The record-union., 1898-10-19
The Opening Of the Ceremonies Was
a Brilliant Success,
Despite The Fact That the Day Was Cold
and a DrizzIing Rain Falling.
President Mckinley Accorded an
Enthusiastic Reception When
He Entered the Auditorium,
Where the Exercises Were Held.

1
CHICAGO, Oct. 1S.-Five thousand
people packed within the walls of the
| Auditorium witnessed the formal
| launching of the Peace Jubilee to-day.
| 1t required the uncorking of six Walls
| of eloquence to make the launching a
distinct success, and no vessel that ever
| slid down the ways was dumped into
more dampness than the Peace Juoi-
| lee. A heavy drizzle that changed into
rain, and then back into a drizzle, was
| falling; the streets were filled with
puddles of water and the cold wind
| blew off Lake Michigan and made
walking unpleasant. Notwithstanding
| these obstacles. the opening Of the
| jubilee proper was distinct and brill
| liant success.
| 1t was announced that the cere-
monies would commence at 1870, and
| fully an hour prior to that time the
street in front of the Auditorium was
| packed with an immense crowd. After
| the doors had been thrown open there
was long wait for the speakers. Ow-
| ing to a misunderstanding in which
the President had no part, it was past
IL o'clock before the President entered
the hall. Upon his entrance he was
| escorted by the Chicago Hussars and
mounted police. AS the President en-
tered the hall his appearance was the
signal for an outburSt of cheers that
| lasted for several minutes. With the
| President were Ex-Governor Richard j.
Oglesby of Illinois, Lafayette McWill-
Jams, President Harper of the Chicago
University, and Thomas B. Bryan of
Chicago. The party composing Mrs.
and Miss McWilliams and Miss Dun
car were in the box adjoining that Of
! the President. In the first box at the
| left of the stage was General Miles.
and in the boxes next to him were
the members of the various diplomatic
corps Secretary Gage was in the sec
ond tier, almost directly opposite to
the box of the President. Almost i'm
,mediately after the Presidential party
had taken their seats, the Rev. Frank
w. Gunsaulus, Chaplain of the meet
ing, offered prayer.
Chairman Charles Truax, on behalf
of the Jubilee Committee, then made
a short opening address, and intro
duced George H. Peck as presiding
officer.
Mr.. Peck's address, which was greet
ed with great applause, was as fol-
lows:
Fellow citizens: This great assem-
bage of citizens is profoundly signifi-
cant of the feeling which peryadeS
American hearts, here and everywhere.
It means something more than the
mere pride of conquest, for beneath
the joyous exultation of victory is the
deeper joy that with it has come, or
is coming, a just, honorable, and there
fore glorious peace. The triumpnal
arches that span our streets, the 1ags
blending their colors in pictures OF III
finite beauty, are more eloquent than
words to tell us that we live in heroic
days. What lessons have come - Is
in the brief space that separates to-
day from the spring months of this
eyentful year. We have learned that
our own kindred can be trusted to keep
unsullied their heritage from the faith
ers. We have learned that courage and
faith can still lead men up sliopery
nights, if only their country's flag and
| their country's honor go with them.
! We have learned that under a tropical
! sun, fighting against all the elements
! that make up the unspeakable saw
agery of war in the jungle, American
valor still rests serenely upon its own
| undaunted heart. We have learned
that the American soldier, regular and
! volunteer-white and black-is worthy
of the uniform he wears and the cause
| that was given into his keeping
I'VE have heard, and all the world
has heard, how Dewey saluted the
morning in the far-off Orient and
! lighted up the hazy waters of Manila
with such sunrise as they had never
seen before. We have known a Fourth
of July made more glorious by the
| tidings that came, telling US how
Sampson and Schley, and Clark and
Evans, and Philip and Wainwright,
and the brave sailors behind the guns
and on the decks and down where the
| furnace fires were fiercely burning. fell
upon the leviathans of Spain and sent
them to their doom almost in the
twinkling of an eye. The army and
navy, two arms of that mighty giant,
the American nation, have in equal
measures struck increasingly for the
honor of their country, and the cause
of humanity, which, in its highest
sense, means universal justice.
"One name, in the midst of all this
pageantry is in your thoughts and your
| hearts speak out before my lips can
utter it: William Mckinley, our Pres
| ident. You know him for what he is,
wise, patient, kindly, generous, calmly
| judging what is right and the highest
craftsmanship. Now he surely knows,
as he meets his countrymen face to
| face, that the people always trust the
| leader who trusts his own conscience
and theirs. We cannot yet say that all
| dangers are past Some storms may
come, some waves roll high about But
| we know a brave, strong hand will hold
| the rudder true.
six months ago we welcomed war
| in the thoughtful, solemn spirit which
BELTS an appeal to the sword To-day
we welcome peace and all it's blessings.
We have given good lives for it and
| every life makes it more precious. Vic
| tory has come to us in fullest measure.
| We have won ships and cannon and
| forts and arsenals. Cities have opened
their gates and islands and both hemi-
spheres have welcomed the arms and
| institutions of freedom But the great
est prize we have won, in it's conse-
quences to US as a people, is the SUI
preme victory which North and South
have won over each other Long ago