Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-01

governments of Asia and Of Africa and the
republics of the western hemisphere, without
| exception, are here represented
| 10 the citizens and corporation of the city
OF Chicago, who have furnished sl1 OO0, 900 rs a
| contribution and In addition have loaned the
management 5000 900 more, are due the
grateful acknowledgements Of our own people
and OF al! the honored guests who share with
festival
TO the women Of Chicago and our great
!and: whose prompt. spontaneous and en-
| 'huslastic cooperation in our work turned the
eyes OF the world toward the exposition as
| toward new star of the east-an inspiration
Ior womanhood everywhere--we extend our
cordial and unstinted recognition. 1t is our
| nope mat this great exposition may inaugurate
new era of moral and material progress and
our 1ervent aspiration that the association of
| the nations here NAV secure not only warmer
and stronger friendships, but lasting peace
| throughout the world
| The grand concerted illustration Of modern
progress which Is here presented, encourage
| meht OF art. science, Of industry, of commerce,
| mas necessltated an expenditure including the
outlay OF our exhibitors largely IN excess Of
| EloO,Ooo,OOO. We have given it our constant
'nougnt, our most devoted service, our best
energy; and now, in this central city Of
| THIS great republic, on the continent discovered
| oy columbus, whose last distinguished descend
ants are present as the honored guests of our
nation. 1t only remains for you, Mr. President
II III your opinion the exposition here presented
Is commensurate in dignity with what the world
! should expect of our great country, TO direct
that it shall be opened to the public. and when
you touch this magnificent KEY the ponderous
machinery will start and the action begin
>, 1t was now the turn Of the President Of the
| Chlteo States to present himself. and as he
slowly arose from his seat he swept his eyes,
| nrst over the occupants of the platform and
| then over one of the greatest audiences that
ever man faced. there went up a cheer that
seemed to shake the massive dome of the building
oehlnd him and which reverberated through the
! GROUNDS IKE the rafting of musketry. Foreign
ers ana natives alike joined in the acclaim to
the highest representative Of the sovereign
people OF the republic. There was futter OF
white handkerchiefs from the ladies' side Of the
platform, and instantly it was taken up by the
| thousands of the sex that occupied the gon-
dolas and launches on the water far in the
distance. The more the handkerchiefs were
waved. the louder the cheers. and 80 for space
OF several minutes 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 the button OF his frock coat. At
last when throats and arms alike were tired
and semblance of quiet had once more come
over the throng, he commenced his address.
This is what he said:
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REMARKS.
81 am here to join my teow-citzens in the
congratulations which befit this occasion.
Surrounded by the stupendous results Of Ameri-
can enterprise and activity. and in view of mag
nificcnt evidences Of American skill and intelli-
gence. we need not fear that the congratulations
will be exaggerated. We stand today in the
presence OF the Oldest nations of the world, and
point to the great achievements wherever ex-
hibited, asking no allowance on the score of
youth.
1.-THE enthusiasm with which we contemplate
| our work intensifies the warmth of the greeting
| we extend to those who have come from for
| eign lands to illustrate with IA the growth and
progress Of human endeavor in the direction of
a higher civilization.
1--WE, who believe that popular education and
the stimulation of the best impulses OF our
citizens lead the way to realization of the
proud national destiny which our faith
promises gladly welcome the opportunity
! here afforded to lis to see the results accom-
piished by efforts which have been
exerted longer than ours in the field
| OF mans improvements; while, in APP
precative return, exhibit the unparalleled
advancement and wonderful Accomplishments
| of a young nation and present the triumphs of
a vigorous, self-reliant and independent people.
| We have built these splendid editces, but
have also built the magnificent fabric of pop
| ular government, whose grand proportions
seen throughout the world. We have made
and here gather together, objects of 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 engaged. We CO.
operate in the Inauguration OF enterprise
devoted to human enlightenment; and in the
undertaking we here enter upon we exemplify
! in the nobiest sense the brotherhood of nations.
LET us hold fast to the meaning that under
lies this ceremony and let not lose the i'm
pressiveness OF this moment As by touch
/ the machinery that gives life to this vast expo
sition is now set in motion SO at the same in
slant let our hopes and aspirations awaken
forces which in all time to come shall influence
the welfare, the dignity and the freedom of
mankind"
As the President was concluding the final
sentence his ewes wandered to the table that
was close at his left hand. Upon this was the
button the pressure upon which to start
the machinery and make the opening of the
| the exposition accomplished fact. 1t
was an ordinary form of Victor teie-
graph key, such as is in use in most
telegraph Offices, except that it was of gold in
stead of steel and a button Of ivory instead OF
rubber. 1t rested upon pedestal upholstered
in navy blue and golden yellow plush, and on
the sides Of the lower tier in silver letters, was
the significant dates 1892 and 1898.
PRESSED THE ELECTRIC BUTTON.
As the last words fell from the President e
lips he pressed his finger upon the button
/ This WAS the signal for demonstration, diff
cult Of imagination and infinitely more SO Of
description. At one and the same instant the
audience burst into laundering shout. the
orchestra pesled forth the strains of the Halle
lujah chorus the wheels of the great Allis
engine in machinery hall began to re-
volve, the electric fountains in the
| lagoon threw their torrents toward the
sky. flood of water gushed forth from the
Mem onnies fountain and rolled back again into
the basin, the thunder Of artillery came from
! the vessels in the lake, the chimes in manu-
facturers' hall and on 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 revealed two giIded models Of the
ships in which Columbus first sailed to American
| shores.
WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION SCENE.
| At the same moment also hundreds OF flags
of all nations and all colors were unfurled
within sight of the platform. The largest was
a great ''Old Glory" which fell into graceful
folds from the top of the center staff in front
Of the stand. The roof Of the manufacturers
building gorgeous in red gonfalons, while
the agricultural building was dressed in ensigus
Of orange and white. 1t was wonderful scene
of transformation, and amid 1t all cannon con-
tinued to thunder and the crowd to cheer. 1t
was fully ten minutes before the demonstra-
ton subsidized