The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-13

still in the sky and expire like O transient
exhalationf 1t seems not so to me. j see
it In the events of these latter days and in
the swift approaching achievements of tho
future, lowering In all It's splendor over
the plains. the mountains and the rivers Of
the South and of the Southwest. The
march OF the empire is here. The genera
tions of the future will behold this march
of empire towards the Isthmus of DarieD.
not in columns of conquest OF with sword
In hand. Dut with knowledge and science
winning it's way and scattering the bless
ings of liberty, peace and justice as 1t
waves on.
NORTH America. South America and
Central America were designed by the I'M
repealabie laws of their creation TO be
helpful and neighbors to each other. and
the day is not far distant W hen reciprocity
will be established between them, genuine
In all its parts. fair 20 every industry. with
no protected monopolies behind il; no
bogus metal in its composition; no party
intrigue in its arrangements Nor eau We
fail to hold that the vital POINT in the
western hemisphere for the common prog
ress and the independence OF
the three Americas. is the isthmus
that mighty iggture which has bound
them together since the morning star fret
took it's place in the sky. No power not
American can ever be permitted it's con-
troll nor can it much longer stand an IN
broken barrier to the navigation Of the two
oceans. The intercourse of the American
old world. the enterprsng spirit of the age
in which we live will not much longer sub
nit to brave the tempests of Cape Horn or
to cross through the narrow Straits OF Ma
gellan In passing from one ocean TO the
other. The waters of the Atlantic and Pa
cific are too near each other to be kept
apart In this sublime era of science. lnven-
ton and energy.
1T is true that the grand old French.
man. De Lesseps. failed at Panama. but it
is also true that it was right for him TO fail.
The work belongs to the Americans. with
their stalwart Saxon brother OF the n ortiz
at their head and In chief control. to unite
the two oceans, and to aDnlhilate tho dis
tances and the dangers which now inter-
pose between them. Those who behold the
opening day of the twentieth century VIII
also behold tho flag of the United States
carried on ships of commerce across the
isthmus navigating the waters OF the canal
now under construction by the Nicaragua
route. This is not q question OF foreign
policy, it is a question of American policy.
and so far as diplomacy is concerned 1t Is
question to be settled by American conn
ellis alone. The Monroe doctrine. which
was simply the reassertion of the policy OF
Jefferson against European interference In
American affairs, Is here involved, and It
will stand the test OF craftsmanship and
time"
Tonight two magnificent pageants
brought the days glories TO a close. AT
o'clock parade of the Memphis cyclists.
with their wheels artistically decorated,
preceded the prominent feature of tho
evening-the procession of allegOrical
floats and trades display. Tomorrow night
splendid display of fireworks will %
held on the levee. TO be followed at 10
o'clock by an elaborate banquet
The Memphis bridge Is the third largest
of its kind in the world. and stands as a
magnificent memorial TO the engineerin q
genius of it's builder. Mr. George 5. MOrri-
son. There are five spans and six piers. in
GLIDING the anchorage pier. The east shore.
or cantilever. span is 225.S3 feet; the main
span, consisting of two cantilever arms
and one intermediate span, is 1912 feet;
one continuous span G2l.06. and one deck
span 33a.75 feet. making total length of
1854 IL feet In the bridge proper.
The bridge was built by the Kansas
City. Memphis Il Birmingham Railroad
Company. which at once commenced using
it. the first regular train to cross over be-
ing tho Kansas City fast express which
arrived at O'Clock tonight The bridge
is located on the exact spot where Fer
nando De Soto crossed the Nj ssissip pi in 1541.
and in excavating for the shore pier on the
Tennessee side. some Spanish halberds,
supposed to have been used by him, were
found.