Ohio History Journal

Dedication of the Hayes Memorial.      455   life of the man who from youth to advanced years really served his fellowmen, and such a memory will undoubtedly be an inspira- tion to them to take a high view of the calling of citizenship and to prepare themselves by study and thought to render such service as is within their capacity and opportunity.     ADDRESS OF U. S. SENATOR POMERENE. United States Senator Pomerene spoke as follows: "I am glad to have the opportunity to come to the beautiful city of Fremont to pay a tribute of love and respect to the mem-

ory of President and Mrs. Hayes. They had such fine ideals, they were truly Christian in every thought and action. The world is the better for their having lived. President Hayes was a good lawyer, a brave soldier, a faithful Congressman, an efficient Governor, and a distinguished and capable President, but, he was more, he was a good man. Mrs. Hayes was a Christian wife and mother, both were devoted to their friends and es- pecially to those here in Fremont who knew them so long and well. I want to congratulate the people

of Fremont in their successful efforts in preserving Spiegel Grove for this community and for the country at large for all time to come. I congratulate them that they have in their midst Colonel and Mrs. Webb C. Hayes, who have done so much to preserve the works and memories of their father and mother. This home with its fond memories will be an object lesson to the boys and girls of this county and this state, they will have before them as an object lesson the lives of a man and woman, than whom, this state has produced none better or purer. As I look over the history of President Hayes, I feel that all his qualities, and there were many of them, his predominat- ing characteristic was his intense love for things American and

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456       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

as I think of Mrs. Hayes, I could hold her before the world as the

ideal wife and mother.

Fremont is a beautiful city of beautiful homes, no finer

people are found than reside within her limits, and they have

honored themselves by the opportunity they have taken to pre-

serve Spiegel Grove.

And I would be doing violence to my feelings if I did not

add a word of appreciation for Senator Dean, who gave his able

and enthusiastic support to the legislation necessary to secure

Spiegel Grove for the public."

 

 

LETTERS FROM ABSENTEES.

Former Lieutenant Governor Francis W. Treadway, one of

the trustees of the Society, then read the following telegram from

Senator Warren G. Harding; and also the following letters from

the Hon. Robert Lansing, Secretary of State; the Hon. A. D.

White, who was appointed Minister to Germany by President

Hayes; and the Hon. John W. Foster, who served as Minister

to Mexico during the Hayes administration, in those troublous

times with Diaz in Mexico, to which the strained relations with

Huerta found by President Wilson in 1913 form an almost exact

counterpart; and also a letter from United States Senator Nathan

Goff, who is the only surviving member of the Hayes administra-

tion, in which for a few months he served as Secretary of the

Navy.

 

WASHINGTON, D. C., May 29, 1916.

COL. WEBB C. HAYES,

Fremont, Ohio.

Let me emphasize my genuine regrets that I am not to add my

tribute to the memory of President Hayes at Tuesday's dedication of

the Memorial. The combined gentleness and dignity and courage and

strength made manifest in the splendid career of President Hayes,

builded a loving memorial in the hearts of his countrymen, which I trust

the Spiegel Grove Memorial fittingly typifies. It is good to dedicate the

Memorial on this day of reverent tribute to the Union defenders, so

many of whom he brilliantly led. It is also good to consecrate ourselves

anew to the preservation of the Great Heritage he and they bequeathed

to us.

W. G. HARDING.

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