Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-06-20
Depew's Tribute TO Columbus.

y ork after speaking Of the Worlds Fair
and its objects. and also of the former
Worlds Fairs held in this country, paid
the following grand tribute TO the memory
of Christopher Columbus.
The Columbus adri-centennial cele-
bration viii be the only one within record
ed time in which all the world can cordial
~ and iraternally unite. Ii is not sacri-
lege to say that the two events to which
civilization to day owes its advanced posi-
tion are the introduction of Christianity aud
the discovery OF America. The dynamic
forces of our Christian faith, in the destruc-
ton of the buttresses of bigotry and op-
preston, and the levelIng up of the masses
to common rights, could never have work
ed such marvellous results except for the
opportunities of a new country and an un-
trammeled population. When Columbus
sailed from Palos types had been discover
ed, but Church and State held intelligence
by the throat. The compass had opened
pathway across the seas, but feudalism
had its foot upon the neck of commerce.
Hopeless ignorance and helpless poverty
were so burdened by caste and customs,
laws and traditions, that liberty lay bound d
and gagged within impregnable prison
walls. Bot Puritans and Catholics,
HuguenotS and LutheranS, English, Dutch.
German and French, Swedes, most of
them fleeing for liberty to worship God ac-
cording to the dictates of their own con-
sciences, willing to sacrifice every mater
ial advantage and every earthly prospect
Tor civil and religious liberty, and all of
them seeking commercial freedom, follow
ed the track of Columbus to the new world.
Here was neither king or noble, neither
caste nor privilege. The distance was too
great for paternal supervision, and selt-gov-
ernment became the absolute necessity of
the colonies. With no guide but God, and
no constitution but the Bible, they worked
out upon this continent, after many hard
ships and trials and tribulations, the prob
lem of the equality of all men before the
law. They founded institutions which have
withstood the test of foreign invasion, of
political passions. of party strifes, of indi-
vidual ambition, and the shock of the
mightiest civil war the world has ever
seen.
The influences of their successful expert
ment, following the lines of fraternal blood
back to the countries from which they
came, have revolutionized and liberalized
the governments of the globe. The
triumph of the principles of civil and
religious liberty upon this continent, the
bepefieial effects OF the common school,
and the universal diffusion of education
have done more than all other agencies in
uplifting mankind to higher planes Of in
dependence and happiness The children
the grandchildren and the great grand
children of Great Britain and France, of
Germany and Italy, of Spain and Russia,
of Scandinavia and of all the nations of
Europe, will say to their kindred in the
fatherland: Welcome thrice welcome,
to our States and homes; come and see and
learn" and then will the era of peace and
liberty dawn upon tnc world.
New continents beyond the ocean which
should become the seat of great empires,
and whose wealth would redeem the Holy
Sepulchre at Jerusalem from the infdel,
and evangelize the world were the dream
of Columbus. Sustained enthusiasm has
been the motor of every movement in the
progress of mankind. Genius, pluck, en-
durance and faith can be resisted by
neither kings or cabinets. The triumph of
Columbus is superb practical illustration
of the APOSTLE Paul's tribute to the power
offaith. His lofty spirit and great purpose
were undismayed by obstacles, defeat was
an incentive to new endeavor, and he so
carried his poverty that in the most bril-
liant court in Europe it seemed decora-
ton While following Ferdinand and
Isabella in their campaigns against the
Moors, seeking an audience and a hearing
for his grand scheme small indeed seemed
the battles, the sieges aud the victories
which absorbed the attention of the hour.
The armored chiyalry of Spsin, her march
ing squadrons, her gorgeous court appear
ed to him the petty pageantry which stood
betw cen the royal ear and the discovery of
world. The most romantic picture of the
period was Boabdil,, last of the Moorish
kings, coming out from Granada and on
bended knee sunenderng to Ferdinand and
Isabella the keys to the city, while the
ali la
towers of the Alhambra While all Europe
was ringing with acclaim over this expul-
sion of the Musselman, to one proud and
lofty figure standing aloof and unmoved
it seemed of trivial importance compared
with the grander conquest so clearly out
lined before his vision.
1t was happy omen Of what America
could do for woman that when statesman
and prelate alike had rejected the appeal of
Columbus as visionary, and the king had
dismissed it with chilling courtesy, Isabella
comprehended the discoverer's idea, saw
the opportunities of his success, appreciated
the magnitude of the results to her throne
and to the world, and pledged not only her
royal favor, but her fortune and her jewels
TO the enterprise. The American woman
with her property rights guaranteed by
American law, with her equal position and
independence, with her unequaled oppor.
tunities for higher education and for use
fulness, can say with pride to her brother,
her lover aud her husband, "You owe
America to me"
Columbus stands deservedly at the head
of that most useful band of men-the
heroic cranks in history. The persistent
enthusiast whom one generation despises
AS lunatics with one idea, succeeding
ones often worship as benefactor. The
ragged navigator at the gate OF the palace
of CASTLE and Aragon outranks in fame
and beneficent endeavor all the kings and
statesmen and soldiers, nos only of his own
period, but also of those which have come
after. Following the lines of his own
great conception. this celebration in his
honor is not an empty pageant OF music
aud artillery, of banners and professions,
but gathering of representatives Of the
industries of mankind for the purpose Of
cnlarging the liberties, promoting the
peace, improving the condition and broad
ening the intelligence of a race.
Signing a Check by Electricity.
One Of the lnarvsls of electricity, and