The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-06-16
HER CENTENNIAL.
Tennessee Celebrates Her Admis-
sion to the Union.
Appropriate Ceremonies and Exer-
cisc- ut NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Me-
Kinicy Is the Guest of Honor
His Speech.

His speech.
Nashville, Tenn, June 12.-At eight
O'Clock Friday morning the presiden-
tial tour merged into the centennial
celebration of the admission of Ten
nessee into the union. AS guard of
honor to the president n mounted de-
tachment OF ex-confederates command
ed by Capt. George +. Hager ranged
themselves Immediately in front of his
carriage. They wore the old-time gray,
but the buckles of their belts bore the
insignia United States" In the rear
of the line of carriages maCched the
battalion of the Sixth infantry under
the command of Col. Miner, sent from
Fort Thomas, and headed by their fine
band. State troops and particularly
good-looking body of Cincinnati police
under the command of their chief made
up the uniformed part of the parade.
As the head of the procession turned
into the main entrance of the EXPOSE
ton grounds a battery of artillery
doomed forth the national salute of 25
guns.
Above the boom of the national salute
and the hum of thousands of voices
in the great auditorium rose the strains
of Dixie" from a wandering band on
the outside. Exactly at noon President
Mckinley walked down the main aisle,
on his arm the stately Mrs. Van Leer
Kirkman, president of the woman's
board. The president was greeted with
hearty cheers. Gov. Bushnell spoke,
and then the president was introduced.
lie spoke in part as follows
The Prcsidcnt's Speech.
"Oficers of the Tennessee Centennial Ex-
position Ladies and Gentlemen: Amer
can nationality, compared with that oil
Europe and the east, is still very young
and yet already We are beginning to nave
age enough for centennial anniversaries
in states other than the original ID.
Such occasions are always interesting,
and when celebrated in practical way
are useful and instructive. Combining
retrospect 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 fulhll their nlgnest
destiny.
This celebration is of general interest
to the whole country and of special sig
nncance to people of the south and west.
1t marks the end of the first century of
the state of Tennessee and 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
member of the great family of American
Commonwealths. 1t was welcome ad-
dition to the national households com
munity young, strong and sturdy, with
an honOred and heroic ancestry, with fond
anticipations, not only of its founders but
faith in it's success on the part of far-see-
ing and sagacious statesmen in all parts
of the country.
"Tennesseeans have ever been volunteer,
not drafted. patriots. In 1916 when 2.4W
soldiers were called for, 10000 loyal Ten
nesseeans 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 whichever
side found, they fought fearlessly to death
and gallant sacrifice. Now, happily. there
are no contending sides in this glorious
commonwealth or in any part of our COM
mon country. The men who opposed each
other in dreadful battle a third of CEN
fury ago once more and forever united
together under one flag in a never-to-be-
broken union.
THE glory of Tennessee Is not only alone
In the brilliant names it has contributed
to history or the heroic patriotism dis
played by the people in so many crises Of
our national life, but its material and in
dustrial wealth, social advancement and
population are striking and significant in
their growth and development. Thirty
five thousand settlers in this state in 1890
had increased to 1,l090O In 1860, and to-
day ii has population closely approx
imating 2,Oo0000. Its manufactures, which
in 1860 were small and unimportant, in
1890 had reached $72.O0O,000 in value, while
its farm products now aggregate more
than $62 900 annually. its river COM
merce on three great international water
ways, its splendid railways operating near
ly 5000 miles of roads, its mineral wealth
of uncalCulable value, form a splendid
augury for the future. am sure no better
woTkmen could be found than the people
of Tennessee to turn these confident
promises into grand realities.
Your exposition shows better than any
words of mine can tell the details of your
wealth of resource and power of produce
ton. You have done wisely in exhibiting
these to your own people and to your sister
states, and at no time could the display
be more effective than now, when what the
country needs more than all else is re-
stored confidence in itself. This exposi-
tion demonstrates directly your faith and
purpose, and signifies in the widest sense
your true and unfailing belief in the ire
pressible pluck of the American people, and
Is promising indication of the return OF
The knowledge which this beautiful and
novel exposition gives will surely stimulate
competition, develop your trade. increa Sc
ployment, extend your markets. and So
eventually pay for all 1t cost, as well as
justify local sentiment and encourage state
pride.
Men and women see about me from all
parts of the country, and thousands more
will assemble here before the exposition
Is closed Let ourselves and let them al
ways remember that whatever differences
about politics may have existed, or still
partisans, and value the welfare of all
the people above party or section. Citi-
zens of different states, we yet love all
the states. The lesson of the hour, then,
Is this-that whatever adverse conditions
may temporarily impede the pathway OF
our national progress nothing can perma-
Visiting the buildings.
After the conclusion of the cere-
monies in the auditorium, which were
very much added to by the music of the
lines band the president and some of
his party visited the Parthenon, which
is the art repository, and the Children's
building, and then repaired to the West
Side clubhouse, a handsome structure
near the Administration building and
fronting the Parthenon. In the ladies'
parlor there Mrs. Mckinley held an in
formal reception. Later in the after
noon she and the president gave a re-
ceptiOn to women only in the Women S
building.
Fireworks and Illumination.
AT eight o'clock fine display of fire
works over the lake and on its shores
was viewed by Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley
and their party from the steps of the
Parthenon. Not at all inferior to the
fireworks was the illumination of all
the principal structures by means of
search and electric lights, there being
notable profusion of the latter.
A. q. L. W. Elects Officers.
Milwaukee, June 11.-Elections of of
ficers was the order of the day at the
afternoon session of the supreme lodge
of the a. o. L. w. Following the Gus
tom of the order the old officers were
generally advanced on the ladder of
promotion, and the election was in the
nature of general move upward all
along the line. Supreme Master Work
man Mai j. G.. Tate of Grand Island