Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-12

country. am pleased to say thae these grand rsalizations have been realized; that the result is even batter than propn- e.s of the past have dared 70 forecast it.
 The builders of the state, who had forged uheir way through the trackless forests of this spleniid domain, brought with them the same high ideals and fear less devotion to home and country found ed on resis tance to oppression which have everywhere made illucArfous the Anglo American name. Whsther it was the ter raory of Virginia o1 that of North Caro- Una, mattered little to them. They came eagerly and willingly 10 fight for inde- pendence and liberty, and in the war of the revolution wcre ever loyal to the standard of Washington. When their representatives served in the colonial as- sembly of North Carolina they chose, for the first time in the history of our coun- try, so far as I know-the great name of Washington for .he district in which they lived, and at the close of the revolution sought to organize their territory into state, to be known as the state of Frank lin, in grateful homage to the name of another of it's most distinguished patriot commoners.
 Spain sought to possess their territory by right of discovery as a part of Flor ida. Trance claimed it by right of ces- sion as part of Louisiana, and England
  could for am instant be recognized. Moved by the highest ins incts of salf-govern- ment and the loftiest methods of patriot ism under gallani, old John Cherver your forfathers gallartly vindcated their honor and gloriously won 1heir independ- ence.
 Thus came the new state, second only then to the now mighty west and south west, and 1t has made a wonderful his tory for itself. Tennessee has sometimes oo1 lG6 f1ft dAfl Of fI,x Statesmen' It furnishes us the immor- tai Jackson, whose record in war and whose administration in peace at the head of the great republic shines on with advancing years. The country has only added to the luster of his name, increased the obligations of his countrymen and ex- alted him in their affections. Polk and Johnson were also products of this great state and many heroes and distinguished dead whose names come up unbidden to your memory while speak
 "Tennesseeans have ever been volun- teers, not drafted patriots. In 1S46 when 100000 soldiers were called for, 30,000 of fered their services from this state and through the terrors and horrors of the civil war, under peculiar circumstances of embarrassment her star shines forth. But on whichever side they were found they fought fearlessly to death and gal lant sacrifice. Now, happily, there are no contending sides in this great glorious commonwealth. Men who opposed each other in dreadful battle third of a cen tury ago are only the more firmer for ever united together under never to be broken union.
 Tennessee may well be proud of the heroic names contributed to history and the patriotism displayed by it in our na- tional life, and also it's wealth, social ad- vancement and population, which are striking and significant in their growth and development.
 Thirty five thousand settlers in this state in 1795 had increased to 1, 1,190000 in 1S60 and today it has population close ly approximating 2000,000. It's manufact- urers, which in 1860 were small and un- important, in 1890 had reached $72,000,0 in value, while it's arm products aggre- gate more than $62000,000 annually. Its river commerce on three great interna- tional waterways, its splendid railroads operating nearly 5000 miles of road, it's mineral wealth of incalculable value, form a splendid augury for the future. l am sure no better workmen 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 resources and power of pnoduc- tion. You have done wisely in exhibiting these to your people and to your sister states, and cit no time could the display be more effective than now, when what the courtry nesds more than anything else is restored confidence in itself. The exposition demonstrates directly your own faith and purpose and signifies in Lhe widest sense your true and unfailing be- lief in the irrepressible pluck of the Ameican people, and is a promising bndl- cation of a return of prosperity.
 f"The knowledge which this beautiful and novel exposition gives will surely stimulate competition, develop your ffad Itp11t 6n1a fields of employment, extend your mar ks'tS and so eventually pay for all It cost, as we'll as justify local sentiment and encourage state pride.
 "Men and women see about me from all rurts of the country, and thousands more will assemble before The close of the exposition. Whatsoever differences of | politics might have existed and still ex- ist we are still all Americans before par tisans, and value the welfare of all the people above party or section. Sections of different states, we yet love all the states The lesson of the hour, then, is this, that whatever adverse conditions may tempororarily impede the pathway of our national progress, nothing can per manertly defeat it.
 When Mckinley declared that Ten nessees sons were loyal to the core and that this union, a third of a century ago, nearly disrupted was bound to stand for all time, the applause was something never before heard here.
 After the exercises in the auditorium the president andisom of his party visit ed the Parthenon, which is the art reposi- tory, and the party then repaired to the West Side club house, handsome structure near the administration build ing and frorting the Parthenon. In the ladies' parlor Mrs. Mckinley held an in- formal reception. Later in the evening she and the president gave a reception to woman only in the ladies' parlor, then the inhabitants of Vanity Fair. which Is similar in many respects to the Midway Plaisanee In Chicago, formed n an urique procession and marched past the build irg in which the luncheon was served After the luncheon there was demand for speeches and Gov. Bushnell, Gov. Taylor. Secretacy Sherman, Mayor McKisson. of sharon. and Col. Page Bryant responded From to 7:30 in the evening aud imme- diately following the reception by MT and Mrs Mckinley in the woman's building tha visiting press men were royally en- tertained by the local newspaper men in the Press building on the grounds. The president and party in the evening view ei5 the fireworks. The distinguished Ill