The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-05-02

L
menced to die away he turned again
to the President, and commenced
his address, which was chiefly a
statistical account of what hac heen
done to produce the results here
| shown.
1t was now the turn of the Pres;.
dent Of the United States to nres.
ent himself, and as he slowly arose
from his seat he swept his ewes
hrst over occupants of the platform
and then over one of the greatest
audiences that ever man faced
there went up cheer that seemed
to shake the massive dome of the
building behind him, and which
reverberated through the grounds
like the rafting of musketry. The
foreigners and natives alike Joined
IN the acclaim to the highest repre-
sentative OF the sovereign people of
the Republic. There was a dutter
OF white handkerchiefs from the
ladies side of the platform, and in
stantly it was taken rp by thous-
ands OF the sex that occupied the
gondolas and launches on the wa.
ter far IN the distance More hand
kerchlefs were waved, loud cheers.
and so for the space of several min
utes the men We'd with the women
IN maintaining the demonstrations
All the while Mr.. Cleveland stood
erect, his left hand behind him, his
right nervously lingering a button
OF his frock coat. At last, when
throats and arms alike were tired.
and the semblance of quiet had once
more come over the throng, he
commenced his address. He said
The following is Cleveland's
speech:
| am here to join my fellow citi
zens IN the congratulations which
betit this occasion Surrounded by
the stupendous results of American
enterprise and activity, and in view
of the magnificent evidences of
American skill and intelligence, we
need not fear that these congratu-
lations will be exaggerated. We
stand today in the presence of the
oldest nations of the world and
point to the great achievements we
here exhibit, asking no allowance
on the score Of youth.
The enthusiasm with which we
contemplate our work, intensifes
the warmth of the greetings we ex-
tend to those who have come from
foreign lands to illustrate with us
the growth and progress of human
endeavor in the direction of higher
civilization.
We who believe that popular ed
ucation and stimulation of the best
impulses Of our citizens .ead the
way to realization of the proud
national destiny which our past
promises, gladly welcome the op-
portunity here afforded us to See
the results accomplished ',y the eff
forts which have been exerted
longer than ours in the field of
mans improvements, while in ap-
preclative return we exhibit the un-
paralleled advancement and won
derful accomplishments of young
nation, and present the tr1umphs of
vigorous, self-reliant and inde-
pendent people. We have built
these splendid edifces, but we have
also built magnificent fabric OF
popular government, whose grand
proportions are seen throughout the
world. We have made and here
gather together objects of use and
beauty, products of American skill
and invention, but we have also
made men who rule themselves. It
is an exalted mission in which we
and our guests from other lands
are engaged, as we cooperate in
the inauguration of an enterprise
devoted to human enlightenment,
and IN the undertaking we here en-
ter upon, we exemplify in the no.
blest sense the brotherhood of ma
tions. Let us hold fast to the mean
ing that underlies this ceremony,
and let Us not lose the impressive
ness Of this moment. AS by touch
the machinery that gives life to this
vast exposition is now set in mo-
tion, SO at the same instant let our
hopes and aspirations awaken forces
which in all time to come shall in
tiuence the welfare, dignity and
freedom of mankind"
AS the president was concluding
the final sentence his eyes wandered
to table that was close at his left
hand. Upon this was the button,
the pressure upon which was to
start the machinery and make the
opening OF the exposition an accom-
plished fact. 1t was an ordinary
form of the Victor telegraph KEY,
such as is in most telegraph Offices,
except that it was of gold instead
OF steel, and the button was of ivory
instead of rubber. 1t rested upon
a pedestal upholstered in navy blue
and golden yellow plush, and On
the sides of the lower tier in silver
letters were the significant dates
1892 and 1898. AS the last words
fell from the Presidents lips he
pressed his finger upon the button.
This was the signal for p demon.
stration, in fact difficult of magma
ton, and infinitely more SO of de-
scription.
At one and the same instant the