The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-01

and elccuti0niel OF NatloDal reputation,
was escorted 10 the Speakers stand, and
in clear. impressive tones that could be
heard distinctly by the 1000 guests upon
the platform and which penetrated far
into the throng, read the opening stanz s
of the p5en of the day. TniS was entl-
tied 'sThe Prophecy" and is the produc-
tion of w. A. Croffut. a member of the
Journalistic profession at Washington.
The verses recite the exploit of Colun-
bus, and then conclude as follows
Then eagerly Columbus sought sign,
In sea and sky and in his lonely b cart,
Finding, instead of presages of b ope,
The black and olninous porteuts of despair.
AS thus he mused he paced the after-deck
Strange life was in the phosphorescent foam
And through the goblin glow there came and
went,
Like eltin shadows on on opal sea,
Prophetic pictures of the land he sought.
| He saw the end of his victorious quest,
He saw blaze on Isabelia's breast,
A string of antillean jewels rest,
| The Islands OF the West
He saw invading plenty dispossess,
Old poverty, the landwth bounty bless,
And through the wretched caverns of distress,
Walk srar-eyed happiness.
He saw the Bourbon and Braganza prone,
For ancient error ready to atone,
Giving the plundered people back their own
And flying from the throne.
He saw an empire radiant as the day,
Harnessed TO the law, but under freedom $
sway,
Proudly arise. respondent in array,
| To show the world the way.
He saw celestial peace in mortal guise,
And, filled with hope and thrilled with hign
enprise,
Lifting its tranquil forehead to the skies
A vast republic rise.
He saw beyond the hills of golden corn,
Beyond the curve OF autumu's opulent horn,
Ceres and Flora laugningly adorn,
The bosom of the morn.
He saw a cloth of gold across the gloom,
An Arabesque, from evolutlon'5 loom.
And from the barren praries driven spume,
Imperial cities bloom.
He saw an iron dragon dashing forth along an
iron thoFoughfaF south.
North, east. west, uniting in benefcent girth
RemotesJ ends of earth.
He saw the lightning run an eltin race,
Where trade, love, grief and pleasure sinterlace,
And absent ones annihlate time and space,
Communing face to face.
He saw relief through deadly dungeons grope,
Foes turned to brothers.. black despair to nope,
And cannon rust upon the graSs-grown slope,
And rot the gallows rope.
He saw the babes of labor's cottage floor;
Inc DrlgnL W<S uuuS Will uOlC anN
And comfort, radiant with Astounding store,
Wave welcome to the door.
He saw the myriad spindle flutter ind;
The myriad homes where jocund joy is found,
And love is throned and crowned,
He saw exalted ignorance under ban,
Though panoplied in force Since time began,
And science, consecrated lead the van.
The providence or man.
The picture came and pa1ed and passed away,
A,flfl fl.cat ta -nff ff pla1 in fl1n y Onf /
''Now, Martin, to thy waiting helm again,
Haste to the Pinta; westward keep her PROV,
For have had vision full of light
Keep her PROV westward in the sunsets wake.
From this hour hence, and let no man look back,
Hearty applause rewarded the reader
as she retired. and it was renewed Whens
after the orchestra had rendered the
"Rienzi" overture. by Wagner, Director
General Davis arose from his seat, and.
after bowing to the Chief Magistrate and
those surrounding him, faced the as
semblage. Time and again was
the applause renewed, and
the man who had done SO
much toward bringing about the sue
cessful consumation of tie enterprise was
for the moment embarrassed by the
heartiness of his greeting. Finally when
| the cheering commenced to die away he
turned again to the President, and COM
menced his address, which consisted of q
| history OF the great WORK done, ana a
cordial welcome toall present.
TIE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
| 1t was now the turn of the Preside MT
| AS he slowly arose from his seat, and
swept his eyes, first over the occupants of
| the platform aud then over enc OF the
greatest audiences that ever man faced,
| there went up q cheer that seemed to
shake the massive dome OF the building
| behind him, and which raverberated
through the grounds like the rattllng of
musketry. Foreigners and natives alike
! ioiued in the acclaim 70 the highest re-
preventative of the people, There was q
| fiutter of white handkerchiefs from the
| ladies side Of the platform, and Instantly
| it was taken up by the thou,
! the gopdolas and launches on
the water far in the distance. The more
| the handkerchiefs were waved, the loud
| the cheers, and so for a space of several
minutes the men wed with the women
| fn maintaining the demonstration.
| land stood erect, his left
hand behind him, his right nervously
| lingering the button of his frock coat. Al
I last, When throatS and arms alike We're
Tired, and sembIance Of quiet had once
more come over the throng. he COM
menced his address. This is what he
| said:-
| / am here to Join my fellow citizens in the
| congratu lations which befit this occasion. Sur
| rounded BY the stupendous result of American
| enterprise and activity, and IN view OF niagnih-
cent evidences of american skill and lnteia-
| tions will be exaggerated. We stand today IN
/ the presence Of the oldest nations of the world,
and point to the great achievements we here ex,
| hibit, asking no allowance on the score OF
youth.
| our work intensifiss the warmth;of the greeting
,rxr10 fsnf