The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-29
DEWEY DAY IN NEW YORK.

As rule the American people are
not SO given Co hero worship as are the
people of other countries. individuals
seldom receive in this country the at
tention that is lavished upon kings and
queens when they visit the distant
cities OF the realm 1t is seldom that
the varied interests of the nation can
be aroused and concentrated upon one
object, and rarer yet that men and
women of all parties, creeds and condi-
tons can be brought together, in heart
if not in person, to do homage to one
man.
This country has extended an i'm
partial bipartisan, unanimous greet
ing to few. The first was Washington.
who found arches built for him every
where he went and flowers strewn
along his pathway upon the occasion
of his first Inauguration Lafayette
was received with welcome which
amounted to a rising vote of thanks
when he visited the republic he had
helped to establish. A fleet of gun
boats, schooners, frigates, catboats and
everything that could ride the waves,
and fly a flag went forth to meet him:
the harbor was so gaudily decorated
and the city wore such a holiday attire
that the venerable patriot, never
dreaming that it was meant for him,
turned to his fellow passengers and
asked: Some great fete day of your
nation, messieurs, is it not?"
New York City has stood for the
united people of the United States
in receiving. entertaining and honor
ing naval heroes upon two other
occasions. The first time was when
Perry returned after his memoir
able campaign of the lakes, and the
next time was the greeting of Hull re-
5ceived after his defeat of the Guerrero.
But the demonstration today eclipses
all those others combined. In proper
ton TO the wealth and population the
people of those days did exceedingly
we'll It is to the triumphs Of mans
inventive genius, to mechanical
achievements which have .outpaced
wealth and population. even, that the
gorgeousness Of the present display is
chiefly due.
O4Sl AAAiA NoS eiAC
hero of the nation. when he was especi-
ally near and dear to the people of the
coast because his victory sent sea-
wards a hostile feet which had been
lying off the Hook for months, block
ing commerce, intimidating the navy.
frightening the people and marrying the
army of the republic: when he was
hailed as a deIiverer and crowned
canquerer. the grateful people scat
tered leaves and flowers in the street,
hoisted their flags. fired their anvils,
and placed lighted candles in every
window of the city hail. an extrava-
gance which all recognized but nc one
grndged.
Today that harbor win be a forest of
nasts covered with a Foliage of flags (,
tie variety of which viii astonish all |
beholders. The streets viii he filed |
with marching men, and modern con-
veyances OF every description. and the
buildings viii be buried in wealth of !
decoration. At night there will be 1
inyriads Of sparkling lights around the |
water front, festooned along the line /
OF march and clustered in a thousand /
grotesdue patterns all over the great
metropolis.
1t is not New York alone that is well I
coming Dewey. 1t is the nation. In
honoring him we pay tribute to a
typical American who sinks ambition /
in patriotism, and at this moment is
wondering what all this hustle and
applause is for. He is no better,
drawer. truer. than he was two years
ago. He simply had an opportunity to
show how good and brave and true he
was. He merely did his duty and so
he wonders what all the cheering is
about. The fierce light of popular
adulation has beat upon him year or
more without revealing a flaw in his
character. IN this he has shown not
only the attributes. Of true greatness.
bat the simplicity OF character that
lnsarls the ideal hero and the ideal
citizen of the republic. His career is
an inspiration and his character a
model Ton. the youth of America.