Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-05-03
GREAT FAIR OPENED.
President Cleveland Touches
the Magic Key.
Thousands of People Witness the Inter
esting Ceremonies.

May Jupiter Pluvius held an uplift-
ed fist over Chicago this morning. The
skies were sodden and bleak and a
chilling mist filled the atmosphere.
The weather conditions seemed to have
yielded at an early hour at least, to
Cleveland luck. Bunting throughout
the city was damp and Iistless and
a general tone of gloom pervaded
the air and streets. But to Chi
cage, whose day of history this
was, weather conditions counted for
naught and early the people were astir.
The busting, eager, resistless spirit Of
the great West is bounding to-day
through every artery of this, it's capital
city. The cOnsummation of an enter
prise, the location of which was bitterly
contested with it's older rival eastward
by the sea, took place to-day when the
myriad wheels began their turning in
response to the touch of the nations
chief executive upon a golden key
that reached out through an
electric train to the mighty engines,
which are to the Worlds Columbian
Exhibition the vital, moving energy.
Rain or shine, wet or dry, the people OF
this prairie city were bound to be early
upon their feet, filled with one desire,
lmbued with one purpOse-tO witness
the practical Inauguration of their stu
pendous undertaking, and to give it all
the prestige and interest that comes
with the endorsement by popular pres
ence at any function in which the peo-
pie at large are partners.
Soon after 3 O'Clock President Cleve
land and his associates left their rooms
at the Lexington Hotel and were con-
Quoted to carriages, the Spanish guests
also adding to the notable company en-
barking for the ride to the great fair.
Standing like mounted figures in bronze,
a platoon of mounted police waited be-
tween the curbs to lead the procession.
Behind them were Cos. B and X,
Seventh United States Cavalry,
under command Of Capts. Var
Chicago Hussars with Troop A, of the
Illinois National Guard. Worlds Fair
officials occupied the first six carriages
and in the seventh were President
Cleveland and the presidents of the
Columbian Commission and of the
Worlds Columbian Exposition. Five
carriages containing the Presidents
cabinet and fair officials next drew up
in the line, and after them, fourteenth
in the procession, came the Duke of
Veragua, his party occupying the next
five carriages, while Minister Thomas
F. Bayard, Maj.-Gen. Scofield, Admiral
Gherardi, Gov. Altgeld and Mayor Har-
rison brought UP the rear
The opening ceremonies were begun
soon after 10 O'clock with the perform
ance of John K. Paine''s Columbian
March, followed by an invocation by
Chaplain Milburn, of the United States
Congress. "The prOphesy," the poem
written for the occasion by w. A. Croft
fut, of Washington, was then presented:
After an orchestral overture, Director
General Davis, as master OF ceremonies,
faced the multitude and made the open
ing speech which closed with, the pres
entation of President Cleveland.
Mr.. Cleveland having arisen was kept
several minutes waiting until the APP
plause should subside, after which, with
barred head, he began speaking. He
said:
l am here to join my fellow citizens in
the congratulations which befit this occa-
sion. Surrounded by the stupendous results
of American enterprise and activity, and in
view Of magnificent evidences of American
skill and intelligence, we need not fear
that these congratulations will be exagger-
ated. We stand to-day in the presence of
the oldest nations Of the world and point to
the great achievements we here exhibit, ask
ing no allowance on the score of youth.
The enthusiasm with which we contem-
plate our work intensifies the warmth of the
greeting we extend to those who have come
from foreign lands to 1llustr tie with usgthe
growth and progress Of hum"n endeavor in
the direction of higher civilization.
We who believe that popular education
and the stimulation of the best impulses of
our citizens lead the way to a realization of
the proud national destiny which
our faith promises, eddy well
come the opportunity here afforded US,
to see the results accomplished by efforts
which have been exerted longer than ours
III the field Of mans improvement; while in
appreciative return we exhibit the I'M
parall eled advancement and wonderful ac-
cOmpllShments OF young nation, and
present the triumphs Of vigorous,
selt-reliant and Independent people.
We have built these splendid editices,
but we have also built the magnificent fab
rlc OF a popular government whose grand
proportions are seen throughout the world.
We have made and here gathered together
objects Of use and beauty, the products of
American skill and invention; but we have
also made men who rule themselves.
1t is an exalted mission in which we and
our guests from other lands are engaged, as
we cooperate in the Inauguration of an en-
terprlse devoted to human enlightenment;
in the undertaking we here enter upon we
eXempl1fy III the nObleSt sense the brother
hood of nations.
Let us hold fast to the meaning that IN
derlies this ceremony, and let Us not lose
the lmpressiVenesS 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 aspira-
tions awaken forces which in all time to
come shall influence the welfare, the dignity
and the freedom of mankind
CLEVELAND TOUCHES THE KEY.
Amid the deafening cheers of the
multitude, the scream of whistles and
the boom of guns, President Cleveland
touched the magic key that started the
machinery and the mighty engines of
the greatest fair in the history of the
world were set in motion. The scene
at the moment that the great, enter
prise was officially inaugurated
furnished the only thrill in the cere-
monies, save the reception to the Presi-
dent as he came upon the stand AS he
delivered the last word of his speech
he reached forward his arm and rested
his foretinger upon the button of the
Golden ta laOraT low biob 1oy,,,,1ni