The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-04

eklll. we tLank Ibce TOT thc 'o''Nef
and abundance Of its fruits, and for all
those beDehcent processes OF nature
through which Thou dos't give seed 10
the sower and bread to the eater, ming
mems hearts with food and glsdness
We thank Thee for civil government,
for social and domestic order and for all
the wonderful discoveries and inventions
by which The labors OF the ioiling mutt,
tndc ere lightened and for all the hne ana
useful arts which embellish life aud min
isier 10 its comfort and convenience.
And now we beseech Thee, Almighty
God. let Thy blessing rest on our beloved
Commonwealth, upon It's Governor, lis
legislators and magistrates; upon Its
schools. colleges and universities; upon
its clergy. churches and benevolent insii.
tutions: upon the MavOr and Council OF
this citg; upon its officers aCd organiza-
tions. municipal and military; upon its
societies and associations representing
the business pursuits, the mechanical and
manufacturing enterprises, upon which
our prosperity so much deperds.
Let Thy favor rest upon the PTesllent
of these United States. Lend him my
powerful aid that with continued health
and strength and an ever growing sense
of responsibility, he may so discharge
the dulles of his high Office as TO advance
the true and permanent interests oi me
whole country. Bind together, we be
seech Thee, in ore fraternal union all the
States of this great Republic, and may
all the inhabitants Of this vast land be
brought more and more TO cherish the
relations which unite them as children
of a common Father and as citizens oi a
common country
May it mercifully please Thee to draw
all the families of mankind nearer 10
Thee and to each other in the bonds of
sympathy and love, and let religion pure
and und, fled prevail until Thy way shaii
be known on the earth ana Thy saving
health among all nations; and TO Goa,
most high. Father, Son and Holy Ghost
will we ascribe all glory forever. Amen
PRESIDENT sTAEKE.
After prayer Mr. Ashton Stsrke, presi-
dent OF the Exposition, came forward
and said
"Lsdies and Gentlemen.-On behalf OF
the Virginia State Agricultural and Me
chancal Society, tender to you most
hearty welcome TO this Virginia Exposi
ti0n."
Continuing he said in substance Tie
hospitality of this old mother State has
made her proverbial; the chiyalry Of her
people has rendered her proud, while the
vastness Of her resources causes her TO
be sanguine as 10 the future. TO all OIL
these we now throw wide open The doors
aud bid the honest, the brave and the
true from every quarter to come In and
dwell with US Before me see men from
the icelanGs Of the far North and those
who hail from where the tropic sun
colors the flowers with richest hues; men
from the Western plains, and some VINO
come from foreign shores. To each OF
these Virginia heartily stretches out her
motherly hands
MAYOR EfLYsoS's ADDRESS.
As Mr.. Siarke concluded, he introduced
Mayor Ellyson, who said
Ladies and Gentlcmen,-O the Doric
column that once crowned the summit
of Bunker Hill IN Boston, and which was
erected TO commemorate the virtues OF
the brave men who fell in our first sirug-
gle for American ind pendence, there
was written the inscription, "Ameri-
cans" while from this eminence scenes
of luxuriant fertility, Of flourshing com
merce. and tee abodes Of social happi-
ness meet your view, forget not those
who by their exertiOns have secured TO
YOU these blessings. And so | feel, fel-
low citizens, that as we gather here to
participate in the pleasures OF these in
augural exercises, We should bear in
grateful recelleciions the men to
whose public spirit, courage, and
faithful endeavor we owe this,
our first Virginia Exposition. Nir-
ginia in her almost ineXhausilble
mineral resources, her beautiful and fer
tile valleys and her sa.ubrious climate
has. until recently, been almost unknown
to the world The time had come III her
history when Virginia must either move
forward with the column Of progress or
else fall behind, laggard in the march
for industrial supremacy. Fortunately
for her she had sons who stood ready TO
take the tide at It's flood and to the keen
foresight, enterprise and indomitable en-
ergy of Ashton Starke and his worthy
associates are we indebted for this beauti-
full structure and the opportunity which
its erection affords TO exhibit 10 the ad-
miring gaze of al the world the products
OF our mines, our fields and our manu-
factures.
1t is my pleasing duty as the chief ex-
ecutive officer of this city TO bid you wei
come to Richmond. If you come from
other portions of the Commonwealth you
do not need hearty greeting in your
own capital city. II from a distance we
bid YOU come in and share that generous
hospitality which the people of this free
city are always ready to dispense TO the
stranger within her gates.
We thank YOU, my friends, for the in
terest which by our presence you mani
fest in our Exposition. We gratefully
appreciate yOuI coming, and in the name
OF the people q Richmond l bid you vel
come.
GOVERNOR LEES SPEECH.
When Mr.. Ellyson had concluded,
Governor Lee was introduced, and COM
ins 70 the front OF the platform spoke in
substance as follows
Ladies and Gentlemen TWO hundred
and eighiy-one years ago our beautiful
river for The first time proudly bore upon
IT'S bright bosom vessels many times larger