, 1874-07-07
THE GREAT BRIDGE,
Gov Boveridge's Speech at tie St.
Louis Celebration,
Illinois and Missouri Shaking Hands
Across the Mississippi.

49,. GOV. BEvER1paE's srrEon.
Dotween Illinois and Missouri flows th
mighty river boundary line as marked rs m.
Science has spannod tho rivcr. Illinois nns
Missouri arc wetlaed. Their ahores kias eaui
other. Lot their people rejoice, aud lovo Oh,
another.
No high priest Of God stood on dry ground, #
tho midst Of the Brean. Til ali Tic people atlt i
tho tabernacle pRBsod over. Tho children Of
mon, undar the protection Of Him wlo made tht
watoTe Of Jordan rise up upon heap, ueu
down down into these aeap, DIRK waters, aid, va,
ptor and abutmont, and lifted up through and
out Of tho waters, into tho sunlight thcss pilarr
of rock, as everlasting memorials Of thoir akil
and American civilization.
no nloBe5 stood on tho bank ehteldod bv a
pillar OF oloud, aud stretched out bis rod, by
divine oommnn6, over tho HoA to diyIde L.
1amos B. Eads, imhued with q divine iusplration.
enoilclod With hnio Of intellectual glory by hias
naatcalsss genius and enorgy, joined those pil-
Hood, and placed IN mtd-air, high over earth aud
river, royal high"ay for travel aud commerce
for the star OF empire on 10 westward way.
III, une FL mo6a S,' waa III tue vo1k The Lord vas
70 gal OYER his oceans, to ride upon his Hcas, to
ealk with bis lghtnlngs, to tunnel bcncath
hlh mountains, to span hia valleys, to arch Ills
Who ia like unto Thee, o, Lord among tho
Koas7 Who is like Thee, glorious in holnoss,
fearful i9 praises, doing woudors? Sing unto
she e. Lord, for He hath triumrhcd glo1ioubly.
The Lord shall reign forever and eyerl"
, with nonE Of gratitude to Almighty God for
Ills Eitts TO man. Tor hia mercios to the Nation,
f1r hla blessings upon these two great States,
llllnola and Missouri greet zach other this day
celebrate with Joy and foatiyity tho oreuing Of
shls imposing structure. and dedicate thls sub
hme creation OF art, this magnificent triumph Of
gonlns. this embodiment Of human thought. this
reycalinent Of American skill, to tho Commerce
Of Tho nations.
As Chief Executive Of tho State Of Illinois, in
I extend to His Excclcncy ths doyornor Of tia
btate Of Missouri, and to all the people lie repro
rents, tho right hand Of welcome. fApplauso.l
At thin point Gov. 'Woodson stood up, and,
fflaspng % .ho - hand Of Coy Boyeridge, said, while
poople Of the great State Of Missouri, 1 respond
to tho sentiment Expressed by tha distinguished
Executive OF tho State OF ulinois.'l
lpv. BeVeridBa resumed
Illinois shakes hands with Missouri acroas tI,e
Mlsslesippi to-day. Illinois congratulates Mis-
souri, on tho succoss OF this grind enterprise. on
this new aud marvellous limo OF inter State cnn,
municat.on. The Mississippi eyor separates, yet
river, restiug on both Shores uniting WITH steel
and rook forever those two statoy hiay tloy be
moro cloaoly and forever untted In bouds of
f5iondshlp md 1oyo. May they cultivate and |
hey soe n ap% relations May
fAVNssh1iAf "SAA|A3 PNhGT AtiQ |
gopalst!on. May they vic with oaoh other in
oevelop1aR their untold RESOURCES. May they
maIcn abreast M and IN advance, on The highway OF
PRFospGtity, honor, glory and natlonaf greatness.
d defenders OF the flag Of our forefathcrs.
,, Chicago, to-day sends greeting to St, Louis.
nWG a,ti.g gTana cities! Ono on the lake, WITH its
sue to tho sof Gaioa On b, ,e atsf 1tye .r5 with ra If
md both bound 70 both oceapa by bands Of steel.
Let no petty loalouaies disturb you. Rival each
otoer @ ~ trade IN manufactures, in avenues. in
Of chary snd sa., hotels
'los & o. art anu religion, IN energy. in integrity,
4 cultnro. IL population, In commerce, in roaohh-
ng 9nt after the productions OF the world
Apptenn;se.l F., tn;a -. :. ,,.,,ou u.
9 the gulf, from the Allegheny to the Rocky
aouneasus; WIN rs vast territory, Ito countless
lFofs anu lakos. tts mountains and prairigB, its
ortsy ntn ~ o. so'1, ts saubrity Ct climate ta va
ICY oa ProaG!9ns' ita deposits Of minerals, its
'n!MoIglea, WIN ~ la capabilities aud posi-
'iilI'es thefe are space and facility for two mag
eens ,;a ,;i1 Ei'1es n ia ana prediot Chicago mud st.
ao'ln ~. wt % Two o. .e most magnticent cities
itles for the trade aud commerce Of the world.
.nd Predlct that in fifty yeRrs, with tI,eso two
ielcs as great commercial centres, Illinois and
lies9nra W. each contain 1oooo,o0o OF aoulB.
s+A''s ~ Htsf sEhl6, Lu6 GCAEGH lyltlE
etwoon the mountains. upon tue lakes, upoll the
'hio, Missouri, Upper Mississpp aud their
will contain population Of Inn am
oo-thas this mighty people will control tie
eStniea @ OF tue continent, and their giant power
~ ylorate through tho nations. This mighty :
eope. standing With thor backs to tho dark !
orests Of tho North, will ever look out south
afu aug laii, ~ oad' and tho rivers will bc their
lehwaye 10 ne 6uit. They will lay their aft =.
ahd upon the Atlantic to sport with tho :
'mme'co OF the Old World, and will
re1ch out their right hand acroHs the Pacific to
ahor N tho trade q Asia and the lsles oi tho
70. And the people who live beyond tho Ais u
lenios op tho Atlantic coast, al1d tho peoujs .
no llrn on the borders Of tho gulf, and tho
sople who 1.-Two beyond the Rocky Mountains on
10 paclilc siopn, must live in pcacs aud har-
ony With this mighty people under tho same d
austitution and Laws; for thla people will eyer L
w or control highways Of traro and commaros o
the gulf anu both seas, mud viii ever make n
can aud gult contribute to their wants, their =
ohpe.lty, tlolr power, their glory. Let us not u
ss thlB Anniversary nf American Independence o.
thout grateful remembrance OF our fathora, a
most q century has paasod sinco tho struggle y
: liberty begun: since the clash Of arms war II
'nrd at Loxlngton aud Bunkor Hill;
nee the declaration Of human rights
ls nuhliaheu to tho world; einoe tie
fiDcS and EtArf wara ,1,,f,s1al