Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-22

uhtlOus WAS iusJdHJiy lOioWcu NY dii VI
the thousands assembled beneath the
vast roof.
The Allelujah chorus, which followed,
added to the solemnity OF the scene.
-
THE DEDIoAToRY ORArION.
Hon. Henry watterson's Impassioned
Patriotic address.
CHICAGO, Oct. 2l.-Then, Hon. Henry
Watterson advanced and delivered the
formal dedicatory sermon.
Mr.. Watterson said in part:
We are met this day to honor the
memory OF Christopher Columbus; to
celebrate the four hundredth annual re-
turn OF the year of his transcendant
achievement, and with fitting rites to
dedicate to America and the universe a
concrete exposition of the worlds pro-
gress between 1892 and 1892. No twen-
ty centuries can be compared with those
four centuries, either in Importance or
in interest, as no previous ceremonial
can be compared with this in it's wide
significance and reach; because since
the advent of the Son of God no event
had so great an influence upon human
affairs as this discovery Of the western
hemisphere. 6Ht
In what have to say upon this occa-
sion, shall confine myself to our own,
and in speaking Of the United States of
America, propose rather to dwell upon
our character as people, and our reci-
procal obligations and duties as an ag-
gregation of communities held together
by q fixed constitution, and charged
with the custody of the unioc, upon
whose preservation and perpetuation in
it's original spirit and purpose, the fu-
ture Of free, popular government de-
pends, than to enter into a dissertation
upon abstract principles or to undertake
historic eesays.
We are plain, practical people. A
better opportunity could not be desired
for the study of our peculiarities than is
furnished by the present moment. We
are in the midst of the quadrennial pc
riod established for the selection OF a
chief magistrate. Each citizen has his
right to vote, and to have his vote freely
cast and fairly counted. Wherever this
right is assaulted for any cause, wrong is
done, and evil must follow, first, to the
whole country, which has an interest in
all it's parts; but moet to the communi-
ty Immediately involved, which must
actually drink of the cup that has con-
tanned the poison, and cannot escape
infection. The abridgement of the
right of suffrage, however, is very
nearly proportioned to the ignorance
or the indifference of the parties con-
cerned by it, and there is good reason to
hope that, with the expanding intelli-
gence of the masses and the growing
~f In khic
ticular form of corruption in elections
will be reduced below the danger line.
To that end, as to all other good ends,
moderation of public sentiment must
ever be our chief reliance; for when
men are forced by general desire for
truth, and the light which our modern
vehicles of information throw upon
truth, to discuss public questions for
truths sake; when it becomes.the plain
interest of public men, as it is their
plain duty, to do this; and when, above
all, friends and neighbors cease to love
one another less because of individual
differences of opinion about public af-
fairs, the struggle for unfair advantage
will be relegated to those who have
either no character to lose or none to
seek.
1t is admitted on all sides that the
current presidential campaign is freer
from excitement and tumult than was
ever known before, and it is argued
from this circumstance that we are
traversing an epoch of commonplace. If
this be so, thank God for it. We have
had full enough of the dramatic and
sensational, and need season Of medi-
ocrity and repose.
But may we not ascribe the ra-
tional way in which the people are
going about their business to larger
knowledge and experience and a fairer
spirit than hitherto marked our party
contentious? We have in our own time
seen the republic survive an irresponsi-
BILE conflict, sown in the blood and mar
row of social order. We have seen the
federal union, not too strongly put to-
gether in the first place, come out of a
great war of sections, stronger than
when it went into it; its faith renewed |;
it's credit rehabilitated, and its flag
saluted with love and homage by
6O,OO0,000 of GOD fearing men
and women, thoroughly recon-
ciled and homogeneous. We have
seen the federal constitution out
last the strain, not merely of re-
constructory ordeal and presidential
impeachment, but disputed count of
an electoral vote, congressional dead
lock and extra constitutional tribunal
yet standing firm against the assaults of
it's enemies, while yielding itself with
admirable fexibility to the needs of the
country and the time. And finally, we
saw the gigantic fabric of the federal
government transferred from hands that
had held it quarter of century, to
other hands, without a protest, although
go close was the poll in the final count,
that single blanket might have COW
cred both contestants for the chief mag
isterial officer. With such record be-
hind us, who shall be afraid of the
future.
The curse of slavery is dead. 1t was
joint heritage of woe to be wiped out
and expiated in blood and fame. The
mirage of the Confederacy has vanished.
1t was essentially bucolic; vision of
Arcade; dream of the most attractive
economic fallacy. The constitution is
no longer a rope OF sand. The exact re-
lation of the states to the federal govern
ment is left open to double construc-
tfon by the authors OF our organic being,
because they could not agree among
themselves and union was the para
mount object. has been clearly and def
initely fixed by the three last amend
ments to the original chart, which con-
stitute the real treaty of peace between
the north and south, and the seal OF our
bonds as nation forever.
Tho ranubEc repreeentg at least The