Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-11

and labor be freed fIom alI autqgoniSn bt
LLf IIe talaDlishment and application Of sucl
principles OF justice and equity as shall re
concle diversified Interests ana bind in i'm
= perlshable bonds all parts Of society. w
pray Jhe benedic!ion especially on the wo
men OF America, who, FOR the first time il
the history OF our race, take so conspicuous
pisce IN national celebration. May IN,
lght OF their Intelligence, purity and enter
prise shed its beams afar, until in distan
lands their sisters may realize the beauty anC
/ glory Of christian freed N and elEyation u.
beseech the Almighty Fa'ber thai our he
loved republic may be strengthened in ever,
element o. true greatness until her mis-
! SION y accomplished, by presenting e
The world illustration Of the han
Pihebl oi Lee people, with free church
ib.,- "a Iree state, under laws O
---srir own selection, acknowledging supreme
! sileg'ance only to the zing Of kings and lord
/ o. lords; and as Thou didst give to one OF It's
/ ilustrious sons first to draw eXperimentauy
the electric spark from heaven, which has
since girdled The globe in It's celestial whisper
! Of"Giory 20 God in the hlghest,peace on earth
and good viii 20 all men, 50 TO the latest
time may the mission OF America, under di.
VINE inspiration, bs one Of affection, broth
erhOod and love for al! our race, and may the
lming centuries be filed with the glory OF
our christian civilization, and unto Thee, our
Father, through him whose life is the light of
| men viii we Rscribe the glory and peace now
and forever. Amen.
After the opening prayer and
the singing of Whittier's Centennial
Hymp," the presentation Of the build.
ings tOsk place.
John Welsh, president OF the Centen-
nial board OF finance, then formally pre-
sented the buildings to the United States
Centennial commission, concluding his
address as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-If in the past
we have met with disappointments, Difficult.
ties and trials, they have been overcome by a
Consciousness that no sacrifice can be too great
which is made to honor the memories Of
those who brought Onr nation into being
| This commemOratiOn Of the events OF l7T6 ex-
/ cites our present gratitude, and the assem-
| blage here to-day Of so many foreign repre-
| sentativeS uniting with us in this reverential
| tribute is our reward We congratulate you
| on the occurrence of this day. Many nations
have gathered here in peaceful COM
lion. This exhibition Is but school; the
| more thoroughly les lessons are learned the
| greater will be the gain, and when 1t shall
! have closed, II by that study the nations en-
| gagged in it shall have learned respect for each
! other, tben 1t may be hoped that the venera-
| ton Tor Him who rules on high will become
| univers al, and the angels song once more De
| heard: "jlory to GOD in the highest, and on
earth peace and good Will toward men,"
This wss followed by the sing
| Jog of the "Sidney Lanier's Caata.
! ts," by full chorus and accompanied
| by the orchestra. The applause OF the
| vast crowd was enthusiastic, and por-
| tiOns of the music were encOred, espe-
cislly the bass solo sung by Mr.. Whit
ney, Of Boston. The presentation Of the
exhibition to the President of the United
| States by President HaWley, of the
| Uaited States commission, now follow
| ed. President Hswley made an elabor-
ate and heartily applauded speech,
as follows:
Ma. PRESIDENr-Five years ago the Presi-
dent OF the United States declared 1t fitting
q
national existence should be cOmmemOrated
by an exhibition of tha natural resources of
the country and their development, aud those
arts which benefit mankind, and ordered that
an exhibition of Amer. can and foreign arts,
product and manufacturers should be held
undeF lhe auspices OF Inc government OF the
United states, in the city of Philadelphia, in
the year 1876. To put into effect the several
laws relating 10 the eXhitiOn, United States
Centennial commission was consequently
composed of two commissioners from each
State and Territory, nominated by their re-
sDecttve governors and appointed by the
President. Congress also created an auxiliary
and associate corporation Centennial
board OF finance, whose Unexpectedly heavy
burdens have been nobIy borne, and the re-
markabie and prolonged disturbance of
finances and industries of the country hiss
greatly m2gnihed the task, but We hope
Tor a favorable judgment OF the degree
Of success attained. July 4, 1873, this ground
was dedicated to its present use; twenty-One
months ago this memorial hall was begun,
aud all the other one hundred and eighty
buildings within the inciOsure have been
ings embraced in the plans OF the commission
itself are finished, the demands of appli-
cants exceeded the space, and strenuou, aud
continuous efforts have heen made to get
every exhibit ready in time. By general con-
sent the exhibition is appropriately held in
the City Of BrOtherly Love, and almost within
your view stands the bic edifice where
in occurred the event this work is designed
10 commemorate and the ball in which the
first COntlnentll congress assembled. Within
the present limits OF this great park were the
homes of eminent patriots of tn at ers, where
Washington and his associates received gener-
Gus bosOitality and able counsel. You have
observed the surprising beauty of the situa-
tlon placed al our disposal; In harmony with
ell this fitness is the liberal support given this
enterprise by the State, the city, and the people
individually. Burdened by these great PIT
vate works Of neGeS Slty, which could not be
delayed, we yet have done what this exhibit
tion Will show in the way of rivalIng older
and more advanced nations in law, medicine
and theology, in science, literature, philOsO-
ply and the fine arts While proud OF what
we have done, we regret we have not done
more. Our achievements have been great
enough, however, to make IL easy I, r our peo-
pie 10 acknowledge superior merit wherever
found. Aud now, fellow-cttizens, hope a
careful examination OF what Is about 10 be
exhibited TO you Will not only inspire you
with profound respect for the skill of our
friends from other nations, but also satisfy
you with the attainments made by our peO-
pie during the last one hundred years in
woke your generous cooperation with the
worthy commissioners to secure a brilliant
success to this International exhibition, and
TO make the stay OF our foreign visitors,
to whom we extend hearty welcome,
both profitable and pleasant TO them.
1 declare the International exhibition
now open. In the name Of the UnIIed states
you extended respectful and cordial invita-
tiou o the governments of other II AL Ons to be
represented and to p srtici pate In this exhiOi-
ton. You know the very acceptable manner
In which they responded, from even the most
distant regions. Their commissioners are here;
you will soon see with what energy and bril- |
liancy they have entered on this friendly
competition in arts OF peace. 1t has been the
fervent hope of this commission that during
this festival year the peoIle from all states r,
and sections, of all crseds and churches, all
parties and classeI, burying all resentments,
would come mp together to his birth p ace OF
liberty TO study the eVlo 6nce of our resources,
to measure tue progress of one hundred years. |
anu TO examine, 10 our prOht, the wonderful
products OF other lands, but especially Join |
h ands in perfect fraternity, and promise the
God of our fsthers that the new century shall
surpass the old in true glOrisS OF civilization;
and, furtherm ore, That from the association
ne OF welcome visitors from all nations, |
there may result not alone great benefits |
TO invention, manufactures, agriculture,
trade aud cOmme cree, but also stronger int-r- |
national friendship ami more lasting peace. !
Thus reporting to you, Mr.. President, under |
the laws OF government and usage of similar
occ3S Ons, In the name of the United states |
Centennial commission, l present to your
view The international. exhibition oflS76.
When President Grsut rose tOrespond |
he was greeted with enthusiastic and
long continued applause, followed by
three cheers aud tiger, led by General
Hswley. President Grant then read his
response to the presentation address, as
follows.
Ny Cot NTRYMEN-It has been thought ap-
prOpriate upon this Centennial occasion to |
bring together in Philade phia for popular
inspect on specimens OF our at.alnments in
the industrial and ne arts, and in literature,
science aud philosophy, % well as in ths
great business Of agriculture and OF COM
merce, that we may the more thoroughly ap.
preciaJe the eXcellencieS and DEFICIENCIES of
our achievements, and also give EN- phatic eX-
preston d our grnCsy Ge ire to cultivate the
friendship of our feNOw-members of this
great family OF nations. The enlightened
agriCulturll, commercial and man nufacturing
pJ Cple OF the world have been invited TO send
nitueT core spending 81 gecimens OF tneir skill
to exhibit on equal terms in friendly cOmpe-
fion with our own. To this invitation they
have generously cC cC3pOuded; for so doing we
tender them our hearty thanks. The beauty
and utility OF the contributions will this day
be submitted 10 your inspection by the man
ayers OF Jhis eShi O4t.On. We are glad 10 know
tnat a view OF the specimens OF the style of
ell nations will afford to you unalloyet
. .ea~ure as well $ yield 70 you valuable
practical knowledge OF many OF the remark
aOle results OF the wonderful skill existing in
enlightened communities. One hundred
years ago our country was new, and but par
italy Tiled. Our necessities have compelled
rs to chiefly exert every means and time in
FaF guhSufIp pTaiFigs