The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-28
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
Lecture by Hon. Schuyler Coifax, NJ the
Academy or Music, Phflncelphia.

Music, Philadelphia, last evening to hear the Hon.
Schuyler Colfax deliver his promised lecture "Across
the Continent The lecture was given under the
auspices OF the Press Club that city, association
which has become very popular
Mr. Colfax, on being introduced was very entnusias-
tical!y greeted the ladies' of whom there large
number present. heartily joining in the demonstration.
After bowling his Acknowledgements the speaker at
entered upon his theme. He regretted much that mis-
take In teegraphc despatch abiding TO this lecture
had msed many to suppose that he going to speak
TINS evening ON the duties Of the coming Congress- He
had spoken at the capital few nights since briefly but
frankly he trusted regard what he thought OF the
duties Of the American people in this the most important
Congress that ever assembled at Washington. He had
nothing TO take back from what he then said-tap-
pause)-and he had nothing to add thereto except that
there but one pathway which every patriot at this
hour should walk That Is the path OF duty to our be-
regret that the papers had that he was 10 de-
liver great lecture night Tho lecture he would de.
liver would be only great in sength was but unas
Stunning attempt to bring before the minds Of his hearers
some OF the scenes and incidents he had Witnessed and
encountered In his late journcyngs the continent
and home aeain-a journey which consumed some four
hve months II was the most delightful and inyuo
rating journey OF his lifc and he would relate the
particulars OF II they would find II simple narrative,
unadorned with gems of poetry flowers Of rhetoric.
He travelled over the possessions OF two nations and
across the oceans which roll between them, and which
hHioot inc EODe. Inc republic OF the Jn'tcu
States-our own beloved and lately mpered land but,
thank God, now prcserved-spans the American cont-
nent from the Bay Of Fundy the Atlantic sido TO the
straits OF Fuca on the Pacific from which stretch the
Russian possessions thousands OF miles TO the Baltic
inlet OF the Atlantic Ocean, with OF government
and policy totally dssmar to some extent antago
nistic to that Of ours yet there are many important
coincidencos between these two world-encrcling
nations. Both interscct two oceans with pos
magnificent in boundess pains both nations have
distinguished themselves and this Is their browning glo
y-no.ll being the great emancipators Of their era
Misunderstanding down the doors OF the prison
houses of slavery and lifting millions into liberty Rus
sa when our country was struggling for Its existence
aganst the traitors and conspaors who had sought to
bayone the PROSTATE form OF liberty and when other
European governments nearer to in lineage and Ian
guage and commercial ties looked coldly on at our
contest Tor self-prescrvation, mockng us In our
hour OF trial giving material aid and comfort to foes
Russia expressed her sympathy with us In tones that
the wide world was compelled TO hear (Applause)
II Is not too much to say, judging from the friendly at
tude Of Russia towards in our war for freedom and
UNITY that u foreign war came upon us We could have
the potential aid OF Russia on our side-tapplause -
and against our foes; and though cannot unlearn
easily III" TEACHINGS Of the republic vet when the New
World and the Old speak together through the Russo
American telegraph striking country il would
connect us with the rest Of the civilized world When
st. Petersburg Washington exchange their rst salu
ations with lightning like instananeousncss he trusted
we should not forget in that first despatch to
express our feeling Of gratitude for the unwavering
people when their shin Of State bsfetng with the
waves Of treason and Of For some years he had
irresistible longing 70 visit the Old World and its historic
regions, 10 scale the Alps, roam through the Black
Forest to travel through vine clad France to enjoy the
bright sun OF Italy, and TO traverse thcky populated
Germany and the British Isles look upon the Medi-
erranean the Nile and the Red Sea- and 10 direct my
steps through the HOLY Land, from Petersburg,
Rnssa to Siberia and to that great river AMOR with Its
z, 600 miles OF navigation. md by that route
to visit China the Sandwich Islands, and by
California home. But he had: for q time, to
postpone the moment when he could hope To
enjoy the pleasure till he had travelled his native
land and learned by actual observation OF the gran
deur of It's more than imperial domain and the vas.ness
OF its almost nitable resources and the kindly and
oft repeated invitations sent 10 him from the Pacific
coast drew his thoughts more and thitherward.
And when al last the four the saliva
ton Of the nation ended in thanks the brave
defenders OF the country Who taking their lives their
hnnds fought amidst the storm of shot and shell Till the
rainbow OF race again spanning the horizon, gave
surance that the deiugc OF rebellion passing
away-it was then only that the opportunity
presented itself of entering on the journey across
the continent ard which would be the subject OF the
lecture Of the evening II after tho return Of peace
he started upon this journey of two thousand miles
across tho continent traversing plains and scaling
mountains, and descending valleys uninhabitcd by
SAVAGE tribes out upon Their path intent upon blood
shed and murder. This light Undertaking but
he had the good fortune to be accompanied BY true
friends. able to endure all tho fatgues and prvaons
that might encounter them the way. So healthy aud
nvigoratng was the journey that after little time him
sof and party were able TO tire ont the resident parties
who occasionally joined them Having arrived san
upon a journey of a thousand miles for the pur.
pose of visiting the British possessions, and upon
which they. entered az readily ns if. y was
made by railroad instead Of rugged mountains and
parched plains with half ration Of sleep The lecturer
thon proceeded 10 notice the upon the line Of
travel which lie depicted in very graphic language hold
ing nj times his audience speboupd when pc,urng be-
fore them his own emotions at behoiiing the sublime
sights which from time TO time burst upon his view.
Thus he raversed the Territories OF the republic
the States OF Nevada, Colorado, OREGON and California
visiting and making a brief soiourn in vancouser's
Island, when for the first time he tho FLAG Of Eng
land and the banner OF the republic floating harmon
ly in evidence OF joint authority, the region
Here too for the rst time he the royal rod uniform
mngling with the loyal blue in friendship and amty.
he dwelt long upon the mineral wealth and o
the Territories and upon the loyalty and patriotism of
the miners who made up the population, the mountains
OF which he said, were scanned with veins OF
wealth that only waited the more r1Rpcroas
years Of mining that before W stood
upon the decade OF erao mineral Developments
which had hitherto no parallel The one thing needed
70 accomplish the most unhopcd for results the
should ran dsvs out towards
which he would in any way lend all his aid and rces
tApplause) Hc spoke in glowing terms Of the ccnires
Peak and Virginia City, and dwet q: considerable length
upon the evidence Of wealth and progress presented in
the CITY Of San Francisco Referring 10 hs visit 70 the Nor
servatons upon the social life there presented he said
In the heart Of the continent the direct line Of traffic
the chief city OF the Mornons naining popua-
ton OF 1907 ono souls gathered from all the nations o
Europe people governed by the absolute will OF one
man. and bound 10 obedenc, by the most powerful
sidcnt OF the church Of Latter Day Saints styles
himself the Amounted OF the lord He has associated
with him In the church twelve others called apostles
and again under these seventy bishops who have the
fullest control and oversight Of each individual family
comprising the population with belief In the inspiration
OF their leaders and In tho nfabity OF their church
With all legislation In tho hands OF their leaders, the
Latter Day Saints form compact and powerful
organization; but there is another band Every man
who enters into the polygamous condition-aud II Ia
almost unverssl-cvcry woman who by public
opinion persuasion by the hopes Of happiness and
exaltation in heaven becomes Mormon, becomes q
defender Of the church In their church tcness they
believe In the Old and New Testament the trinity in
repentance, In baptism and atonemeut. Indeed the
rst exercises listened 10 In their Bowery-a large
arbor capable or accommodating six thousand persons
there was not = word uttered q doctrine enun-
ciated calculated 70 siartle the most rigid ortho.
dox Christian but Brigham Young himself
on one OCCASION at his express desire, held forth In tho
Bowery and took for his discourse tho twenty sixth and
twenty verses Of the nrst chapter OF Genesis
His discourse on that occasion OF very different
character He declared TO bis followers that when he
belonged 10 sectsrian church he believed that God
spirit but now, through revelation, he believed Him
TO be king with habits and wants and passions like