Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-05-17
IN HONOR OF COLUMBUS.
Handsome Memorial Shaft in Cen
trail Park, New York, is
nadjoafa6


Dedicated.
New YORK, May 1.-THE beautiful
bronze statue of Christopher Columbus
executed by the Spanish sculptor Sunol
was unveiled with becoming ceremonies
in Central Park this afternoon. The
statue is located at the southern end of
the Mall and almost Immediately facing
that of Shakespeare. Here the cere-
monies took place in the presence OF
a numerous and interested gathering.
Gen. Grant Wilson presided, and after
an invocation by Bishop Howard Potter
introduced Adlai E. Stevenson and incl
dentally told the story of the monument
which was that it was intended to unvell
it in 1892, and that the King of Spain
had promised to come over and perform
the ceremony, but he died; and an &C
cident to the steamer delayed the fig
ure; that the privilege now devolved
upon the vice-president Of the United
States. The vice-president in unvell-
ing the statue spoke briefly as fol-
lows:
No words of mine can add to the interest
or the dignity OF this great occasion. This
hour will live in history. From eloquent
lips have fallen burning words which will
tell to coming ages of the homage paid here
and now to the memory Of the discoverer
Of our continent. Central Park-beautiful
and magnificent-is the fitting place for the
statue of Columbus. 1t is wei | that to the
city OF New York--the metropolis of the
continent-shouldh have fallen the grateful
task of portraying to the millions OF all the
coming ages the features of the man
who, despite obstacle and danger.
marked out the pathway to the New World.
Hl,, 70 If ,hIyc hQI ON ~
exclusively to no age or country. They are
the enduring heritage Of all people. Your
president has truly said: 'In all the trans
actions of history there is no act which for
vastness and performance can be compared
to the discovery of the continent of Ameri-
igator he only opened the gates" and 10,
there came in the builders Of new
and mighty nation. 1t is said that
in Venice there is sacredly preserved a
letter written by Columbus few hours be-
fole he sailed from Palos. With reverent
expression of trust in God-humbly but
with untaltering faith-he spoke of his pur-
builded wiser than he knew. His dream,
while a suppliant in the ante-chamber of
kings and while keeping lonely vigil upon
the deep, was the discovery Of a new path
way to the Indies. Yetwho can doubt that-to
his prophetic soul was then foreshadoWed
something of that famous land" with the
warp and wool of whose history: tradition
and song his name and fame are linked for
all time Was it Mr.. Winthrop who said of
Columbus and his compeers, "They we've
tie pioneers in the march to independence,
the precursors in the only progress Of free
dom which was to have no backward
steps," Is it too much to say Of this man
that among the worlds benefactors greater
than he hath not appeared? What page in
all history tells of deeds fraught with bless
ings to the generations as the discovery
of Am erica! Columbus added a continent
to the map of the world. l will detain you
no longer. Your eyes will now behold this
splendid work of art. 1t is we'll that its APP
proaches are firm and broad, for along this
path way, with the rolling centuries will
com as pilgrims to shrine the nyriads of
all lands to behold this statue of Columbus
this enduring monument to the gratitude
of a great city, of great nation.
Regrets from the Duke of Veragua
were read. Some remarks by Baron
Fava, Italian minister, followed. Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe read poem, "a
Mariners Dream" written for the oc-
casion, and Senior Don Muir Auga spoke
in Spanish The Grafton of the day by
c. M. Depew closed the exercises.