In accepting the medallion for Ross County, speaking for the commissioners, Mr. Horatio C. Claypool, the prosecuting attorney, said:

Mr. President:

MR. CLAYPOOL'S SPEECH.

The pleasant duty of accepting, for the people of Ross County, this beautiful and appropriate memento of our early constitutional history, has fallen to me by

reason of my accidental position at the close of our first century.

Here, as we start on our journey of another hundred years, we meet to renew our obligations and to refresh our zeal for popular government; and standing upon the very spot of our origin, what could be a more appropriate introduction to our festivities than the elevation of this medallion of Ohio's first governor? The thoughtfulness and generosity of the donor (Mr. W. H. Hunter), are hardly more apparent on this occasion than his patriotism and state pride, as exemplified in his choice of a subject and speaking for the people of Ross County, we accept this splendid tribute to an American statesman, and in return have nothing to offer but the hearty congratulation of our people.

H. C. CLAYPOOL.

But this emblem stands for something more than personal greatness, however esteemed and renowned Edward Tiffin may have been; for in this twentieth century we do not worship the individual so much as the results of his labors. Our meeting to celebrate on this occasion is a happy reminder that we are still hero worshipers as in the days of old - the commendable change being in the choice of subjects. Human nature changes slowly, indeed, but upon the pages of authentic history we can readily discern the havoc which scientific investigation has wrought upon superstition. The theory of the "divine right of kings" has crumbled and given place to the choice of the people. Step by

step humanity has been going in the right direction. While the Persians had their Xerxes, and Carthage its Hannibal, worshiping destroyers of human life and human happiness, writing the history of their greatness with the blood of the slain, we, the American people, find more pleasing worship in our praises of the Jeffersons, Lincolns and Tiffins, the men whose kindly feelings for humanity will cause them to live in the hearts of the people while democratic principles shall prevail. For, while our Revolutionary heroes stood for the will of the people in a national sense, the founders of our state government, as they sat here, one hundred years ago, provided for us the most liberal government yet known to man, exerted an influence for good that hastened to modify restricted liberty throughout this nation, and for at least another century, we hope will stand a menace to usurpers of human power.

Governor Tiffin was not simply the head of the executive department of our state government; he stood for something more he was the exponent of element of hardy pioneers of our commonwealth, who believed in a government by the people, and who dared to formulate a constitution providing for the greatest personal freedom consistent with good government. In no other locality does history show so complete a separation of the executive from the legislative functions of government, and a hundred years of experience illustrates the wisdom of our departure from the national form.

Those fathers of ours never lost sight of an opportunity of showing their opposition to what was then known as a strong government. But, ladies and gentlemen, as we go on day after day, praising our dead statesmen and pointing out their green graves upon the hill, our visitors may get a wrong impression and leave the city, believing that all our greatness lies buried upon our hill tops. Let us here and now assure our visitors that such an opinion would be foreign to the facts. We have live men here in the valley, possessing both ability and inclination to fill the chief executive's office, with no thought of lowering the dignity of the place, once graced by Tiffin, Worthington, McArthur and Allen.

But there is another class of persons who should not be forgotten while speaking of the men who rendered valuable services to our state. They could not all be Solons, however praiseworthy the vocation of the statesman may be. The pioneer of a hundred years ago found our valley a wilderness; busy sons of toil were as essential as statesmen. The man with a gun had his usefulness in guarding both laborers and statesmen against the assault of wild beasts and wilder men, and upon these hills may lie many a Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.

In this connection I am reminded that the names of all our true heroes do not find a place on the pages of history. For illustration, it is said upon good authority that when McPherson fell in front of Atlanta, the surprise was so great that for a few moments he was deserted by all, except a single private, who stood bending over his dying commander; yet history is searched in vain for his name, though reciting the incident.

And again, as we recall our heroes of the many wars in which we have unfortunately been engaged in the last hundred years, we wish to remind you that here sleep as brave soldiers as ever graced a field of battle. History is full of the names and fame of Massie, Sill and others of equal renown.

Let us, as we advance, set ourselves high ideals of a perfect government and by proper enforcement and application of law in this court of justice, watched and guarded by the spirit of Edward Tiffin, promote our liberty and independence based upon a government of our own choosing, and upon our birthright of free men, the gift of Heaven, secured to us and to succeeding generations to guide us in the path of our duty and when the people of Ohio meet upon these grounds one hundred years. hence, may the sun be still shining on a free, intelligent and happy people, worthy descendants of a noble ancestry, and still worshiping at the shrine of Ohio's first governor.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

OF

OHIO'S ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.

The exercises of the centennial anniversary of Ohio's statehood began promptly at ten o'clock a. M. on Wednesday, May 20, 1903. They were held in the large tent erected for the purpose, and which served as an admirable auditorium, in the beautiful Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe. An audience of some five thousand assembled to participate in the interest and honor of the occasion. Upon the stage were seated many of the speakers, a number of distinguished guests, state officials, including the judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Centennial Commission, trustees and officers of the Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society. Back of the speakers' stand, in elevated seats, was the chorus of two hundred and fifty pupils of the high school and grammar grades of the city schools. The program opened with a stirring national air by the Fourth Regiment Band. General J. Warren Keifer called the meeting to order. Rev. A. M. Courtenay, of Chillicothe, invoked the divine blessing on the great celebration. His prayer was most fitting in words, sincere in expression and eloquent in delivery.

Hon. W. D. Yaple, as mayor of the city, then extended the welcome of Chillicothe to the officials of the centennial and the visiting people of the state.

MAYOR YAPLE'S ADDRESS.

Your Excellency, the Governor, Citizens of Ohio, Invited Guests of the State:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN We have assembled on this occasion to celebrate, in an appropriate manner, the one hundredth anniversary of one of the most important events in American history the organization of Ohio as one of the union of states.

It was an important event to Chillicothe, for it was here that the great political battle was waged between St. Clair and his followers on one side, and Tiffin, Worthington and Massie on the other, which culminated in Ohio's statehood; it was an important event to Ohio, for it marked the beginning of her marvelous development; it was an important event to the nation, for it gave to the Union one of its most powerful and progressive states; it was an important event to the advocates of the principle of democratic government, for Ohio's first constitution was the first of the American constitutions which denied the executive authority the right to veto the acts of the legislative body.

It was one hundred years on the twenty-ninth day of last November since the first constitution of Ohio was adopted by the constitutional convention in session in Chillicothe; and it was one hundred years on the first day of last March since the machinery of government that made Ohio one of the union of states was set in motion.

It was here that the first seat of government was established, and during the first few years of Ohio's statehood all roads led to Chillicothe, and all eyes were upon the little city lying in the fertile and picturesque valley of the Scioto, and beneath the shadow of Mount Logan. Then came the wonderful growth and development of the state, and the consequent removal of the seat of government to a more central location; and now again, after the lapse of eighty-six years, all roads again lead to the "ancient metropolis"; and when we consider that much of the early history of the state belongs to Chillicothe it was certainly appropriate for the State Archæological and Historical Society to select this city as the proper place for celebrating the state's one hundredth anniversary.

I am not commissioned to speak of Ohio's progress, or to deal at length with historical matters, for that duty belongs to the long list of speakers on the program and I shall not trespass upon their time; but I am here as the mayor of the old capital, to extend to you the hand of welcome.

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