The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-04
WORLDS FAIR.
President Cleveland Opens the Great
Exposition.


see the opening of the Worlds Columbian Tx
position.
About 10 o'clock the last straggler had been
removed from the Fair grounds by the Column
bian Guards. There no hitch in tie pre-
yjopsly-arranged program. Columbus's de-
scendants the Duke of Veragua and party,
were escorted from the hotel where they are
uuartered TO the one occupied by President
Cleveland and party, and there the two were
Joined and taken in procession through miles
of streets lined with cheering thousands to
the Exposition grounds.
The people on the Presidential platform were
arranged as follows:
In the center President Cleveland. To his
right Vice President Stevenson. Secretary Of
State Gresham, Secretary of the Treasury Car
Isle Secretary of the Navy Herbert, Secretary
of Interior Smith, Secretary Of Agriculture
Morton, the Duke of Veragus, the Duchess of
Veragua Marquis de BarbOies, Cbristobel CO.
lon of Augiera, and Pedro Colon Bartenado.
On the left Ambassador Thomas f. Bayard,
Lambert Tree, Maj. Gen. Miles, Admiral Che
rardi, Gov. Altgeld, Mayor Harrison, Director
General Davis, Director of Works Burnham,
President Palmer. President Higinbotham, Ly-
man J. Gage William I. Baker, Vice President
Waller the Commissions; Vice President Peck,
of he Directory, and Hrs. Potter Palmer, Presl-
dent of the Board of Lady Managers.
On the right of the ducal party were the
members of the Board of Directors of the Fair
and the Chiefs of Departments, and beyond
these the representatives of the State Boards
and the Auxiliary Congresses On the left
were the Generals of the Army and Admirals
of the Navy members of the Senate and House
of Represen tstives of the United States, and
Governors of the different States of the Union.
while beyond these were the National Com
missioners and the Board of Lady Managers.
The Aldermen of Chicago occupied the space
which had been reserved for the United
States Supreme Court which latter body was
not present. Back of all these were County
Commissioners and Park Boards and the Sem
ate and Assembly Of the Legislature Of the
State of Illinois. In the space assigned to
celebrities from foreign countries were many
prominent people, among them being genuine
East India Rajah, DRdo Su Anna, who occupies
the distinguished position Of Secretary of State
for the Sultan of Johore, on the Malay Pen
insula. Near by, clad in long black robes.
their heads surmounted by curiously-shaped
black hats, were Ye Chayum, Jeung Kiung
Won, aud Vi Shing SU, the Royal Commissioners
from COrea. Talking earnestly with one Of
these was Cesar Gondra, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Pienipotentiary of the Republic of
Paraguay, and towering over the slight form of
the latter, His Excellency, Prince de Glouhovs-
koy, Chamberlain to His Majesty, the Gar
a1d General Imperial Commissioner of Russia.
Baron Fava, ltaly's Minister Plen!potentiary
sat q little distance away with the Marquis di
Rndini.
The Dominion of Canada was represented by
Acting Premier, Mackenzie Bowel, Minister
OF Public Works Quinet, and Minister Of Agri-
culture Augeans In the center of the group
of Lady Managers were the Princess Maria
Shsch 0sksy. Maid of Honor at the Court of
the Gar, aud Nine. Sonnet Sepkin, also repre-
sentatives of the Russian Court, and of the
Imperial Institutions of the Empress Marie.
Conspicuous also in the forefront of the throng
hall Ia NIL istiu Rod
foreigners as the Duchess of Buckingham, the
Earl and Countess of Craven, and the Counts
Bella, Itchy, and HOnckhein. Between the
platform aud the audience before it every Ma
tion aud every tongue seemed to be represented
TO the honor and glory Of the Columbian Expo
Iition.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the Chaplain of the
United States Senate. Rev. Dr. Milburn, in
voked the blessing of God upon the undertake
ing about 20 be consummated, after which
poem by W. A. Crodut celebrating the voyage
Of Columbus was read. Then Director General
Davis, of the Worlds Fair, presented the COM
pleted buildings to President Cleveland, and
that officer, who represents 100000 Of people,
in brief aud happy speech, declared the Ex-
position fully opened. President Cleveland
said:
! am here to join my fellow citizens in the
congratulations which befit this occasi on. Sur
rounded by the stupendous results OF American
cent evidences Of American skill and inteli-
genee, We need not fear that these congratuls-
tons will be exaggerated. We stand to-day in
the presence Of the Oldest Nations of the world
and point 10 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 greeting
which we extend to those who have come from
foreign lands to illustrate with US the growth
and progress of human endeavor in the diTec-
tion Of higher civilization.
We who believe that popular education and
the stimulation Of the best impulses Of our citi-
Eens lead the way to a realization of the proud
National destiny which our faith promises
gladly welcome the opportunity here afforded
as TO see the results accomplished by efforts
which have been eXerted longer than ours in the
field of mans improvements, while in apprecia-
tive return we exhibit the unparalleled adj
vancement and wonderful accomplishments of
q young Nation, and present triumphs of a
vigorous, self-reliant, aud independent people.
We have built these splendid edifces, but we
have also built the 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, the products Of American skill
aud invention but We have also made men
who rule themselves.
II is an exalted mission in which we and our
guests from other lands are engaged, as we CO.
operate IN the inauguration of an enterprise
devoted to human enlightenment, and in the
undertaking we here enter upon we exempliiy
in the noblest sense the brotherhood of ma
tons.
Let US hold fast TO the meaning that under
lies this ceremony, and let US not lose the i'm
pressiyeness OF this moment As by touch
the machinery that gives life TO this vast expo
sitioD is nov set in motion, SO at the same in
slant let our hopes and aspirations awaken
forces which IN all time tc come shall influence
the welfare, the dignity, and the freedom of
mankind
When the President had uttered the last
word OF his speech he pressed his finger upon
the electric button on the table before him.
This was the signal for a demonstration diff
cult Of Imagination, and infinitely more SO OF
description. At one aud the same instant the
audience burst into laundering shout the
orchestra pealed forth the strains of The Hal
lelujah Chorus" he wheels Of the great Allis
engine in Machinery Hall commenced to re-
Folye, the electric fountains ia the lagoon
brew their torrents toward the sky, flood of
water gushed forth from the McMOnnies louut-
ain aud rolled back again into the basin. the
thunder Of artillery came from the vessels in
The lake. the chimes in Manufacturers Hall
and Oh the German Building rang out merry
peal, and overhead the flags at the tops OF the
poles in front of the platform fell apart and re-
veaied two gilded models Of the ships in which
Columbus first sailed 10 American shores
he a. af Ill