San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-21
MAYOR wAsHBURN's ADDRESS.

OF chicago, delivered OCT. IL,
1892, at the Dedication of
the Worlds Columbian
Exposition.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Oct. q, 1892.
Special to the LIGHT
Mr. President, Representatives Of For
eign Government, Ladies and Gentle
men:
This day is dedicated by the Ameri.
can people TO one whose name is in-
dissolubly linked with that of our
continent. This days hall adds new
glories to him whose prophetic vision
beheld in the stars which guided his
audacious voyage new hope for the
peoples of the earth.
The four centuries passing in re.
view have witnessed the settlement
of q newly discovered continent, the
founding of many nations, and the
establishment in this cOuntry of more
than sixty millions of people whose
wonderful material prosperity, high
intelligence, political institutions and
glorious history have excited the In.
terest and compelled the admiration
of the civilized world.
These centuries have evolved the
liberty slowing American people who
are gathered here today. We have
with us the pioneer bearing in his
person the freedom of his western
home-the ageing veteran, whom all
nations honor, without whose valor,
government liberty and patriotism
would be but idle words. We have
with us builders of cities, founders of
states, dweliers in forests, tillers of
the soil, the mechanic and the arti-
san, and noble women, daughters of
the republic, not less in patriotism
and deserved esteem than those who
seem to play the larger part in build
ing up q state.
There are gathered here our Presi-
dent and stately senate, our grave
and learned judges, our con-
gress and our states that all mankind
may know this is nations hol.
day and peoples tribute to
him whose dauntless courage and
unwsvering faith impelled him to
traverse undismayed the unsailed
waste of waters, and whose first
prayer upon waiting continent was
ssluted on its course by that banner
which knows no creed, no faith, no
natiOn-that ensign which has rep
resented peace, progress and human
ity for nineteen hundred years-the
holy banner of the cross,
The foreign nations which have con-
tributed so much to our growth will
here learn wherein our strength lies
that it is not in standing armies
not in heredity or birth mot even in
our fertile valleys-not in our com.
merce nor our wealth-but that we
have built and are building upon the
everlasting rock of individual
character and intelligence, seek ing to
secure an education for. every man,
woman and child over whom floats
the stars and stripes, that emblem
which signifies our government and
our people.
That flag guards today q 500, 900
school children of q country not yet
four centuries old and who Qutnum-
Der nearly four times the population
OF Spain in 1892.
This is the nope of our future-the
anchor of the epublic-snd a rain
bow of promise for centuries yet to
come.
AS mark of public gratitude it was
decided 10 carry down into history
through this celebration the appreci-
alton OF this people for him before
whose name we all bow today.
You, sirs, who are the chosen rep
resentatives of our people-you into
whose keeping we intrust our prosper
ty and our rights-you whose every
act becomes a link in that long
chain OF history which spans 400
years without a break and whose
every link signifies struggle
and victory for man-you who
represent that last aud most perfect
experiment of human government
have by your official acts honored this
young city with your choice as the
most fitting place to mark this coun-
try's dawn.
She accepts the sacred trust with
rivalry towards none and fellowship
for all. She stands ready to fulfill
the pledges she has made. She needs
no orator to speak her merits, no poet
to sing her glories. She typifies the
civilization of this continent and this
age; she has no hoary locks; no crumb-
ling ruins; the gray-haired sire who
saw her birth today holds on high bis
prattliDg grsndchild TO see the ma
tions of the earth within her gates.
Over the very spot wherein we
stand, within the memory of men still
young, the wild fowl winged their
migratory flight.
Less tnsn a century ago the site of
this young city was unknown; today
million aud a half people support
her honor, enterprise and thrift. Her
annual commerce of one billion and
half tells the eloquent story of her
material greatness. Her liberality to
all nations and all creeds is bound.
less, broad as humanity and. high as
the dome of heaven. Rule Britannia,
the Msrseilles, die Wscht am Rhein,
and every folk song of the older world