The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-22

has been hitherto held in vague and
careless remembrance will be made q
vital and elevating force to mankind.
Anniversaries are the punctuations oil
history. They are the emphases given
10 events, not by the song OF the poet,
or the pen OF the rhetorician, but by the
common acclaim OF mankind. They are
tho monuments OF the heroes and the
saviors Of the race. They are the Mem
mons which ill the heart with promise,
the eye with gladness, and the car with
song.
The teacher Of Socrates, when dying,
was asked what he wished for monu-
ment. He answered: "Give the boys a
holiday"
1t was happy thought to have link
ed with the achievements OF Columbus
and Pinzon, which doubled the area Of
OF the habitable globe, an undertaking
whereby we hope to illustrate the TACT
that they also made possible more than
duplication OF blessings to mankind.
AS these great men died ignorant OF
the magnitude OF their work. may we
not hope that this exposition will ac-
complish greater good than will be
revealed to US to-day, DO its outcome
never so brilliant? May We not hope
that lessons here learned, transmitted
to the future, will be potent forces long
after the multitudes which will throng
these aisles shall have measured their
span and faded away?
-Four hundred years ago to-day, Rod
rigo de Triana, from the prov OF the
"Pinta," cried. Land" That cry
marked the commencement OF an era
wherein has been condensed more OF
good import to the race than in any
other. To-day, at the tlood-time Of that
era, we are reminded of what that cry
-involyed, and of how much there is yet
to do to give it its fullest significance.
There are no moro continents to dis
cover, but there is much to mako both
hemispheres the home OF intelligence,
virtue and consequent happiness. 10
that end no one material thing can con-
tribute moro than expositions to which
are invited, in iraternal spirit, all ma
tions. tribes and peoples, where each
shall give and receive according to
their respective capacities.
After sEetching the history OF the ex.
position, he concluded:
In behalf OF the men and women who
have devoted themselves 10 this great
work, OF the rich who have given OF
their abundance, and the poor who
have given OF their necessities; in be-
half OF the architects who haye given to
their ideals o local habitation and
name, and the artists who have brought
hither the three graces Of modern life
form, color and melody-to decorate
and inspire; OF tine workmen who have
prepared the grounds and reared, the
walls; in behalf OF the chiefs who have
organized the work OF the exhibitors;
in behalf of the city OF Chicago, which
has munifcently voted aid, of the Com
gress which has generously given OF the
national monies; in behalf OF the
Worlds Columbian Commission, the
the Worlds Columbian Exposition
Company, and the Board OF Lady Man
ayers, ask you to dedicate these build
ings and grounds to humanity, to the
end that all men and women OF every
cline may feel that the end Of material
progress which may hero meet the eve
is good only SO far as it may promote
that higher life which is the true aim
OF civilization-that the evidences OF
wealth hero exhibited and the stimulus
herein given to industry are good only
80 far as they may extend the area OF
human happiness.
Vice President Morton replied in fe-
licitous speech, dedicating the building
to the use Of the Columbian Exposition.
The 'Hallelujah Chorus" was sung,
followed by tho dedicatory Grafton, de-
livered by Hon. Henry Watterson, Of
Kentucky.
Mr.. Watterson said:
Mr.. wATTERsoN's GRAFTON. \
am appalled, when l reflect upon
the portent and meaning OF theprocla-
nation which has been delivered in onr
presence. The painter employed by
the kings command to render to the
eye some particular exploit Of the peo-
pie, or the throne, knows in advance
precisely what he has to do; there is a
limit set upon his purpose; his canvas
is measured; his colors are blended,
and, with the steady and sure hand of
the master, he proceeds, touch upon
touch, to body forth the forms OF things
know and visible. Who shall measure
the canvass or blend tho colors that
are to bring TO the minds eye of the
present the scenes OF the past in Amer
lean gloiy? Who shall dare attempt TO
summon the dead to life, and out OF
the tomb OF the ages recall the tones OF
the martyrs and heroes whose voices,
though silent forever, still speak to us
in all that we are as n nation, in all that
we do as men and women?
THE RETROSPECT.
We look before and after, and we see
through the half-drawn folds OF Time as
through the solemn archways OF some
grand cathedral tho long procession
pass, as silent and as real as dream;
the caravels, tossing upon Atlantic bill
lows, have their sails rofllled from the
east ard bear away to the west; the
land ia reached, and fulfilled is the
vision whose actuallties are to be gath
cred By other hands than his who plan
ned tho voyage and steered the bark OF
discovery; the long.sought, golden day
has como to Spain at last, and Castilian
conquests tread one upon another fast
enough to pile up perpetual power and
riches.
But even as simple Justice was denied
Columbus was lasting tenure denied the
Spaniard
We look again, and we see in tho far
Northeast the old-world struggle be-
tween the French and English trans
ferred to the new, ending in the tragedy
upon the heights above Quebec; we see
the sturdy Puritans in hell-crowned
hats and sable garments assail in une-
quail battle the savagcs and the ele-