Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-10-27
Address of welcome.
Following is Mayor Hampstead Wash.
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Following is Mayor Hampstead Wash
burne's address of welcome;
Mr. President Representatives OF Foreign
Governments, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This day Is dedicated by the American peopl,
to one whose name is indissolubly linked with
that OF our continent This day shall add new
glories 10 him whose prophetic vision beheld IN
the stars which guided his audacious voyage q
new world and a new hope for the peoples Of
the earth,
The four centuries passing in review have
witnessed the settlement OF newly discovered
continent the founding OF many nations, and
the establishment In this country Of more thal
sixty millions OF people whose wonderful ma.
terial prosperity, high intelligence political in
sttutions aud glorious history have excited tho
interest and compelled the admiration OF the
civilized world
These centuries have evolved the liberty-lov
ing American people who are ga thsred here to.
day. We have with us the pioneer bearing In
his person the freedom OF his western home
the agelng veteran, whom all nations honor,
without whose valOr, government, liberty and
patriotism would be but idle words, We have
with as builders Of cities, founders OF states,
dwelers in the forests. tillers OF the soil, the
mechanic and the artisan, and noble women,
dauchicrs Of the republic, not less IN patriotism
and deserved esteem than those who seem 10
play The larger part in building up a state
There are gathered here our cabinet and
stately senate, our grave and learned judges,
our congress and our states that ali mankind
may know this Is nations holiday and q peo-
pies tribute TO him whose dauntiess courage and
unwavering faith impeied him TO traverse un-
dsmayed tho unsailed waste OF waters, and
whose first prayer upon waiting continent
was salnted on its course by that banner which
knows no creed, no faith no nation that en-
sign which has represented peace, progress and
humanity for nineteen hundred years-the holy
banner OF the cross.
Those foreign nations which have contributed
so much to our growth viii here learn wherein
our strength lies s-that IL Is not In standing
armies not 10 heredity or birth-not even in
our fertile valleys not Ia our commerce or our
wealth-hut that we have buin aud are build.
ing upon ths everlasting rock OF individual
and Intelligence, seeking to secure
al education for every man, woman and child
over whom floats the stars and stripes, that
emblem which signifies our government and
our people
That aag guards to-day q. 800 90 school chill
dren of country not yet four centuries old and
who outnumbcr nearly four times the popula.
tion OF Spain in 1872
This is our hope in the future-the anchor Of
the republic and a rainbow OF promise for the
centuries vet 10 come.
As a mark Of public gratitude it was decided
to carry down into history through this ccle-
bration the appreciation OF this people for him
before whose name We all bow 20 dly.
You, sirs, who are the chosen representatives
OF our people-you into whose keeping VIC en-
trus I our property and our rights-you whose
every act becomes link in that long chain OF
history which spans 400 years without break
and whose every link signifies a struggle ana
victory for man-you who represent that last
ana mos perfect experiment OF human govern
a.. 44asa.H a ~
young city with your choice as the most fitting
place 70 mark this country's dawn
She accepts the sacred trust with rivalry TO-
wards none and fellowship for all She stands
ready to fulAn the pledges she has made. She
needs no orator to speak her merits no poet TO
sing her glories. She typines the civil.
zation Of this continent and this age.
she has no hoary locks no crumbling
ruins. the gray haired sire who saw her birth
to-day holds on high his pratting grandchnd to
see the nations Of the earth within her gates
over The very spot whereon we stand, within
The memory Of men still young, the wild fowl
winged their migratory flight
Less than a century ago the site Of this young
city was unknown; to-day a million and half
people support her honor, enterprise and thrift
Her annual commerce OF one billion and a half
tells the eloquent story OF her material great
ness Her hberality TO all nations and all
reeds Is boundlCss, broad as humanity and
ligh as the dome Of heaven. Rule Britannia,
he Marseilles, die Wacht am Rhein, and
very folk song OF the older world has drifted
lver the Atlanucs stormy waves. and as each
'cho, gro wing fainter with advancing leagues,
has reached this spot it has been merged into
hat one grand chorus, MY Country It's Of
rhee, Sweet Land OF Liberty, OF Thee / Sing -
This, sirs, is the American city OF your choice;
ier gates are open, her people at your service
To you aud those yon represent we offer greet
ng. hospitality and love
To the old world whose representatives grace
his occasion, whose governments are in full
lccord with this enterprise so full.of meaning
o them and to US, 10 that old world whose chil-
lren braved unruly seas and treacherous
torms 70 found new state in ah unknown
and, We give greeting too, as children greet a |
aren't in some new home
We are proud OF its ancestry for tits our own.
We glor in its history for IL was our ancestral
Hood which inscribed its rolls OF honor, and II |
o-day these distinguished men Of moro distin. |
uished lands behold any spirit thing or ambi. !
ion which excites their praise IL IS but the /
ut-eropping OF the Roman courage on a new |
in later age.
Welcome TO You men OF older civilizations 10 !
his young city whose most ancient landmark /
fas built within the span OF q present life. Our
ospitalities and our welcome we now extend /
-ithout reserve, without regard TO nationality, /
reed OF race.