Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-10-28
Discovering Columbus.

Christopher. Columbus discovered this
continent for-hundred years ago, and dur
ing the past two weeks. this Nation has
been discovering Christopher Columbus.
As one of his new busts might remark:
at penetrates the public mind how great
aman be.
The present honors are kind of reciproc-
itee:-
Four hundred blessed years have passed
since my discoveree,
And now it looks as though at last they
had discovered me-"
The citizens of this Nation made another
| discovery last week. and that was the
| tremendous number of school children
| there are in the land, and also that these
children can march and sing AMI show
some appreciation OF their eountry's
history, and of their own future citizenship.
Here in Butler We had over two-thousand
| in line, and they formed the most interest
| ing part of parade over mile long, while
| in the large towns the number Of children
| in line run into tens of thousands.
Their singing and other exercises, coup
led with addresses. outlining the career
of Columbus, and the history of this Nation,
surely made an impression in their mem
ories, and will help to make them better
citizens of this great Republic. One ofthe
first aims of education should be to impart
knowledge Of the history and principles
of our government, and therefore the bring
ing of the children into this celebration
was very commedable.
For nearly twenty years-or since the
anniversary of the battle of Lexingi on
this Nation has been celebrating Centennial
Anniversaries. and no one can say that
these successive demonstrations have not
rekindled the patriotism of the people or
stimulated universal study of history.
The tremendous celebrations at New
York week before last, and at Chicago last
week, were as far ahead Of anything OF
the kind ever before seen in this country,
as are the buildings erected at Chicago for
the Worlds Fair and dedicated last Fri
day. ahead of any ever before erected for
like purpose.
The chief feature of the Columbian Ex-
position is the immense Hall of Manu-
factures and Arts, the largest building
that the World has ever seen; and the chief
feature of the dedication ceremonies of
last Friday, held in it, was the Grafton of
Chauncy NJ. Depew.
This Nation, and the progress made by
the human race, were made possible only
by Columbus discovery, and as Depew
said:
If interest in the affairs of this world are
vouchsafed to those who have gone before,
the spirit of Columbus hovers over US to-
day. Only by celestial intelligence can it
grasp the full significance of this spectacle
and ceremonies.
From the first century to the fifteenth |
counts for little in the history Of progress, |
but in the period between the fifteenth and |
the twentieth is crowded the romance and |
reality of human development. Life has |
been prolonged and its enjoyment intensi- |
fed. The powers of the air and the water, |
the resistless forces OF the elements, which |
in the time of the discoverer were the Wis |
ible terrors of the wrath of God, have been |
subdued to the service of man. Art and |
luxnries which could be possessed and en-
joyed only by the rich and noble, the |
works of genius which were read and un-
derstood only by the learned few, domestic |
comforts and surroundings beyond the |
reach of lords or bishops now adorn and |
illumine the homes of onr citizens. Serfs |
are sovereigns and the people are kings. |
The trophies and splendors of their reign |
are commonwealths, rich in every attribute |
Of great States and united in a Republic |
whose power and prosperity and liberty |
and enlightment are the wonder and the |
admiration of the world.
All hail, Columbus, discoverer, dreamer, |
hero and apostle. We here, of every race
and country, recognize the horizon which |
bounded his vision and the infinite scope |
of his genius. The voice Of gratitude and |
praise for all the blessings which have |
been showered upon mankind by his ad- |
venture is limited to no language, but is
uttered in every tongue. Neither marble |
nor brass can fitly form his statute. Con-
tinents are his monuments and unnumbered |
millions, past, present, and to come, who |
enjoy in their liberties and their happiness
the fruits of their faith, Will reverently |
guard and preserve from century to cen
tury his name and fame.
THE DAY IN BUTLER.
Butler was favored with beautiful day
for its celebration. The parade formed on
Mexican ST., marched North to Fulton,
then to main, and South to the Diamond,
where seats had been provided for the
children, and stand for the speakers and
School Board.
A crowd numbering several thousand
collected around the children and stand,
and the exercises consisted of the read
ing of the Presidents proclama-
ton, prayer, singing the Red,
White and Blue and other patriotic songs; |
flag raising and repeating the oath of ale
glance, defamation by Geo. Cronenwett,
recitation by Miss Ekin, and historical |
and patriotic address by Jas. NJ. Galbreath |
Esq. ALI the participants did excellently, |
and were heartily applauded.
Extensive celebrations were also held at |
other pointsinthe county, particularly at the |
Normal at Slipperyrock, where DR.. Maltby |
was the orator of the day, and at Sarvers-
vile, note of which is made elsewhere. |