The bee., 1897-06-17

be strangled by our courtesy. And when
they depart from us we will pin upon the
lapels of the President and each one OF
his party a sweet Forget-me-not.
The President Speaks.
The President said Oficers OF the Ten
nessee Centennial Exposition, Ladies and
Gentlemen-American nationality, COM
pared with that of Europe and the East, Is
still very young; and yet already we are be-
ginning to have age enough Tor centennial
anniversaries in states other than the origi-
nal thirteen. Such occasions are always
interesting and when celebrated in prac-
teal way are useful and instructive. Com
bining retrospect and review. they recall
what has been done by state and nation,
and point out what yet remains Tor both
TO accomplish in order to fulfill their high
est destiny. This celebration is of gen
eral interest to the whole country and of
special significance 10 the people OF the
South and West II marks the end OF the
FIRST century of the State of Tennessee
and closes the first year OF its second CEN
fury.
One hundred and one years ago this
state was admitted into the Union as the
sixteenth member in the great family oil
American commonwealth. II was vel
come addition to the national household
community young, strong and sturdy,
with an honored and heroic ancestry. with
fond anticipatons. not only OF its founders
but faith in its success on the part OF lar
seeing and sagacious statesmen in all parts
OF the country. | am justified in saying
that these aniicipations have been grandly
realized; that the present OF this commu-
nifty of sterling worth is even brighter than
prophets of the past had dared to forecast
| 1t. The builders of the state who had
forced their way through the trackless for
esls of this splendid domain, brought
with them the same high ideal and fearless
devotion to home and country, founded on
resistance to oppression, which have ev-
erywhere made illustrious the Anglo
American name Whether il was the ter
rtory OF Virginia Or that OF North Caro-
lima mattered little to them. They came
willing and eager to fight for Independence
and liberty, and in the war of the revolu-
ton were loyal to the standard of Wash
ington. When their representatives served
in the Colonial Assembly OF North Caro-
lima they chose-I know-the great name
of Washington for the district in which
they lived, and at the close of the revolu-
ton sought to organize this territory into a
state, to be known as the State of Franklin
in grateful homage to the name of another
Of its most distinguished patroit common
ers
Spain had sought to possess their terri
tory by right of discovery, as a part oil
Florida. France claimed it by right OF
cessation as a part OF Louisiana. and
England as hers by conquest. But neither
| for ha
nized Moved by the highest instincts of
self-goyernment and the Hottest motives OF
patriotism, under gallant old John Sewer.
at Kings Mountain your foreiathers
bravely indicated their honor and glo-
riously won their independence. Thus
came the new state, which has made a
wonderful history for itself
Tennessee has sometimes been called the
Mother of Southwestern Statesmen 1t
furnished US the immortal Jackson. whose
record in war and whose administration in
peace as the head of the great republic
shines on with the advancing years. The
century has only added to the lusire OF his
name. increased the obligations of his
countrymen and exalted him in their af-
lection Polk and Johnson also we're
products Of this great state. and many
| utfOGS VI uCChS WuOoc
names will come unbidden TO your memo
ries while speak.
Tennesseeans have ever been volunteers,
not drafted patriots. In 1876. when a.
400 soldiers we're called for. 1000 loyal
Tennesseeans offered their SERVICE and
amid the trials and terrors of the great
civil war, under conditions of peculiar dis
tress and embarrassment, her people di-
vided on contending sides But upon
whichever side they fought, 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 common country The
men who opposed each other in dreadful
battle third of a century ago are once
more and forever united together under
one flag in a never-to- be-broken union.
The glory of Tennessee is not alone ia
the brilliant names it has contributed to
history, or of 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
Eve thousand settlers in this State in 1900
had increased to /. 100. 600 in 1862 and to-
day it has a population closely approxima-
ting 2.ooo 600. Its manufactures, which
in 1860 were small and unimporiant in