River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-06-17
HER CENTENNIAL.
Tennessee Celebrates Her Admis-
sion to the Union.
Appropriate Ceremonies and Exer-
cises mt hviIIe-President Me-
kinley L. the Guest of Honor
His Speech.

cises mt shviIIe-President Me-
kinIey 4. the Guest of Honor
His speech.
Nashville, Tenn, June l2.-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 a guard of
honor to the president a mounted de-
tachment of ex-confederates command
ed by Capt George +. Hage. 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 marched 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 battery of artillery
doomed forth the national salute of %
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
Kirzman, president of the woman's
board. The president was greeted with
hearty cheers. Gov. Bushnell spoke,
and then the president was introduced.
He spoke in part as follows:
The Presidents speech.
"Offcers of the Tennessee Centennial Ex-
position, Ladies and Gentlemen: Amer
can nationality, compared with that OF
Europe and the east. is still very young,
and yet already we are beginning TO have
age enough for centennial anniversaries
in states other than the original Is.
Such occasions are always interesting,
and when celebrated in a 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 fulfill their highest
destiny.
This celebration is of general interest
to the whole country and OF special sig
II 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 a welcome adj
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
Fase II he 49, 10 rs
ing and sagacious statesmen In all parts
of the country.
"Tennesseeans have ever been volunteer.
not drafted. patriots. In 1876 when 2,4oO
soldiers were called for, $4,000 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 third of a CEN
tury 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
I
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 ,109, 900 In 1860. and to-
day II has a population closely approx
mating 100000. Its manufactures. which
In 1850 were small and unimportant, in
1890 had reached s72,000.000 in value, while
Its farm products now aggregate more
than $50, 900 900 annually. Its river COM
D 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. i 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 resource and power of produce
I ton. You have done wisely in exhibiting
4 these TO your own people and to your sister
states, and at no time could the display
Z be more effective than now, when what the
country needs more than all else is re-
stored confidence I'm itself This EXPOSE
/ ton 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
I Is promising indication of the return of
'"rhe knowledge which this beautiful and
novel exposition gives will surely stimula te
competition, develop your trade, increase
[ your output. enlarge your fields of en-
Lloyment, extend your markets. and
eventually pay for all IL cost as well as
Justify local sentiment and encourage state
pride.
MEN and women l see about me from all
/ parts of the country. and thousands more
I 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
exist, we are all Americans before we are
partisans, and value the welfare of all
I the people above party or section. Citi-
Il zens OF different states. we yet love all
4 the states. The lesson of the hour. then,
L is this-that whatever adverse conditions
| may temporarily impede the pathway Of
| our national progress, nothing can perma-
nently defeat it,"
NisIfing the nuiIdings.