The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-24
THE CENTENNIAL.

70 Z a
rama which is to be At once an expo
sition of the growth during It's hrst
hundred years Of the greatest nation
on earth, and of the corresponding
progress IN art, science and civiliza-
ton of the whole world, has begun
its evolutions. The ceremonies and
the success of the occasion were COM
mensurate with the Importance ofthe
event. 1t was gala day for Phila-
delphia, and a proud day for the bird
of freedom. Probably such an i'm
mense concousse of people never
thronged the streets of the city be-
fore, it being estimated that at least
100000 were ia attendance, the as
sembled multitude comprising citi-
gems of nearly every country on the
globe. The display of bunting and
the Gag decorations of the streets and
buildings exceeded anything ever
witnessed on any occasion before,
lending an inspiration of beauty, life
and gayety to the scene.
The exercises of the opening were
simple and dignitied. A thousand
men 10 uniform, freshly organized,
studded the landscape as police
Two hundred and fifty jurors, whose
expenses will be as many thousand
dollars, were upon the grand stand
waiting to begin their labcrs when
the President of the United States
should open the Exhibition. Nearly
three times the number of States
originally asserting to the sublime
insubordination of Independence were
represented by their Commissioners.
The speeches we're short and without
indicate individuality, and Ameri-
ca, at peace with the world, produced
the martial tunes Of every great ma
ton, which were cheered without dis
elimination by her multitudes.-
Beauty, as we'll as rank, graced the
festive place. There sat near her
husband the Empress of Brazil and
daughter Of the King of the Sicilies.
The Presidents wife was a neighbor
of the beautiful lady of the Spanish
Minister. A Quaker poet wrote the
hymn of pious graduation:
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 and Thee.
The grand basso voice of Mr..
Whitney, of Boston, rose above the
thousands OF heads, producing an en-.
core, while the tones of prayer from
a Methodist Bishop fifty expressed
the undiscouraged aspirations of the
America of the second century,
"May the new century be better than
the past. More radiant with the
light oftrue philosophy, warmer with
the emanations of worldwide sym
patby. May capital, genius and la
Dor be freed from all antagonism by
the establishment and application of
principles of justice and equity" .
One thousand voices accompanied the
great organ. In the interludes the
bands doomed over the wide
enclosure where the soldiery rested
on their arms. Then there was a ST.
lent signal and shaken out from min
aret and flagstaff along the vast pro-
files of the buildings hundred ban
ners of all nations blew in the wind.
The Exhibition of 1876 was opened.
Descending from the great stand,
the President walked through the two
buildings on the arm of the
Director General, accompanied by his
guest of Brazil and his family, and
followed by the Chief Justice, the
President of the Senate and the
Speaker Of the House. Cannon sa-
luted the advancing party, and be-
fore each nations display of products
the commissioners thereof bowed to
the American officials. At the CEN
tire of Machinery Hall stood the giant
engine, grim and silent, its doubled
levers yoked to tho mighty wheel
which was to move all those miles Of
shaft and betting and start to life
hundreds of machines of all descrip-
tions, and thousands of spools, shut
ties and spindles. The President
having taken hold of the valve-lever
Of one engine and the Emperor of
that of the other, both gave the turn
simultaneously. In an instant the
great wheel started to motion, and
the obedient looms began their round
of six months like an ark of machin-
cry set afloat for voyage to preserve
the creations of man. Meanwhile
the gongs aad steam whistles, the
firing Of one hundred guns on