Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-10-27
Henry WattersOn's Grafton.

God save the United States OF America
Henry Watterson's Grafton.
Among the wonders of creative and con-
structive genius in course of preparation for
this festival of the nations, whose formal and
oficial Inauguration has brought us together
will presently be witnessed upon the margin
OF the interocean which gives TO this noble
and beautiful city the character and rank of a
maritime metropolis. a spectatortum wherein
the Columbian epic will be told with realistic
effects SURPRISING the most splendid and i'm
rpressive achievements OF the modern stage. It
traces the strange adventures of the Genoese
seer IRON = sne r9ya' ,St csmP OF santa & re 70 the
freemen, equal shareholders In the miracle of
American civilization and development. Is
Maker that he has lived to join In this univer-
sal celebration. the Jubilee OF mankind?
We look befor: and after aud we see through
the half-drawn folds of tim as through the
solemn archways of some grand cathedral the
long procession pass. az silent and real as a
{ billows, have their sails reflled from the east
and bear away to the west: the land is reached
and fulfilled is the vision whose actualities
are to be gathered by other hands than his who
planned the voyage and steered the bark OF
discovery.
east the Old-world struggle between the French
and English transferred to the new ending in
the tragedy upon the heights above Quebec:
we see the sturdy puritans in bell-crowned
hats and sable garments assail in unequal bat
tile the savage and the elements overcom-
ing both to rise against mightier
cavaliers to the southward JOIN hands
with the roundheads in holy rebellion And
iOl down from the green-walled hills Of New
England out OF the swamps of the Carolinas
come family to the ear like far-away forest
leaves stirred to music by autumn winds. the
drum-taps OF che revolution; the tramp of the
minute men, Israel Putnam riding before; the
boof-beats OF Sumter's horse Ralloping to the
front; the thunder Of stark's guns in spirit
battle; the CLEAN of Marions watch-hres in
Rhostly bivouac; and there, there in serried
saint-like ranks on Fame's eternal camping
ground, stand
The old continentals
In their ragged regimentals,
Yielding not,
as amid the singing of angele I'm heaven the
scene is shut out from our mortal vision by
We see the rise OF the young republic; and
the gentlemen In the knee-brecches and
powdered wigs who signed the declaration and
the gentlemen in knee-breeches and powdered
wiRs'who made the Constitution We see the
little nation menaced from without We see
the ri6emen in bnntinR-shirt and buckskin
swarm from the cabin Ia the wilderness to the
rescue of country and hume; and our hearts
swell to second and nnal decree OF independ-
ence won by the prowess and valor of Ameri-
can arms upon the land and sea.
And then, and then-since there is no life OF
nations or of men without it's shadow aud its
sorrow-there comes n day when the spirits of
the fathers no longer walk upon the battle
ments Of freedom and eli is dark; and all
God, our blessed Union. With these surviving
who shall marvel at what we see to-day:,this
ihuu uieu Win the Jreheuree OF the earth. this
city snatched from the ashes to rise I'm spien-
dor and renown passing the mind to precon-
ceivef
Truly. out of trial comes the strength of
man; out Of disaster comes the glory OF the
Etatei
We are met this day to honor the memory OF
Christopher Columbus to celebrate the 4OOth
annual return of the year of his transcend
ent achievement, and with fitting rites, to
dedicate TO America and the universe a con-
crete exposition Of the worlds progress be-
tween 14g2 and 1892.
No twenty centuries can be compared with
those four centur ries 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 so great an in
huence upon human affairs as the discovery
OF the western hemisphere.
Our republic represents the letter and spirit
of the sublime declaration. The fetters that
bound her to the earth are burst asunder. The
rags that degraded her beauty are cast aside.
Like the enchanted princess In the legend, clad
in spotless raiment and wearing a crown Of
living light she steps in the iperfection Of her
maturity upon the scene Of this the latest and