The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1893-11-18
ClltcaD1.

II, myself, have taken new lease OF
life and believe shall see the day
when Chicago will be the biggest city in
America, and the third city on the face of
the globe"
The above sentences occur in hespeech
delivered by Carter H. Harrison as mayor
of Chicago to the visiting mayors and
others, Saturday before last.
A few hours later he lay stiff in death.
The s'new lease of life'' was of short
duration, his tragic end emphasizing in a
striking manner the utter uncertainty of
human hopes and existence.
But through the day will never dawn to
his mortal eye when Chicago shall assume
the proud position thus predicted for her
by one of her most illustrious and loving
sons, some of US may witness the con-
summation of his prophecy, =
For already Chicago Occupies aposition
holding out promises of material great
ness and prosperity difficult indeed to
realize. The vast interior tributary to
Chicago is as yet in its infancy. Glance
at it's extent, its immense resources cap
able of supporting millions of human
beings where only thousands now derive
sustenance. Measure the widest expecta-
tions will hardly seen extravagant.
Other large cities will dot the continent
within radius of 500 or 1000 miles of
Chicago. Minneapolis and st. Paul will
be one of them. But Chicago is the
natural center toward which the activity
of the country between the Alleghenles
and the Rockies, the Gulf and the North
Pole, must gravitate.
Chicago holds future of vast RESPONSE
bility within her keeping. If any city in
the country needs good-stable, honest
and efficient administration, it is she
above all others. The commercial and in
dustrial pivotal point of continent,
Chicago will in time exert an influence
upon the United States which at this hour
no one would grant her. But with the
sense of responsibility may and should
come the capacity and will to govern. Sc
far the city>has astonished and gladdened
the world by her loyalty and her faith.
In no other American city could the
wondrous Worlds Fair have been posi-
BILE. No'other city would have made the
sacrifices, taken the risks, and accomp.
lished what she did. She has set the
Worlds Fair pace for many generation
and her record is likely to go down Nh
broken to comparatively distant
posterity.
But Chicago as yet is in the rough
The city needs polish. Not of the con-
ventional kind, for her free and western
manners will do very we'll. Her danger
lies in the one-sided development of hel
exuberant energy. Chicago should aim
not only at becoming the American met
ropolis as regards trade and transit. She
should also take the lead in orderly,
economical, business, like administration
of her own affairs, in close application OF
the best principles Of government. Sit.
uate in the heart of North America, being
in respect of the quality and character of
her people typical American-taken III its
modern sense--we must in time expect
of her that she preach and practice what
is best, most enduring and most practical
in everything that goes to make up muni-
icpal government.
Her people should be able to boast not
only of being citizens of the foremost
municipality on the continent. but of
enjoying advantage because of this
advanced position which are accessible to
no others. Chicago is young, but she is old
enough, guaging by an American
standard, to be past the natural period of
giddiness. The Worlds Fair was her
formal debut in the worlds society.
Henceforth she will be watched and
judged not as half-wild child of the
plains, but as mature woman whose life
of usefulness is just about to begin.
As a word warbler Col. Pat Danan is
somewhat of genius himself. He is a