The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-06-16

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and staff, United States regulars and
Tennessee militia. At II o'clock, In
the Auditorium, addresses of welcome
were delivered by President Thomas
Mayor Mccarthy and Gov. Taylor and
responses were made by Senator Clark,
of the Ohio commission, Gov. Bushnell
| and President Mckinley. The president
in his address expressed his appreciation
of the signal honor accorded his native
| state. and congratulated the governor
| of Tennessee, the mayor of Nashville
and the president and directors of the
| exposition upon the success of an en-
| terprise which could not fail to result
in improved business relations and a
closer commercial union between the
north and the south. Luncheon at the
club house followed the delivery of the
addresses.
There was great interest shown in
President McKinley's speech, and he
was greeted with much applause,
The President said:
OFFICERS OF THE TENNESSEE CENTENNIAL
EXPOSITION. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-Amer-
lean nationality, compared with that OF Eu-
rope and the cast, is still very young, ana yet
already we are beginning to have age enough
for centennial anniversaries in states other
than the original thirteen. Such occasions are
always interesting, and when celebrated in a
practical way are useful and instructive Com
bining retrospect and review, they recall what
has been done by state anu nation, and point
out what vet remains for both to accomplish in
order to fulfill their highest destiny
This celebration is of general interest to the
whole county, and of special significance to peo-
ple of the south and west 1t marks the end OF
the first century of the state of Tennessee ana
the close of the first year OF its second century
One hundred and one years ago this state was
admitted into the Union as the sixteenth num-
Der in the great family Of American common
wealths 1t was welcome addition to the ma
tional household community young strong
and sturdy, with an honored ana ne
roie ancestry with fond antlcipauonS
not only Of its founders but faith in
its success on the part OF far-sscing and
sagacious statesmen IN all parts of the country.
am justified in saying that these anticlpatlonS
have been grandly realized that the present OF
this community of sterling worth is even
brighter than prophets Of the past had dared TO
forecast it.
The builders of the state. who had forced
their way through the tracklesS forests OF this
splendid domain, prOuRut WIN tutih ll- SehLiA-
high ideals and fearless devotion to home
and country founded on resistance to
oppression, which have made illustrious
the Anglo American name Whether it was
the territory of Virginia or that Of North Caro-
lima. mattered little TO them, They were eager
to fight for independence and liberty, and in the
war of the revolution were ever loyal to the
standard of Washington. When their repre-
sentatives served in the colonial assembly Of
North Carolina they chose-for the first time in
our country. so far as l1now-the great name OF
Washineton,for the district in which they lived.
and at the close OF the revolution sought to
organize their territory into state to be known
as the state OF Franklin, in grateful homage TO
the name Of another OF its most distinguished
patriot commoners-
Spain had sought to possess this territory by
right of discovery as part of Florida. France
claimed it by right Of oession as part OF
Louisiana, and England as hers by conquesti
hut neither contention could for an instant be
recognized. Moved by the highest instincts Of
self government and the loftiest motives OF
patriotism. under gallant old John Sewer, at
kings Mountain, your forefathers braveiy
vindieated their homer and gloriously won their
Independence.
Thus came the new state, second only, then,
q he new mlghtY Wsst End eQgthwest Aaa