Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-02-17
TENNESSEE'S OPPORTUNITY.
THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION Is THE
ONLY NATIONAL EVENT OF THE
YEAR 1897.
A Happy Combination of Circumstances That
Made the Enterprise Possible THE Grit
of the Citizens of Nashville.

III many respects the tennessee Cen
tennial and International Exposition
to be held at Nashville, from May /, to
October 80, this year, will serve as an
appropriate demonstration of patriot.
ism and enterprise upon the threshold
of a new century in the history Of the
State, and of new awakening in the
South.
The "Old Volunteer State is fortu.
nate in the absence of any similar ma.
tional attraction during the year; for
tunate in the wealth OF it's resources,
which are yet to be developed; fortu.
nate in the central geographical posi-
tion, which makes Nashville the most
accessible point in the South, and no
less fortunate in the spirit of enterprise
and zeal Of the citizens, who have
made this vast undertaking possible.
Being one Of the most highly favored
States in the Union, in the great vari.
ETY. Of wealth Of soil, hills and forests,
the material for the essential features
Of a great industrial exposition are
found within her own borders.
However, this is not to be merely q
display Of commercial and industrial
progress. History, education, art and
science are to have the preference in
the arrangement of the displays and
the chief aim Of the managers of the
Exposition is to show the patriotism Of
the people OF Tennessee, to illustrate
the perfection of art. the progress of
science, the genius of invention, the
progress of civilization, and inciden-
tally to promote industrial and com.
mercial enterprise. 1t was fortunate
for the State that in and around Nash
vile, we're found men who had faith in
the outcome of an exposition pitched
upon so high plane. And even here
the most faithful and sanguine friends
of the Centennial met with many dis.
couragements, not only in the unfavor-
able condition of business throughout
the country, but from thu lethargy of
the people throughout the State. But
having put their hands to the work
they went forward, meeting all diff
culties and overcoming I'll obstacles
until success was assuree,., No other
city in the country has ever accom-.
plished so great work, unaided, and
under such great difficulties, and this
fact is recognized by other cities. The
Buffalo Express, in full page art sup
plement illustra ating and describing the
Exposition, said:
This article would be incomplete
without a complimentary reference,
well deserved, to the city Of Nashville,
which has assumed the chief burden OF
this ambitious undertaking. Nashv lille
has fairly earned the proud cognomen,
The Athens 'of the South With a
population of only 100000, at most, il
has ventured fesrlessly into a field
where far more influential communi.
ties have ventured to tread. Think OF
Buffalo undertaking such a labor OF
love and assuming such tremendous
financial responsibility. Without the
added attraction Of an exposition Nash
vile is well worthy of visit. 1t is an
admirably laid out, favorably located
and excellently drained city with many
substantial business blocks and numer
Gus handsome residences. A large
amount of Northern capital has been
invested in its development since the
war, and it is one OF the largest, if moi
actually the leading manufacturing
center of the South"
The wilderness of Tennessee reached
the dignity of Statehood, January
1895. 1t was the third State coming
into the Union after the original thir
teen, and in the century which ha,
passed since its admission, its institu
tions, many of which have become ia
nous, have been thoroughly grounded
and its greatness and stability hav,
been firmly established. Tennessee has
furnished more than her quota of mer
for the highest Office in the gift OF thu
American people, and her statesmen
and soldiers have won honor on tn,
battlefield and fame in the halls of leg
islation, while others have won distinc
tion on the bench and at the bar, ant
in professional, commercial and publ,
life. Her earlier citizens won worlt
wide fame as volunteers in the defenst
of the nation, and thereby earned tn,
distinction of Tennessee as the "Vol
unteer State"
The characteristics of the early set
tiers of the State, their high sense o
honor, devotion to principle, thei
bravery and determination, tempere,
with hospitality and intelligence, an,
unfiinching devotion to their country
have descended to the present genera
tion, and today her best people ar
found in the front ranks in the matte
of the arts and sciences while the ay
erage intelligence of her citizens is in
ferior to no State in the Union. Their
are within her borders some of tn
most famous educational institution
in the country, which, with her eff
cient system of public school, provid
for the better education of the risin
generation.
Nashville, the capitol of the Stat
/ and tho M oct CanfraI o,s. Z. ,