, 1876-05-18

twenty active Republicans with
whom we did meet and converse
either bitterly denounced or serious
ly deprecated his appointment, and
We have not yet heard single man
it in private conversation.
'zt({8agl
PHILADELPHIA. May 10.--The Gem
tennial Exposition was formally opened
to-day according to the previously ar
ranged programme. All the prominent
buildings in the city were gayly decorat-
ed, and generel holiday has been OBJ
served. The President and Cabinet
Senators, Congressman, Governors OF
States, and prominent persons from all
parts of the country and foreign nations
are present. The city is filed to over
flow nc, and an immense concourse OF
people are assembled at the grounds.
The exercises commenced with the
following hymns by John Greenlea'
Whittier
Our fathers God, from out whose hand
The centuries fall like grains OF sand,
We meet to day united free,
And loyal to our land Ind Thee,
To thank Thee for the era done,
And trust Thee for the opening one.
Here, where of DID, by Thy design.
I he fathers ,pake that word OF Thine.
Whose echo is the glad refrain
OF rended bolt and falling chain,
To grace our festal time from all
The scenes of ear: h our guests wecall.
Thee with us while the New World greets,
The Old World II onging its streets,
Unvail all the triumphs won
By art or toll beneath the Sun.
And unto common good ordain
This rivalship of hand and brain.
Thou, who hast here in concord turled
The war p]umcs of a gathered world
Beneath our western skys fullful
The orients mission of good viii,
And freigt ted with loves golden fleece
Send back the arSonauts of peace.
For art and labor met in truce,
For beauty make the bride OF use.
We thank Thee while withal We crave
The austere virtues strong to save,
The honor proof to place or gold.
The manhood never bought nor sold.
0, make then us through centuries long
In peace secure, in justice stIong,
Around cur gifts OF freedom draw
The safeguards of Thy righteous Jaw;
And cast in some divine. We would
Let the new cycie shanis the old.
The opening speech was made by
John Welch, Esq President of Centen
NAL Board of finance.
To-day being legal holiday in thi:
State, all places of business in the city
are closed and buating is displayed il
profusion in all the thoroughfares, enc
tonight there will be grand illumlna
ton. The gates of the exhibition wert
promptly opened at Q o'clock A. NJ. ant
since that hour there have been at al
the different entrances. continuous
jam. The clouds, which had up to
O'Clock A. NJ been very threatening, have
new entirely disappeared and indica-
tons are that the day will be extremel.
hot. Foreign commissioners and othe,
distinguished visitors and guests are be
ingseated with very little confusion, thei
entrance being effected through thu
main Exhibition Hall. which will re-
main closed until noon.
The ceremonies opeEed at preoisel.
10 o clock A. NJ. the national airs O
all nations being performed by the laIg'
orchestra. 1t is estimated that so, ,0O'
people are on the grounds and the pop
nlaco are still pressing at all the variou
entrances. Every aiailaSle spot in tn
neighborheod of the graDd stand, il
front of Memorial Hall. is occupied b.
crowds, who are now impatiently await
ing the arrival of the President of tn
United States who has been escorted t.
the main entrance by the military.
11:30 y. y. TIE Inauguration cere
monies are now full ttnder way. A
1870 A. NJ, Dom Pedro arrived an
was escorted to his seat by Gen. Hawley
At II As A. NJ. Gen. Sheridan and wifi
passed over from the building to th
stand in front of Memorial Hall, durin
the rendition OF the national airs an
was greeted with great app lause whic
he gracefully acknowledged. He wa
closely followed by Hon. ]. G. Blaine
Senator Jones of Nevada and wife
At 11:55 the President entered the Me
mortal Hall and was conducted to hi
seat in front of the Platform. Consld
erable amusement was caused by II
sudden appearance OF Fred Douglass
who had by some mishap. worked hi
way through the crowd aud was helpe
over the ropes by the officers and cor
| Quoted to a seat on the platform. II
was greeted with cheers. The orchestt
of one hundred and fifty pieces and
chorus of one Thousand voices undt
the direction of Theodore Thomas an
Dudley Buck, are stationed directly i
front of the platform. The orchestr'
while the seats were being filled, playe
the natl nal airs and after the party G
the platform Mad arranged thealselve
the orchestra played Washers Center
nial March, which was received vii
applause. After the opening prayer /
Bishop Simpson, of the NJ. E. Churcl
and singing of Whlttier's Centenui
Hymns, the presentation Of the built
ings took place by the board of finan,
with appropriate speeches and Ger
monials turning over the buildings
| the comEnissiOn Next followed II