Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-27
FAIRBANKS TELLS
OF PIXIES PEAK
VICE PRESIDENT DELIVERS PRiN-
cIPAL SPEECH AT THE CEN.
TENNIAL CELEBRATION
is Pioneer Day Of the Weeks Fes-
tivities Lessons Drawn From
Achievement Of Pike In the Unseif-
ishness.

Colorado Springs. Sept. 25.-Vice
President Charles W. Fairbanks was
principal speaker of today at the "Pio.
neer day" exercises in connection with
the Pike centennial celebration this
week. He said in part:
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle
men: am gratif1ed to participate with
you IN celebrating an important histori-
cal event; Important not only to Color
ado, but to the entire republic. A cen
tury has elapsed since brave officer
IN the army Of the United States, with
that high courage and devotion to duty,
which is characteristic of the American
soldier. crowned the work of his ex-
petition to the headquarters of the Ar
kansas to the Rocky mountains.
we celebrate not only an interesting
incident, but we pay tribute also to the
American soldier, who has wrought
wondrously not only upon the field but
IN pushing forward the frontier of our
national development. He has always
been and is eager to respond wherever
duty calls, whether 1t be in the theater
OF war. or blazing a pathway into new
and unknown territory. We recall with
pleasure and gratitude the names of
Pike, Lewis and Clark, Fremont and
other soldiers who are forever asso-
ciated with expeditions organized for
the opening UP of territory in the Uni
ted States. We recognize them as
"pathfinders' in the truest and best
sense
Achievement of Pike.
The achievement of Pike, (which we
are met to commemorate was notable
one. 1t was the fruit of a high order
of moral courage, and a sincere devo-
ton to a soldiers duty. The brave
soldier made his wa into new terri
tory, beset with many difficulties and
surrounded with unknown hazards In
the discharge Of his arduous task, he
won the approval Of his commanders
and the commentator of history. Our
presence here and the imposing civic
and military display. which we have
witnessed, is evidence of our appre.
citation Of the merits and worth of his
work.
The name of Lieutenant Zebulon
Montgomery Pike is forever identified
with the spot whereon we stand. 1t is
associated Herewith by virtue of his
arduous work, yet if he had never pene.
trated thus far century ago-if he
had never lived-the work he did
would have been done. This region
lay in the pathway of the march OF
our western civilization, and even il
greater obstacles had interviewed than
those overcome by him, the indomita
BILE pluck, the courage and the firm
determination Of our fathers to span
| the continent with their habitations
and their power would have accom-
plished In good time all that was
achieved by him. We would not, how
ever, detract from the high character
Of his service, or from the honor thai
is justly due to his memory He was
but a type of the American soldier, O.
whom there have been many, and O
whom there will be many more 1t i:
gratifying fact that we have Away.
possessed wealth of good men
capable Of rendering and willing tt
render important sarvice in every ex
igency and in every step Of our nation
al progress. While We pay tribute tt
done great things in the past, we cal
match them In the present in all thu
high qualities which enable them t
accomplish great and difficult thing
for American progress and American
civilization.
Taught Wholesome Lesson.
i The young soldier who made his wa
to the foot of this mighty sentinel o
the Rockies taught wholesome les
son. He taught unseifish service. w
4 perceive in it the great fact that whel
men most honor, that what survive
the hour In which men live, is honor
able work in the cause of ones cour
trymen and ones country. Those VIII
live apart by themselves and take n
thought of others, are least regarded
It Is within the power of each to cor
| tribute something to the welfare of hi
, fellow mon; something to the upbuilt
Ling Of the community and the STATE