Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-22


fortune behind the enthusiasm Of this
mystic mariner, and postsrty pays
homage TO her wisdom and fxitn.
Columbus dled as he Was securing
the means. and preparing = campaign
for the rescue of the Holy sepuichre
al Jerusalem from the inrdel. lie did
not know what time has revealed, that
while the MISSION of the crusades. oI
Godfrey of BouillOn and Richard OF
the Lion Heart Was = bloody ana fruit
less romance, the discovery II America
Was The salvation OF the world. The
one Mas tue symbol, the other the
Splrlt; the one death. the other life.
The northern continent was divided
between England. France and spain,
and the southern between SPAN and
Portugal. France, wanting the capacl-
~ for colonization, which still charsc-
terizes ner, gave up her western posses
slons ana left the English, who have
the genius of universal empire, mas
ters of North America. The develop
ment OF the experiment III the English
domain makes TINS day memorable. IL
Is due 10 the wisdom aud courage, the
faith and virtue OF the Inhabitants of
this territory that government oil the
people, for the people and by the peo-
pie was inaugurated and has become y
triumphant success.
Two Extremes
The Puritan settled III New England
anu the Cavalier IN the south. They
represented the opposItes of spiritual
and temporal life and opinions. The
processes OF liberty liheralIzed the one
and elevated the other. The May
flower, with the Pilgrims, and Dutch
ship laden with African slaves, were on
the ocean at the same time, the one
sailing for Massachusetts,, and the other
for Virginia. This company of saints,
and first cargo of slaves, represented
the forces which were TO peril and res
cue free government.
"Tne SLAYER was the product of the
commercial spirit of Great Britain, and
the greed of the times to stimulate
production in the colonies. The. men
who wrote IN the cabin IF the May
flower the first charter of freedom, a
government of just and equal laws,
were little band of protestants against
every form of injustice and tyranny.
The leaven of their principles made
possible the declaration of independ-
ence, liberated the slaves and founded
the free commonwealths which form
the republic of the United States.
Benjamin Franklin, philosopher and
patriot. amused the jsded courtiers of
Louis XVI. by his talks about liberty,
and entertained the scientists of France
by bringing lightning from the clouds.
The March OF Freedom
ain the reckoning of time, the period
from Franklin to Morse, and from
Morse to Edison Is but span, and yet
1t marks material development as
marvellous as 1t has been beneficent.
The world has been brought into con-
tact and sympathy. The electric cur
rent thrills and unities the people of
the globe. Power and production,
highways and transports have been so
multiplied aud improved by inventive
genius, that within the century of our
Independence 100000 people have
happy homes and improved conditions
within our borders. We have accumu-
lated wealth far beyond the visions OF
the Cathay of Columbus, or the El
Dorado Of De Soto.
The sum of human happiness has
been infinitely increased by the mil
lions from the old world who have i'm
proved their conditions III the new,
and the returning tide of lesson and
experience has incalculably enriched
the fatherlands. The divine right of
kings has taken its place with the in
struments of medieval torture among
the curloslties of the antiquary. The
time has arrived for both a closer
union, and greater distance between
the old world and the new. The
former indlscrIminate welcome to our
prairies, ana the present invitation to
these palaces of art and industry, mark
the passing period.
"An Hail Columbus
Unmatched and unhealthy immigra-
ton can no longer be permitted to our
shores. We must have national
quarantine against disease, pauperlsm
and crime. We do not want candidates
for our hospitals, our poor houses, or
our jaIls."
DR.. Depew closed as follows: "All
hail, Columbus, dlscoverer, dreamer.
hero and apostle. We here, of every
race and country, recognize the hori-
| zon which bounded his vision and the
infinite scope of his genius. The voice
of gratitude and praise for ali the
essings which have been showered
upon mankind by his adventure is
limited to no language. but is uttered
IN every tongue. Neither marble nor
brass can fifty form his statue. Con-
/ tinents are his monument, and un-
numbered millions, past, present, and
to come, who enjoy IN their Liberties
and their happiness the fruits of his
faith, will reverently guard and pre-
serve, from century TO century, his
name and fame"
After Mr.. Depew had concluded,
| Cardinal Gibbons led IN prayer pro
ncunc'ng tue DIVINE benedIctlon upon
| the Worlds Columbian eNpoSion, its
I officers, managers. patrons and pro.
moters. When this had been finished
| the director general stopped before MS
/ desk AMI SAID "T pronounce these
ceremonies closed
The real event had reached an end.
| while tie multitude of visitors made
I haste for their carriages, etc, on their
| return trip.
JUST A MILE LON0.