The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-13
GREAT DAY FOR MEMPHIS
sERvIcEs At THE BRIDGE OPENING
A Grand, Imposing Pageant Witnessed by
Thousands-senator Voorhees,
Eloquent Grafton.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, May l2.-The new bridge
over the Mississippi river here was opened
to-day with elaborate ceremonies. Senator
Voorhees,, of Indiana. delivered the Grafton.
There were parades Of various societies dur
ing the day. and an illuminated trades display
was given this evening.
The pageant this morning was witnessed
by crowd Of fully one hundred thou
sand people. One hundred floats. repre-
senting agriculture. the arts. sciences,
etc, headed the procession Following
came the military, the invited guests IN
carriages, the state organizations. the
members who are IN attendance on the Deep
Water Convention the Society Of American
Engineers. Ten bands led the different diVl-
sious shortly after noon the ceremonies AT
the bridge began. Fifteen locomotives cou-
plad together Tau over and finally came
20 rest near the centre. Then was read the
formal acceptance OF the bridge by the Secre-
tary OF the Navy of the United States THIS
was followed by the acceptance Of the own
ers. and then came the tableau of the Gov
erBors. The Governor of Arkansas stepped
from the Arkansas side and grasped the hand
of the Governor OF Tennessee. who stood sur
rounded by group OF Eastern governors.
SENATOR VOORHEES, CITATION.
Senator Voorhees, began his oration this
afternoon with the statement that the bril-
liant and imposing demonstration IN which
the people of Tennessee and surrounding
States are here engaged marks an event of
national interest and enduring Importance
He reviewed the wonderful progress OF hu-
man achievement IN the Mississippi valley
and compared the erection OF tho bridge for
the purpose of commerce TO the structures
erected by Ctsar for the purpose OF war
| The Memphis bridge. he said. secured
not only "a conveyance and crossing
Of oil transcoutuental lines Of travel
south Of the 37th degree of north
+ latitude. but il likewise constituted "a mas
sye link OF fraternity. of Interchange of alec
/ uons as well rs Of commodities between the
/ people of the States, an lndssoluble tiewrought
/ her i'm the heart OF the South by which
/ the inhabitants Of tue seaboards on
/ the East and West are made nearer
neighbors than ever before; band of broth
/ eFhOOd and union. shortening the distance
and Frightening the intercourse which
/ now prevails between peaceful homes OF
/ kindred commonwealth Speaking OF
/ the resurrection Of the South. be warmly
/ eulogizes the Southern people VINO
/ had. he said caused the calamltIes
/ and curses OF war 10 become the foremost
/ blessings of peace" They had risen supe-
rior to the most unjust and injurious
/ system Of national legislation that ever
cursed the people, not exceeding EnShsh
! laws 10 Ireland and that system ia It's
day called reconstruction. with all IT'S proela-
! nation. military orders and edicts of uncOnstl-
| tuti0nal usurpatOns has totally persisted, leay-
! ing only its memory depicted alike through
out the North Us it is true throughout the
! South
lie spoke not Of the new South; it was the
old south that was moving IN connection
with the revelation that had taken place, the
/ old blood and brain power of the south.
transmitted from generation 10 genera
] ton were now reused and Worhlng
II. ..tn slsf44 L 4
+ Old South was young again. she had renewed
( her mighty youth and henceforth she would
/ be a power regardless Of the mousing owls
/ that seek 10 destroy her.
AMAsrERLY PERORATION.
Senator Voorhees, closed with this brilliant
| peroratiOn
And now. Mr. President we will soon
| leave these wild scenes OF patriotic festlyity
| and 90 our several ways. many OF us 10 meet
no more. but here will remain Tor tho
wonder and admiration OF future genera
| tious the glorious public work sprlngIng
from private means and enterprise which you
| have today dedicated 10 American advance
ment towards manifest destiny. Ihe travel
ers of the world for forty centuries have
gathered around the pyramids Of Egypt and
! maryelled at the useless uumeaning toll which
reared them. curious and antiquarian as they
| pazed upon tue Sghynx amid the sands OF
/ the desert and conjectured IN vain as 10 lt5
origin and purpose, but no such
doubts or uncertainties will ever haunt
the Memphis bridge over the MIS-
sissippi river Nor is the time far
in the future when here on the left bank OF
the American river will stand the American
1 city OF Memphis greater than the Memphis
/ of Egypt As once il stood on the LETT bank Oh
the Nile and whore its ruins lie.
In the Memphis of the Mississippi no
palaces for kings will be erected. no temples
for heather gods or temples for their
worshipers. but here Will accumulate
the wealth and all the great agencies
! Of civilization. here will continue 70
come the strong business men o. domi-
nant governing race; here Will rise Il
centre OF trade and here VIII coneehtfa'e
the commerce OF the railroads and tho
rivers OF the continent here will continue the
temples OF the Christian people Tor the
Worship OF the living Cod here Will stand
preat seats of learning and science TO refine,
! cultivate and illuminate the mind OF tne
generation coming on, and mere may tne
American citizen, wherever his home may
be and for all time 10 come
find in the hearts of this people the same
spirit of fraternity. Of union. OF devotion 10
! the fag the honor and the glory Of their
country that we have found to-day.
TIE pEEr-wArER CONVENTION.
Tomorrow the Deep-Water Convention
! meats and the great fireworks display and
banquet OCCUR in the evening. The cruiser
/ Concord 10 here representing the navy. ., ie
has on hoard Commander Edwin White. The
speech OF Senator Voorhees, viii this afternoon
be made on the spot whore Calhoun IN
lsi5 uttered his prophesy, that here VIII
he the GREAT transcontiDenrai highway" The
bridge is ihres miles in length and the length
of the longest span ID 79i feet. Three million
dollars have been spent n ~ construction Oy
! the huiIders the Kansas. Fort Scott and
! Memphis railroad. Of which General Nettie-
ton is president. lie it Was who accepted the
bridge to-day.
I1NGsION,S VAL or ZOE.