Ohio History Journal

28        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

master introduced Mrs. Herbert Backus, Vice-President

General of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

 

RESPONSE OF MRS. HERBERT BACKUS

Mr. Toastmaster, Distinguished Guests and Friends: A story

was told me the other day of a farmer who took unto himself his

second wife. He brought her to the home of her predecessor.

After some time had elapsed she told him that she needed some

new shoes; that all her shoes were worn out. He said: "Well,

Samantha left a box of shoes in the cupboard. I think perhaps

some of those will fit you." She replied to him, "I know I have

taken Samantha's place but I never expect to fill her shoes."

(Laughter.)

Our beloved president is Mrs. Hobart. She was expected to

be here tonight but I am here in her place though I never did ex-

pect to fill her shoes. I am very glad to bring you greetings from

the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolu-

tion. (Applause.)

Mr. Loren E. Sowers of Canton, Ohio, past Presi-

dent of the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American

Revolution and past Director-General of the National

Society of that patriotic order, was next introduced and

spoke as follows:

 

ADDRESS OF LOREN E. SOWERS

Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies and Gentlemen: As the toastmaster

has already very vividly hinted, it is decidedly an embarrassing

privilege to be permitted to provide the anti-climax of an occasion

such as that of today which has been specialized so notably by the

presence and the stirring address of the Secretary of War rep-

resenting, as he has done, the United States of America upon

this occasion, and that magnificent address by Arthur C. Johnson

this afternoon.

Though embarrassing, it is still a privilege on behalf of the

President-General, the officers and the whole membership of the

National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution to bring

to you tonight greetings and congratulations upon the accomplish-

ments of this splendid thing which has just been finished today.

Under the leadership of the men who have had this task in

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Ohio's Monument to General Anthony Wayne       29

charge, and particularly I have in mind my dear friend, Mr.

Walter Sherman, to whose heart I know this project has long been

so dear, this must be a day of very real satisfaction; and to all of

us Americans who love the history of our country; to our

Ohioans who know and love the history of our State, this day

must be one very full of meaning, and it has been. It is a typical

thing for us, from our standpoint of time and circumstances, to

understand just why we saw fit to bring back to mind an event

of one hundred and thirty-five years ago which has been cele-

brated today. One hundred and thirty-five years, yet but a mo-

ment of time compared to the ages of history. And so it is hard

for us to think of that event in terms of its importance.

Many of you know that it opened the way for the establish-

ment of the peace and civilization, and made possible the exten-

sion of the United States into the vast domain of the West. It

was a mission of peace and not of war upon which Anthony

Wayne set out. His achievement was one of peace and not

merely an exploit of war. Civilization, education, science, agri-

culture and the arts of peace were the camp followers of Wayne's

little army.

We humans are sometimes apt to think and talk dogmatically

with certainty about some things as absolute and perhaps there

are no two subjects about which people are more apt to dogma-

tize as if they were absolute than war and peace. One thing in

truth, as things we are told are relative, war and peace particu-

larly are relative. And the exploits of war and the achievements

of peace are so mixed up together that we cannot, in analyzing

history separate the one from the other. And always it has been

and always it must be that the peace, the prosperity, the happiness

and the security of a nation, so long as human nature is human

nature as we have known it, must in a large measure depend on

the readiness of the people to sustain the rights at whatever cost

and to defend the peace which they would enjoy.

This day has been one which ought to have been and I am

sure has been inspiring to everyone of us and all of us Sons and

Daughters of the American Revolution or Americans, all who

come over here with a newly inspired sense of duty, to serve our

country in such circumstances as may be given to us with such

opportunities as are ours. In peace or if need be in war, but

particularly to do our utmost in every possible way to uphold our

government, to maintain its force, its righteousness, its majesty

and power, its influence, its prestige among the nations and to

serve it loyally and obediently, doing our duty as citizens to the

end that ideals of our fathers may be accomplished in all the

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30        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

future and in the perpetuity of this Republic as a leader, the

leader it has been, the leader it should always be in carrying for-

ward in the world the cause of free government and righteous-

ness among men. (Applause.)

 

CONCLUSION OF PROGRAM

Toastmaster Patterson felicitously brought this de-

lightful banquet to a close as follows. We quote from

a stenographic report:

TOASTMASTER PATTERSON--No occasion was ever made less

pleasant by the introduction of a note of informality. We have

now reached the time to make this a very informal meeting and if

I can trust myself in the labyrinth of titles, which blanket me on

either side, I am going to try to introduce this audience to

these titles or these titles to this audience. I said quite pointedly

a moment ago that the speaking part of the program had been

concluded, but I know some of you who do not know the people

at the speakers' table would like to know who they are. I am

going to introduce most of them, perhaps all of them. If I drop

out somewhere along the line I suppose Mr. Sherman will help

me out. I will just introduce them. I will ask each one to rise

at the conclusion of the introduction, and make a bow.

I am going to introduce, first, Dr. Nevin O. Winter. We

believe he knows more about Anthony Wayne, with the possible

exception of the Secretary of War, than anybody else in the world.

He is the historian of this whole territory.

(Much applause as Mr. Winter arises and makes a bow.)

I now will introduce the chairman of the Ohio Revolutionary

Memorial Commission, Mr. A. D. Hosterman, of Springfield.

(Applause as Mr. Hosterman arises.)

Then the Regent of Ursula Wolcott Chapter of the Daugh-

ters of the American Revolution, Mrs. W. I. Hadley, of Toledo.

(Applause as Mrs. Hadley arises.)

Then the State President of the Daughters of 1812, Mrs. W.

I. Sawyer, of Akron.

(Applause.)

Then I want you to know particularly the sculptor who made

beauty a reality in this magnificent monument which brings us

together for this occasion, Mr. Bruce Wilder Saville, of New

York.

(Applause.)

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