Evening star., 1898-10-18
Chicago's Great Celebration Opened
in Presence of Thousands.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY is PRESENT
Speechmaking by Noted Orators
Was the Order Of the Day.
PRESIDENT PECK'S ADDRESS

CHICAGO, October 1s-Elght thousand
people packed within the walls of the Audi
tcrium building today witnessed the formal
opening exercises Of ths national peace
jubilee. All that had preceded todays
great meeting was merely preliminary in
It's nature and mcst of it in honor of the
President personally. Today, however, the
actual jubilee began. The weather was
cold, damp. with lowering skies, and raw
wind blowing off the lake compelled people
to hug the lee side of buildings and seek
warm corners; but the crowd was closely
packed around the building fully an hour
| before the doors were open. The people
came rapidly and long before the COM
mencement of the exercises the great hall
was packed from pit to dome
The exercises opened with a short ad-
dress by Chairman Chas. Truay Of the
jubilee committee at the conclusion of
which he introduced the presiding officer
Geo. R. Peck.
Mr. Peck's address, which was greeted
with great applause, was as follows:
George X. Peck's Speech
"Fellow-citizeEs: This great assemblage
OF American citizens is profoundly signif-
can't OF the feeling which pervades Amer
lean hearts, here and everywhere 1t means
something more than the mere pride of
-SA
of victory is the deeper joy that with 1t has
come. or is coming, just, honorable and
therefore glorious peace. The tr:umpkal
arches that span our streets, the flags
blending their colors in pictures of infinite
beauty, are more eloquent than words to
tell us that We live in heroic days What
lessons have come to us in the brief space
that separates today from the spring
months of this eventful year. We have
learned that our own kindred can be
trusted to keep unsullied their heritage
from the fathers. We have learned that
courage and faith can still lead men up
slippery heights, if only their countrys flag
and their countrys honor go with them.
We have learned that under a tropic sun,
lighting against all the elements that make
up the unspeakable savagery of war in the
jungle. American Valor still rests serenely
upon its own Endaunted heart. We have
learned that the American soldier-rcgular
ard volunteer white and black-is worthy
of the uniform that he wears and of the
cause that was given into his keeping
we 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 a sunrise as
they had never seen before We have
known a Fourth of July made more glori-
Gus 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 hres were
fiercely burning. fell upon the Levtathans
OF Spain and sent them to the'' doom al
most IN the twinklng of an eye. The army
and the navy, two arms of thai mighty
giant, the American nation, have in equal
measure struck increasingly for he honor
OF their country and for the cause of
common humanity, which, in its highes.
sense, means universal justice.
Tribute to the President
''One name. in the midst of all this pa
geantry, is in your thoughts, and your
hearts speak out before my lips cen utter
it-'William Mckinley, our President You
know him for what he is-wise, patient,
kindly, generous, calmly judging that what
is right Is the highest craftsmanship. How
surely he knows, as he meets his country
men face to face, that the people always
% lrust the leader who trusts his own con-
science and theirs. We cannot yet say that
all dangers are passed. Some storms may
~ome, some waves roll high about US; but
we know brave, strong and honest cap
tain will hold the rudder true
SIX months ago we welcomed war in
the thoughtful, solemn spirit which BELTS
fn appeal to the sword. Today we wei
come peace and all its blessings. We have
6 ven good lives for it, and every life makes
1t more precious. Victory has come 10 us
IN fullest measure. We have won ships
and cannon and forts and arserals. Cities
nave opened their gates and islands i'll
potn nemlspheres have welcomed the arms
aEd the institutions of free lom But the
greatest prize we have won, in its conse-
iuehces to us as a people, is the supreme
victory which north and south have won
over each other. Long ago all sensible and |
patriotic people in both sections knew that
the hour would come. Today We hail 1t. in
.he assured faith that henceforth we march |
1osether TO the same music, under the same
nag ana TO the same destiny Verify, this |
Is the year of jubilee"
After Mr.. Peck had terminated his ad
dress he introduced Mayor Harrison of Chi
cago, who delivered the formal address of |
welcome to President Mckinley and the |
strangers who had come to Chicago to wit |
hess the ceremonies, of jubilee week |
welcome to the President
Ihe President. who received a most en-
thusiastic welcome as he entered the build-
Ing, made no formal reply to the addresses
Oh welcome, notwithstanding the loud calls |
tnat were made upon him for speech. |
T rolio"lng the address of Mayor Harrison |
came Archbishop Ireland of ST. Paul
ouoge Emory Speer of Georgia followed /
with the closing address,
During the afternoon five meetings r,ora
held In different parts of the CITY a ,arre
meeting at Studebaker Hall was addressed
Dy ALBERT X. Beveridge of INDIANAPOLIS and
resident Cyrus Northrop of the Uniyer-
SHY OF Minnesota. At the Columbia Thea
neid OF Detroit and Booker T. Washington
addressed an audience limited only bv the
size of the theater ~ ~
AT the First Regiment Armorv Secretarv
James Wilson and Mayor David s. Rose Of
MllWaukee comprised the list of speakers.
ment Armory and Charles Emory smith
Hall. N' III ne'
Ihe public schools. all of which were |
pprroperiy decorated devoted the day to ju-
bilee exercises and to hearing addresses hv |
prominent educators and orators |