Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-07

He Delivers the Dedicatory Address IN
Convention Hall.

was dedicated tonight by musical ex-
ercises and speech from Chauncey
NJ. Depew. the immense gathering OF
fully IL 900 persons which filled every
part of the building was manifesto
ton of ITS capacity, and the exercises
both musical and oratorical put the
severest test 10 It's acoustic properties.
IL was evident that the music was
heard to good effect. The speakers
voices after the first few minutes,
during which cries OF louder were
rslsed, also appeared to reach to the
remotest corners OF the vast audi
forum. Governor Mckinley of ONO
Was billed Tor an opening speech, and
ten or twelve elaborate musical num-
bers, each good for twenty minutes or
more were To follow. AT the end OF all
this Mr.. Depew was put down for II
dedlcatory address. Governor Nc
kinney failed TO appear aud fortunately
the musical program was not carried
out AS arranged, so that Mr.. Depew
was able TO make his address early.
lie was introduced by Governor Mer
ram. In opening. he paid n tribute TO
the ball by saying that he had seen the
efforts of places much larger than
Minneapolis TO Accommodate II conven-
ton. but this was the first aall he had
ever been in that would take care of
them all. Mr.. Depew said
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t has besn
my privilege TO voice the spirit and
meaning of the occasion at the dedlca-
ton of buildings occupied by science,
literature. art, industry, education, re-
lgion and philanthropy. have spoken
at the laying of corner stones OF struc-
lures which were to be the homes of
mighty newspapers, which were to en-
large the opportunities Of education
upon the old scholastic basis and upon
the new and more practical principle
OF manual training; which were to
concentrate the commercial activities
of the continent; which were 10 pro-
vide for suffering humanity, but tins Is
the first time have ever attempted be-
fore a vast audience composed of the
members of all parties, TO dedicate q
hall for the uses OF one party. | pre-
sumo that here and there among these
20, 900 auditors will be found a demo-
GRAFT, understand that the species Is
not entirely extinct IN the state OF Mn
nesota. But this is republican week,
as | am here commissioned by the
great state of New York, IN conjunc-
ton with Its other representatives to
nominate the next president OF the
United States. No man and no woman
could be present WI thout expecting that
the overwhelming sentiment OF the
hour should find expression upon this
occasion. So.it my democratic friends
are here simply AS evidence OF their
existence or as protest, or IN the spirit
OF martyrdom, or 10 find the means OF
saying grace, | ask them to hear me
for my cause. and be silent that they
may hear. About 800 years ago. when
Rome was mistress OF the world, the
Emperor Titus, who was counted the
most enlightened and liberal OF Caesars,
celebrated unlversa! conquest by the
dedication OF the Coliseum. Within It's
walls were gathered $4,000 spectators,
who represented all that there was of
religion and culture in the Roman en-
pIre. Neither eloquence, nor music,
nor song was permitted.
Created an Empire
Captives, who were the flower of the
youth of every nation, were forced into
the arena as gladiators. and live thous-
and of them slaughtered amid the
plaudIts of the emperor, senators,
priests and people. Thousands OF
early christian martyrs, men, women
and children were magled, torn. de-
voured by wild beasts. Centuries have
come and gone, most of them present
ing only bloody records of suffering
aud sorrow. Millions have died upon
the battlefield ADD upon the scatfold,
dynastIes have been overthrown. en-
pres disrupted, continents ravsged and
The people Kept IN british ignorance
aud slavery. but upon this western
hemisphere freedom from caste and
tradition, the equality of all men be-
! fore their Maker and the laws, the
equal opportunities for every one to
rise 10 the highest places IN the state,
aud to grasp the largest industrial and
commercial prizes, the generous recog-
nItion of mutual obligations one To the
/ other, have created An empire greater
/ IN power and Incidentally better in
every attribute of benehcent sover-
esgnity than Rome. The pInciples of
\ its government have influenced and
arc influencing and tiberallzing the iu-
stitutious of every nation M the world.
/ IL mas welcomed the people from every
land. and over the unseen wires of az
! lection the messages of liberty are
passing from every immigrants home 10
/ the vtllsge Of the odd world from which
he came. In this hall will gather to-
morrow, the representatives of one hslf
| or more of the American people. They
meet In nominate the man who shall
conduct their government and TO for.
rnulste the principles whieh will con-
trol "a policy. The stake - boundless
empire snd majestic power. II - Z
prize which has been in all ages The first
source OF rebeliions and OF civil wars.
but under cur institutions, the issue Is
settled not by bullets, hut by ballots.
/ If she result of the nnal contest
snail be defeat for toe man
and the measures here put before
the country, the minority Will
loyslly support the government snd
MAINTAIN ~ laws. If lt shall be vic
tory toe defeated party vii. with sqnsl
coed temper, aeQuesce and the result
will resiouna % the gsorv of the re-
( pahilx and the happiness ~ the people
Distinguished statesman Of n s@oari
remarked the ether day that the differ.
encFs between the psrties we're 50 uninf.
poFtsnt that n dsi uet make saueh off.
ferenese "a whiah one of them sitgen
belongssf. We. who have come here ss
the representa-, se- ~ tbe fepa n can
psrty, 40 not entertain sny sash idea.