St. Paul daily globe., 1893-10-13
THE GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

out seven wonders ttlat nave Deen the
work of human hands-the pyramids o.
| Egypt, the hanging gardens of Babylon
| the Colossus of Rhodes, the mausoleun
Of Artemesia, the temple of Diana a
| EpheSus, the statue of Jupiter Olym
| pus and the Pharos of Alexandria
| These were all the hdndiwork of the
| people in ages that we delight to cal
barbarous, and yet those that remain
to the present day. even in fragmentary
lncompleteneSs, attest the magnitude OF
! their conception. the masSiveneSs and
beauty of their architecture. But these
| wonderful works have left behind them
no memories that will live throughout
time. They were monuments Of great
riches, unbounded power, limitless am
bition, religious fanaticism or love OF
luxury. Art had a place in their con-
struction-an art that delights in deify-
ing the great ones of earth. II was no.
that art, however. that has for its mis-
sion the elevation of mankind-that
seeks to bring humanity closer together
in one bond of common kinshlp. 1t
was an art that tended to the more
complete separation of the classes-to
make the despot more despotic, and to
forge anew the shackles of servitude
upon the limbs of the common people.
1t was an art that typified dominion,
that promoted sensuous indulgence;
that emphasized the slavery of the
masses to the classes.
OF a far different character is the
Columbian exposition that seems deS-
tined to take its place in history as the
eighth wonder of the world. Archi-
tecturally considered, it combines the
beauty of the hanging gardens and the
temple of Diana with the grandeur of
the pyramids. There is that symmetry
OF outline that belongs to the highest
type of art; there is that grandeur that
approaches sublimity. And while these
structures have arisen for the purpose
OF amusing the few, they serve a far
higher purpose, for they are designed to
instruct and benefit the many. They
do not belong to potentates, but to the
common people, who flock to them for
instruction in the mechanic arts, in do
mestlc economy, and in the higher
forms OF useful art and science. They
are an aggregation of universities for
the education of the whole world in all
that can contribute to their physical.
mental and moral Well-being. They in
struct by means of object lessons so
VlVldly Impressed upon the intelligence
that they can never be forgotten, and
their influence will be felt in the ages
that are yet to come. And that infiu-
ence will ever be in the right direction
tending to make men more ambitious
OF eXcelllng in their several depart-
ments OF activity, to make them more
self-rellant, more solicitous for the
public welfare. more keenIy alive to
the progressive spirit of the age.
Inc magnificent results attained by
this exposition will long be a source of
pride to the American people, and more
especially to the citizens of Chicago and
those who have been active in the man.
agement of affairs. From the first the
officials OF the exposition realized the
lmmensity of their undertaking. They
were resolved that, cost what il might.
this must excel all previous endeayors
IN that direction. London, Vienna.
Paris and Philadelphia had tried their
prentice hands. To outdo them all was
the ambition of Chicago. And well has
she redeemed the promises made to the
American people and through them to
the world. The White City; has
arisen from an almost barren waste as if
oy magic, and from every nation and
every cline there have been gathered
| displays OF art, industry and natures
own handiwork such as have never been
witnessed since the world began. Peo-
pie do not weary of threading the lab
yrlnths of paSsageways on either
side of which they can revel in strange
and unexpected delights. They are
| hlled with awe at the immensity of the
displays, amazement at their complete
ness. wonder at their diversity. The,
learn much of which they had pre-
yiously had no conception, and depar
with enlarged views of humanity and the
universally and comprehensiveness O.
human industry.
All these results have not been
brought about without great labor or
the part of the commissioners. The7
have been interchangeable in their exer
tions for more than two years. There
have been occasional differences O
opinion among them on matters of de
tail. These have at times seemed Il
threaten harmony of action, but in al
critical Junctures the oneness of pur
pose necessary to the success of al
great enterprises has asserted itself
Personal preferences have been subor
dinated to the general good, and b,
mutual concessions all friction ha
been removed. Criticism Of their policy
has been free, and at times far from un
prejudiced. But the executive chief
of divisions were conscious of thei
own rectitude and patriotic purpose
and paid no heed. Even calumny ha
assailed them, but they realized tina
they could have no more complete vindi
cation than the magnificent success
they had in view, and held their peace
And now their work is nearly com
pleted. Every emergency has -beel
manfully met, and every obstacle sur
mounted. The most carping critics
the most persistent fault-fnders, th
most chronic grumblers unite in pro
nouncing the exposition the crownin
achievement Of the nineteenth century
at is a bird"
And Minnesota today adds her COZ