The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-25
PIONEER DAY.
Second in Pixies Peak Centen-
NAL Celebration.
Vice President Fairbanks Is
Orator Of the Day.
A TRIBUTE TO PIKE.
He Was a Type of the American
Soldier
A TRIBUTE TO PIKE.
And Taught Wholesome
Lesson Of UnseIflsh Service.

MAI celebration week opened as auSplc1- /
ously as did the week itself. with early
dawn the streets took on a most anima-
ted appearance, the trains of last night
and the early morning adding greatly |
to the vast throng OF outsiders who have
come to participate in the celebration.
The day had been set aside by the !
committee on arrangements for the
glorifcation of the efforts and achieve
ments of the early pioneer, the man
who blazed the trails and belonged to !
the vanguard of the civilization that has
made the great American desert the
land Of milk and honey, whose dawn to-
neers from Colorado and neighboring
states made a gathering of those inter-
esting persons that never has been
equalled in this section of the country.
Their formal exercises were conducted
IN the open air, their meeting being held
at Stratton park, at the entrance to the
FAMOUS Cheyenne canOns at 11:30 this
morning. The speakers at this meeting
were General Frank Fall one
time secretary of Jefferson terri
tory and Judge Wilbur F. Stone of Den
yer.
Owing to the fact that it was seen early
that the Grand opera house would ac-
commodate only small part of the
crowd that desired to hear the address
of Vice President Fairbanks the meet
ing was made in open air instead The
vice president spoke from the band
stand in Acacia park and his address
was listened to attentively by fully 10, 900
persons.
When Congressman Brooks. Thomas
F. Walsh and President William T
Slocun of Colorado college attempted
to escores Vice President Fairbanks into
the Walsh automobile at the Antlers
hotel, the vice president, barring his head
and rubbing his forehead with his hand
kerchief said:
mo. am going to walk
The Midland band, which had given a
concert in front of the hotel marched
up the middle of the street playing a
military air while the vice president and
his escort walked along the sidewalk for
four blocks to the park, the head of the
vice president towering high above those
Of the immense crowd that i3liowC@
along behind.
He said:
"The achievement of Pike. which
we are met to commemorate was a
notable one. It was the fruit of a high
order of moral courage, and a sincere
soldier made his way into a new ter
ritory, beset with may difficulties
and surrounded with unknown haz-
ards. In the discharge of his arduous
task, he won the approval Of his COM
manderS and the commentator OF
history. Our presence here and the
| imposing civic and military display,
which we have witnessed, is evidence
of our appreciation of the merit and
worth of his work.
1.-The name of Lieutenant Zebulon
Montgomery Pike is forever identified
with the spot wherein we stand. 1t is
associated Herewith by virtue of his
arduous work, yet - he had never
penetrated thus far a century ago
II he had never lived=the work he
did would have been done. This re-
gion lay in the pathway of the march
of our western civilization, and even If
greater obstacles had interviewed than
those overcome by him, the indomit-
determination Of our fathers to span
the continent with their habitations
and their power would have accom-
4 plished in good time all that was
achieved by him. We would not, how
ever. detract from the high chara cter
of his service, or from the honor that
Is justly due to his memory. He was
/ but a type of the American soldier of
whom there have been many, and of
whom there VIII be many more It is
a gratifying fact that we have always
possessed a wealth OF good men, ca
cable OF rendering and willing to rem
/ der important service in every ext
gency and in every step of our nation
al progress While we pay tribute to
! those of courage and genius who have
done great things in the past we can
match them in the present in all the
1 high qualities which enable them to
accomplish great and difficult things
for American progress and American
civilization.
1.-The young soldier who made his way
| to the foot of this mighty sentinel of
the Rockies taught a wholesome lesson.
He taught unselfish service. We per-
ceive in it the great fact that what men
most honor, that what survives the hour
| in which men live, is honorable work in
the cause Of ones countTymen and ones
country. Those who live apart by them
selves and take no thought of others
are least regarded. It is within the
| power of each to contribute something
to the welfare Of his fellow men: some
thing to the upbuilding of the cornmuni-
ty and the state. Each, as the price of
the liberty winch he enjoys, should
make some return in the vvav Of beni-
fcient Service to others. It is not nee
essary that one should be in the public
service in order that he may do this
for each hour and day brings its oppor-
! tunity IN the manifold relations Of life
The great west teaches a helpful spirit
a large measure of generous, neighboriy
regard and cheerful cooperation in The
advancement Of the welfare of each and
all.
We fully appreciate the tremendous
consequences flowing from Pixies expe-
dition. He blazed the pathway hither
and thousands in due time followed
where he led. Those who thus came here
to set up dominion were wen fitted to
found a state. They brought with them
into the new field of their endeavor the
self-governing instinct of the Anglo
Saxon race, an inflexible purpose which
subdued obstacles and converted to the
use Of man the natural elements which
Providence scattered among these
mountains They made laws which had
no higher sanction than their own con-
sent-laws which concerned both life
and property-and they were executed
with all the solemBity Of measures pass
ed under adequate constitutional war
rant The principles of many Of them
so founded upon the assent Of the pio-
neers have been incorporated, whether in
terms or substance, in the statutes Of
the country. and have survived to the
present day.
we hear much said Of vice and cor