Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1915 — INDIANA PROUD OF ACHIEVEMENT [ARTICLE]

INDIANA PROUD OF ACHIEVEMENT

Ralston Visits Panama-Pacific Exposition. REVIEWS STATE’S HISTORY In an Eloquent Address, Governor Ralston Gives Brief Resume of Indiana’s Progress and Achievements In History—Tribute to Pioneers. San Francisco, Cal-, June 26. The Panama - Pacific exposition marks an epoch in civilization. Not because is a great world’s fair. There have been other record-break-ing world’s fairs. But this event is epochal because the event behind it, the.event is celebrates, is epochal—the construction of the Panama canal. The world of commerce, and science and art —the world of civilization — has recognized that accomplishment as one of the colossal achievements of the human race.

Indiana, occupying as she does a proud position midway between the two great oceans-—an imperial domain in the very heart of the continent—has her share in the proper American pride in America’s most stupendous enterprise. And, as Indiana is proud of the achievement lying back of it, so she is proud to have an honored part in this inspiring event —this offspring of the greater event. In speaking for my state on this particular day, I have no disposition to close my eyes to the brilliant chapter she has written in the history of our country. She has not only achieved w 7 ell for herself, but she has wrought mightily for the nation of which she is a part. But before further considering Indiana and her record, I desire to speak an earnest word of commendation of the honorable commissioners, representing our state at this exposition, for their able services and the efficiency thej- have shown in the discharge of their duties. At great sacrifices of time and labor, they have zealously and intelligently constructed this beautiful and spacious building, equipped with modern conveniences for use by Hoosiers and their friends visiting the exposition. Its architecture is suggestive of and is in keeping with the dignity of the state. I congratulate them upon their good taste and judgment and on the creditable showing they are making for the commonwealth. They have the thanks of the people back home. J Some Indiana Achievements. The factors figuring mbst conspicuously in Indiana’s history and enabling her to make her contributions to society, have been her natural advantages and the character of her citizens and of her institutions. In size she is the thirty-fifth state of"'tlre union, but the gifts bestowed upon her out of the lavish hand of Nature rank her among the first. While she has none Of the precious metals, she has long attracted attention as a mineral irroducing and manufacturing, as well as an agricultural state. As a coal producing state she ranks sixth. Last year the output of her coal mines was valued at $17,500,000. In stone production she ranks fifth with ah output last year valued at $5,000,000. Her building stone. finds a market in every civilized country. City halls and state capitals, royal homes and kingly palaces are constructed of it. Last \ ear her clay and clay products Were valued at $8,500,000; from her ow r n shale and limestone she made and marketed 10,000,000* barrels of cement, valued at $10,000,000; her petroleum made almost a million barrels, valued at $1,250,000; and her lime output was valued at $350,000. It Is doubtful if any state in the union excels our own Indiana in transportation facilities. Eight thousand miles of steam railroads, not including sidings, and two thousand miles of electric roads stretch across her surface. Indianapolis, her capital city, is the greatest steam railroad center in the world, as she is also the greatest interurban or electric traction road Center in the world.

But all our transportation does not have to be carried on by rail. White river, the Wabash river, and the Ohio river, and our lake fronts afford us practically a thousand miles of waterway. in this connection it is well to note that the four big dams the United States government Is constructing on the Ohio—at Markland, Evans’ Landing, Tobinsport, and Evansville, —will connect us the year round by a nine-foot deep waterway with the Mississippi river. Travelers tell us our wide stretched plains and fertile soil; our landscapes overarched by blue skies and decorated by islands of forest; and our beautiful region of lakes are unsurpassed for restful and quiet beauty by anything they have seen abroad; while in other sections of the state Nature’s rugged charm reminds them of Switzerland's grander scenery. There are no manifestations of Nature, in Indiana that are awe inspiring, but here Nature’s voice and beauty are eloquent of Nature’s God and of his love and compassion for the children of men. Indiana’s Pioneers. To this state, with these natural advantages and with possibilities y«l'

greater than these, our fathers cam# in search .of homes. They came down the hill slopes and up out of the valleys of Kentucky; from the plateaus of Tennessee; across the mountainsfrom Virginia and up from the Carolinas and down the Ohio from Pennsylvania and the sea board states. They came in search of wider liberty and larger opportunities. Many of them z had fought for their country’s freedom in the Revolutionary war and took up land granted to them as war bounties. Hither they traveled in frail boats, rudely constructed wagons and prinjiitive ox carts; and their journey to their new homes, through a virgin forest and a trackless country, was under conditions that severely tested their patience, strength and endurance.

These early settlers of Indiana —our parents and our grandparents—were hardy, frugal and industrious. They were a rugged race and the strenubsity they had to assert in locating themselves anew only better qualified them for the sturdy nitizenshi4l_.fiQ_.fiSl sential to the proper development of a new community; and for that matter, so indispensible to a healthy and progressive civilization.

Often the suffering endured and the heroism displayed in these forest exploits—in. subduing wild Nature and wild men—surpassed anything witnessed on the field of battle. In civilized war there are nurses to care for the sick and wounded, and the sense of duty and discipline and the excitement of the engagements to urge the soldier forward. But a man and his wife, with their little family almost foodless, clothesless and penniless, burying all alone a child of their affection in the heart of the primitive forest, have little cheer or inspiration to urge them forward. They are wont to linger new made grave until, wounded in heart and broken in spirit, they are compelled to turn their backs upon this sacred spot to pursue their way to the little log homestead, to plod on wearily, in the midst of the silent forest that ever reminds them of the lonely grave of their little one. Who, by any eloquence of speech can tell of the suffering they endured and the heroism they displayed?. Home building in the new country —in Indiana, as in other states—was epoch making. It was the planting ot the seed for the civilization that was to follow. It was the building of the log\cabin in the woods by one gen-; oration, that a later generation might enjoy the palace on the boulevard It was the endurance: by the farmer of the howling of the wolf and the screaming of the panther at the Cabin door, that we might enjoy the strains of the orchestra in the paid:. . We hear much of the strenuous life in these days, and yet neither the builder of a modern city nor the ruler of a state, displays the physical St renuosity our pioneer fathers and mothers did, in erecting their cabins and clearing their garden patches and bringing under their dominion enough of the. earth to produce a few bushels of wheat and corn. Theirs also was the strenuous life. And we have made our progress by standing upon their shoulders. Much of our strength and capacity we have inherited from their virtues. What they felt and what'they believed they transmitted to their institutions and to us. They made it possible for us, their children, to participate In this world event, and cold indeed would be our hea'rts, if we could not pause long enough, amid the sounding of trumpets and the glare and dazzle of this occasion, to pay respect to their memory and acknowledge in reverence our obligations to them. Macauley spoke prophetically when he said: “A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of their ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by their remote descendants.” Ordinance of 1787. The territory within the boundaries of Indiana was originally, as you know, a part of the Northwest Territory, out of which five great states were afterwards carved. Over this domain the scepters of kings once held sway, but ultimately they were succeeded by republican institutions under Virginia, which state, by the marvelous Ordinance of 1787, dedicat ed it to the nation. I characterize this ordinance as a marvelous instru ment of government advisedly. Of it Daniel Webster said: ‘‘l doubt whether one single law of any lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of more distinct, marked and lasting character than the Ordinance of 1787.” It is well to remember the words of Webster, in opr search for the source of the ideals of those who builded our state for us. The Ordinance of 1787 provided a form of government for the Northwest Territory that will serve as a model as long as free government lasts. It guaranteed to the territory free soil. It specifically stated that ‘‘neither slavery nor involuntary servi tude, except in punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall ever exist in said territory.” » ~ It respected liberty of conscience. It specifically set forth that “no per son demeaning himself in an orderly manner shall ever be disturbed 01 molested on account of his mode oi worship or religious belief.” It set A high value on education. It specifically declared that “religion morality and knowledge, being essen lai to good government and the hap (Continued on page six)