The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-25


hand OF time, the building erected By man
devotion to the worship OF God. SO, with thi
bridge will ever be coupled the thought OF on
through the subtle alembic OF whose brain
and BY. whose facile fingers, communication
was maintained between the directing powe
OF its construction, and the obedient agennie
OF its execution. 1t Is thus nm everlasting
| monument to the self-saerihcing devotion o
woman, and of her capacity for that highe
education from which she has been too lonl
debarred. The name OF Mrs. Emily WarreI
Roebling will thus be inseparably associate,
with all that is admirable In human nature
and with all that is wonderful In the construc
! tive world of art.
| The elder Roeblng, who conceived the pro
| iect estimated the structure to cost, indepan
| dent of land damages and interest, about VI,
000,000 and Mr.. Hewitt asserted as q fac
| which he knew TO be incontrovertible, that M
money was ever stolen by the ring from ths
funds of the bridge, that the whole none,
raised had been honestly expended, and tina
the additional cost was mainly due to the pur
chase of land not included In the original esti
mates. The bridge has not only been honestly
built, but II may be safely asserted that II
could not now be duplicated at the same cost
Alluding TO the rumors that the bridge
would lead to union OF the two cities, Mr
Hewitt doubted the expediency OF such union,
and said 1t was idle TO consider the
idea Of getting rid Of common evils by adding
them together.
IL would be a most fortunate conclusion II
the completion OF this bridge should arouse
public attention TO the absolute necessity oi
good municipal government, and recall the
only principle upon which IL can ever be sue
cessfuily founded. There is reason to hope
that this result will follow, because the
erection OF this structure shows how problem.
analogous to that which confronts US In regas;.
to the city government. has hA.s- met aud
solved in the dogaA q hsa.-'', s,ssss'cs
u fas al., 4. n
dence OF the people in their own power and in
duce them to use it practically for the election
OF good men TO office. then indeed will its COM
rletion be public blessing, worthy Of the new
era OF industrial development Ia which II is our
fortunate lot to live.
Great indeed has been our national progress
Perhaps we, who belong to a commercial COM
munity, do not fally realize its significance and
promise. We bay and sell stocks, without
stopping to think that they represent the most
astonishing achievements OF enterprise and
skill, in the magical extension OF our vast rail-
way system; we speculate IN wheat without re-
tiecting on the stupendous fact that the plains
OF Dakota and California are feeding hungry
movths in Europe; we hear that the Treasury
has made call for bonds and forget that the
rapid extinction Of our national debt is proof
Of our prosperity and patriotism, as wonderful
70 the world as was the power we exhibited
in the struggle which left that apparent
ly crushing burden upon us. II, then,
we deal successfully with the evils
which threaten our political life, who can
venture TO predict the limits OF our future
wealth and glory-wealth that shall enrich
all; glory that shall be no selfish heritage but
the blessing OF mankind. Beyond all legends
OF oriental treasure, beyond all dreams of the
golden age, will be the splendor and majesty
and happiness OF the free people dwelling up
on this fair domain, II, as may be fairly an
ticipated, they shall then have learned how
TO make equitable distribution among them
selves Of the fruits of their common labor. AS
our own Bryant sang as long ago as 1921:
.'Here the free spirit Of mankind at length,
Throws Its last fetters of; and who shall place
limit 70 the giants untamed strength,
Or curb its swiftness the forward racei
Ear like the he comets way through Infinite space.
Into the depths of ages; We may trace
Distant, the Frightening glory OF its fight,
Till the receding rays are lost 70 human sight"
At the ocean gateway of such nation, we'll
may stand the stately figure OF Liberty en-
tightening the World;'' and, in hope and
faith, as well as gratitude, we write upon the
towers OF our beautiful bridge, to be illumin-
ated by her electric ray, the words of exuita-
tion, FiniS coronat opus.
Mr.. Hewitt was followed by Rev. Richard S.
Storrs, d. ID.
SPEECH OF REV. II. $. sToRRs
Mr. Chairman aud. Felop-cifizens
1t can surprise no one that we celebrate the
completion of this great work, In which lines
OF delicate and ariel grace are combined with
strength more enduring than marble, and the
woven wires prolong TO these heights the me-
tropelitan avenues, after delays which have
often disturbed the popular patience, and have
often disappointed the hopes OF the builders.
We gratefully welcome the superb consumma-
ton, rejoicing to know that "the silver streak
which so long has divided this city from the
continent is conquered henceforth by the silver
bond stretching above, careless alike OF wind
and tide. OF leo and fog, of current and of
calm. To the mind which for fourteen
years has watched. Luided and governed tho
work, looking out upon II through physical
agonies, almost fatally smitfen IN its prosecu-
tion, We bring our eager aud unanimous trih-
ute OF honor and applause. He who took mp,
elaborated and has brought to fnlhliment the
plans of the father, whose own life had been
sacrificed in their furtherance. has builded to
both the noblest memorial. He may with
truth have said heretofore, as the furnaces
have glowed from which those welded net
works havo come, in the words OF Schiller's
Lay Of the Belr':
"Deep hid within the neither cell
What force with fire is moulding thus,
In yonder airy towers shall dwell
And witness wide and far Of us !"
He may at this hour add for himself tha
lines which the poet hears from the lips OF his
house master:
"AIy house is built upon rock.
And sees unmoved the stormy shock
VI waves ttiat iIet DetONs
1t must be superlativs moment in life
when one stands on structure as majestic IS
this, which was at first mere thought In the
brain, which was afterward a plan ON the
paper and which has been transported hither
from quarry and mine, from woodward and
workshop, on the point OF his pencil. he would
be first TO acknowledge also, il he were speak
ing, the intelligent. faithful, indefatgable ser
vice rendered in execution OF his plans by
those who have been associated with him as
assistant engineers, as master mechanics, or
trained, trusted and experienced workmen.
Surely we should not go from this hour,
which marks o new era in the history OF these
cities, and which points TO their further inde-
finite expansion without the purpose in each OF
US that so far forth as In us lies, with their
increase in numbers, wealth and equipment,
shall also proceed with equal step their pro-
gress In whatever Is noblest and best In public
and In private life; that all which sets human
ity forward shall come In them to ampler en-
dowment and more renowned exhibition. so
that linked together they may always increas-
ingly conscious Of fulfilled obligations to the
nation and TO God, may make the land at
whose magnificent gateway they stand their
constant debtor aud may contribute their
mighty part toward that ultimate perfect hu-
man society for which the Seer could find no
image so meet or majestic as that Of a city COM
ihg down from above, its stones laid with fair
colors, its foundations each sappbires, its win
It's borders OF pleasant stones, with tho sover-
eign promise resplendently above 1t, and great
shall be the peace of thy children"
At the close OF the ceremonies the Presi-
dent, Governor and few other invited
guests, under tho escort OF the Twenty-third
Regiment, passed from the station across Full
ton street to the residence OF Mayor Low,
where dinner plates we're laid for IS.
After dinner the President and party viewed
the FIRE works from the boat In the river and
afterwards went to the Academy OF Music.
The streets in Brooklyn were illuminated with
Chinese lanterns and were packed with people.
SO dense was the throng that traffic was Inn
peded and the cars had TO be stopped or travel
ed very slowly. While the fireworks were be-
Ing set off the scene in the harbor was very
grand. Countless boats and craft OF every
kind tasiifully lit up with colored lights
thronged the river. Atterward the large
span lighted by electricity, radiant arch
against a dard back ground, ottracted as much
attention as the previons display The dis
play Of fireworks lasted for about an hour an
hour and was very beautiful.
President Arthur and Gov. Cleveland at
tended by Mayors Low and Edison, Secretary
Chandler, Postmaster General Gresham and
others took up their stands on dais in the
Academy OF Music this evening and stood
there while the citizens of Brooklyn to the
number OF 5000 or 1000 fled past and bowed
their respects.
At 1040 o'clock the President drove te
Mayor Lows house, escorted by mounted
squad OF notice. and went thence to the Unit