The Washington times., 1912-06-09

which opens the passage way to the
East Indies. at the very place where
Columbus sought 1t as a natural water
way and found IL not, in the narrow
iSth mus between the north and south
continents, and where. 400 Years ago,
Charles V, the successor OF the sover-
cigns Of Columbus, projected such d
passageway, which the world has wait,
cd all this time since to see constructed.
1T is most appropriate in this beau.
tiful place, in which the visitor to the
countrj's Capital first sets foot upon
the soil Of the small District that is the
only territory in which this great gov
ernment exercises exclusive juricdis-
ton. that he should he confronted by
a statue Of the great mariner whose
world to progrcsss and development.
I'm front of railway terminal sta
ton combining utility and art in the
highest degree, and brilliantly illustrat-
ing the progress of the human race IL
transportation, and in plaza that by
o graceful sweep leads the eye up t"
the home of liberty and popular power.
Columbus may well have his greatest
and most fitting memorial
- we are gathered here today to dedi-
cate this beautiful memorial TO the
greatest mariner of history, who four
centuries and two decades ago opened
to the possibilities of Christian civili/a-
ton nearly one-half of the geographical
word. The story of his struggles is
dimmCd by the lack Of details as to his
early career. and by those disputes
which naturally arise over the humble
and apparently unimportant life Of one
whose subsequent achievements give in
tense interest to every circumstance
leading to his ultimate success.
THE struggle that he and his friends
made with the monarchs of Europe, end
In the vestibulcs of palaces, with the
frequent disappointments and discour-
agements, only emphasizes his real In
spiration and the confidence that he had
in the theories as to the form OF the
earth, and as to the result of his sailing
westward in order to reach the East
Indies"
Reviews Parade.
After a selection by the Marine Band,
Bishop Wilbur P. Thirkfeld pronounced
the benediction, and the President and
Mrs. Taft, with their party. then took
a position at the south end of the grand
pageant The President remained
standing for fully two hours. the
parade taking that time to pass given
point.
Equalng all expectations. the process
sion which marched down Pennsylvania
avenue simultaneously with the unveil-
ing was the largest and most impress
siye which Washington has seen since
the inauguration of 1905 1t is estimat
ed that about 25.0G0 marchers were In
| line, composed of soldiers, sailors, and
marines, knights of Columbus from al
| sections of the nation and Italian So
| cieties. Easily 100000 persons throngeo
| the line of march.
Forming at Pennsylvania avenue anC
| Seventeenth street, the parade got un
der way promptly at o'clock. There
were six companies each from the bat
tleships Utah, Florida, and North Da
| kota, and each ship also sent its full
quota of marines. The sailors were il
| semi-full dress, with blue caps anC
| hi
| Capt. Henry B. Wilson, L. s. N, was
| in charge of the naval contingent. Col
Joseph Garrard commanded the arm!
contingent, comprising a battalion eaci
tillery, third field artillery, and .
squadron of the Fifteenth Cavalry from
| Fort Myer.
The showing made by the knights II