The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30
FRANCIS, ADDRESS.
President of Worlds Fair Inaugurates
the Speech Making.

as follows:
"A great thinker has said. The
sentiment from which it springs de-
termines the dignity of any deed
This universal exposition was con-
ceived in a sense of obligation on the
part of the people of the Louisiana
purchase to give expression to their
gratitude for the innumerable bless
ings that have flowed from century
of membership in the American
union, to manifest their appreciation
of the manifold benefits of living in
a land whose climate and soil and re-
sources are unsurpassed, and of hav-
ing their lots cast in an age when lib
erty and enlightenment are estab-
lished on foundations broad and
deep, and are Dhe heritage of all who
worthily strive. To rise to the full
measure of such a sentiment required
an undertaking of comprehensive pro-
portions, and the participation of all
races and of every cline.
Six years have passed since the
conception began to assume form.
The first year was devoted to arousing
the interest of this community and
| securing the cooperation of the states
and territories of the purchase. The
next two years were spent in enlist
/ Ing the sympathy of other sections of
/ our own country and in gaining the
recognition and assistance of the gen
] eral government Three years ago
/ 1t has been vigorously prosecuted on
/ every section of the globe. The move
ment has enlarged III scope from day
] 10 day, ana taken on more definite
shape from year to year. DISCOURAGE
/ nlents were frequent enough but were
4 never disheartening, and are now all
forgotten We remember only the
\ words Of cheer and commentator.
/ the patient consideration given to
! what was often looked upon as misdf-
rected enthusiasm, but which was per-
4 sisted IN, and almost invariably con-
verified indifference or sceptfcism into
/ helpful and active interest. The mag
/ nitude OF the enterprise was never lost
| sight of by its promoters but its
mammoth proportions, constantly in
/ creasing as they developed. never for
a moment shook the confidence. weak
ened the energies or diverted from
/ their Well-defined purposes those who
1 had been entrusted with the respon-
sibility and the work Today YOU
see the contamination of their efforts
The sincere and helpful interest Of
I the FEDERAL government. the unanimous
! cooperation of the state and territories
and possessions of the United States
! the participation of almost every coun-
/ try on the earth. is evidence of the
| wisdom and thoroughness. of the work
| of exploitation, and establishes un-
| questionably the universal character
/ of the exposition.
The magnificent structures whose
| graceful lines and imposing fronts have
/ had no peer in architecture or design:
| the enhancing picture that holds your
admiring gaze on yonder lagoon and
meet you at every turn. the ininitabIe
adaptation of the beauties of nature to
the achievement of art, clearly show
| the skill and Judgment that have been
exercised in preparing receptacIes for
/ the products of the world.
| The exhibits of every country and
| every people, classified as they are in
| a manner uneQualled for clear and
competitive comparison, and by sys-
tenn and in an order that records the
development of man and his accom-
/ plishment, bear testimony to the ad-
Vancement of civilization, and show
that their arrangement is the result of
/ thoughtful experience, and is for the
edihcation of all who desire TO learn
/ Has the contamination risen to the
full measure of the ambitious plan out
lined at the inception of the enterprise?
Has the lofty sentiment that inspired
the celebration found a realizing en-
bodiment in the picture you behold?
! Does the exhibition of mans handiWork
here installed faithfully portray his
progress and developments Does this
assembling of the best products of all
the agec, brought together in friendly
rivalry by nationalities and races diff
fering in faith and in habit and in
ideals, from correct composite Of
mans achievements; of the advance
ment of science; of the thought of the
twentieth century? If So this univer-
sal exposition is more than an exhibit
ton Of producers, or even of processes;
it is more than a congregating of the
grades of civilization as. represented
by all races from the primitive to the
cultured; it is even more than sym
postum of the thought of the thrones,
of student and the moralist. 1t is all
of these combined, and the tout en-
semble forms distinct entity whose
impress on the present and influence
on the future are deep and lasting. 1t
will have a place in history more con-
spicuous than its projectors ever con-
ceiVed. For more than a generation to
come it will be a marker in the accom-
pliShmentS and progress of man. so
thoroughly does it represent the
worlds civilization that if all man S
other works were by some unspeak-
able catastrophe blotted out the rec
nations would afford all necessary
standards for the rebuilding of our en-
tire civilization.
by bringing together sections and peo-
pies hitherto remote and unacqualnted
/ and thereby promoting mutual respect, II
is a distinct step toward establishing that
universal peace for which all right mlnded
/ people are striving and which the expoSl-
tiOn 5 gifted sculptor has so ntungiy TYP
flied in the graceful figure that crowns
the noble monument at whose base we
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
held in commemoraton OF the acquisition
of an empire by deed OF the PEN s2-
lutes the representatives, executive ana
| legisla tive, of the federal government ana
/ tenders most profound thanks Tor the rec
, | ognitiOn extended and assistance render
ed. 1t acknowledges obligations to states
! and territories and foreign countries fcr
! cO-operatiOn and contribution ana ma k3s
/ its obeisance to commissioners and exhlb-
Ss.Open We gates Swing wide We portals.
Enter herein sons OF men, ana DenOl1
/ the achievements Of your race learn the
/ lesson taught and gather from II lnsplra-
fion for still greater accomplish InenrS-