The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-11
COLUMBUS
Memorial Is Unveiled Al
Washington
Amid A Most Enthusiastic
Demonstration

tult a. StdNut vi tEt Sltdt uiSNONtlt
moulded by the hand of the sympathe.
tic sculptor to show him as he stood
on the deck of the Santa Maria on
October 12, 1892. the fateftl day when
America was seen for the first time
by the eyes of the European, was un-
yelled here today with elaborate cere-
monies and amid the enthusiastic
demonstrations of an immense con
course of people, In connection with
the unyeiling there was a civic and
military procession that proved to be
one of the largest seen in this city
of big war parades since the grand
review of the Union army after the
close of the civil war.
The ceremony of unveiling occurred
on the plaza In front of the new I'm
ion Station. where the massive men,
orial has been erected to. catch the
eye of every visitor to the capital i'm
mediateiy upon arrival In the city.
Surrounding the memorial were great
stands TO accommodate the many Of
iicias and guests invited to take part
In the exercises. On every hand the
colors of Italy. Spain and the United
States were blended. Within the am
phitheatre were gathered representa-
tives of every branch of the govern
ment. including the President of the
United States and members of the
Cabinet, the Chief Justice and asso-
ciate justices of the Supreme Court
of the United States. high officers OF
the army and navy, senators and rep
resentatives. The diplomatic corps
was brilliantly represented, while an.
other section of the stands was allOt-
ted to the dignitaries of the Catholic
Church. many of whom were in at.
tendance.
President Taft was the principal
speaker on the programme. Philander
Knox, Secretary of State, was given
the place as presiding officer, and to
| the. Marquis Cusani ConfalOnieri,
I Italian ambassador to the United
States, was assigned the task of pull
ing the cords that released the bunt-
ing about the memorial Rt. Rev.
| Mgr. Thomas Shahan. rector of the
Catholic University of America Of
fered the invocation and Chief Justice
Victor J. Bowling Of the supreme
court OF New York, made the opening
address. The Marine Band. In its
| uniform of scarlet and blue, furnished
the musical features of the pro-
gramme.
As the President concluded his ad-
up the cords to the flags enveloping
the memorial, and the massive pile OF
marble and stone emerged through
the folds of red, white and blue. At
the same instant the boom Of an artil.
lery salute came from battery OF
heavy guns near by, and the strains
of the national anthem came from the
band.
But, after all, Il was q great parade
and not the unveiling exercises that
furnished the spectacular portion OF
the days celebration and the feature
in which the public generally dis
played most interest Countless
thousands lined Pennsylvania Avenue
and other leading thoroughfares and
for hours saw rank on rank OF sol
diers, bluejackets and marines. fol
lowed by fifty thousand marchers rep
resenting the Knights of Columbus
the Catholic fraternal organization tC
whose efforts the erection OF the
memorial unveiled today Is largely
due. delegations Of members OF the
order from practically every State
er delegations from Canada. Mexico
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines
In addition to the marchers there
were dozen or more magnificen,
and costly floats depicting various
events in the life of the great discov
erer. Brig. Gen. Robert X. Evans, Y
s, A., was the grand marshal OF the
parade. while Supreme knight James
A. Flaherty, of Philadelphia. rode al
the head of the Knights Of Columbus
section.
The Columbus memorial Is u fttini
addition to the long list of statue,
and memorials that dot the nationa
capital, II IL the largest and mos
imposing of them all The memoria
takes the form Of AN immense shaft
at the back of a fountain, surmountet
by tuge globe indicative of the
world, upon which Is delineated tho
Western World In relief the corner,
of the globe being guarded by eagle,
In stone. The figure Of Columbus l,
seen standing on the prov of the car
avail, which projects into the fountain
On either side of the shaft are re
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