Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-12-21

groan of dissatisfaction as wide as
Europe. If it were left to the people
of England or Austria or Germany or
Russia whether these expensive estab-
lishments should be kept up, do you
doubt what the vote would be? Now,
is it not better that we be overtaxed
and the surplus be distributed all over
the land than to have it built up and
piled up inside of palaces?
Continuing this international COM
parison, have to say to you that
we have a better climate than is to
be found in any other nation. We
do not suffer from anything like the
Scotch mists or the English fogs or
the Russian ice blasts or the typhus.
of southern Europe or the Asiatic
cholera. Epidemics in America are
exceptional, very exceptional. Plen-
ty of wood and coal to make a roar
ing fire midwinter, easy access to sea
beach OF mountain top when the ar
doris of summer come down, Michigan
wheat for the bread, Long Island corn
for the meal, Carolina rice for the
queen of buildings, Louisiana sugar
cotton to keep us warm. In our land
all products and all climates. Are
your nerves weak? Go north. Is
you feel crowded and want more
room? Go west. declare it: This
is the best country in all the world
have $4,000 new reasons for saying
it. Six hundred and fifty thousand
people in one year. came from z the
other side of the Atlantic to live in
America, and they came because it
is the very best country to live in.
While making this international
comparison let us look forward to the
time which will surely come when
all nations will have as great advan-
tages as our own. AS surely as the
Bible is true the whole earth il to be
gardenized and set free.
Many years ago in this city gazed
upon scene which for calamity and
grandeur one seldom sees equaled.
mean the burning of the Smithsonian
institution. It was the pride of our
country. In it art had gathered rarest
specimens from all lands and countries.
It was one of those buildings which
seize you with enchantment as you en-
ter, and all the rest of your life holds
you with a charm. I happened to see
the first glow of the fires which on
that cold day looked out from the win
dows of the costly pile. I saw the angry
elements rear and rave. The shout of
affrighted workmen and the assault of
fire engines only seemed to madden the
rage of the monsters that rose up to
devour all that came within reach of
their chain. Up along the walls and
through the doors were pushed hands
that snatched down all they could
reach and hurled it into the abyss of
flame beneath. The windows Of the
tower would light up for minute with
a wild glare and then darken, as
though fiends with streaming locks of
fire had come to gaze on in laughing
mockery at all human attempts and
then sunk again into their native dark
ness. With crackle and roar and crash,
the floors tumbled. The roofs began
here and there to blossom in wreaths
and vines Of flame. Up and down the
pillars ran serpents of fire. Out from
the windows great arms and fingers of
fame were extended, as though de-
stroyed spirits were begging for deiv-
erance. The tower put on a corcnet of
flame and staggered and fell, sparks
flying, the firemen escaping, the terror
accommodating. Books, maps, rare cor
respondence, autographs of kings,
costly diagrams burned to cinder or
scattered for many a rood upon the
wild wind, to be picked up by the ex-
cited multitude. Oh, it seemed like
some great funeral pile in which the
wealth and glory of our land had leaped
to burn with its consuming treasures.
The heavens were blackened with
whirlwinds of smoke. through which
shot the long red shafts of calamity.
Destruction waved it's fiery banner
from the remaining towers, and in the
thunder Of falling beams and in the
roaring surge OF billowing fire I heard
the spirits of ruin and desolation and
woe clapping their hands and shout
ing: "Aha! aha!"
I turned and looked upon the white
dome of yonder capitol, which rose
through the frosty air as imposing as
though all the white marble of the
earth had come to resurrection and
stood before us, reminding one of the
great white throne of Heaven. There it
stood, unmoved by the terrors which
that day had been kindled before it.
No tremor in it's majestic columns, no
frown on it's magnificent sculpture, no
flush of excitement in it's veins of mar
BILE. Column and capital and dome,
built to endure until the world itself
skaters in convu1sions of the last
earthquake. Oh, what contrast be-
tween the smoking ruin on the one
hand and that gorgeous dream Of ar
chitecture on the other! Well, the day
speeds on when the grandest achieve
ment of man viii be consumed and the