River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-24
DlNEo AT peLMonIco's.
New York Worlds Fair Commissioners
banquet a Party of Distinguished Gen


New York Worlds Fair Commissioners
banquet Party of distinguished Gen
tlemen.
New YORK, Dee. 22.-The dinner Civ
en- at Delmonico's Monday night by the
New York commissioners of the Column
bian exposition, consisting of Chauncey
NJ. Depew, John Boyd Thatcher. G. W.
Allen and j. Seaver Page, gave evil
dence of New York's intention to do
what it can to make the exposition
success IL was a spontaneous
and generous uprising of the citizens
of the metropolis to the assistance of
the younger city of the lakes, warm
assurance of the friendliest feeling and
a recognition of the national character
of the exposition.
Letters of regret were received from
ex-President Cleveland, Vice President
Morton, ex-Mayor Hewitt, Senator
Daniels, of Virginia, and Richard
Croker.
Among the guests present were the
following:
T. w. Palmer president OF the national com
mission Of the Worlds Columbian exposition;
w. T. Baker, president OF the Worlds Colum-
bian exposition; George X. Davis, director
general Of the Worlds Columbian exposition;
Perry Belmont, Hon Hugh J. Grant,
mayor of New York city Thomas G.
Platt, Ambrose Snow president of the
board OF trads; j. Soat FassetL Samuel
Sloan John A. King. president ofthe Lake
Shore railroad; r, T.. Wilburg president OF the
Leheigh Valley railroad; Evan Thomas presi.
dent OF the produce exchange; Hon Warner
Miller, Charles 5. Smith, president of the
chamber of commerce; General Horace Porter,
IBHllt npllr ThnmSnn -
Pennsylvania railroad. and George b. Roberts,
of the Pennsylvania railroad.
BESIDES Mr.. Depew the following
named gentlemen made speeches:
Hon. T. w. Palmer. Hon. George r.
Davis, Hon. Thomas NJ. Waller, Maj
NJ =. Handy. Gorton w. Allen, Hon.
W. 7. Baker, president of the board of
trade; John ii. V. Arnold, Charles ).
Smith, j. Seaver Page and John Boyd
Thatcher
The chime clock on the stairway told
the hour of 10 before the good things of
the banquet had been discussed and the
company ready to listen to the
speeches Mr.. Depew arose to speak
while the clock was striking and was
welcomed by a generous outburst OF
applause. lie said:
Our Columbian exhibition comes at most
opportune time The unprecedented crop
which our fields have produced this year and
the equally unprecedented demand for our
food products abroad will give US for twelve
months an exhilarating period OF prosperity.
Farm mortgages will be paid of, new enter
prises will be started, Old railroads will be
extended and ones will be con
structed. values will rise in market price,
everybody viii be richer, and in accord with the
temper and spirit of our people credit Will be
strained 10 the utmost TO realize the large re-
turns from the phenomenal commercial oppor-
tunities. In the ordinary course OF financial
experience and over confidence with probably
different relations another year between the
farm and the markets OF the world would be
followed by corresponding collapse
But this great Industrial exhibition at
Chicago will take up the frayed threads OF OPP
portunity too lavishly employed and weave
them into new cables to draw the car OF
American progress. The vast movement OF
peoples over railways the stimulus given TO
business at cities and railway centers the
hundreds OF millions OF dollars brought into
active use which would be otherwise unem-
ployed will save us as a nation from the dan
gers which threaten and crystalize into per
manency thousands OF enterprises which other
wise would fail from lack Of confidence or
capital
The citizens OF Chicago are to be compli-
menttu ana CouBratulaleu upon tue tOuI axe
and forethought which has characterized
their local preparations Tor this grand
event They have already expended slO-
100000 OF their own money, and their
patriotism and resources are not yet ex-
hausted But the expense OF this national ell
terprise should not be wholly borne by the To-
cality where congress has placed it. The ma
tion should do its part to second the effort OF
the citizens Of Chicago TO make the worlds
fair exposition surpass in every respect any
ever yet held In any country.
1T is an insult to the intelligence of our
state to ask what should be the place of New
York in this grand exhibition. First in popu-
lation in manufactures and almost in agricul-
ture first in all the elements which constitute
great and growing commonwealth. her
place in the emulOus and friendly
rivalry of sister states in this grand ex'
hibition should be that which nature and the
enterprise OF her people have given her Our
markets are west our competitors are west;
we must remove any prejudice that may exist
against our trade and then command the
markets by the superiority and cheapness OF
our product. The opportunity is before us TO
suffer great loss or gain incaleuabe advantage.
But aside from material considerations
New York has never failed when patriotic ef-
fort was demanded 20 respond with volume
and enthusiasm which sustained her imperial
position In the presence of this representa-
tive body speaking for them and through
them for the people Of the commonwealth. /
can say to the country east and west and north
and south: New York will be at the Column
bian exposition, and she will be there in the
full grandeur OF her strer 9Th and Development
"The Columbian Worlds exposition win be
international because il will Hospitality well
come and entertain the people and the products
of every nation in the world. IL Will give TO
them the fullest opportunity to teach and earn
from us and to open new avenues OF trade with
our markets and discover materials which viii
be valuable in the United States.
But its creation, its magnitude its location,
its architecture and its striking and enduring
features will be American. TIE city in which
it is held taking rank among the first
cities in the world after an existence OF
only fifty years. is American. The
great inland fresh-water sea whose
waves will dash against the shores OF
jackson park is American. The prairie ex
tending westward with its thousands OF square
miles of land "a half century ago wilderness,
but to-day gridironed with railroads, spanned
with webs OF electric wire. rich in prosperous
farms, growing villages, ambitious cities and
an energetic, educated and progressive people
is purely American
The centennial exhibition OF 1875 celebrated
the first 100 years Of the independence of the re
public of the United States. The Column
bian exhibit commentaries the discovery
of continent which has become
the home Of people of every race.
the refuge o. those prosecuted on account
of their aerotion to civil and religious liberty
and the revolutionary factor in the affairs OF
this earth, discovery which has accomplished
more for humanity in its material, its intellect
ual and its spiritual effects than all other
events since the advent of Christ"