Ohio History Journal

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Dedication of the Hayes Memorial

Dedication of the Hayes Memorial.        439

 

ask each and every one of you to register here on this consecrated

spot a solemn vow to preserve this nation forever and forever to

the American - peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must, but for

America, America forever and forever.

Mr. Charles R. Williams, of Princeton, biographer of Ruth-

erford Birchard Hayes, then delivered the following address:

 

 

ADDRESS OF CHARLES R. WILLIAMS.

We are met today to signalize the formal dedication of the

Hayes Memorial building. There has been no occasion like this

in all the history of our beloved country. It is made possible by

the gracious cooperation of filial affection and worthy public

appreciation, for which I recall no parallel in our annals. By

deed of gift, a few years ago, Colonel Webb C. Hayes conveyed

to the state, for the benefit of the Archaeological and Historical

Society, this beautiful historic grove, through which ran the

famous Indian trail by which William Henry Harrison marched

his forces to Lake Erie, and whose ancient oaks had sheltered

savage wigwams and been lighted by the bivouac fires of hardy

frontier soldiers of 1812. The gift was on condition that the

society should procure the erection of a suitable fireproof build-

ing for the permanent preservation of the books and papers and

personal belongings of President and Mrs. Hayes. Of course the

society, of which Mr. Hayes was long president, and which has

done so much to gather, to investigate, and to preserve records

and documents and objects of historical and archaeological sig-

nificance, was rejoiced to accept the gift and to undertake the

trust. And the state, through legislature and governor  both,

as it happened, Democratic at the time -was not slow to mani-

fest its appreciation of the gift and to do its share to make the

gift secure, rightly esteeming its patriotic purpose and its large

and permanent worth. To Senator T. A. Dean, of Fremont, for

his effective presentation of the cause before the legislature, we

should not fail, on this day of rejoicing, to give special credit and

praise. He saw clearly, he spoke persuasively -  for the honor

of Ohio's greatest President, for the dignity and glory of the

state.