Bismarck tribune., 1883-09-14

still more memorable by his presence.
But this is no time for historical details. The
great fact is that the road is built It has taken
faith and time. and pluck and patience and hard
work, with weary days and sleepless nights. It
took line upon line, and precept upon precept.
until there is an immense Northern Pacific lit
erature to educate the world, step by step, up to
the situation. At last capital took courage
through the enthusiastic, big-hearted Jay Cooke,
the event we celebrate, and the work was grandly
begun on both sides of the continent. Then
bankruptcy engulfed Jay Cooke, the road, and
pretty nearly everybody ard everything else.
That was ten years ago this very month. But
after awhile the enterprise was cleanly Brought
out of insolvency, with everybody's rights pre-
served, and Jay Cooke, as we all rejoice to know,
came, too, out of bankruptcy, and is today
swelling new fortune. ...
THE FA1rAFUL FRIENDS OF THE ROAD
stuck fast to it in its adversely, put up more
money, and after awhile the work was again
started on both sides of the continent. And
then, when later the skies frightened all round,
outside capital once more took courage, new life
and new blood came, and at last we are here.
1t is great day. look back to the time
when you could count the friends of the North
Pacific almost on the fingers of your two hands,
and now behold the triumph of their faith.
Nov everybody can come and see this is the
best line across the continent, unequaled Gin its
variety of resources. With magnificent wheat
fields, with cattle on thousand hills, with
mines in it's mountains and ravines, with an
astounding wealth of timber, as you will see
further on, on which in time this whole country
will have to depend, who can doubt the future?
Everything in these respects is yet in the very
infancy of development. Then, as to scenery,
you have had taste Of it. Be prepared for
still greater things as you approach the Pacific
coast. And as for climate, bear in mind it is
in the regions where you have ice and snug
winters you will find the toughest muscles, the
most vigorous brains and the most earnest
homes. So. putting all things together, who
can fail to see that this great new highway is to
be marked all along with prosperous commune
ties. with schools and churches and
HIGH CIVILIZATION?
Who can fail to see that it brings permanent
peace with the Indians; that no more Clusters
are to be killed, no more regiments to be wiped
out, that new states are to come here, new
power andIn wealth. and new bond of unity
to be sdded to our government, and new route
to be opened to the worlds commerce?
Things at the start are always, of course, q
little crude, but all is coming that has been
prophesied. And wish all the friends of the
enterprise at the beginning, and all who stood
by it in the darkest days, and all who have
helped is on in the later years. could be here to
see the great consummation. How that railroad
st. John, who SO early cried in the wilderness,
"Prepare ye the way Asa Whitney, would have
rejoiced! How, too, Governor Stevens, killed
in the war, who
SURVEYED THIS ROUTE FOR THE GOVERNMENT
in 1854 and 1856, and OF all occasions and
everywhere was its champion How, too, the
first president, Josiah Perham, who labored
hard and died without the sight of even the first
spike How, too, the first engineer, Edwin F..
johnson, and the second engineer, W. Minor
Roberts, both men of the. very highest ability
bounds! But cannot go through the roll.
From first to last, whether here or absent,
whether living or dead, all should be gratefully
remembered who, as officers or privates, have
been in the long fight which sees complete vic
tory to-day. It is roll of honor, and cannot
forbear saying that at the head of it should
stand the name of Thomas Jefferson, who, in
1884, sought to have the Columbia and its
sources explored by the traveller Ledyard, and
as president cf the United Stotes, at the begin
ming of the century, organized the world re-
nowned
EXPEDITION GF LEWIS AND CLARKE,
names never to be forgotten, with the purpose
of opening by the Missouri and Columbia rivers
q North American route to India.
But detain you too long. If, in conclusion,
may be allowed to allude to myself, to whom
this enterprise was for many years my work by
day and my dream by night, and had, and
always will have, my faith and love, I beg to
say that am profoundly and devoutly thankful
that my life has been spared TO this great occa-
sion. So CRATE full am I, so greatful do I believe
we all are for what it is fot the past as history,
and for the future as prophecy, that 1 wish
great multitude of those to whom the com.
pletion of this Northern Pacific is benediction
could be here today, and that we all could lift
up our voices with one accord and make these
mountains echo back to us, "Pralse God, from
whom all blessings fow."
Mr.. Willard said that as they
had present distinguished guests from Eng
land and Germany he would give those pres
ent an opportunity to hear their sentiments.
Mr.. Willard introduced Minister
LEoNEL sAcKv1LLE WEST.
of England, who said that Sir James Hannen
would speak for the English guests. Sir James
Hannen said the English visitors were filled with
wonder and admiration by the sights of the
magnificent country and its institutions. Mr..
Henry Willard was person on account of whom
their warmest sympathies and gratitude for