The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-20
Called to Order by Captain Hem
ry King, a Former Kansan.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Delivers an Appropriate and
Scholarly Address.
Sir Hugh Reid Of London Made
Permanent Chairman.

81 LOUIS May ZO.-Arn1d gorgeous
surroundings with cascades pouring
their torrents down the waterways in
to the lagoon and thousands of cleo
trio bulbs Illuminating the scene and
silhoueting the ivory white buildings
OF the exposition against the dark Of
night, the worlds press parliament
convened last night in Festival hall.
Thousands OF visitors thronged the
terraces, the steps and esplanade at
the foot of Festival hall and a steady
stream pressed towards the entrance
of the great white domed building
seeking entrance. But the majority
was doomed to disappointment for the
seating capacity of Festival hall is
$500 and only the accredited delegates
to the Press parliament were admitted
through the double line Of Jefferson
guards at the entrance.
The convention was called TO order
by Captain Henry King. editor of the
St Louis Globe-Democrat and chair
man of the executive committee Of the
parliament.
David r. Francis, president Of the
exposition. welcomed the 5000 dele
gates representing Journalism in all
parts Of the world to the exposition
The principal speaker of the evening
was next introduced, John Hay, secre-
! tary of state, who came as the official
/ representative of President Roosevelt
to attend the convention. Secretary
| Hay was greeted with a salute of ap-
/ plause. He spoke in part as follows
Il thank you, Mr.. Chairman; thank
i you, gentlemen-aU of you-tor your
too generous and aniable welcome
| esteem it a great privilege to meet so
many representatives of an estate
which. more than any otner, at this
hour controls the world 1t is my daily
duty in Washington to confer with the
able and distinguished representatives
| of civilized sovereigns and states But
we are all aware that the days of per
sona1 government are gone forever;
| that behind US. and behind the rulers
! we represent, there stands the vast,
| Irresistible power Of public opinion
which in the last resort must decide
ali the questions we discuss, and whose
Judgment is final In your persons
greet the organs and exponents OF that
/ tremendous power with all the respect
| which is due to you and your con-
stituency, deeply sensible OF the honor
which mas been done me in making
me the mouthpiece or the sentlIilenl q %
/ apprecfation and regard with Whlcn
the nation welcomes you to this great
festival of peace and Of progress
seThe historical value of the Missls-
sipui is not less than its geographical
and natural importance. It's course
1 through the pages of our country
story is as significant as the tremend-
| Gus sweep of its waters from Ine cisS-
ta1 lakes which sleep beneath the
| northern stars to the placid expanse or
! the Gulf of Mexico. Its navigation was
Il a prize f1ercely contended Tor Dy every
| chanceIlerie of western Europe Many
| stitors have looked upon it since that
! gallant Prince Charming, fernando de
Soto, parted the curtain OF its repose,
and all have found it fair. 1t aroused
| equally the interest of the Briton. the
/ Iberian. and the Gaul- When by virtue
| of one of the StrangeSt caprlceS OF the
/ great game of diplomacy ever known
I cherished nOGGRESfDn. II
/ gave rise to the fercest political con-
/ tests the most far-reaching cOmblna-
| tions. When the accumulated passions
/ and purposes of hundred years AT lsasI
! burst forth in a tempest of war, II De-
! came the center of a WORLDS GREATNESS
! interest and was flooded with the IaIai
and terrible light which plays about the
| battlefieIds Of fame and shines in the
/ sudden making of splendid names 50
] long as its waters roll TO the sea, 50
/ long will the world remember the nlgn
resolution with which Grant and Sher-
| man hewed their way southward ana
the chivalrous courage with Wnlcn
! Johnston and Pemberton opposed tnein
/ So immense is the value OF lftat SiNeI
/ bar that binds together the framework
of the welded states.
I'VE celebrate this year, with the
generous assistance of a friendly world,
/ the most important event in the history
| of this great valley, an event which IN
/ lfar-reaching and lasting results is sur
4 nassed nv few in the life of the nation
/ sWhfIe we should give due credit to
the individual instrumentalties by
which this great transaction was
/ brought about, we should not forget
the overwhelming influence exerted
| nv the unseen Director of the Drama.
! whether we call it the spirit of the
i age or historic necessity, or the bal
ance of power, or whether we rever-
entity recognize in the matter the hand
of that Providence which watched
over our infancy as a people, we can
not but admit that the acquisition Of
this vast territory was, in one way
or another, sure to come A wise
Diplomacy hastened it; a timid con-
servatism might have delayed 1t; but
if was written in our horoscope The
lsurest proof of this lies in the emf
nent personalities by whom the pur-
chase and sale were made. Jefferson
was the last man in America. of whom
We could have expected this depar-
ture on the field of illimitable expan-
sovereigns Of Europe, the least likely
to give up so vast an extent of empire
mo man, no party, can fight with
any chance of final success against a
: / coslnic tendency; no cleverness, no
! lnopularity. aVails against the spirit OF
the age. In obeying that invincible
tendency. against all his political con-
victions, Jefferson secured a conspicu-
lous place in history; while the FEEDER
aIist politicians who should have well
coined this signal illustration and
the power of the government they had
/ framed. through the influence of party
? spirit faItered in their faith and
$ brought upon their party a lasting
, eclipse through their failure to dis
cern the signs of the times. President