Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-07-12

still deIuded py MS penaII UnaU ne was the
shores of India, his first effort was 10 convert
the children of nature he found 10 the christian
faith and hope. His next was to return to Spain
to proclaim his glad tidings with great JOY: All
his hopes were realized. No longer the advent
urer to be scoffed at and derided, he was the
honored guest of his King and Queen the ad-
miral Ct the navy in SPAIN the most 1llustfiOUS
hero of his century, the results OF whose
achievements will grow and expand with the
march of time.
While Justice demands that the first honors of
this discovery be given 20 Columbus and his
IIcuuenuIts, every american must feel JnsU no
mention should be made of the discovery with
out coupling with it the name of Isabella OF
Spain. She threw her heart as well as her Jew
els into this cause. The nation of which she
was queen chiefly contributed to the discovery
and exploration of America. The descendants
of Spain still hold half of the soil of Amer
lea. And the representatives of many nations of
the blood of Spain now ioin with us in welcom-
Ing to the shores of America these mementoes of
the voyage that girdled the earth.
The civilized world was aroused from a long
sleep by this great discovery. All the nations Of
Europe sought to gain their share of the New
World. The spirit of adventure produced null
htude of men, many of whom thought only of
wealth and conquest, of gold and empire.
1t is painful to follow the life of Columbus after
his first voyage and still more painful to narate
the cruelties inflicted upon the poor Indian by
each andall the nations of Europe that cameinto
contact with them But this seems to be
Civilization which treads remorselessly on
the weak and feeble, and ends with the
survival of the strongest By injustice and cruel-
tv the chief nations of Europe seized and hold
all parts of America. All these vast continents
and islands dominated and controlled bv
European races But, it is due to the Spanish
french and Portuguese people to note that
while their conquests of the natives of America
were marked with cruelty. vet thew preserved
and engrafted the body of the native population
into and among their conquerors, and have thus
formed sixteen independent republics, peoped
chiefly by descendants of native American
tribes, while the Anglo-SaxOn domination
suited in the remorseless determination of the
native tribes wherever our race planted their
feet.
The tread of four centuries has passed over
America since the Santa Maria the Pinta md
the Nina touched its shores. What a change has
come with the march of time! The ignorance
and innocence of the native tribes which had
scarcely advanced beyond contented animal
life when America was discovered, has given
way to the civilization of Europe. The greater
part of these continents are now divided into
independent republics, based upon the laws and
customs OF the first European country that
seized them. Even those parts still attached
by political ties to European powers are
substantially independent America is no long
er open to European conquest. The people
who inhabit each part of America are able to
defend themselves against foreign aggressi0ns
Their institutions, freed from feudal law are
founded on the consent of the governed. Amer
lea seeks no conquest abroad. Happy in our
isolation, content with our free institutions,
proud of our growth and rich in the bountes of
Heaven, we wish for all the nations of the world
like happiness and prosperity. We respect and
have no desire to interfere with the government
or institutions of European countries, and ex-
pect like non-interference from them.
AS Americans, and, especially as citizens of
the United States we fully comprehend the
great advantages possessed by older countries
in the higher development of art, science and
Literature. We claim an inheritance in these rs
the work of our common ancestors. We wish to
gather lessons from the experience and skill of
all nations, and to show by our handiwork in
every department of industry that we are trying
to keep up with them, and if possible to excel
them.
America must for generations be the granary
of Europe. Food of every kind, animal or veg
kind; cotton, wool and all textiles can be pro-
duced almost without limit in America. Every
country of the civilized world is represented by
its descendants on American soil. We share
with them our advantages of boundleSS fertility,
off broad and new country, of untrammelled OPP
pOrtunity, and will gladly take lessons from
them in culture, economy, skill and art The ma
tons OF the world are now more akin to each
other than of old. Rapid transportation, free
intercourse, exchange of commodities interna-
tional treaties, eXpositions and broader hui
manltarlanlsm Is now the tendency of age,
which we fondly hope viii in due time inspire
confidence and obllterate prejudice among the
nations and tribes of men, and secure pea e and
harmony, confidence and good will. instead as
OF old war and discord jealousy and hate
Let us hope that the inspiring scenes around
us in which all the tribes and races of men are
participating may secure to us and to future
generations, peace on earth and good Will to
men. We welcome them all with their varied
productions to the full and free endowment of
their habits at home and in return, exhibit to
them the results of our growth and ind4ay.
In no boastful spirit this new and mars sIls
city, which has sprung into existence va
the life of many who hear me- has with the aid
of the general government and the states that
comprise it, built these great palaces adorned
these lately waste places and brought into them
the wonderful facilities of TRANSPORTATION in
vented in modern times Welcome ALL but on
this day we doubly welcome these mementoes
of the voyage of Columbus to this western world.
In the name OF the managers of this exposition l
give thanks and welcome to all who have
brought them here, and especially to the govern
ment and people of SPAIN who have thus con-
tripQed to the interest and success of this expo
sition.
Capt. Concas responded briefly and
Secretary Of the Navy Herbert and
others also made brief addresses.