Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-02

 CENTENNIAL. The Opening Ceremonies Simple and in Perfect Harfnony.
GOVERNOR TAYLOR's ADDRESS
Perfect Gem of E1oqnence and Brilliant Ora tory-Men of All Ages Join in
 the Celebration.

there has been more of prosperity than adyersity, the Improvement of the coun- try faa b,en wonderful, and as we stand upon the vantage ground of the present and look back to the pioneer days of Tennessee, we are proud of the record and achievements of the past, and re- joice dn the advantages of the present anl it is hoped that thejyouth of the lahn will so study these advantages as illus tra.ud in the grand object lesson of this exposition, that they will be inspired to Undertake grea ter achievements and strive to reach perfection's heights, which are T'sspnendent with the glores reflected from the eternal hills, wherein dwells the author of all wisdom and all power, who rules over the des'tinies of men and 1.3tiones and whose blessing we invoke upon CUT exposition, our state, OUT coun- try and upon the nations of the earth From pole to pole, from zone to zone over trackless ocean. from land to land, may the aEgeEle anthem TeveTberate:
 "Giory to God in the highest, and on
 earth peace, gcod will toward men,"
 Loud and continuous cheering followed the conclusions of President Thomas re- marks, and the band struck up '"Tne Star Spangled Banner" amid tumultuous cheering and waving of hats ard hand kerchiefs.
 The next address was by Hon. Robert l.. Taylor, governor of Tennessee. As he advanced toward the front Of the plat form the crowd rose as one man, and it was several mdnutes before his excelfency could proceed with his address. He said: ! GOV. TAYLOR'S ADDRESS.
 Ladies and Gentlemen: The first cen tury in the history of ,he commonwealth of Tennessee, glorious with the deeds of heroes, and rich with achievements in all the arts of peace, has been garnered in eternity; and as I stand here to join you in this jubilee, the stirring events Of 100 eventful years pass in review before me. I see the blue smoke curling hsaven- ward from the rude cabins of the pion- neers and hsar she first song of civiliza- tion along the banks of the Watauga. = see the red glare on the sky Of night proelsi94ng rfs approach of torch and tomafaWk: I see the peerless Bonnie Kate" like a Frightened mountain fawn, ottxlTipping the painted warriors in her race for life, and mid the flames and smoke from Decherd rifles, which baffie the savage foe, I see her scale the para pe.H of tha beleagured fort and fall faint ing into the arms of John Sevier; ssle a thousand cc-a skin caps gathering at Sycamore Shoals, and a thousand rifles reflect,ng a thousand sparkling images of rising sum; I see thousand 5talwart moIntaineers suddenly vanish into the forest, alnd now I ses them em ;rge around the base of Kings f1loun'tain, and wind ing upwards towards fits summit like serpent of fire, they pour their whitening NCHeyS IIllpo lne races or the roe. the D-uNe radcoatS fall like .1e leaves of autumn; {; the battle is won and the ride of the rev olution is turned. The scene changes and now l see the ax glea ming in the hands of these sturdy men; the forest falls and fruiiful fields spread westward from the noun a ins to the Mississippi; new state is carved from the heart of the wilder ness. the sixteenth star glorifes the flag of the union, and Tennessee is born
 fIhe years roll on, and the young re- public of civil Hberty gives birth to new republic of thought. Men like Jefferson and Jackson rise up and revolu ionize the Johtical ideas of the world; men like Franklin and Fulton, and Morse and Howe, and Hoe and Whitney and Bell and Tesla and Edison open up new high ways for the march of civilization
 ' seq the vast wilderness of America the dominion of savage Indian and wild bsnst, yielding to she brain and prowess Of the Anglo-Saxon race, until foity-four g ars on our national flag symbolic the strength and power and unity of the greatest republic this world has ever Known.
 4 see the achievements of a thousand years crowded into a single century see American genius walking in the gar dens of the intellectual gods, gathering sweets for the soul from a thousand un- whitening. flowers, catching music from the spheres, and beauty from ten thou sand fields of light.
 If our fathers, who died a hundred years ago. could come back from "the tongueless silence of the dreamless dust" and see the miracles that have been wrought. if they could see their children talking across oceans, and sweeping across continents in palace cars swifter than the swiftest wing; if they could see the modern reapers sweeping like phan- tom ships through seas of sunset gold, and hear the music of the harvest song Of 10 myriads of cities and towns and country homes. which are the habitat tions of sev- enty millions of people, if they could look upon this beautiful White Centennial City, rising like seraph here in the heart of Tennessee, under whose wings the nations of the earth are gathering to join us in this glorious jubilee, doubt not that they would shout for joy, and sing with us, Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"
 i At the conclusion of the address the band struck up Dixie" and then the very earth itself seemed to shake with the. thunders of applause. It was sight never to be forgotten.
 When order was restored, or rather when quiet once more reigned, Maj. F. c. Lewis, the director general of the asso- ciation, under whose skillful guidance the marvellous project materialized and came into being, stepped forward, and as he did so the volume of applause shook the very hrmament and It was at once seen that Tennessee had looked upon the work of her gifted son and saw that it was good His address was brief and very characteristic of the man, who is de- scribed as being as modest as he is able. Whatever credit may belong to others for work done in connection with the Tennessee Centennial exposition, no one will contest the director generals claim to the chief part, and, as some of the feat ures of the exposition arc to be perma- 'nent, 1t is safe to say that this great work which he has achieved will be his most enduring monument.
 Major Lewis, turning to President rIvl,, x,afh1 r .--.i