Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-05-16
IN HONOR OF COLUMBUS.
Handsome Memorial Shaft i'm Cen
trail Park, New York, is
Dedicated

DeiIlcdtcu.
New YORK, May 12.-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.
Sen. 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 1t was intended to unveil
1t 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 unveil-
ing the statue spoke briefly as fol-
lows
Nc 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 20 coming ages of the homage paid here
ana now to the memory of the discoverer
of our continent. Central Park-beautiful
and magniticent-is the fitting place for tne
statue of Columbus. 1t is wei that to the
city of New York-the metropolis of the
continent-should 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.
The name and fame of Columbus belong
exclusively to no age or country. They are
ho of oil
president has truly said: I'm 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-
ca" III the modest words of the great nav
igatOr he only opened the gates, and To-
there came in the builders of a 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-Lumbly but
with unfaltering faith-he spoke of his pur-
posed voyage to that famous land" He
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 q new path
way to the Indies. Ietwho 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 wee
the 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
shat among the worlds benetactors greater
than he hath not appeared? What pagein
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 | 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
pathway, with the rolling centuries. will
come as pilgrims to a shrine the myriaGs of
all lands to behold this statue of Columbus
this enduring monument to the gratitude
of great city, of a great nation.
Regrets from the Duke of Veragua
were read. Some remarks by Baron
Fava, Italian minister, followed. Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe read a poem, GA
Mariners Dream - written for the oc-
casion, and Senior Don Muir Auga spoke
in Spanish. The Grafton of the day by
c. NJ. Depew closed the exercises.