Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-17
THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION.
The Opening Ceremouy-Large Crowds
in Attendance-Twenty Thous.
and Persons Visit the Exposi.
tion Tuesday.
New ORLEANS. Dec. l6.

exposition opened DrlgDt anu cheerful. Every
building was decorated along the street
car routes and visitors from northern cl;-
mates were surprised to find hundreds OF
orange trees bending beneath ripe fruit and
see the bloom of roses and the rich verlure
of the flower gardens. AT IL o'clock Gov.
McEnery of Louisiana, and Maj. Gen. Glynn,
commanding the State militia, and members
of their stats in full uniform. mayor of New
Orleans, members of the State legislature,
consuls and several hundred guests assembled
at ST. Charles hotel, whence they were to
proceed to the exposition grounds. The pro-
cession formed. and headed by the celebrated
Mexican band passed through the crowded
streets to the river where steamer was in
waiting to convey the officials guests and es-
cort to the grounds. At 1890 the steamer
started up the river. The French man of
war, Bouvette, lying in mid stream, saluted
the steamer on her approach and then steamed
up river in her company. As the boats ap-
preached the wharf of the exposition grounds,
the artillery began firing salute of one hun
dred guns. The guests landed, and forming
a line proceeded to the spacious building
where the inauguration ceremonies was car
ried out in accordance with the program. At
l o'clock p. NJ. Rev. DR. Tallmage advanced
to the front of the stage and made the open
cinnati, gave the grand exposition march.
Director General Burk, when the great ap-
plause which had greeted him had subsided,
said:
"Mr. Notwithstanding as do under
the flags of all nations, looking into the faces
OF people from every cline, surrounded by
evidences of industry gathered from every
quarter of the ;earth, within sight OF that
magnificent gathering of the resources of my
own country, with the duty devolving on me of
surrendering into the hands of the manage
ment the account of the stewardship of those
in whom the trust has been reposed of pre-
pairing for this great national and iuter-na-
tional festival have no words Of apology or
regret to express. | have only profound
qualification and profound satisfaction that
those countries of the world, those repre-
senting the industries of the world and the
government of my own country, and the
States and Territories of the Union have all
Wed with each other in contributing to the
success of this festival. have worked in the
cause with such degree of unanimity, with
such spontanty as the world has never be-
fore seen. In this great work from every
part of the world and from every part of this
county we have had only kindness, sympa
thy and good will. will say in behalf of
thousands of exhibitors who are not yet in
position that the delay is due to causes be-
yond their control, but say to the public,
who are entitled to this explanation there is
not today in all the buildings under our con-
troll 100 feet of space unallotted or unap
propriated, which will not be occupied in
the next 10 or Is days Now Mr.. President,
We have discharged our trust, and |, in the
name of the workers and my associates, ten
der and place in your hand the buildings and
grounds prepared for this exposition cloud
and long continued applause.
Alter tne Mexican baud had rendered some
selections, concluding with their national air,
President Richardson of the exposition asso-
citation delivered the following address
to the President of the United
States, which was telegraphed to Washington,
in which he said after recitlng a history of
the organization of the movement and the
various measures which rendered its consum-
nation possible, from the commencement
it was determined that nothing should give
local or sectional character to the works, but
it should be, as il truly is, the national and
international, and consequently are gathered
here today, representatives of all nations of
the world side by side with those of our own
National Government, and of every State and
Territory of this Union. All have contrib
uted examples of their resources and of pro-
gress in this wonderful collection of indus
trial commercial, educational and artistic OBJ
jects new open to the inspection Of the world.
How much of good shall result from the
means of instruction here furnished is be-
yond mortal power to measure, but certainly
not the least benefit to be derived from this
exposition, will be the closer and more
friendly intercourse of our own people with
those of Othar countries, the development
of the common interest and the firmer estab-
lishment of peace in our own country. II
will be monument of era, of unity, of in
terests, of harmony and of good feeling, des-
tined, it is believed, to endure as long as the
continent itself shall exist, on which the
United States are established. now present
to you this exposition, ready as our best
efforts, with brief period of time at our
command, has been able to make, and for
the degree of success attained, we appeal to
your generous judgment.
Col. Breaux then read President Arthur's
address which had been received by tele-
graph.
When he concluded the sentence declaring
the worlds exposition now open the Presi
dent closed the electric circuit and the ma
chinery was put in motion. At the same
moment large portrait of President Arthur
was placed in position in the centre of the
platform and greeted with great applause.
Mayor Guillotte then delivered brief ad
dress of welcome. Ten Thousand chairs had
been placed in the hall and galleries. These
were soon filled. Every available standine
place in he aisles was occupied and thou
sands gathered on either side of the hall from
which view of the platfrom could be OBJ
tanned. Music Hall where the ceremonies
took place was elsborstely decorated will
flags of all nations and coats of arms of diff
fereat States.
Gov. McEnery delivered an address il
which he reviewed the history of the organ
izstion of the exposition and set forth tn,
great advantages to accrue 10 the State aad
the people of the whole country from the
grand enterprise.
| After this speech poem in honor of tn,
exposition, by Mrs. Townsend, known a,
| ''Xariffa," was read. Among the repres
entatives of foreign governments present or
the platform we're consuls of France, Mexico
Great Britain, Germany, Austro- Hungary
| Spain, Portugal, Brazil. italy, Russia, Dan
mark, Switzerland and many other nations
| Among other personages on the platform
were the officers of the French war vesse
Bouvet, Mrs.Julia Ward Howe and her stat
of the ladies of the woman's department Of
the exposition, Secretary Teller, Postmas
ter General Hatten, Gen. Eaton, commission
er of education, Chief Justice Manning Of
Louisiana and several assistant justices
judges, federal officers, representatives, sen
Z =.