The Irish standard., 1912-06-22
The Presidents Address At
dwelling of Columbus Memorial


7 '"The controversies over those who
are responsible for his success, and
| those who are to be charged with his
| defeats, are interesting, but not, it
| seems to me, full of the Importance
| which the writer's ascribe to them.
The main and greatest factor in the
life and history of Columbus is, first,
his confidence in his geographical
| theories; second. his power of persu-
asiveness in respect to them and the
communication Of the faith he had in
them to those with whom he talked; ;
and, third. his never-failing determin-
alton t, expend everything he had of
effort, property and life in the pursuit
of his purpose. He was human and
had many periods of disbursement.
He was human and used some arts to
invite public sympathy and public in
terest. He was human and loved the
exercise Of power, and reserved to
himself and his family an hereditary
claim to political control in the new
world which he was about to open.
He was human and had some weak
ness as to acquisitiveness, but all
these defects only served to empha-
size and bring out In greater relief his
intense devotion to one idea, and that
idea the one which developed under
him and those who came after him.
doubled tho world to the knowledge
of civilized centuries growth from the
good which he sowed-a growth which
we typify in this monument of today
under the shadow of the Capitol which
represents in its highest degree the
progress of Christian civilization, the
advance of human happiness, the de-
velopment of popular government and
the maintenance and preservation of
human rights
Struggles Make Him Hero.
1.-THE struggles of Columbus present
the basis of truly epic poem. and
Iidhe HIN d IeIo WNoSe 6AeoI anu IA
ceptional virtues command respect
and vcneration.
1T is interesting to note that now,
as we celebrate the memory of Column
bus, we are nearing the completion of
that great enterprise, the Panama
canal which opens the passageway to
the East Indies at the very place
where Columbus sought it as u natural
waterway and found 1t not. in the mar
row isthmus between the north and
south continents, and where 400 years
ago Charles ", the successor of the
sovereigns of Columbus. projected
such a passageway. which the world
has waited all this time since to see
constructed.
columbus little realized the i'm
mense expanse of that wide ocean
that separated him and. this land he
had discovered from the East Indies
that he sought, but his theory was
right, however lacking in knowledge
OF geographical distances and details
the fact has shown him to be.
ut is most appropriate in this beau
tiful place in which the visitor to the
country's capital first sets foot upon
| the soil of the small district that is
the only territory in which this great
government exercises exclusive juris-
! diction that he should be confronted
| by statue Of the great mariner
whose genius and daring opened this
half world to progress and develop
ment. In front of railway terminal
station combining utility and art ir
the highest degree, and brilliantly H.
Illustrating the progress of the human
race in transportation, and in plaza
that by a graceful sweep leads the
eye up to the home of liberty an6
popular power, Columbus may wei
have his greatest and most fitting
memorial"