People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-10-28
Mr.. DeDew's Address.


When Mr. Watterson concluded the
"Star Spangled Banner and Hail
Columbia" were rendered with full or
chestral chorus, and Hon. Chauncey
M. Depew, of New York, was intro
duced and said
This day belongs not to America, but to the
world The results Of the event II commemo
rates are the heritage Of the peoples OF every
race and cline. We celebrate the emancipa
ton Of man The preparation was the work
OF almost countless centuries the realiza.
tion was the revelation Of one The cross
on Calvary was hope; the cross raised on
San Salvador was opportunity. But for the
first Columbus would never have sailed but for
the second, there would have been no place for
the planting, the nurture and the expansion OF
civil and religious liberty.
The anarchy and chaos which followed the
breaking up Of the Roman empire necessarily
produced the feudal system The people pre-
ferring slavery TO humiliation by robber chiefs,
became the vassals Of territorial lords. The
reign Of physical force is one Of perpetual
struggle for the mastery. Power which rests
sPSA viz o"OAu hui IT'S
authority The king destroyed the lords, and
the monarchy succeeded feudalism Neither Of
these institutions considered or consulted the
people They had no part, but TO suffer or die
in this mighty strife OF masters for the mas
terry. But the throne, by its broader view and
greater resources, made possible the construc.
ton OF the highways OF freedom. Under its
banner races could unite, and petty principali-
ties be merged, law substituted for brute force.
and right for might 1t founded and endowed
universities and encouraged commerce II
conceded no political privileges, but uncon-
seiously prepared its subjects TO demand them.
Aosolutism in the state, and bigoted intoler-
ance in the church, shackled popular unrest
and imprisoned thought and enterprise in the
fifteenth century. The divine right of kings
stamped out the faintest glimmer Of revolt
against tyranny; and the problems OF science,
whether OF the skies or Of the earth, whether OF
astronomy or geography, were solved or sub
merged by ecclesiastical DEGREES. The dungeon
was ready for the philosopher who proclaimed
the truths Of the solar system, or the navigator
who would prove the sphericity Of the earth.
An English Gladstone, or French Gambetta,
or German Bismarck. or an Italian Garibaldi.
or Spanish CASTELAR,, would have been thought
monsters, and their deaths at the stake. or on
the scanold, and under the anathemas OF the
church. would have received the praise and ap.
proval OF kings and mobiles, OF priests and PEG.
pies. Reason had no seat in spiritual or TEN.
poral realms. Punishment was the incentive
TO patriotism. and piety was held possible by
torture. Confessions OF faith extorted from
the writing victim on the rack, were believed
efficacious In saving his soul from fires eternal
beyond the grave For all that humanity to-
day cherishes as its best heritage and choicest
gifts, there was neither thought nor hope
.
Neither realism nor romance furnishes a
more striking and picturesque figure than that
Of Christopher Columbus. The mystery about
his origin heightens the charm OF his story.
That he came from among the toilers Of his
time is In harmony with the struggles OF our
period
The perils OF the sea in his youth upon the
rich argosies Of Genoa, or in the service OF the
licensed rovers who made them their prey, had
developed a skillful navigator and intrepid
mariner They had given him glimpse OF the
possibilities OF the unknown, beyond the high
ways OF travel, which reused an unQuenchable
thirst for adventure and research. The study
OF the narratives Of previous explorers, and
diligent questionings OF the daring spirits who
had ventured far toward the tabled west, grad
ually evolved theory, which became in his
mind 80 fixed fact that he could inspire
others with his passionate beliefs The words,
that Is lie, written by him on the margin OF
nearly every page Of a volume Of the travels Of
Marco Polo, which is still TO be found in a
Genoese library, illustrate the skepticism OF
his beginning. and the first vision OF the new
world the fulflment of his faith.
To secure the means to test the truth of his
speculations this poor unknown dreamer. must
win the support Of kings and overcome the hos.
tility OF the church He never doubted his
ability to do both, though he knew of no man
living who was so great in power, or lineage, or
learning that he could accomplish either. After
ten years OF disappointment and poverty, sub
sisting most Of the time upon the charity Of the
enlightened monk Of the convent Of Ribida who
was his nfaltering friend, he stood before the
throne Of Ferdinand and Isabella His unshak.
able faith, that Christopher Columbus was
commissioned from Heaven both BY his name
and BY Divine command 10 carry Christ across
the sea" TO new continents and pagan peoples.
lifted him so far above the disbursements Of
an empty purse and contemptuous court that
he was proof against the rebuns Of fortune or
OF friends. To conquer the prejudices Of the
clergy. TO win the approval and financial SUD-
port OF the state, 10 venture upon that unknown
ocean, which, according TO the beliefs Of the