The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-22

-tno columbian march-broke forth.
and when the last notes had died away,
Bishop Charles II. Fowler OF California
offered prayer.
At the conclusion OF the prayer, Di-
rector General Davis introduced Mayor
Wash burns, who spoke at considerable
length, and was followed by Mrs. Sarah
&. Lemoyns OF New York. who read ga
lect,ons from the dedicatory ode, written
by Miss Harriet Monroe OF Chicago.
President Palmer introduced Director
OF Works ID. II. Burnham, after which
President Higginbotham presented the
medals of the expos ition to he master ar
lists of construction; and Mrs. Potter
Palmer OF the board OF lady managers
followed.
President Higglnbotham formally ten
dered the exposition buildings to Presi-
dent Palmer OF the National Com mis-
sion, who at the conclusion of his nd
dress introduced Vice President Morton.
As the vice president pronounced the
edcatory words at the conclusion of his
address the mbers OF the foreign dip
lomatic corps arose simultaneously to
their feet in graceful approval of the
sentiment and the example was instantly
followed by all the thousands present.
The "tiallelujah Chorus" added to the
solemnity of the scene and when, at It's
conclusion, Henry Watterson advanced
to deliver the formal dedicatory oration,
the great editor received an ovation
worthy to crown life time OF glory.
Mr.. Henry watterson's Speech.
We are met this day to honor the men,
ory OF Christopher Columbus, to cele-
brate the d0oth annual return of the year
OF his transcendant achievement, and,
with fitting rites, to dedicate to America
and the universe a concrete exposition of
WnFldtZ hat ~
1892. No twenty centuries can be COM
pared with those four centuries, either IN
Importance or In interest, rs no previous
ceremonies can be compared with this in
its vice significance and reach; because,
since tho advent of the Son OF God, no
event has had so great an influence upon
human affairs as the discovery OF the
western hemisphere. Each OF the csntu-
ries that have intervened marks many
resolutions. The merest catalogue would
crowd THOUSAND pages. The story of
the least OF the nations would fill VOL
ume. In what have to say upon this
occasion, therefore, shall confine my
self to our own; and, in speaking of the
United States of America.
1 propose rather to dwell upon our
character as n people, and our reciprocal
obligations and duties as an az aggregation
OF communities, held together by fixed
constitution, aud charged with the Gus
bObJ VI "a upOh WuOsS pEtbtINdllOu
and perpetuation in its original spirit
and purpose the future of free, popular
government depends, than to enter into
a dissertation upon ABSTRACT principles,
or to undertake an historic essay. We
are plain, practical people. We are
race of inventors and workers, not OF
poets and artists. We have led the
worlds movement, not it's thought.
We have in our own time seen the re-
public survive an irrepressible conflict,
sown in the blood and marrow OF the
social order. We have seen the Federal
Union, not too strongly put together in
the first place, come out of a great war OF
sections stronger than when IL went into
1t, its faith renewed, its credit rehabilat
ed, and its flag saluted with love and
homage by sixty millions of God fearing
men and women, thoroughly reconciled
and homogeneous. We have seen the
Federal constitution outlast the strain,
not merely OF reconstructory ordeal
and Presidential impeac hment, but q
disputed count of the electoral vote, a
Congressional deadlock and an extra con-
stitutioDal tribunal, yet standing firm
against the assaults of its enemies whilst
yielding itself with admiral flexibility 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 1t a quarter OF
a century to other hands, without a pro-
test, although 80 close was the poll in
the final count that a single blanket
might have covered both contestants for
the chief magisterial office. With such a
record behind us, who shall be afraid OF
the future?
The young manhood OF the country
may take this lesson from those of us
who have lived through times that did,
indeed, try mems souls-whep, pressed
down from day to day by awful responsi-
bilities and suspense, each night brought
a terror with every thought OF the NOR
row and, when, look where we would,
there were lig ht and hope now here-ihat
God reigns and wills, and that this fair
land is, and has always been, in His own
keeping.
The curse OF slavery is gone. 1t was a
Joint heritage OF woe, to be wiped out and
expiated in blood and flame. The mirage
OF the Confederacy has vanished. 1t was
essentially bucclic, a vision of Arcade,
the dream OF a most attractive economic
fallacy. The Constitution is no longer q
rope of sand.
The repu blic represents at last tho let
ter and the spirit of the su blim, decla- |
ration. The feiters that bound her to
the earth are burst asunder. The rags
that degraded her beauty are cast aside. |
She steps in the perfection of ber matu-
rity upon the scene Of this, the latest and |
the proudest of her victories to bid u |
welcome to the world.
Need pursue the theme2 This vast |
assent blage speaks with resonance and |
which words can never reach. 1t |
speaks from the fields that are blessed by |
he never failing waters of the Kenne- |
bee and from the farms that sprinkle the |
valley OF the Connecticut with mimic
more potent and lasting
han the real; il speaks in the whirr OF |
he mills OF Pennsylvania and in the ring |
Of the wood cutters axe from the forests |
of the Lake peninsulas; it speaks from { ne
great plantations of the South and West |
staples that insure us wealth |
and power and stability, yea, and from |
The mines and forests and quarries of |
Michigan and Wisconsin OF Alabama and |
Georgia, OF Tennessee and Kentucky, far |
away to the regions of silver and gold, |
hat have linked the Colorado and Rio |
}rande in close EN- brace, and ann Hated |
lime and space bet ween the Atlantic and |
Pacific; 1t speaks in one word from the |
in Iowa and Illinois, from |
he home in Mississippi and Arkansas,
rom the 70,00D,000 of fearless, free born |
men and women, and that one word 10
'Unioni"
There is no geography in American