The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-11
Senator Fairbanks's Address.

Mayor Denney introduced Senator Fair
banks this afternoon. The senator said In
part:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
/ glad OF opportunity to participate
with you in dedicating the Carnegie LIBRA
ry. This is, indeed, an event full Of sig
nificance. 1t is recognition by US Of the
potential fact that knowledge is one of
the chief influences In our upbuilding. We
are met under most propitious circum-
stances. We have but lately said farewell
to an old century, and entered upon a new.
This building marks the dividing line be-
tween one of the greatest centuries in
human history and a new century which
should be filled with equally noteworthy
events. and which should be an era OF ex-
panding knowledge and broadening power.
The old century-who can measure the
magnitude of our debt TO IL? Science
seems to have revealed the most hidden
and important secrets Of nature. She has
scanned the heavens and fathomed the
seas. She has asserted dominion over the
enemies OF man and made them his obedient
servants. Fire and water and electricity
have been made to do his bidding in count
less ways. Time and space have been re-
duced in international communication and
the world made relatively smaller; in fact.
ii has been reduced to vast neighborhood.
The zone Of human liberty has been ex-
tended until about the greater portion OF
the globe man recognizes master ex-
cept Almighty God. The beams OF ciyili-
Zation and Righteousness are cast afar'
and where they penetrate slavery and
serfdom vanish as vice before virtue.
1--WE have a veneration for the past and
ii is well. Veneration is akin to gratitude,
one Of the gentlest virtues We are grate-
full to those of the past who added to the
sum of the worlds knowledge. We are
won't to linger about Athens and Rome. We
study their histories, their mighty con-
tribution TO literature, the arts and the
sciences. The story OF their triumphs and
defeats. their glory and their shame. their
rise and fall is familiar TO US. We are
grateful to those who have lighted a torch
in any of the great departments OF human
experience. We delight to dwell with the
old philosophers, with Socrates and Plato:
with the old poets. Homer and Virgil; with
the old historians. Herodotus and Xene-
phon; with the old scientists. Newton and
Davy: with the old musicians. Beethoven
and Mozart, and with the old orators. We
are their perpetual grateful debtors We
have studied their PHILOSOPHERS. We have
made acquainted with the subtle myster-
les of nature. We have been entranced by
their song and have been stirred by their
eloquence. We have been inspired by the
exquisite grace OF Raphael. and the sub
Unity and energy OF Michael Angelo. But
We stand upon a summit unattained by
them. The schoolboy OF to-day is wiser
than the venerable philosopher who studied
in the groves OF Academus.
THE LABORATORIES MAGIC.
THE magic of the laboratory discloses
elements and combinations undreasned OF
by the fathers of chemistry. With what
rapture Calico would turn the modern
telescope to Venus and Jupiter and to
worlds OF which he knew not. How
Franklin would marvel at the electric cur
rent as IL encircles the globe. freighted
with intelligence and faithfully carrying
the human voice thousands OF miles
through cities, beneath rivers across
plains and amidst mountain Businesses
How Fulton would watch with rapture the
modern merchantmen cleaving the track
less sea with express train speed. How he
would have been stirred by the Oregon.
that invincible steel monster OF the deep.
in her swift race from the Pacific 10 the
Atlantic that she might vindicate the ma
tional honor.
ITO be an American citizen to-day means
more than ever before: IL means greater
opportunities and enlarged responsibilities.
Each year finds US camped upon new
heights I'm our onward march. We look
upon cur country grown great and strong.
We compare IL with others and rejoice at
the comparison. We are 0vermuch given,
| fear to boasting OF our strength. We
should not forget that real power needs
no other herald than itself. We take pride
In our territory. which spans the contf-
nent which lies within Arctic circles and
In the distant seas. We point 20 our rich
felds, our vast forests and TO the exhaust