The Red Cloud chief., 1897-05-21

PRESIDENT.


President Mckinley placed the tip OF
his right forefnger on n tiny electric
button in his Office at the white house
at moor on Saturday. Then he pressed
It lightly and a thousand miles way
in the Southland the massive machin-
cry Of the Tennessee Centennial Ex-
position was set In motion. Flags OF
all nations leaped from a hundred PIN
nacles and "Old Glory" foated out over
the scene from the top OF the giant
Flagstaff, while the sons and daughters
Of Tennessee and Of all states. gath
cred In thousands to hear recited the
simple story Of why the exposition 49,
mingled their shouts with reverbera-
tons OF salutlng guns.
These opening exercises were simple
and dlgniied. BETTING the character OF
the men who have made Nashville's SUI
perb white city. In brief addresses the
governor Of the state and the CHIEF
officers OF the exposition celebrated the
history Of Tennessee. interpreted the
spirit Of the occasion, narrated briefly
what has been done and then invited
the whole nation to participate In the
benefits.
Triumph Of Nashville.
No word of boastfulness, no syllable
Of self glorificatlon vas heard. There
has been erected here the greatest. the
broadcast. the most beautiful and the
most complete exposition ever built
without government aid. 1t is big
enough to represent the whole nation,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. from
Canada to the gulf-more than 200
acres Of park land. with all the con-
comitants OF shady walks, groves.
lakes and flowers enough to deck the
garden Of a fairy queen. It's scope, lit
orally and hguratively. Is broader than
any state, any section, over-reaching
even national boundaries and bringing
together the products Of all civilized
peoples. The arts and sciences. edu-
cation and commerce. history and pro-
ductive possibility, the skill of handi-
craft which transmutes the coarse ma
terial of mother earth into the dainti-
est possessions Of earth's inhabitants
and the genius which preserves the
dreams Of the poet and artist for the
delight Of humber beings-all are rep
resented within the walls Of these
white palaces. In its parts and In It's
entirety 1t has all the completeness OF
the master workman's finished prod
uct all the beauty of the artists CON
ception.
From end to end It is the work of
Nashville-of Nashville. the modest
capital Of a modest state, a city which
Is o~utclassed by a score Of American
cities in numerical strength and in
dustrial importance. a city where less
than 100.0 900 people live. Nashville men
conceived the idea. Nashville men gave
the brains which has given that idea
form in landscape and architecture.
Nashville dollars have paid the bills
to the last cent. The last spadeful of
earth has been turned. the last brick
laid, the last nail driven and paid for
and the result is offered to the people
of the whole country with the simple
invitation, "Come and see." The men
Of Nashville who have done all this
look for their reward only in the per-
sonal consciousness Of work well done
and In the admiration of their fellows
for the fabric they have reared. Az
one looks at this exposition with the
minds eye, taking in the associations
which cluster around the landmarks,
old and new, aboriginal and transplant
ed from other lands and other ages,
one wonders at the audacity of the or
iginal conception and marvels that SO
much of this gray old worlds life story
can be told on so small a page.
In the beginning, this exposition was
planned to celebrate the n hundredth
birthday Of the volunteer state" Pr
oneers OF the same blood as those who
laid the foundations OF this nation and
cemented the stones with their blood,
carved a state out OF the wilderness
embracing the rivers OF "the big bend"
June I, 1896, the star of Tennessee
was admitted to constellation Of states,
and these pioneers took upon them
selves all the responsibilities OF the
new distinction. For a hundred years
those responsibilities have been borne
how we'll the history Of the whole
country tells. The name volunteer
state YVES given and confirmed in re-
peated baptisms OF fire.
Tennessee riiemen. led by Jackson
OF Tennessee, rolled back the tide of
British red coats at New Orleans. In
the Florida everglades Tennessee man
querched the bloodthirsty Seminole's
appetite with draughts from his own