The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-22


! eagerly listening TO the beekDuilg future =
4 After an euIogy of Columbus the vice
president closed as follows: Mr. President.
4 IN the name Of the gDvernmenG- of the
United States, I hereby dedicate these
bnHdsnge and their appurtenances. in
tended by the congress OF the United
4 States for the use of the Worlds Coium-
bian exposition. to the worlds progress in
4 art, in science. in agriculture and in manu-
factures, dedicate them to humanity
God save the United States OF America -
At the conclusion of the vice presidents s
address, and as he pronounced the dedica-
tory words, the members of the. foreign
diplomatic corps arose simultaneously to
their feet, in graceful approval of the
sentiment. The interest In the exposition
SO delicately expressed by the representa-
tiyes OF foreign nations was instantly fol-
lowed by the cheers of the crowd assem-
bled beneath the vast root. Tho. Halle
lujah Chorus" which followed, added to
4 the enthusiasm of the scene.
AS Henry Watterson advanced at its
conclusion to deliver the formal dedicatory
ofation he received an ovation worthy to
i crown lifetime of glory. A dead silence
reigned over the acres of humanity as the
orator of the day delivered the following
4 address:
Mr. wATTERsON'S ADDRESS
Among the wonders of creative aud con-
structive genius in course OF preparation
for this Festival of the Nations. whose
formal and official Inauguration has
brought US together, will presently bs
| witnessed upon the margin of the inter
ocean, which gives to this noble and beau
tiful city the character and rank Of a
maritime metropolis. a spectatorium.
wherein the Columbian epic viii be told
with realistic effects surprising the most
splendid and impressive achievements of
the modern stage. No one. who has had
| the good fortune to see tho models of this
extraordinary work of art, Can have failed
TO be moved by the union, which it erl-
bodies, of the antique in history and the
current in life and thought, as. beginning
| with the weird mendicant faiuting upon
the hillside of Santa Rabida, il traces the
strange adventures of the Genoese seer
| from the royal camp OF Santa Fe to the
sunny coasts of the Isles of Inde; through
the weary watches of the endless night,
whose sentinel stars seem set TO mock but
not to guide; through the, trackless and
shoreless wastes o. the mystic sea, spread
/ day by day to bear upon every rise aud
! fall of its heaving bosom the death Of fair.
! fond hopes, the birth of fantastic fears;
| the peerless and thrilling revelation, and
all that has followed to the very moment
that beholds us here, citizens, freemen,
equal shareholders in the miracle OF
| American civilization and Development.
Is there one among us who does not thank
| his Maker that he has lived to join in this
universal celebration, this jubilee of man-
kindi
! TEE MAGNITUDE OF THE THEME.
am appalled, when I reflect npon the
portent and meaning of the proclamation
! which has been delivered in our presence.
The painter employed by. the kings COM
rnand to render to the eye some particular
| exploit of the people, or the throne, knows
! in advance precisely what he has to do;
| there is a limit set upon his purposes; his
| canvas is measured; his colors are blended
| and. with the steady and sure hand OF the
master, he proceeds, touch upon touch.
| to body forth the forms of things known
and visible. Who shall measure the CAN
| vas or blend the colors that are to bring
to the minds eye of the present the scenes
of the past in American glory? Who shall
dare attempt to 0summonltheidead to life,
and out of the tomb OF the ages recall the
tones of the martyrs and heroes whose
voices, though silent forever, still speak to
us in all that we are as a nation, IL all
that we do as men and women!
THE RETROSPECT.
We look before and after, and we see
through the half-drawn folds of Time as /
through the solemn archways of some
grand cathedral the long procession pass
as silent ana rs real Il dream; the caravsls,
tossing upon Atlantic pillows, have their
sails refilled from the east and bear away
to the west; the land is reached, and full
filled is the vision whose actualities are to
be gathered by other hands than his who
planned the voyage and steered the bark
of discovery; the long-sought. golden day
has come to Spain at last. and Castilian
conquests tread one upon another fast
enough TO pile up perpetual power and
riches.
But even as simple justice was denied
Columbus was lasting tenure denied the
Spaniard.
We look again, and we see in the far
northeast the old-world struggle between
the French and English transferred to the
new, ending in the tragedy upon the
heights above Quebec; we see the sturdy
P1ritans in bell-crowned hats and sable gar
ments assail In unequal battle the savage
against mightier foe; we see the gay, but
daunt less Cavaliers, to the uthward, join |
hands with the Roundheads in holy rebel
lion. And, 10, down from the green-walied
hills of New England, out of the swamps
of the Carolinas, come. family to the ear
like far-away forest leaves stirred to music |
hy autumn Winds the drum-taps of the
Revolution; the tramp of the minute-men,
Israel Putnam riding before; the hoof-
beats of Sumter,s horse galloping TO the !
front; the thunder of Stark's guns i'll |
spirit-battle; the gleam of MariOn's watch |
fires in ghostly bivouac; and there, there /
in serried, saint-like ranks on fame's |
eternal camping-groundsta stand
-''The old Continentals,
In their ragged regimentals,
Yielding not" !
as, amid the singing of angels in Heaven. |
the scene is shut out from our mortal /
vision by proud and happy tears.
We see the rise of the young republic; |
and the gentlemen in knee-breeches and |
powde red wigs who signed the Declarations
and the gentlemen in knee-breeches and |
powdered wigs who made the Constitu
Lion. We See the little nation menaced /
from without. We see the ritfemea ia
hunting shirt and buckskin swarm from
the cabins in the wilderness to the rescue
To n second and final decree OF indepen
dence won by the prowess and valor OF
American arms upon the land and sea-
Aud then, and then-since there Is no
life OF nations or of men without its shad-
ow and its sorrow-there. comes day
whom the spirits of the fathers no longer
walk upon the battIements Of freedom:
a nd all is dark: and all seems lost. save
liberty and honor. and. praise God, our
blessed Union. With these surviving, who
shall myrvel at what we See today; this
land filled with the treasures OF earth; this
city, snAtched from the ashes, 10 rise IN
spiendor and renown, passing the mind 70
precouceive?
Truly, out of trial comes the strength of
man, out of disaster comes the glory of the
STATED
THE OCCASION.
We are met this day TO honor the mem
ory of Christopher Columbas. to Celebrate
I he four hundredth annual return OF the
year of his transcendant achievement,
aud. with fitting rites, 10 dedicate 10
America and the universe . Concrete ex-