The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-05-06
OPEN TO THE WORLD.
The Gates of the Centen.
niaI are Passed by Near
Iy 10000 People.
EXERCISES IN AUDITORIUM.
Patriotic Speeches by Leading Citizens Are
Attentively Listened To.
Nashville Sun.

Nashville Sun.
May 1, 1897, has been added to the
list of great days for Tennessee, and
will be handed down to posterity as a
triumph, none the less glorious because
it commentaries energy, enterprise
and patriotism and not victory bought
by disregard for life on the field of
battle. Neither was it an occasion of
pomp and pageantry, rather the con-
sumation of industrial and artistic en-
terprise, attended with impressive,
beftting ceremony.
The day was worthy of the occasion.
The sun smiled brightly upon picture,
adverse weather for the past month had
done much to retard. Inspiring music,
gay bunting andIAuttering flags, "Old
Glory, of course, predominating, made
the Capital City of the Volunteer State
look what enthusiastic thousands ex-
pressed. The pride of every Tennes-
sean was wrought to the highest pitch
and from early dawn a restless mass
Of humanity surged to and fro on the
down town streets anxious for gates of
the White City to open.
A thrill of exultation and satisfaction
moved the heart of every native spec
tator when President Thomas sent word
to the Chief Executive of the United
States that the Tennessee Centennial
and international Exposition was ready
and anxious to greet the world, A fash
of deep, almost aweing triumph spread
over the waiting multitude when the
roar of cannon and the whir of ma
chinery resounded being put in motion
by an electric touch from the nation s
capital.
Could it have been possible to have
added the demonstration made on the
Inaugural day, June 1, 1896, to yester-
days events nothing in the history OF
the world, political or material, could
have surpassed the industrial victory.
Under adverse and varied fortunes
have those at the helm struggled, and
now none should enjoy the denoue-
ment so much.
The White City, ephemeral though
it be, has added brilliant page to an
nails of dauntless Commonwealth, be
she involved in war for liberty or pro
gress-ever glorions.
HISRToRIC GAvELs.
President Thomas said: "Fellow
Citizens-The gavel with which this
vast assembly is called to order is made
from limb of beech tree that DAME
Boone inscribed upon these words
Daniel Boone kill bar on tree, in yea
1760.'
"This gavel, he continued, holding
another gavel in his hand, 'is mad,
| from wood taken from the builoins
wherein the first Legislature of Ten.
nessee ever met. These mementoes
deem appropriate to mention at the
opening of these exercises.
The audience stood, and the Rt. Rev
Thomas F. Gailor, Bishop Coadjutor o.
Tennessee, was introduced by Presi
dent Thomas, and he delivered thu
opening prayer
PRESIDENT THOMAS ADDRESS.
Ladies and gentlemen:-On June /
1896, these grounds and the buildings
erected thereon were dedicated to thu
honor and glory of Tennessee, in com
memoration of an event which trans
pred on June /, 1896, and as tribute tC
the men and women who endured the
hardships and braved the dangers OF
frontier life in the wilderness west o.
the Alleghanies, that they might fount
this great Commonwealth.
They loved the banner of our coun
try with it's little cluster of fifteen stars
and the lapse of 100 years has not i'm
paired the honor, integrity or patriot
ism of the people of Tennessee; for W,
love the same banner, with its glrorioui
constellation of forty-fve stars, repre-
senting forty-fve sovereign States
which together constitute the greatest
nation in the world. 'a*...t.
The objects of this Centennial Expo
sition are to commemorate the past
present the advantages of the presen
and inspire hope for the future-th
past, the present, the future of Tennes
see-objects so laudable that the enter
fprise has received the approval of th,
Government of the United States, Con
gress having appropriated $780, 90
that the General Government might b
properly represented by grand OBJ
ject lesson, showing the progress 0
the nation during the past 100 years
1t has also been approved by the au
thorities of the State Of Tennessee, tn
Legislature having appropriated $50,
600 in order that the history. the pro
ducts and the resources of the Stat
might be properly represented. Th'
county of Davidson and city of Nash
vile, realizing the honor and advan
tage of having the Centennial jubile
within their borders, have donate
$3.50, 900, and other cities, counties an