Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-09-14
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
DELIVERED BY HON. Ii. ". COBUN.
KANSAS WEEK, WORLDS
FAIR, CHICAGO.
KANSAS BUILDING.
JACKSON PARK, CHICAGO.
Sept. IL, 1903.


wine at the beginning of the feast, but
IN the opening ceremonies of the cele-
bration of Kansas Week at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition, the rule has
been reversed. The orators who will
follow me have regulations larger than
their state.
While l feel the responsibility rest
ing upon me in attempting the dis
charge of the duties assigned me by the
Board of Commissioners, l also feel
that it is a pleasant duty.
Mine is an address of welcome, not
alone to the people of Kansas, but to
the people of every state and territory
in the Union and every government on
earth represented in this great exposi-
ton.
The object of this celebration, out
side of the more weighty matters to be
considered, is for all to lay aside the
cares of life for the time being and
have a good, jolly, social time.
And in the lame of the people of the
great state of Kansas, in the name of
her highest officials, and in the name of
the board of'commissioners of the state,
tender you all cordial welcome to
our state building, coupled with an
invitation to visit and examine our
exhibits in other buildings, where you
viii have abundant opportunities to
learn of the great resources of our
state.
But my friends, while giving our
selves up to pleasure, we should not
lose sight of the valuable opportunities
Ia1
This is a great school. a time when
people are being educated very rapidly
and they who fail to make good use of
present opportunities will realize in
time to come that they have missed
the opportunity of their lives.
Within the walls of these magnificent
buildings are grouped the work and
accumulations of centuries; and those
who have been permitted to look upon
this beautiful White City. whose beauty
and greatness has never had an equal
on earth, cannot fail to appreciate the
fact that they are a favored people.
And should the present opportunities
fail to broaden our views and give US
a higher appreciation of the resources
and facilities of other states and coun-
tries the most valuable part of the
lesson has been lost. Let US hope that
the lesson to be learned here viii be so
thoroughly studied that preiudices,
heretofore existing, viii be buried so
deep they viii never know a resurec-
ton; that our associations with each
other and with the people of the world
win tend to bring about such unihca-
ton OF interests as shall better the con-
ditions Of all mankind.
Heretofore, we have lived in too small
n space, our hberality has been too
much contracted; we have allowed our
selves to believe that our particular
state and people were little superior
to those Of other states and peoples.
While there is patriotism in state pride,
and such is always commendable, des-
potism, like a deadly poison, turks in
the very heart of state bigotry, with
tendency to weaken or destroy every
thing ike universal happiness and pros
perity. IF any l am now addressing
came here with the idea that their state
has greater resources and advantages
than other states, let me counsel them
to so, examine, and learn what other
states have done and are doing, and my
word for It, when they have finished
the examination and returned, they will
find that somewhere In Jackson Park
they have lost or buried the larger por-
ton Of those high notions. And upon
the other hand, if you came here filed
with the idea that the United States of
America is about ali there is Of this
world. 1 would say to you: go and
examine carefully what the foreign gov
ernments and their peoples, who are
now with Us, have done for this exposi-
ton, and you viii come back to find
that you have lost or buried your former
Prejudices.
We Americans must learn, and here
is the place TO learn it, that every state
and territory in the Union is essentially
necessary to make this the greates t
country and the gfandest people on
earth. 1t has been said that war and
commerce lift the nations of the earth
to higher planes of civilization. Let US
now abolish war and substitute in its
place that which IS far better: Exhibi-
tons Of the industries and resources of
ali countries and climes that will tend
to increase the worlds commerce and
higher plane Of Christian civilization.
We have now on exhibition, within
the enclosures of this park, the most
powerful engines Of war known to mod
ern times. But in every building. in
every pavilion, IN every booth, and
corner may be seen the olive branch of
peace-a thousand times more power
full than armies with banners or the
thunders of artillery.
1t seems but fitting that this exPosi-
ton that covers a period Of fcUI ec1tu-
ries that in magnitude has far surpassed
the most vivid imaginations of those
who first conceived the idea, should be
located in the central part OF a country
that stands today without an equal; a
country where the people are the SOW
ercigns, a country where political and
religious liberties are guaranteed them
to an extent unknown TO any other Peo-
pie upon the globe. AS Americans, We
may justly feel proud Of the honors the
success of this exposition reflects upon
Us, ard we should be careful TO remem-
Der that we are the hosts OF the world,
and so dispense our hospitality as &c
rerSa- NJ a nation WORTHY Of the GREAT