The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-07

tains and the streams, too's eternal land
marks. many of our blttle-scarred vet
erals when they returned TO their taini-
lies would not have recognized the places
of their natiyitey. Yet their fields have
been restored by cultivation To their
former beauty, town and cities have
been built and many portions of the
State show evident signs of progress and
prosperity.
As a farmer | feel deep and abiding
interes5 in our agricultural people No
nation can afford 10 neglect It's agricul-
tural interests 1t is the real foundation
Of the wealth and prosperity Of a nation.
My associations through life have been
largely with agricultural people. / mourn
over their misfortunes and | rejoice IN
their prosperity. ! am proud 10 be mum
befed with q class of men whose tradi-
tons are part Of the past glories of
the Commonwealth and every page of
whose history is made rcspleudent with
their deeds They laid the foundations
Of this Commonwealth br0ad and deep.
and have given 10 the world so many oi
the lllustriOUs men whose names not only
adorn the pages Of her own history. out
have been honorcd in every land where
liberty has lighted her torch or patriot
ism reared one altar TO freedom and 90
worth.
The history Of the world has never
furnished a nobler race Of mon and
women than have sprung from the 3gri-
cultural districts of this grand old Com
monwealth.
Great good must of necessity result
from these exhibitions: they bring people
together from all sections. not only from
orr own. but from our sister States. ana
make us realize the noble and patriotic
/ p ht
world our country and all mankind our
cOuntrymcn.'
The Presidents ADDRESS.
Colonel A. S. Buford then spoke as fol-
lows:
1T remains for me only in concluding
this modest opening ceremonial To add
my congratulations upon the auspclous
circumstances under which we greet you
here today. and we will not dctan You
longer from The pleasure which / Know
Won Will have I'm wandering through tins
great building and adjacent grounds to
examine and enjoy the evidences you
viii find everywhere of the industry. en-
ergy and progress of the people OF IT.
ginia. both from the cities and country.
we invoke your continued interest n
this annual gathering of She people of onr
State. They 10 us good. They show
how we have climbed up the sleeps from
the abyss In which the great civil war
left us. They show the determined pur-
pose of our people to regain. II need Ice.
step by step their former and command
ing prominence as one of the sovereign
States of this Onion. Besides this, they
bring MS together. they enable MS to COM
pare what We have done. they cherish and
bring out orr common synp3thioS rs Nlr-
ginians and allow me to say lthe euyious
may call it yainglorious if they choosel
there is but one Virginia. She has her
history made. recorded and immortal
Let us see that our children who are to
come after us shall appreciate and main
tain that standard of high character
which has made the name of Nirginlans
am introduction. welcome. wherever in-
tcllIgcnce. virtue and manhood have been
appreciated. have now only to say that
this Exposition is open for the enjoyment
of an. and / trust il viii prove a source
of interest and pleasure 20 every citizen
of the State who attends IT, and to every
person who shall enter lbs gates
At the close of the presidents remarks
the band struck mp one of IT'S hveliest
airs. and the crowd slowly left the music
hall for the varied attractions and splen-
did exhibits that awaited them outside.