Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-29
NBBRASK AS ENTERPRISE
Ex-senator Van Wyck's Speech at
Wcppiup Water


Following is tho address Of Hon. @. II.
Van Wyck at the r-stono laying OF the
Noble Sewing Machine factory Mt Weeping
Water, September -:
Now and then in the univorse is planted q
| spot fitted by its natural beauty and advan-
| tages for the greatest enjoyment In heathen
mythology they were reserved for the gods,
| and We're invested with wonderful revela-
tions and marvellous charms and mysteries.
On this continent tho Indians were always
| lineal descendants of the heather gods, and
suvn spots were for their hubitations, and
| they were also invested with wonderful iuoi-
| dents, and thus The Indian and the hunting
| ground passed INTO history. And Weeping
| Water was full of beauty, of poetry, of ten
| der passion, of bold courage, before the white
man crossed It's waters or gazed upon IT skies.
Here pold tribe pitched its tent. No In
| dian history Is complete or worthy consider
alton without heroine. angelic after the
| world of Indian angels; and a lover, pathetic
and devoted wont through the customary
formallty OF asking the old mans consent,
| with the implied understanding then, rs now,
tnat the consent was of no Importance, for in
| any event the mliden WAS to be obtained.
| SO in that case the old chief, as white par
| ents, stoidly refused. But when the lover
found the beautiful creature bathing her
| graceful limbs in the limpid stream
| "On which the south winds scarcely break
| The image of the SKY"
| he threw her gently over his shoulders. She,
| half consentug, bounded as n deer for his
| tribe, farther towards the setting sun.
The old Indian had no trouoles about the
| markets for corn and wheat, raising, feeding
| and selling cattle for less than cost, or still
| more perpleXing, to be veXed with questions
| of political philosophy; how overproduction
| should here be great that cattle lose
| their value, while the price is so high to tho
| consumers that they are Gaily suffering from
| under-consumption None of these things
| veXed the red man. Yet he was not happy
| His soul was kindled with rage. With his
| warriors he pursued the daring lover with
the usual result that he and his braves were
| left on the field. And when the sad-eyed
| maidenS sailed forth, wondering why the
braves came not back again to their humble
| homes. bemoaning night and day, moistening
| the ground with their tears, and the soil in
| sympathy yelling up crystal springs, send
! ing forth the stream which has kept their
| memory green and preserving the name
| they gave it-Weeping Water.
| The natural beauty still remains while
| time has wrought great changes. This magic
| city, with school house and church spire
| blending in graceful harmony with grove
| covered hills and winding streams bears
| testimony to the courage, endurance en-
| thusiasm and generosity of the white man.
to-day. amid music and feasting, you pause
| from daily cares TO lay broad and deep the
| foundations, the cornerstone OF great in
| dustrial enterprise which m,a ans more than
| the massive structure which shall arise;
| more than tine machinery which shall be
completed within its walls, 1t will stand as
an augury for the future, that the sagacity
| and liberaity which has induced hither the
| capital and skill which will sound the notes
| of busy industry on this musical but hereto
| fore protitless stream, will in the near future
| plant by its side other aud companion enter
| priSeS, which Will be n source OF wealth and
| power To a people wno have earned success.
| You have conquered the vantage ground
| you now occupy 10y intelligent, well-directed
| struggle. To-day you enjoy the sunshine of
| achievement and promise because, not as the
| red content Win mere lunt-
ing grounds and fishing places. The spirit
| of discomfort seized you, and you wrestled
TO obtain first The iron way, a great trunk
line; nov his soon TO be busy, bustling
| palace of toll, and these are only removing
the veil which will reveal your own strength
! and capacity to accomplish still greater
| things i'll the. future.
We all know ohat it costs to foster
| mechanical or other ventures in the west
The trade centers gather up the great ina
| jorty of the money earned. Not only that,
| Dut the same centerS control not only the
| money but the Legislation of the nation, and
| they careful to protect their own inter-
ests and make the remainder of the republic
| tributary.
The west ought not longer to be held in
leading strings. Its emancipation can only
! come as YOU are securing H., by fostering
those enterprises which have enriched the
east There is no reason why cotton should
be transported To tine Merimau in Massachu-
sets and her waters make the cloth; as
easily can it be done on the Platte. No rea-
son why sewing and other machines should
be manufactured on the banks of the Passaic;
as readily can that be done on the banks of
the Weeping Water. There is no reason
why all the fire and life insurance of Ne
braska should not be taken within her bor-
ders. When we apply the doctrine OF proper
protection to our interests even mt the cost
you assume our people Will retain FAR more
of the money they earn.
| Others will come when profit is demon
strated, dollars the only consideration. CIV
1 10. tttytlk IN nj
in time. however distaSteful IL may be, you
and your people must consider how cheap
transportation may be secured between sec
tions of q republic which embraces a conti-
nent and reach from ocean To ocean. The
| ancient republics when Greece WAS not half
the size OF Nebraska, were not vexed with
| that problem, neither the thicbly settled,
pent up countries OF Europe, where day
and night is not required to traverse from END
TO end Of the British empire.
But we are feeling IT when so much OF the
grain crop and meat product Is absorbed IN
| reaching the tar away seaboard, 1T may not
| mean railroad transportation, but 1t does
mean some cheaper If not other way possi-
ply in controlling the wild Mississippi or
wilder Missouri, or IL may be the slow, and
at one time supposed to be obsolete, canal,
with its propelling power, the patient, plod-
ding mule, ,
After all, the waters of Lake Erie and
the Erie canal have been the great cheap
ener, and the great leveller between Chicago
and New York. And the necessity may soon
appear for the Hennepin canal 10 connect
the waters OF Lake Erie with the Missis
sippi then through Iowa with the Missouri,
at the mouth of the Platte. then up that
turbid stream TO the Rocky mountains, VIII;
branches min ling the principal rivers ~
Kansas and Nebraska This scheme VIII
not only aid in the patronage effort OF states
men 10 obtain roief from IA bursting treas
ury 10 dissIpate the surplus, but will benefit
the people far more than building warships
or paying millions in premiums TO foreign
and other boldholders, If they Will sracionsly
accept the money due them.
Standing here midway a. the continent
even ourselves have no adequate apprecia-
ton OF our present power and therefore re-
caive no proper recognition but the giant 10
in its infancy In the innocent con
sciousness OF strength, not power.
IL CANDLES playfuly u the amusement
of those who control and are benefited by
ito innocence; but the germ Is developing,
and when other giant hands begin 10 relax
their hold, or when our rapid growth SHAH
snap the ponds that bind us, will our
branches, lIKo cedars OF Lebanon, I'LL tEo
whole sky.
And here, standing IN the Gawning OF the
| morning, with streaks of gray breakiug INTO
light, far away in the future we catch
| giimpses OF what will DO aOOnday Rlorles,
r | when the young giant will realize his power
, | by exercising his strength and scattering