F 159 B .P6 C75 I Copy 1 GREAT MEN ♦i^' THEIR ESTEEM FOR zA Qreat Qity COMPILED BY JOHN P. COWAN GREAT MEN y THEIR ESTEEM FOR ciyf Qreat Qity t i GEORGE WASHINGTON JAMES MONROE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE HENRY CLAY CHARLES DICKENS LOUIS KOSSUTH DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN THEODORE ROOSEVELT GROVER CLEVELAND ANDREW CARNEGIE JOHN QUINCY ADAMS i Compiled by John T*. Coypan PITTSBURGH • PENNSYLVANIA M C M C I X TbC-rs To THOSE CITIZENS OF PITTSBURGH WHOSE SERVICE TO THEIR CITY HAS MERITED THE PRAISE BESTOWED BY THE EMINENT MEN QUOTED IN THE THE FOLLOWING PAGES, THIS BOOK- LET IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. -7. ^. C COYPRIGHT, I919 JOHN P. COWAN JAN -5 1920 ©CUSP) 1.78 9 GREAT MEN WHAT THEY SAID of PITTSBURGH I T '^E MEN — Washington, Monroe, La Fayette, John Quincy Adams, Dickens, Clay, Kossuth, Lincoln, Fanagut, Carnegie, Cleveland, Roosevelt — illustrious names every one in the annals of the last one hundred and fifty years. THE CITY— Pittsburgh— mdnstrisX metro- polis of the Western World, which has ful- filled the vision of its immortal founder and has justified every prediction made by its eminent visitors and well-wishers. In the following pages are given verbatim the expressions of twelve men whose names will illumine the tablets of the World's history for all time; their praise of Pittsburgh and its people was voiced in spontaneous gratitude and most hearty sentiment. Cherished is their memory! John T. Qo^an Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania December 25, 191 9 five— GREAT MEN GEORGE WASHINGTON I732-I799 The \)ision of the Founder ' I SPENT some time in viewing the Rivers, and the land in the Fork [the future site of Pittsburgh]; which I think extremely well situated for a Fort, as it has absolute Command of both Rivers. The Land at the Point is 20 or 25 feet above the common Surface of the water; and a considerable Bottom of flat, well-timbered land all around it, very convenient for Building." From Washington's Journal of His Tour to the Ohio. November 24, 1753 GREAT MEN JAMES MONROE I758-183I T'he First ^^residential Visitor 'Returning from a tour along a large portion of our Atlantic and inland frontiers, which was undertaken from a sense of duty, I am happy to pass through this town, and have been much gratified by the friendly reception which has been given me by the Select and Common Councils, and by the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Pittsburgh." Address by President Monroe, the first President of the United States to visit Pitts- burgh during his term of office. The quota- tion is from "Monroe's Tour" by S.Putman Waldo, Esq., 1820. Saturday, September 6, 1817 —eight GREAT MEN MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE I757-I834 jTaFayette s Tribute 'The patriotic inspiration I have felt at the sight of your [city's] manfactures is still enhanced by the friendly reception I have met from you, and by the most acceptable favor you are pleased to offer me. Accept my affectionate thanks, good wishes and regard." From a letter written by Marquis de La Fayette to the Pittsburgh firm of Bakewell, Page&Bakewell thanking them for courtesies shown during his visit to the city. The original letter is in the collection of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. May 31, 1825 G R E AT MEN HENRY CLAY I777-I852 Henry Qlay s Inspired Prediction "I HAVE come to meet and exchange friendly salutations with my fellow citizens [of Pittsburgh], and to visit, per- haps for the last time, a city endeared to me by many early and agreeable associations. Alas how many of my estimable friends whose generous hospitality I enjoyed are now no more! * * * Now I will hazard a predic- tion that Pittsburgh, perhaps in the life of persons still living, will as far exceed Birmingham, England, to which it is sometimes compared, as the United States in extent, in grandeur, in the natural elements of power and great- ness exceed the circumscribed limits of the islands of Great Britain." From an address by Henry Clay before a meeting of citizens of Pittsburgh at the Exchange. Tuesday, March 21, 1848 — ten GREAT MEN CHARLES DICKENS 1812-I87O ^oz in T*ittsburgh "Pittsburgh is like Birmingham in England, at least its townspeople say so. Setting aside the streets, the shops, the houses, wagons, factories, public buildings and popu- lation, perhaps it may be. It certainly has a great quan- tity of smoke hanging over it, and is famous for its iron works. Besides the prison, this town has a pretty arsenal and other institutions. We lodged at a most excellent hotel, and were admirably served. As usual, it was full of boarders, was very large and had a broad collonade on every story of the house." One of the least cynical paragraphs in Dickens' "American Notes." March 28, 1842 eleven — GREAT MEN LOUIS KOSSUTH 1802-I894 ^ 'Patriot's T^oetic Tribute " Citizens of Pittsburgh, you have wreathed the flowers of Pennsylvania into garlands full of blossoms and hope, like the orange tree of fruit, and to this garland you have added the fairest flowers, yourselves." From an address by Louis Kossuth to an assembly of Pittsburgh women. From the "Pittsburgh Gazette," January 26, 1852. Saturday, January 24, 1852 — twelve G R E AT MEN DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT 18OI-1872 For the (^em of the Ocean * * * I WILL say of the Navy, that * * * armed with the guns of Pittsburgh and iron-clad armors I trust will always prove true to the country, and endeavor to meet our foes whether we have iron or wooden ships, and we will endeavor at the same time to do justice to your Pittsburgh iron and Pittsburgh guns." From an address by Admiral Farragut at a banquet in the St. Charles Hotel where the citizens of Pittsburgh paid signal honor to the hero of Mobile Bay. Thursday, Septem- ber 13, 1866 thirteen — GREAT MEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN I809-I865 Imperishable ^J\(ames^ T^ittsburgh, JTincoln "Allegheny county! It is the banner county of the Union." From impromptu speech by President-Elect A braham Lincoln in the lobby of the Monon- gahela House while enroute to Washington for his inaugural. His published address so often quoted was delivered from the balcony of the hotel the following morning. February 14, 1861 '* — fourteen GREAT MEN THEODORE ROOSEVELT 1858-I9I9 The Typical ^-American Qity " There is no more typical American city than Pittsburgh. And Pittsburgh, by its Americanism, gives a lesson to the entire United States. Pittsburgh has not been built up by talking about it. Your tremendous concerns were built by men who actually did the work. You made Pittsburgh ace high when it could have been deuce high. There is not a Pittsburgh man who did not earn his success through his deeds." From an address by Col. Theodore Roosevelt before Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh in the William Penn Hotel on the occasion of his last visit to Pittsburgh. Thursday, July 25, 1917 fifteen- GREAT MEN GROVER CLEVELAND I837-I908 \)ulcan s ye)ppels ' The alchemy of civilization's evolution is full of splendid wonders; but no transmutation will ever be exhibited more startling and impressive than the creation of the bright jewels of education, art and music from the grime and noise of your furnaces ; and no gem will ever have a more astonishing setting than the Carnegie Institute in your Smoky City." From an address by Ex-President Graver Cleveland at the Founder's Day exercises of the Carnegie Institute. Thursday, November 7. 1901 -sixteen G R E AT MEN ANDREW CARNEGIE 1837-I919 Andrew Qarnegie ^ack Home ' It is delightful to find myself with yoti today in the old home, this dear old Pittsburgh, and to see so many visible proofs of the usefulness of the institution to which so many of my dear friends have and are contributing inval- uable service without money and without reward, ani- mated solely by the patriotic desire to labor for the good of the city of their home * * * Although non-resident, it must not be thought I have ceased to follow local mat- ters pertaining to this city. * * * and certainly Pitts- burgh should consolidate the populations around her * * * and get credit for being the important center she is . " From an address at the Founder's Day exercises at Carnegie Institute." Thursday, April 27, 191 1 seventeen — GREAT MEN JOHN QUINCY ADAMS I767-1848 ^ benediction 'And may the choicest blessings of Almighty God rest upon you, both as a corporation [Pittsburgh] and as indi- viduals, and lead you to a greater improvement of the advantages you so richly possess." From an address by Ex-President John Quincy Adams to a meeting of citizens at the Pittsburgh Exchange, as reported in the "Pittsburgh Gazette." Friday, November 17, 1843 -eighteen OF THIS VOLUME 'great men — THEIR ESTEEM FOR A GREAT CITY' OF WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN PRINTED 250 COPIES BY MACGREGOR-CUTLER PRINTING COMPANY FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION BY JOHN P. COWAN PITTSBURGH, PENNA iHIS, THEN IS VOLUME LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Illilllliilillllllllllllllli 014 365 063 7