The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-05-04
Worlds Fair Opened !!
President Cleveland Speaks
and Starts the Machinery.
A NOTABLE ADDRESS.
America Asks No Allowance on tho
Score Of Youth.
TRIUMPHS OF A FREE PEOPLE.
Popular Government and Men VINO
Rule Themselves.

t1uLS InSIHS0lVeS.
From the Baltimore sun.
CHICAGO, May 1.--When President
Cleveland arose Foreigners and natives
alike,ioined in the acclaim to the highest
representative of the sovereign people
of the public. There was flutter OF
white hankerchiefs from the ladies' side
of the platform, and instantly it was
taken up by the thousands of the sex
that occupied the gondolas and lunches
on the water far in the distance. At last
when Threats and arms alike were tired,
and semblance of quiet had once more
come over the throng, he commenced MS
address He said:
II am here to Join my fellow-citizens
in the congregations which befit this
occasion. Surrounded by the stupen--
dous results of American enterprise and
activity, and in view of the magnificent
evidences of American skill and lntelll>
gence we need not fear that these con
CALCULATIONS 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.
1.-The enthusiasm with which we con>
template our work intensliles t he
warmth of the greeting we extend to
those who have come from foreign lands
to illustrate with us the growth and pro-
gress of human endeavor in the dlrec-
Uion of higher civilization.
1--WE who believe that the popular ed
ucation and the stimulation OF the best
impulses of our citizen lead the way to
a realization of the proud national des>
tiny which our faith promes gladly well
come the opportunity here affords US to
see the results accomplished by efforts
which have been eXerted longer than
than ours in the field of mems improve
ments, while in appreciative return we
exhibit the unparalleled advancement
and wonderful accomplishments of a
young nation and present the trumphs
of a vigorous, self-reliant and independ-
ent people We have built these SPLEEN
did edifices, but we have also built the
magnificent fabric of a popular governs
ment, whose grand proportions are seen
| throughout the world. We have made
and here gather together objects OF
use and beauty, the products of Amer
lean skill and invention, but we have
also made men who rule themselves.
cit is an exalted mission in which we
and our guests from other lands are en-
gagged, as we cooperate in the Inaugural
| tion of an enterprise devoted to human
| enlightenment, and in the undertaking
we here enter upon we eXemplify in the
| noblest sense the brotherhood of ma
tions.
LET us hold fast to the meaning that
underlies this ceremony, and let US not
| lose the impressiveness of this moment.
| As by touch the machinery that gives
| life to this vast exposition is now set IN
motion, so at the same instant let our
hopes and aspirations awaken forces
which in all time to come shall influence
the welfare, the dignity and the free
| dom of mankind"
THE EXHIBITION OPENED.
As the last words fell from the Presi-
dents lips he pressed his finger upon
the electric button on the table before
him. This was the signal for demons
stration difficult of imagination, and
| infinitely more so of description. AT
one and the same instant the audience
burst out into a laundering shout, the
orchestra pealed fourth the strains of
The Hallelujah Chorus" the wheels of
the great Allis engine in Machinery
Hall commenced to revolve, the electric
fountains in the lagoon threw their tor
rents toward the sky, a flood of water
gushed forth from the sMcMonnies foun-
tain and rolled back again into the basin
the thunder of artillery came from the
vessels in the lake, the chimes in Man
ufacturers' Hall and ON the German
Building rang out a merry peal, and
overhead the flags at the tops of the
poles in front of the platform fell a part
and revealed two gilded models of the
ships in which Columbus first sailed to
American shores.
At the same moment hundred of flags
of all nations and all colors, were UNI
furled within sight of the platform. The
largest was a great "Old Glory which
fell into graceful folds from the top OF
the centre staff in front of the stand.
The roof of the Manufacturers Building
was gorgeous in red gonfalons, while
the Agricultural Building was dressed
in ensigns Of orange and white. 1t was
fully ten minutes before the demonstra-
ton subsidized. Then the band played
America" and the exercises were at
an end.
|