The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-06
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION OPENED.
President Cleveland Speaks and
Starts the Machinery.
INTERESTING CEREMONIES.

/ attendance WAS estimated at 3UU,UOU persons.
| The morning opened misty, but the sky
Frightened as the day advanced and the neces-
sity for holding the services indoors was
averted As the exercises progressed the
sun shone forth i'll full splendor, and the long
spell of bad weather was over. The mud was
| so plentiful that the hundreds Of planks laid
ever the roadway had little effect.
The President received the foreign COM
missioners and visited several of the build
| ings He left for Washington at o'clock in
the evening.
The Woman's Building was opened with
impressive ceremonies. Mrs. Potter Palmer
and the Duchess of Aberdeen make speeches.
The Missouri and Iowa State buildings were
also dedicated.
The procession of officials and invited
guests, escorted by military, was an imposing
| one. In the first carriages were the officers
of the Exposition. Then came the President
and Vice President, the Duke of Veragua,
the Duchess of Veragua, civil, military and
naval officers Of the government.
THE OPENING CEREMONIES.
The ceremonies took place on a stand in
front of the Administration Building, com
manding t; view Of the grand basin crowded
with gondolas and steam launches loaded
down with spectators. In the foreground,
over the heads of the people, could be seen
the imposing McMonnies fountain, typltying
old Father Time steering his craft with u
scythe Far in the distance doomed up the
colossal gold statue of the Republic, and
beyond itagain the inspiring peristyle crowned
by the Columbian arch and the heroic tgures
of the Quadriga, and near them the imposing
facades of the Casino and Music Hall. I'm
mediately on the right were the buildings de-
voted to agriculture and machinery; on the
left the colossal structures dedicated to manu-
iactures and electricity.
From the centre of the platform proper
there radiated special stand, and upon this
were chairs for President Cleveland, Vice
President Stevenson, the Duke of Veragua
and his party, and the higher national and
local officers Of the fair. Immediately in the
rear were the sections assigned to the mem
beers ofthe diplomatic corps, while to their
right and left the other officials and guests.
Thomas welded the baton, and 600 instru-
neuts responded to his wand.
As the music died away the blind chaplain
of the United States Senate, Rev. DR.. W. Ii.
Milburn, was led forward to the front of the
platform and asked the blessing of God on the
exposition.
Miss Jessie Couthoui,a Chicago elocutionist
in clear, impressive tones that could be heard
distinctly Gy the TWO thousand guests upon
the platform and which penetrated far into
the throng, read the poem of the day, entitl-
ed 1.-The Prophecy written by W. A. Croft
fnt, journalist of Washington.
Hearty applause rewarded the reader as
she retired, and il was renewed when the or
chestra rendered the "Rienzi' overture by
Wagner
SPEECH BY THE DIRECToR-GENERAL.
Director General Davis of the Exposition
then arose and said: This enclosure, con-
tanning nearly 700 acres, covered by more
than 400 structures, from the small State pa
wilton, occupying an ordinary building site,
TO the colossal structure of the Manufactures
and Liberal Arts Building, covering over 30
acres, is filled and crowded with a display OF
the achievements and products of the mind
and hand of man such as has never before
been presented TO mortal vision.
"The habits. customs and life of the peoples
of our own and foreign lands are shown In
the variegated plaisance. Those stately
buildings on the north are filled with the
historical treasures and natural prodcuts OF
our several States. The artistic, characters
tic and beautiful edifces, the head quarters
of foreign commissions, surrounding the
gallery of fine arts, which in itself will be an
agreeable surprise to the American beholder,
constitute the grand central zone OF social
and friendly amenities among the di tferent
peoples of the earth.
surrounding this grand plaza, where we
stand. and reaching from the north pond to
the extreme south, is the great mechanical,
scientific, industrial and agricultural exhlbi-
lion of the resources and products of the
world. "a
s.Tbe number of exhibitors will exceed
60, 600 when everything is in place. The cit
zens of our country are proud and always
will be proud of the action of the Congress
of the United States Of America in authoriz-
ing and directing this celebration to take
place, for the appropriations OF more than
five millions of dollars in its aid and for the
answering support and encouragement OF the
officers of the government.
"a sum in excess of six million OF dollars
has been raised and expended by the States
and Territories for their official use in pro
noting their own interests conformity with
the general success of the exhibition.
"More than six million of dollars has been
officially appropriated by foreign govern
mepts for their commissions in furtherance
Of participation in the exposition. The grea
nations of Europe and their dependencie:
are all represented upon these grounds. The
governments of Asia and OF Africa and the
republics of the Western Hemisphere, witt
but few exceptions, are here represented
The citizens and corporation OF the city Of
Chicago have furnished Sll,000,0oO as a
contributions and. in addition, have Loaned
the management 1000, 900 more.
st is our hope that this great exposition
may inaugurate new era oil moral ana
material progress, and our feryent aspira
ton that the association of the nations here
NAV secure not only warmer and stronger
friendships but lasting peace throughout the
world.
1.-THE grand concerted illustration of mod
ern progress which is here presented en-
enlargement of art, science, OF industry, OF
commerce has necessitated an expenditure,
including the outlay OF our exhibitors
largely in excess of e0,OOO,OOO. we nave
given it our constant thought, cur most de
voted service, our best energy, and now, IL
this central city of this great republic, on the
continent discovered by Columbus, whose
distinguished descendants are present as thu
honored guests of our nation, it only remain;
for YOU, Mr.. President, if in your opinion
the exposition presented here Is common
surate in dignity with what the world should
J expect of our great country. to direct that
shall be opened to the public aud when you
touch this magic key the ponderous machin
ery will start in its revolutions and the activi
ties Of the exposition will begin.
PRESIDENT cLEvELAND's ADDRESS.
When President Cleveland arose foreigner:
and natives alike joined IN the acclaim 10 the
highest representative of the sovereign people
of the republic. At last, when threats anc
arms alike we're tired, and a semblanee o
quiet had once more come over the throng
the President said
II am here to join my fellow. citizens in tbs
congratulations which betit this occasion
Surrounded by the stupendous results o.
American enterprise and activity, and il
view Of the magnificent evidences of Ameri
can skill and intelligence we need not fea
that these congratulations will De exaggeer
ated We stand today in the presence of thu
oldest nations of the world and point to th'
: great achievements we here exhibit, asking
ne allowance on the score ofyouth.
s.The enthusiasm with which we contem
: plate our work intensifes the warmth of thu
E greeting we extend to those who have conn
from foreign lands to illustrate with us th'
growth and progress Of human endeavor il
, the direction of higher civilization.
.sWe, who believe that popular education
and the stimulation of the best impulses o
? our citizens lead the way to realization o
the proud national destiny which our faiti
x.ladIv vvelcome the OnnOrtunlt,