 451, 452, 489
Taylor, Robert W., 145, 159, 241, 245, 450,

452
Tegethoff, Charles C, 451, 490
Terrell, H. L., 32, 68
Thoman, Leroy D., 107
Thomas, Abner C, 108
Thomas, Mrs. Abner C, 352
Thomas, Augustus, 355, 358, 397
Thomas, Eben B., 222, 231, 240, 251, 368, 398,

435, 450, 487, 488, 490, 516, 528
Thomas, Oscar B., 350, 356, 393, 528
Thomas, Samuel, 4, 32, 35, 40, 54, 75, 121,
125, 140, 166, 222, 240, 242, 247, 280, 306,
309, 331, 395, 455
Thomas, Mrs. Samuel, 40, 70
Thompson, A. C, 77, 81
Thompson, Landon S., 327, 350
Thurman, Allan G., 17, 116, 220
Thurman, Mrs., 220
Thwing, Charles F., 516
ThjTig, Charles H., 32, 68
Tichenor, George C, 231
TidbaU, William F., 147
Tifft, Henry N., 493
Towne, Charles A., 492, 494, 508
Towne, Henry R., 311
Townsend, John P., 166
Tracy, Benjamin F., 450, 452
Train, Frederick C, 102, 165, 194, 247, 284
Treasurer

—1886, Fogg, Wm. Perry, 8

—1886, Fogg, Wm. Perry, 29

—1887, Fogg, Wm. Perry, 46

—1888, Crall, Leander H., 73

—1889, Crall, Leander H., 85

—1890, Crall, Leander H., 96

—1891, Crall, Leander H., 118

—1892, Crall, Leander H., 145

—1893, Crall, Leander H., 162

—1894, Crall, Leander H., 188

—1895, Crall, Leander H., 220

—1896, Crall, Leander H., 236

—1897, Crall, Leander H., 248

—1898, Crall, Leander H., 282

—1899, Crall, Leander H., 307

—1900, Crall, Leander H., 327

—1901, Parsons, Samuel H., 347

—1902, Parsons, Samuel H., 367

—1903, Parsons, Samuel H., 435

—1904, Higley, Warren, 488

—1905, Higley, Warren, 516

661

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Truax, Charles H., 245

Truesdale, William H., 490, 528

Trustees: 1888, 73; 1889, 85, 87; 1890, 96;

1891, 118; 1892, 145; 1893, 162; 1894,
188; 1895, 220; 1896, 236; 1897, 248;

1898, 282; 1899, 307; 1900, 327; 1901,
347; 1902, 367; 1903, 435; 1904, 488;
1905, 516

Tunison, Joseph S., 32, 68

Turle, Robert H., 331

Tuttle, Franklin, 51, 102, 144, 162, 165, 187,

188, 218, 220, 222, 236, 240, 283, 516
Twain, Mark, 104, 341

Upton, W. H., 17

Upson, Ralph Hazlett, 70

Upson, William ford, 23, 32, 34, 35, 39, 46,

68, 69, 75, 85, 102, 118, 125, 145, 253, 280,

284, 310, 327
Upson, Mrs. William Ford, 311
Upson, William H., 17, 33

Vail, Henry H., 118, 240, 247
Vaillant, Miss, 51
Vaillant, George H., 32, 68
Vance, Wilson, 366
Van Tine, H. C, 33
Van Wyck, Augustus, 159, 355
Varnum, James M., 123
Vaudeville Program, 325
Venable, W. H., 60, 168
Verdery, Marion J., 492

Vice-Presidents: 1886, 8; 1886, 29; 1887, 46;
1888, 73; 1889, 85; 1890, 96; 1891, 117;

1892, 145; 1893, 162; 1894, 188; 1895,
220; 1896, 236; 1897, 248; 1898, 282;

1899, 307; 1900, 327; 1901, 347; 1902,
367; 1903, 435; 1904, 488; 1905, 516

Visitors' Register, first, 21, 27

von Hengervar, Ladislaus Hengelmuller,

396, 397, 398
von Holleben, 398

von Quadt-Wykradt-Isny, Count A., 396,

397, 398

Vrooman, John W., 241, 252, 331

Wade, James F., 492, 494, 509

Waggoner, Ralph H., 32, 73, 85, 86, 87, 102,

108
Waite, Morrison R., 14, 17, 33, 38, 39, 72, 73
Waite, Morrison R., Mrs., 187
Walden, John M., 166, 177
Walker, J. P., 44

WaUace, Edw. S., 165, 218, 222, 252
Wallace, Mrs. E. S., 252
Wallace, William J., 194

Waltman, H. F., 222, 240

Waltman, H. H., 253

Waltman, H. T., 251

Ward, Durbin, 17

Ward, Mrs. Freeman, 252

Ward, F. F., 307

Ward, J. Q. A., 11, 14, 32, 68, 75, 96, 103,

104, 105, 117, 140, 143, 144, 145, 163, 165,

166, 218, 222, 240, 251, 283, 284, 310
Warner, Willard, 160
Warren, Charles E., 494
Washington, George, 87
Watson, David Kemper, 490
Watson, J. Crittendon, 449, 450, 452, 454,

483
Watson, MerriU, 393, 395, 398, 422, 423, 445,

452
Weeks, John E., 494
Weir, Louis C, 347, 368, 397
Weir, Mrs. L. C, 219
Welch, John J., 494
Wells, Joseph, 32

Wheeler, Edward J., 13, 32, 398, 446, 489
Wheeler, Emmet B., 247, 280, 306
Wheeler, F. H., 75
Wheeler, Joseph, 331, 344
Wheeler, Thomas H., 220, 240, 247, 280, 282,

284, 306, 307, 310, 327, 331, 347, 356, 368,

397, 450, 490, 528
Wheeler, Mrs. T. H., 252, 306, 311
White, Horace, 126
White, Mrs. John S., 311
White, R. W., 331
Whitehead, John, 32
Whitridge, W., 51
Wick, Caleb B., 33, 345
Wick, Henry K., 33
Wilkins, Beriah, 159
Wilkinson, Otis, 218, 222
Williams, Chtyles Whitney, 516
Williams, L. A., 284
Williams, Mornay, 331
Williamson, Samuel E., 455
Wilson, Mrs. A. B., 311
Wilson, B. H., 240
Wilson, E. S., 252
Wilson, George B., 312
Wilson, Henry B., 188, 220, 236, 247, 251,

253, 280, 284, 306, 309, 331, 356
Wilson, Mrs. Henry B., 306
Wilson, James H., 356, 450, 452
Windom, William, 57, 77, 81, 102, 108
Wing, C. B., 231, 285
Wing, Charles T., 32, 46, 54, 56, 67
Wing, Frank E., 32, 49, 67

662

OHIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Wingate, George E., 120

Winter, Charles A., 307

Wise, Albert J., 455

Wise, John S., 89, 90

Wolf, Simon, 77, 88

Woodford, Stewart L., 17, 108, 285

WoodruflF, Timothy L., 311, 316, 318, 356

Work, Clinton, 28

Work, Frank, 28, 32, 75

World's Exposition of 1892, 84, 85

Worstell, G. W., 32, 69

Worthington, J. W., 13, 32
Wright, M. B., 32, 87, 102
Wylie, David G., 32, 69

Year Book of the Society, first, 29
Yost, Joseph W., 528

Zachos, J. C, 34, 44, 70
Zachos, Miss, 44
Zinn, Charles H., 87
Zucher, Peter, 218

663

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