Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-02-28

feel proud, but it has brought to your
doorway the connecting link that en-
ables You to join hands with the entire
people of the state. And 1t will be bat
short time, sir, when the immense for
ests that now surround your city will
have been supplanted with thriving
towns and villages, and the thick pines
OF Northern Michigan will given
place to the industries of civilization,
II will be but short time, sir, when
down. down and under the waters of the
great Straits of Mackinac the mighty
engine of steam will bear its freight
from shore to shore!
Do you doubt this? Every great I'M
dertaking was doubted. Every wonder
ful invention was doubted. When Rob-
ert Fulton conceived the idea of navi-
eating the Hudson with steam his plan
was doubted and he was Knocked at and
derided. When the thought OF cOnvers-
ing with each other thousands OF miles
away with The rapidity of lightning was
first proposed il was doubted, and men
could not be made to believe such thing
were possible. But the genius OF Morse
Overcame the obstacles and gave birth to
the electric telegraph. Aud now
not only are our thoughts sped on light
ming wings over the earth, but under
the waters thereof
Who fifty years ago would have be-
lieved such thing AS this? Who fifty
years ago would have believed that man
was going to span the broad Atlantic
and send his thoughts flashing through
and under the waters of the mighty
deep?
When we wero told that one could sit
in his Office and converse with another
in a distant city thousand miles away,
we doubted and pronounced the scheme
impracticable. But All Edison was at
the helm, and to-day we look and Won
der at the brilliant results of the tele-
phone!
When the plan of building a railway
across the continent from sea to sea was
first proposed. it was doubted and OPP
posed by the press and derided in the
legislative halls. Mountains had to be
tunneled. abysmal depths fathOmed and
great CULTS bridged and spanned. But
the work was accomplished nevertheless.
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
from the farthest east to the golden gate,
the iron girdle clasps the wide continent
together!
We are an enterprising people as a
nation. We are an enterprising people
as communities. And in the erection of
this magnificent Court House the people
of this county have demonstrated that
Mackinaw is ore of the foremost in the
State. A comparatively new county,
comparatively poor county, her citizens
fOresaw that edifces like this bore the
impress of thrift and civilization, and
would attract immigration to her shores,
in har loft np nd cd
and prosperity to the county.
And now, sir, the work is completed.
1t is finished. To-day we cOnsccrate-
to-day we dedicate this temple to the
hallOwed rites for which it is designed.
To-day. high in its glistenlng dome, we
mount the Goddess Justice, that all the
world may know that here are wrongs
redresssd-that here are rights protected
that here the humblest citizen NAV
come and shall not 90 unhaard. Blind
to party, blind to kindred, blind to
friendship, we dedicate this court to
even-handed Justice alike to all, the
rich, the poor, the lOwly and the great,
without distinction. creed or color. The
law is just, and though human in6rma-
ties are such that we are far removed
from perfection. yet the fabric of our
Jurisprudence is monument of lofty
eminence, attractive beauty and endur-
ing strength. If here and there an arti-
fetal doctrine rears itself width reason
fails to vindicate, 1t is but little spot
in the great, grand system of the law,
resulting from different modes of
thought in varying ages. And as an en-
inent jurist has truly said IF 1t has a
touch of human infrmity in its struc-
ture its very failings lean to virtues
side"
But we are not here to-day, sir, to dis
cuss wherein the law may be imperfect.
We are here to exchange congratulations
and greetings ON the completion of this
work. This temple of justice. now dedi-
Gated tn the first on human sciences, is q
monument of credit and honor to the
people OF Mackinac county. and long,
long. sir. after we shall have passed
away to that far off Land of the Leal,
and shall stand before the bar of that
highest of all courts, this edifice will
still remain as worthy memorial of the
thrift, enterprise and liberality of the
people who built it,
All honor to the people of Macninac
county!
All honor to the men whose names are
niched within its walls!
In this court room may the Goddess of
Justice always preside, and guide and
guard the deliberations of man. May he
who occupies this bench, sitting in
judgment on his fellOw-man. never be
swerved from duty's path, but may he
strive to execute the high and sacred
trust with that impartial justice that
will assure to him when standing at the
bar of the Great Arbiter of all--the Judge
swell done, thou good and faithful ser
can Ana may we tr as o nsrfsr O TINS
part in aiding i'm the administration of