Bismarck tribune., 1883-09-14

Still, its very grandeur inspired the WILL anu tne
power to perform it, and there was comfort and
elevation in the thought that we have built what
cannot perish, but will last to the end OF all
earthly things. Let us hope and pray that as
this great work of man will stand forever, it may
also forever be an immortal honor to its found"
ers, a noble monument to it's builders, perma-
nent pride and profit to it's owners, and, most of
all, an everlasting blessing to man.
MR.. WILLARD CONCLUDED
amid tremendous applause. he then introduced
the orator of the occasion,
HON. WIN. NJ. EvARTs.
Mr.. PresidentVillard and gentlemen, our fel-
low citizens and foreign guests: 1shall find it
easy to conform, for my share of it, to the dis
tribution of the entire time which has been ac-
corded for this striking ceremony, to mark the
date and place of the completion of this great
public work. Your own address of welcome, Mr..
President has recalled to attention the principal
steps and methods by which this noble consum-
nation has been reached, and the eminent
gentlemen who are to follow me will illustrate,
rom every point of view, the magnitude of the
to sentiments of admiration for the
great qualities and congratulation upon the for
innate influences which have secured the result
sentiments which see, as look around me
swell every breast and bri shten every eye. In
deed, 1 am very glad to feel that thus placed
between what has gone before and what is to
core after, my short speech may be fairly
tre as a mere parenthesis, which, the gram
mar, tell US, may always be omitted without
injury he sense.
It ia true, if were to make the very briefest
allusion to the manifold interesting Incidents if
I were merely to touch upon even the many
great things which have marked the progress of
this enterprise through all it's vicissitudes to
IT'S FINAL sUCCKss,
it 1 were to exhibit only it's most nota-
BILE contests with and triumphs over the
alas as we'll as material-had put in its way, L
should transcend all limits of time and your pa
thence before had got as far as Helena starting
at either end. But of such enlargement, even,
the subject has no need. In all the long route
from St. Paul to Portland and Puget Sound, the
work has spoken and will speak the praises of its
conception, its projection, its completion, IN
more impressive tones, and with juster en-
phasis than words could express. If "an only
run single furrow through the wide field of
observation and illustration open before us, if
can barely mark the bright track of prophecy,
faith and works which have wrought out the
grand consummation, the demands Of the occa-
sion, cannot but feel, will be qnite satisfied.
I have spoken of prophecy, faith and works as
all contributory to the
SUCCESS OF THIS ENTERPRISE,
and SO, indeed, they have been. Neither of them
could have been spared from this, or from any
weighty and imposing task of human endeavor.
Forecast, confidence and labor will accomplish
whatever is within the compass of mans power.
Let us consider little the part they have each
plaved in the work complete which now, in our
presence, it's builder, the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company, has crowned with its last
hand"
Fortunately for US, neither English nor Span
ish explorers of the West Coast had discovered
the mouth of the Columbia River before our In
dependence was established. Fortunately, also,
after that event, though both the English and
the Spaniards, continued their explorations on
that coast. it was New England trading cap
tain. Robert Gray, of the ship 'Columbia," that
frat penetrated the mouth of this river, to
which he gave its name, and verified and re-
corded it as a discovery which, Eurder the rules
then prevailing, carried to its country the
sovereignty of the region drained by the river
and it's tributaries. The accurate and circumspect
entry made in his log book by thisintelligent New
England shipmaster, was the title deed OF the
limited States to the region embraced In the state
of Oregon and the territory of Washington
AGAINST subsequent claims of discovery made by
Great Britain, and in some sort, by Spain. 1t
was upon this title That we maintained foot
ing of Joint occupation with Great Britain, and,
finally, by the treaty of 1885, Of exclusive title
up to the division line of the 49th parallel. By
the treaty of Washington of 1871, under the
arbitration of the emperor of Germany, our
construction of the division line in
PUGET SOUND
and the communicating channels was estab-
liahed. Until the acquisition Of California, as
the result of the Mexican War, this region was
our sole footing upon the Pacific Ocean, and
this excited the interest and ambition of the
nation for an overland communication with this
remote and unpeopled possession. lmmedi-
atelv upon the Louisiana purchase in lSOS, the
forecast and energy of Jefferson was shown IN
the project of the survey of the vast wilderness
intervening to discover practicable route for
migration and traffic. Congress voted the money
for an expedition to trace the Missouri to its
source. to cross the highlands, and to follow
down the water courses tv the Pacific Ocean.
lewis and Clarke executed this task. Starting
from St. Louis in May, 1904, they wintered fifty
miles above the present town of Bismarck, and
came in sight of the ocean on the 7th November,
1905 Commencing on theirreturn in March, 1906
thew reached St. Louis in September Of the same
vear. Thus. under instructions draAn by the
hand If Jefferson himself, the route now occu-
MED nv the North Pacific railroad was opened to
the atte stion of the people of the United States
and ha, from time to time engaged their inter-
e,t till the dream, the prospect, the project and
the effort have ended in
THE WORK HERE AND NOW.
GS~0yA yvNvNSk IN