Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-22

tories over matter which in the days OF Co
lumbus might have been reckoned among
miracles
We can safely predict, however, those who
will come from the near and distant regione
of our country and who will themselves
make part of the national exhibit. We
shall see the descendants of the loyal Cav.
alters of Virginia; OF the Pilgrim Fathers OF
New England; of the sturdy Hollanders who,
in 1924, bought the 2s.00 acres of the Island
of Manhattan for the sum of S24; of the ad.
herents OF the old Christian faith who found
a resting place in Baltimore: of the Quakers
and Palatine Germans who settled in Penn
sylvania and New Jersey: OF the Huguenots
who fed from the revocation Of the edict OF
Nantes to the banks of the Hudson in the
North, and those of the Cooper and Ashley
rivers in the South; of the refugees from
salesburg. in Georgia, and Of Charles Ed
With them also we shall have in person, or
in their sons, the thousands of others from
many climes, who. with moderate fortunes,
have joined their future to that of the great
republic. or who with sinewy arms have
opened our waterways and build our iron
ways.
Mr.. President. in the name of the Govern
ment of the United States hereby dedicate
these buildings and appurtenances in
tended by the Congress oil the United States
for the use of the Worlds Columbian Expo
sition, to the worlds progress in art, science.
in agriculture and in manufactures. dedi-
cate them to humanity. God save the
United States OF America.
Watterson the Orator of the Day.
Then came the first principal oration of
the day. It was pronounced of Hon.
Henry Watterson, who consented to ell the
vacancy caused by the declination of Con-
gresham Breckenridge, also of Kentucky.
After review of the great event four
centuries ago, which the Worlds Fair il
designated to commemorate, Mr.. Watterson
said:
We are met this day to honor the memory
of Christopher Columbus, to celebrate the
four-hundredth annual return of the year of
his transcendant achievement, and, with
fitting rites, to dedicate to America and the
universe a concrete exposition of the
worlds progress between 1892 and 1892. No
20 centuries can be compared with those
four centuries, either in importance or in
interest, as no previous ceremonial can be
compared with this in its wide significance
and reach; because, since the advent Of
the Son of God. no event has had 30 great
an influence upon human affairs as the
discovery of the Western Hemisphere.
a race of inven.ofs and workers, not of
poets and artists. We have led the worlds
movements. not its thoughts. Our deeds
are to be found not upon frescoed walls, or
in ample libraries, but in the machine shop,
where the spindles sing and the looms
thunder; on the open plain, where the
steam plow, the reaper and the mower con-
tend with one another in friendly war
magic of electricity as it pAetrates the
darkest caverns with Its irresistible power
and light. Let us consider ourselves and
our conditions as far as we are able, with
a candor untinged by cynicism, and a conf
dence having no air of assurance
A better opportunity could not be desired
for study of our peculiarities than is fur
nished by the present moment.
A Southern Plea for a Free Ballot.
We are in the midst of the quadrennial
period established for the selection of a
Chief Magistrate. Each citizen has his right
of choice, each has his right to vote and to
have his vote freely cast and fairly counted.
Wherever this right is assailed for any
cause wrong is done and evil must follow,
first to the whole country, which has an in
terest in all its parts, but most to the COM
munity immediately involved, which must
actually drink of the cup that has contained
the poison, and cannot escape its infection.
The abridgement of the right of suffrage,
however: nov Is very nearly proportioned to the
cerned by II, and, there Is good reason to
hope that with the expanding intelligence
Of the masses and the growing enlighten.
ment Of the times, this particular form Of
corruption in elections will be reduced be-
low the danger-line.
To that end, as to all other good ends, the
moderation OF public sentiment must ever
forced by the general desire for truth, and
the light which our modern vehicles OF fn-
formation throw upon truth, to discuss
public questions for truths sake, when it
becomes the plain interest of public men, rs
it is their plain duty, to do this, and when,
above all, friends and neighbors cease to
love one another less because of individual
dinerences OF opinion about public affairs,
the struggle for unfair advantage will be
relegated to those who have either no char
acter to lose or none to seek.
1t Is admitted on all sides that the current
Presidential campaign is freer from excite
ment and tumult than was ever known be-
fore, and it is argued from this circumstance
that we are traversing the epoch Of the
II this be SO, thank God for
1t! We have had full enough Of the dramatic
and sensational, and need a season Of medi-
ocrity and repose. But may we not ascribe
the rational way in which the people are
going about their business to larger knowi.
edge and experience and fairer spirit
than have hitherto marked our party con-
tentions?
The Philosophy Of Party Spirit.
Parties are AZ essential to free government
as oxygen to the atmosphere, or sunshine to
vegetation. And party spirit is Inseparable
from party organism. To the extent that 1t
Is tempered by good sense and good feeling,
by love Of country and integrity Of purpose,
t Is . supreme virtue; and there should be
no gag short of q decent regard for the sensi-
bilfties OF others put upon its freedom and
plainness OF utterance. Otherwise, the
tmpid pool of Democracy would stagnate.
ana We should have q Republic only in
name. But We should never cease to be
.dmonished BY the warning words Of the
party spirit, re-enforced - they are by the
experience Of century Of party warfare: .
warfare happily culminating in the com-
Dlete triumph Of American principles. but