The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-03

will never fail, to enrich country or peo- pie not slow to take advantage of favor ing conditions.
 Until the age of railroads. transporta- ton by water was the chief means of all commercial intercourse.
 Navigation, even In Its infancy, long before it was dreamed of as science, went out upon the waterways of the world and returned ladened with riches. as well as greatness, power and glory, for such cities as Carthage and Tyre, Athens and Venice, which in the long ago were emporiuins of commanding superiority.
 The Phoenicians 1t is said, were the first navigators. They became the most expert seamen in ancient history. As a nation, they were altogether commercial. They never waged war except when 1t was necessary to extend their commercial conquests; yet they gave a language to the Hebrews and an alphabet to the Greeks, and consolidated an Empire which for more than four hundred years held it's own supremacy against the pre- dominance of Grecian and Roman power. On every hand the Phoenicians scattered the arts and sciences, letters and learn- ing, wealth and culture. Wherever their vessels touched, marts and business cen ters sprang into existence distant com munities were brought into communica- tion one with another; and. in this way. they did more to roll on the car of prog ress and civilization than if they had stormed every fortress and captured every citadel on every island and along every coast of the old world.
 Iron Horse Rules.
 But the light of the glory of water transportation has waned and almost gone out. The iron horse has taken the place of the floating palace. There is not doubt that railroad carriage, chiefly because of its fieetness has almost su- perseded water transportation, and is, today, the great medium of commercial intercourse. Whenever and wherever the tracks of railroad are put down on the earth there a foundation is begun to be laid for social security, business prog ress and material prosperity. The logic of events. the history of civilization of the age demonstrate this truth.
 The State, county, city or community. therefore, which secures the largest number of railroads, will enjoy the full est measure of the substantial blessings of life-a condition of well-belng, abund- ance. aff1uence, comfort and earthly hap piness.
 '' Tn union there is strength It is only by honest and faithful concert of action promoters and advantageous to commu- mites: Your meeting on this occasion therefore. Is bound to effectuate praise nothing partisan or sectional in this gath tional in it's aims and purposes. It will will arrest the popular gaze and com mand popular attention It will attract the popular thought and fasten to it the inspiring ideal of common country, in which the people rule and from whom all political authority is derived. Our gov ernment of the people, for the people exponent of civil liberty to all the strug- gling and oppressed nations of the earth d radiant representative of that liberty manhood.
 Welcomed to Alabama.
 You stand on historic ground. All around you, everywhere, are countless memorials, which serve to keep fresh in our memories the heroic endeavors put forth by our intrepid forefathers in sub dulng the wilderness, m conquering the savage red man, in resisting cruel oppres- slons, in protecting popular rights. and In preserving constitstional liberty These monuments perpetuate the virtues and the valor of ne brave. free, independent and Christian men and women. who built this magnificent State of ours in a form so grand and enduring as to excite the wonder and challenge the admiration of the civilized world. Here is ample space statesman, the most persuasive orator the most profound philosopher. the most exalted phllanthropist. Here are fields the like of which Aristotle or Plato never trod. Here are problems upon which Cicero never could have speculated nor Bacon exercised his wonderful sagacity. States of an indissoluble Union. She has passed through that period in her history when sentiment might be indulged at the expense of common sense Many hurtful preiudices have passed away. The gods from Olympus have departed A new era in national commercial and indus trial affairs has been inaugurated; and l 1t behOOves us, each and all. to go forth to tilt upon the arena with more than l life upon the issue.
 Tn this generous rivalry for the att | tainment of desirable ends, I beg you. my friends to halt not in the race. you cellence in the land The world about us is glowing with beauty replete with energy and crowned with the glory of endless progress and development. The winds and the waves. harnessed by a power divine. are toiling on in their mis- sion to catch the glad tidings of great joy. sung by angel bands. peace on earth. good will to men Nature bears no impressions of indolence or lawless- (Continued on Page Ten.l