The record-union., 1897-06-12

- @ SCiAluIS ciSO 81 liCoiis AAS
rupted, was now bound to stand for all
time. the boom Of applause and the
roar of enthusiasm was something long
to be remembered by every Northern
man present.
Exactly at noon the President walked
down the main aisle. The President was
greeted with hearty cheers and so were
Secretaries Sherman, Alger, Gary, Will
son and the other distinguished guests
and their ladies. Governor Taylor of
Tennessee and Governor Bushnell of Ohio
with Mrs. Bushnell entered a stand close
by, and were heartily cheered. The
Governors then took the places reserved
for them near the President.
A variation upon Our Old Kentucky
Home" was fitting prelude to the
speeches, which were opened by Hon.
John Thomas, President of the Exposi-
ton.
President Thomas extended the hear
test of welcomes to the President, to the
members of the Cabinet, to Governor
Bushnell and visiting Ohioans, and to
the representatives of the press. He
spoke of Ohio as Tennessee's younger
sister, and then drawing a comparison
between the population and aggregate
products of the two commonwealths,
urged Tennessee to emulate Ohio's great
example.
Mr.. Thomas then introduced Gov
ernor Taylor, whose witty illusions pro-
voked much laughter.
Governor Taylor was followed by
Hon. w. T. Mccarthy, Mayor of Nash
vile, who added to the welcome given.
After a musical interlude Governor
Bushnell of Ohio was introduced.
When the applause which followed
Governor BushnelIs speech had sub
sided General Thomas introduced the
President Mr.. McKinley's face lit up
as the great audience rose en- masse ana
shouted cheer after cheer. AT last
quiet ensued and in a clear voice the
Chief Executive delivered the follow
ing speech:
"Oficers of the Tennessee Centennial
Exposition, Ladies and Gentlemen:
American nationality, compared with
that of Europe and the East, is still
very young, and yet already we are
beginning TO have age enough for CEN
tenniaI anniversaries in States other
than the original thirteen. Such occa-
sions are always interesting, and when
celebrated in a practical way are use
full and instructive Combining in re-
Prospect and review, they recall what
has been done by State and Nation,
and point out what yet remains for
both to accomplish in order to fulfill
their highest destiny.
This celebration is of general in
terest to the whole country and of
special significance to people of the
South and West. It marks the end
of the first century of the State of
Tennessee, and the close of the first
year of its second century. One hun
dred and one years ago this State was
admitted into the Union as the six
teenth member of the great family Of
American cOmmonwealths. 1t was
welcome addition to the national
household-a community young, strong
and sturdy, with an honored ancestry,
with fond anticipations not only of its
founders, but faith in its success on
the part of farseeing and sagacious
statesmen in all parts of the country.
l am justified in saying that these an
ticipations have been grandly realized;
that the present of this community of
sterling worth is even brighter than
prophets of the past have dared to
forecast.
THE builders of the State who had
forced their way through the trackless
forests of this splendid domain brought
with them the same 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
story of Virginia or that of North Car
DINA matters little to them. They
came willing and eager to fight for
independence and freedom, and in the
War of the Revolution were ever loyal
to the standard of Washington.
When their representatives served
in the Colonial Assembly of North
Carolina, they chose-for the first time
in our country, SO far as I know-the
great name of Washington as the
name of the district in which they liv-
ed, and at the close of the Revolution
sought to organize their country into
State to be known as the State of
Franklin, in grateful homage of an
other of its most distinguished patriots.
Spain had sought to possess their
territory by right of discovery as a
part of Florida France chained it
by right of eession as a part of Louis
lana, and England hers by conquest.
But neither contention for an instant
would be recognized. Moved by the
highest instincts of self government
and the loftiest motives of patriotism
gallant John Sewer at Kings Mount
ain and your forefathers bravely vim
dicated their honor and gloriously won
their independence.
Thus came the new State. second
only then of the new mighty West and
Southwest, and it has made a wonder
full history for itself. Tennessee has
sometimes been called the mother of
Southwestern statesmen" 1t furnish
ed US the immortal Jackson. whose rec
ord in war and whose administration
in peace as the head of the great Re-
public shines on with advancing years
The century has only added to the lus-
ter of his name, increased the obliga-
tions of his countrymen and exalted
him in their affections. Polk and john
son also were products of this great
State, any many more heroes of dis
tinguished deeds whose names will
come unbidden to your memories while
1 speak.
''Tennesseeans have been volunteers.
not drafted patriots. In 1916, when 3
400 soldiers were called for. 80 600 10y
al Tennesseeans offered their services,
and amid the trials and terrors of the
great Civil War, under conditions of
| peculiar distress and embarrassment.
her people divided on contending sides.
but upon which side, they fought fear
| lessly to death and gallant Now.
happily, there are no contending sides
| in this glorious commonwealth or in