Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-10

Hennepin's discovery, this land remained stl ]
In the undisputed possession of the buffalo
and the Indian. Only In 1919 was the United
States flag unfurled in Minnesota to protect
the forerunners of commerce upon her plains;
only in 1842 was the corner-block laid in the
construction Of the humble chapel which was
to lend it's name to the future metropolis; only
in 1913 was civil government accorded to
Minnesota, when Minnesota's name was first
mentioned In the halls of congress by him
who so deservedly presides at our gathering
this evening. Hon. q. 81. Sibley, and the ST.
credness of the law was for the first time
made visible to her people in the person of
another pioneer, now also present with IA,
Hon. Alexander Ramsey, and yet
what a noble prospect to-day rises before
our eyes. Minnesots with her million inhao-
itants, her thousands of miles Of railroad
coursing through the full and vast extent of
her forests and praIries, her great cities, seats
of learning and high culture, rival.ing in com
mercial power the Tyres and Sidons of the
continent.
First to be thanked is the Great God, who
had prepared for the children of men this land
so rich and rare-land flowing with His most
precious gifts, an inheritance for chosen
people, We have received from the hands Of
God great country, and it is an acknowledge
ment Of his favors to be proud of Minnesots,
her fertile soil, her lakes and rivers. Her
earliest pioneer, Father Hennepin, understood
the value of the country, and with his large
mind realized what it was one day destined to
become. After his return to Europe he wrot+
of the Northwest: "There are scarcely any
countries in the world more fertile. Nothin
is wanting that Is necessary for life. 1t can
be thus judged how easy it is to found great
colonies there +" Then, another aid to the
development of Minnesota, Is the aggressive
spirit of the nineteenth century, the very
focus of which is centered within our Am ri
can republic. America is the concent ated
essence of the inventive powers and energizing
forces of this extraordinary age, and develop
ments occur impossible in other places and
other times. But the conscious instruments
to turn to profit the natural advantages of the
country to apply to the work of Developments
the energies and the enterprise Of
the age, were our pioneers, each
class Of them acting within the
limitations fixed by their talents and calling,
or by the occasions AMI opportunities which
their times afforded them. They all acted
we'll their parts and the sum of their labors
gave us the result we now enjoy. The discov-
erers of the country, Hennepin, Duluth,
LIE Sueur and Carver, affroHted perils on lano
and water to spy out this great land; they HAD
the intelligence to comprehend its resources
and the vast possibilities of its future, and
they employed their talents to make it known
among nations. The hardy and brave traders
and coureurs-des-bois displayed courage in
battling with Indian foes, patience In enour-
ing the hardshlps OF frontier life, which read
to us as unreal romance, so much they were
above the feats of ordinary mortals. The
messengers of the gospel, outstripping in their
darings for Christ's sake, the endurance and
courage of the trader in his search for the
spoils of commerce, were not unworthy fol-
lowers of the apostles of the golden eras OF the
church. We can recall as most honorable to
the commonwealth the matured minds and the
tried wisdom of those who first evoked INTO
form our laws and institutions, and to come a
step farther towards contemporary history,
who will have to blush for the past record of
Minnesota, during the hours OF danger to the
nation, when the deeds will be narrated which
her soldiers performed on southern battle
fields.
We are not yet beyond the pioneer period Of
Minnesota's history. I fancy that the men
who one hundred years hence will drink a
toast to the pioneer, will include all of us liv-
ing in the nineteenth century ane1g the rio-
neers. We have not yet finished building up
our commonwealth. Let us do our parts,
amid our opportunities, as well as those who
have gone before US did theirs, and it will br
we'll for US. The material development OF the
state will 90 forward assured1y; nothing can
arrest it, 80 great the impetus with which it
is advancing. But mere material growth will
not constitute great nation, nor perpetuate
it through future ages. When imperial Rome
built her most superb palaces, and freight
her ships with the gold of the world, and her
armies met on the earth no equal foe, she was
on the eve OF her downfall-the cement of
commonwealth, the source of true grandeur
and life, was decaying in Rome, virtue and re-
ligion. Let us guard well these precious de-
posits intrusted by heaven to the care OF So
ciety; let progress in moral life step apace
with progress In material matters, and all will
be well with Minnesota. The citizen, the
defense of purity, of honesty, Of temperance,
is the builder of society, the pioneer of an I'M
mortal history. 1t was favorable omen that
the FIRST white men VINO gazed on Minnesota
represented united together in one close band
religion and commerce-Hennepiu bore the
cross, his companions Ako and Du Gay were
traders, the business men of the party Let
the union begun on the first day of our history
never be broken.
Bishop ireland was welcomed with great
applause, and his remarks called forth repeated
demonstrations.
The quartetts sang "Auld Lang syns'' in a
spirited manner, the noble old song receiving
genuine applause.
GEN. GIBBONS.
Judge Flandrau then read the following
sentiment:
"rhe army of the United States. In war the
center OF the nations reliance. In peace the
skirmlsh line of civilization and progress"
The greeting extended to Gen. Gibbons, who
responded, was hearty and vociferous. He
said:
Speaking, as we all know, is not the sol
dier's forte. Under the circumstances / wish
it were mine tonight, that might take it and
respond worthily to the toast you have as
signed me. But you have awarded me pleas.
ing duty. and must perform it as best may.
The subiect-The Army-is big one, which
very few people can handle. In fact during
the war the number who could handle it well
was exceedingly limited. My only doubt now
is how to attack the formidable fort; whether
by regular approaches or by a coup de main.
The former will take too long, so shall try
the short cut.
The army of the United States is one Of the
most formidable on the face of the globe.
The despots of the world, whose armies are
not the people, may well tremble ut the
thought that the last army register shows we
have $685., 3O5 men s.avallable for military
duty" How many this number has increa, ed
in the past twelve months it is impossible to
say till the new returns come in. It is true
that only about 27,GOO of these are organ
ICED, but the other ,25O, 600 stand ready at the
first sound of war to rally to the flag OF an i'm
periled country. Our past experience shows
that it is as easy for these men to cease to be
soldiers as it is for them to become soldiers.
And this is something which no other nation
upon the face of the earth can say! In 1865
when the whole world almost Was holding its
breath at the prospect of what was
going to result to liberty and one or two