The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-17

opceSh' "hCh d cneei, sWuSiuS lrou pdCA
of the auditorium and thence commune
eating to the main floor and the galleries,
showed that some event of extraordinary
interest was transpiring. A moment later
Mrs. Mckinley appeared in the central
aisle, leaning on the arm of Mr.. James
X. Dunn, and accompanied by her aunt,
Mrs. SaXton, and Mrs. John Hill, the lat
ter of Nashville. Governor Bushnell
gracefully yielded the floor, and the i'm
mense audience was on its feet in a
moment, cheering most Justify. The cheers
were redoubled when this gentle lady of
the White House reached the platform
and the outstretched hand of her hus-
band, who hurried to meet her and greet
her and conduct her to a seat by his side.
Private Secretary to the President John
Addison Porter and wife being immediate
ly behind her. A huge bunch of roses
was handed Mrs. Mckinley from the au-
ditOrium floor, and as she bowed and
| smiled her thanks the crowd again broke
into cheers. Incidental to the speaking
| which followed was the applause which
greeted any reference to Tennessee's 10y
atty to the Union. And when President
| Mckinley declared that Tennessees sons
were now loyal to the core and that this
Union, third of century ago SO nearly
| disrupted, was now bound to stand for
all time, the boom of applause and the
roar of enthusiasm was something long
to be remembered and gratifying to every
northerner present.
| A variation on "Our Old Kentucky
Home" was fitting prelude to the
speeches, which were opened by Hon.
John w. Thomas, president of the expo
sition, who was master of ceremonies on
| the auditorium stage.
| President Thomas was very brief, but
| hn hna rfi r. all IN, hn
president, whose presence, he said, as the
chief magistrate of the greatest nation on
earth was high honor, to the members of
the cabinet, to Governor Bushnell and
visiting Ohioans and to the representa-,
tives of the press.
Mr.. Thomas then introduced Governor
Taylor of Tennessee as Our Bob" and
his appearance was the signal for loud
cheers, and whose witty remarks pro.
voked much laughter.
Governor Taylor was followed by Hon
| w. L. Mccarthy, mayor of Nashville
who added to the welcome given, and he
in turn by Senator w. L. Clarke, presi
dent of the Ohio Centennial commission
After a musical interlude, Governor Asa
5. Bushnell of Ohio, evidently wei
knownfigure to many of the audience, was
introduced, his bow being followed by d
Joined with handkerchiefs.
When the applause that followed Gov
ernor Bushnell had subsidized President
Thomas introduced the great figure Of
the occasion, and Mr.. McKinley's face
lit up as the audience rose en- masse and
| shouted out cheer after cheer. To the
correspondents, who joined heartily in the
ovation, the scene recalled q national con
vention when the name of nationa
favorlte is mentioned in nominating
speech. For several minutes the cheering
continued, and the president could onl,
stand, smile and wait
President McKinIey's Speech.
AT last quiet came, and in. clear
penetrating voice, and with more gestur,
than is his wont, the chief executiy,
spoke, in part, as follows:
Officers of the Tennessee Centennia
EXpositiOn-Lades and Gentlemen: Amer
lean nationality, compared with that NJ
Europe and the east, is still very Young
and yet already we are beginning to hay,
age enough for centennial anniversaries il
states of other than the original thirteen
Such occasions are always interesting, aul
When celebrated in Il practical way ar,
useful and instructive, combining retro
spect and review. They recall what ha.
been done by state and nation and poin
out what yet remains for both to accom-
plish in order to fulfill their highest des
tiny.
1.-The builders of the state, who hat
forced their way through the trackless for
ests of this splendid domain, brought will
them the same high ideals and fearless de
votlon to home and country, founded OF
resistance to oppression, which have every
where made illustrious the Anglo meri
can name. Whether it was the era o.
Virginia or that of North Carolina mat
tiers little to them. They came willing ant
eager to fight for independence and liber
ty, and in the war of the revolution wer,
ever loyal TO the standard of Washington
| When their representatives served in tn,
colonial assembly of North Carolina the,
chose-for the first time in our country, 81
far as | know-the great name of Wash
| ington for the district in which they lived
and at the close of the revolution sough
to organize their territory into a state Il
be known as the state of Franklin. il
grateful homage to the name of another o.
its most distinguished patriot commoners
Spain had sought to possess their territor!
by right of discovery as part of Florida
France claimed it by right of cession as {
part of Louisiana, and England as hers b!
conquest. But neither contention cOul(
| Tor an instant ne recognized. moved ID.
the highest instincts of self government
and the loftiest motives of patriotism, un
der gallant old John Sewer at King''
Mountain, your fOrefathers bravely vindi
Gated their honor and glorously won theil
independence.
Thus, came the new state, second only
| then of the now mighty west and south
west. And it has made a wonderful his
tory for itself. Tennessee has sometime:
been called the mother of southwestern
statesmen 1t furnished us the immorta
Jackson, whose record in war and whose
| administration of peace as the head of the
great republic shines on with the advanc
| ing years. The century has only added
| to the lustre of his name. increased the
| obligations of his countrymen, and exalted
| him in their affections. Polk and John
son were also produced in this great state
| and many more heroes of distinguished
| deeds whose names will come unbidden t.
your memories while 1 speak.
! "Tennesseeans have ever been volun
| teer, not drafted, patriots.
"In 1916, when 100000 soldiers were
| called for, 10000 loyal Tennesseeans Of
4 fered their service, and amid trials anc
| terrors of the great Civil war, under condi
| tiors of peculiar distress and embarrass
ment, her people divided on cOntendine
| sides. But upon whichever side found
| they fought fearlessly to death and gal
liant sacrifice. Now, happily, there, are nc
| contending sides common in this glorious
| commonwealth or in any part of our coun'
| NI., ,h1A oh fhnr in