The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-03
OPEN To The WORLD
CHARLESTON'S GREAT EXHIBITION
FORMALLY BEGUN.
ROOSEVELT TOUCHED BUTTON
A TRIUMPH OF REVOLUTION AND
EVOLUTION, SAID DEPEw.


Exposition Begun With Imposing
CeremOnies-Federa and state
Troops and Confederate Veterans
Participated in Exercises-Mr. De-
pew Takes the Exposition rs an
Omen of the Future Development
of Charleston and the SOuth-Re-
ciprOcity and Trade With the
West Indies Largely Dwell Upon,
and the Necessity of an American
Marine Urged.
Charleston, S. c., Dec. with i'm
posing ceremonies, embracing a pa
rade of federal forces, and state mill
tia, Confederate veterans, BEAUTIFUL wo-
men and cheering collegians; pro-
gramme of exercises graced by dis
tinguished speakers, and with words
of greeting from the President of the
United States, the South Carolina, In
terstate and West Indian Exposition
was officially opened this afternoon.
Conservative Charleston and it's thou
sands of visitors thronged the historic
old city from early morning, cheered
the artillerymen from the batteries in
the harbor, threw flowers at the old
veterans and the ladies occupying car
riages in the parade, and gave enthu-
siastic welcome to the invited guests
The day was set aside as a holiday and
all places of business were closed.
In the auditorium at the Exposition
grounds, where to- days exercises were
held, an audience of 1000 people cheer
ed the name of the President of the
United States, gave hearty applause
to Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, the or
ator of the day, listened attentively to
the afternoons exercises, and then
Joined the crowds inspecting the
grounds and marvelled at the au-
dacity of Charleston in undertaking
an exposition of such magnitude.
The glorious Southern sun shed its
warm rays on the thousands of WISH
tors all the morning, and in the even
ing a generous shower baptized Char
lesion and her exposition
About 800 people, including the Gov
ernor of south Carolina, and star the
officers of the exposition, the board of
lady managers, and the City Council
of Charleston We're on the stage of the
beautifully decorated auditorium when
the exercises began. Senator Depew on
entering was given an ovation by the
audience, the cheering continuing for
several minutes. After welcoming ad-
dresses by T. w. Wagner, president of
the exposition company, and Gov. M
B. McSweeney, Senator Depew was
introduced by ]. Adger Smyth, mayor
of Charleston.
The acoustic properties of the au-
ditorium are splendid, and Mr.. Depew
was never in better voice. The sena.-
tor said
Mr.. Depew's Grafton.
This exhibition is the triumph of
revolution and evolution. There has
been no period since the colony of
South Carolina adopted the theoretical
but impracticable charter prepared by
the great philosopher. John Locke, in
1874 down to the treaty of Paris with
Spain in 1899, when this happily con-
ceived enterprise was possible until
now. 1t is an omen of future develop
ment and prosperity for Charleston
that the moment its citizens saw the
time had come they entered upon this
benefcent work with patriotism, cour-
age anu COHllueuCe. II required nearly
a century and a half of struggle and
preparation before there existed an in
dustrial and manufacturing South in
the United States, and Spanish islands
in the caribbean sea free and indie
pendent to meet upon the common
ground of united welfare and recipro-
cal benefits.
The Huguenot settlement was of in
calculable influence upon the destiny
of this state and its sister common
wealths. They differed from all the
colonists of the seventeenth century.
At a time when people We're not safe
except under the protection of strong
government, these exiles had neither
home nor country. They could not re-
turn to their own, and their king de-
MED them protection in foreign lands
With all past ties severed, they became
a loyal part of every community in
which they settled They brought to
their new homes an intense love for
religious liberty education, refinement
domestic virtues, skill in all the handi-
craft of the age and lofty spirit and
chivalric courage. They gave in larger
measure than existed elsewhere sem
timent and imagination to the charac-
ter and characteristics of these settle
ments With this strain in the Vigor-
Gus and aggressive Saxon and Celtic
stock. South Carolina became natural
~ a leader in the stirring movements
of the century, in those political bat
ties which were fraught with such mo-
mentous consequences and in the decis-
i've action which risked everything on
the hazards of war. SO. now when
opportunity offers. she comes again to
the front in this subperb effort for the
Industrial and commercial prosperity
of the South.
The Dark Hour of 1880.
'The Southern states in 1866 were
facing q series of disasters and calam-
tiles unparalleled in modern times.
Their wealth was destroyed, their
working capital lost, their farms de-
yastated. their cities and villages In
ruins. and they were without manu-
features or Industries. The problem
Of adjusting to their political, social
and economic conditions a suddenly
emGncipated slave population of near
ly equal numbers, which had been
granted every civil right. Including
suffrage. demanded immediate atten-
ton. The unconquerable and invinci-
bic grit and pluck Of the American were
never more sDlendidly illustrated. Or
Derby government has been establish
ed. education fostered, agriculture re-
vived railroads constructed mines
opened. new industries builded and the
riches and resources OF the land
brought out. The farm wealth has
grown from a nominal 10 n real value
Of three thousand millions Of dollars.
In the place OF no manufacturing in