The Russellville Democrat., 1876-05-18
THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
The Inaugural Ceremonies Witnessed by over Fifty
 Thousand People. ..

Appropriate Speeches by Pres
 ident Grant, Hon. John
 Welsh and General
 Hawley.
 Little Rock Gazette
 PHILADELPHIA, May 10.-The city is thronged with visitors, and crowds are arriving by the trains from every direction. The streets are ablazc with flags, and not withstanding the rain, patriotic decorations are numerous. Since early morning crowds of people have been pouring into the cen tennial grounds. The military parade was not as large as expert ed Tn consequence of the rain.
 At 10:I5 the sky is clear and
 THE WEATHER BEAUTIFUL. Despite the rain since the open ing of the gates at s o'clock, crowds arc pouring in. It is es- timated that about forty thousand persons are now on the grounds, and still there is a
 CONSTANT RUSH THROUGH THE
 GATES.
 A spacious platform has been erected at the side of the Memo rial hall, and seats arranged on the platform, for official and other invited guests. At the right of the center are seats for the presi- dent and his cabinet, and further to the right are seats for the gov ernors of the various states and their staffs, the supreme court, tho legislature of Pennsylvania, representatives of the army and navy and of the Smithsonian In stitute, United States judges, for eign dignitaries, the press gang, and Thomas orchestra, with ono hundred choristers.
 At l:30 the presidential party, after reaching the grounds under the escort of Coy. Hartranft and a division of military, proceeded to the platform, the orchestra playing national airs and after ward Wagner's Centennial march, which were receiyedwith applause. Bishop Simpson, of the Mctho- dist church, offered
 THE OPENING PRAYER,
 concluding as follows May the new century be better than the past-more radiant with the light of true philosophy, warmer with the anilnations of a world wide sympathy. May capital, genius and labor be freed from all antag- onism by the esta 5lishment and application of such principles of justice and equity as shall recon cile diversified interests and bind in impcrishable bonds all parts of society. We pray a bcne'liction especially on the women of Amer ica, who for the first time in the history of our race take so con. spicuous a place in national cele- bration; may the light of their intelligence, purity and enterprise shed its beams afar until in dis tant lands their sisters may real izc the beauty and glory of chris tian freedom and elevation. We besecch Thee, Almighty Father, that our beloved republic may be strengthened In every element of true greatness until her mission is accomplished, by presenting to the world an illustration of the happiness of free people, with a free church, in a free state, under laws of their own enactment, and under rulers of their own selec- tion, acknowledging supreme ale glance only to the King of kings and Lord of lords; and as Thou didst give to one of it's illustrious sons first to draw eXpcrimentally the electric spark from heaven, which has since girdled the globe in its celestial whisper of glory to God Tn the highest, peace on earth and good will to men, so to the latest tune may the mission of America under divine inspira- tion be one of affection, brother hood and love for all our race, and may coming centuries be filled with the glory of our christian civilization, and unto Thee, our Father, through him whose life is the light of men, will we ascribe glory and praise HOW and forever. Amen"
 At the conclusion of Bishop Simpsons prayer, and after the singing of John G. Whlttier's Centennial hymn, John Welsh, president of the centennial board of finance, formally presented the building to the United States centennial commission. The con clusion of
 MIR. wELCHE's ADDRESS
 was as follows: Ladies and gentlemen, if in the past we have met with disappointmeats, diff culties and trials, they have been overcome by the consciousness that no sacrifice can be too great which is made to honor the mem orics of those who brought our nation into being. This com mcmoration of the events of l776 excltes our present gratitude. The assemblage here to day of so