New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Part 9

PROGRAM FOR NEW YORK STATE DAY

The program for New York State day was as follows:

11 A.M. Concert by the Garde Republicaine band, of Paris, France, on the Plaza in front of the State building

12 M. Formal exercises of the day in the grand entrance hall, Col. Edward Lyman Bill presiding Invocation by Rev. Dr. William W. Boyd, of St.

Louis, formerly of New York Address of welcome by Col. Edward Lyman Bill.

Address of greeting in behalf of Exposition Company by Hon. Franklin Ferriss Address by Governor Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.

Organ recital by S. H. Grover, of New York city

9 to 12 P. M. Reception and ball given by the New York State Commission in honor of Governor and Mrs.

Odell. Dancing after ten o'clock

While not marked by the presence of militia and other spectacular features which generally accompany the celebration of a State Day, the exercises in the State building which were held at noon were most dignified and impressive. The day opened clear and cool, and the s.p.a.cious verandas of the State building were well filled long before the time set for the concert.

THE GARDE REPUBLICAINE BAND

The Garde Republicaine band is composed of 100 skilled musicians and is considered by many to be the finest band in the world. No musical organization which visited the Exposition during the entire season received more compliments or more flattering press notices than those accorded this band. They played the following program:

1. March, "Lisbon"--L. Planel 2. Overture, "La Princesse Jaime"--C. Saint-Saens 3. Fantasie On the Opera "LeCompte Ory"--G. Rossini Soloists, MM. Paradis, Laforgue, Joseph Barthelemy, Morfaux, Couilland, Fournier 4. Three Celebrated Menuets-- (a) Menuet--L. van Beethoven (b) "Ox" Menuet--J. Haydn (c) Menuet Favori--W. A. Mozart 5. March, "Egyptian"--J. Strauss

At the conclusion of the formal exercises they were entertained at luncheon by the State Commission. Through their leader, M. Gabriel Pares, they expressed hearty appreciation of the courteous treatment accorded them by the State of New York, and attested the same by playing a second concert in front of the State building between the hours of two and four in the afternoon. It was worthy of note that the building of the State of New York was the only State building at which this band played during its entire stay at the Exposition, their concerts being invariably given either in Festival Hall or in the grand bandstand in Machinery Gardens.

THE FORMAL EXERCISES

At twelve o'clock the a.s.semblage was called to order by Colonel Edward Lyman Bill. There were present Governor and Mrs. Odell, the Governor's staff, a joint committee of the Legislature, members of the State Commission, invited guests, several representatives of the Exposition Company, representatives of State and foreign commissions, and a large audience, many of whom had journeyed all the way from New York State to be present at the ceremonies.

The personal party of the Governor consisted of Governor Benjamin B.

Odell, Jr., Mrs. Odell, Mrs. William Kelly, Mrs. S.L. Dawes, Mrs. Hall and Miss Odell.

The Governor's staff comprised Brigadier-General Nelson H. Henry, Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff; Major Harrison K. Bird, Military Secretary; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles H. Sherrill, Aide-de-camp; Lieutenant-Commander Alfred Brooks Fry, Naval Militia, Aide-de-camp; Major Charles C. Davis, Thirteenth Regiment, Aide-de-camp; Major Richard H. Laimbeer, Second Brigade Staff, Aide-de-camp; Major Amos E. McIntyre, First Regiment, Aide-de-camp; Captain John T. Sadler, Thirtieth Separate Company, Aide-de-camp; Captain Edwin W. Dayton, Twenty-second Regiment, Aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant William L. Thompson, Twelfth Separate Company, Aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant Chauncey Matlock, Third Battery, Aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant Thomas Barron, Seventh Regiment, Aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant Augustus S. Chatfield, Eighth Regiment, Aide-de-camp; First Lieutenant Cornelius Vanderbilt, Twelfth Regiment, Aide-de-camp.

The joint committee of the Legislature comprised Hon. Jotham P. Allds, Norwich; Hon. S. Frederick Nixon, Westfield; Hon. James T. Rogers, Binghamton; Hon. Edwin A. Merritt, Potsdam; Hon. Robert Linn c.o.x, Buffalo; Hon. Thomas D. Lewis, Oswego.

Colonel Bill called upon the Rev. W. W. Boyd, of St. Louis, formerly of New York, to invoke the Divine blessing.

Dr. W. W. Boyd:

"Our Father, we thank Thee for this beautiful day and this a.s.sembly of the loyal sons and daughters of our native State. We rejoice that Thou hast gathered us into families, and so into communities, commonwealths and the perfect union of all the states.

"We bless Thee for the history of this great State, its part in the glorious Revolution, in the preservation of the Union, its development in every branch of human industry, its material prosperity, but above all, for its humanities, its growth in philanthropy, education and religion.

"Bless, we beseech Thee, His Excellency the Governor, and all a.s.sociated with him in making, interpreting and executing the laws.

"Bless the President, Directors and all who have helped to create and develop this marvelous Exposition, especially the Commissioners of the State of New York, who have erected this splendid building, and by the varied exhibits in the palaces of the Exposition portrayed the wonderful progress of the Empire State.

"And grant, O most merciful Father, that the fruits of this great Exposition may be enlarged national prosperity, international comity and peace, and the strengthening of the ties of human brotherhood throughout the world.

"May Thy special blessing be upon the exercises of this hour; may the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen."

Colonel Bill then delivered the following address:

ADDRESS OF COLONEL BILL

"On behalf of the New York State Commission I extend greeting and hearty welcome to the official representative of President Francis, to Governor Odell, our distinguished guests, to the sons and daughters of New York, and to all who have honored us with their presence here to-day. It was on this site, upon May 2, 1903, Governor Odell lifted the first spadeful of earth where this beautiful structure has since been erected. Upon that occasion New York was represented by our Chief Executive, his staff, and troops numbering nearly fifteen hundred men from all branches of the military and naval service of the State. On last April thirtieth this building, sumptuously appointed, was formally opened to the public.

I may say, with pardonable pride, that the report which the Commission made at that time showed that not only was our building complete in every detail, but all of the State exhibits as well were ready for inspection. The work of our Commission has been along pleasant lines, and we have been constantly stimulated by hearty support from the Exposition authorities. It is fitting that we should express our sincere appreciation to President Francis and the sterling coterie of men with whom he is surrounded for the aid and a.s.sistance which they have so willingly rendered this Commission in every way. Our Governor has taken a warm interest in New York's partic.i.p.ation at this Fair, and on many occasions he has made manifest his desire that New York's representation should be ample and complete in every particular. In many of the magnificent places, such as Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fish and Game, Mines and Metallurgy, our State has collective exhibits which show her varied resources. In this beautiful structure will be evidenced further proof of New York's generous partic.i.p.ation in this great Exposition. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition has a deep interest for New York, for one of the princ.i.p.al figures instrumental in bringing about that purchase was Livingston, a distinguished son of the Empire State, and it was he who negotiated the treaty and was first to sign it. And yet the real authors of that great transaction on this side of the ocean were neither Jefferson, Madison nor Livingston, and I think historians will agree with me when I say it was more the influence of those hardy frontiersmen of Kentucky who demanded free navigation for the magnificent inland river which rolls by us in its eternal flow to the Gulf of Mexico. The influence of those men, the vanguard of civilization, could not be disregarded by those who were at the head of our governmental affairs more than a century ago. Then, the more we look at this transaction, the more evident it is that the outcome of it was due to that man whose shadow even now falls sharply athwart the whole continent of Europe--Napoleon Bonaparte. It was his ambition which threw into the grasp of the infant republic the splendid empire out of which have been carved twelve sovereign States and two Territories. At that time Napoleon uttered one of those far-seeing expressions which is important in its prophecy. 'Perhaps,' he said, 'it will be objected to me that the Americans of two or three centuries hence may be found too powerful for Europe, but my foresight does not embrace such remote fears. Besides, we may hereafter expect rivalries among members of the Union. Confederacies that are called perpetual last only until one of the contending parties finds it is to its interests to break them. It is to prevent the danger to which the colossal power of England subjects us that I would provide such a remedy.' No such vision of the future came to our American statesmen, many of whom bitterly opposed the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. When the bill came up for discussion on the floor of Congress, Josiah Quincy, afterwards mayor of Boston, and for many years president of Harvard College, said, speaking of the incorporation in the Union of the territory of Louisiana: 'It appears to me that this measure would justify revolution in this country. I am compelled to declare it as my deliberate opinion that if this bill pa.s.ses, the bonds of this Union are virtually dissolved; that the States which compose it are free from their moral obligation, and that, as it will be the right of all, so it will be the duty of some to prepare definitely for a separation, amicably if they can, violently if they must.' He said further: 'If this bill pa.s.ses, it is a death blow to the Const.i.tution.' Strange words, indeed, in our ears at this time, and it shows that the American statesmen of those days had not the imagination of Napoleon.

"What has this purchase meant to New York to have in this Union this great empire? What has it meant to the Union itself to have this splendid territory incorporated in it? It has meant for New York prosperity and increased commerce to the people of all our land and furnished homes for the sons and daughters of New York. The States carved out of that great Empire have all borne their share in the heat of our national life and they have contributed immeasurably to the nation's growth and development, and we have come in this country, notwithstanding the immense separation and diversity of interests, to work together under one flag, with one interest for a common country, and this great Exposition should teach not only us of the East but of all other sections of the country that we should avoid the danger of finding ourselves separate in sentiment from one another. In this great western empire we all take a common interest, and the success of this Exposition redounds to the credit and honor, not only of the men who have carried it to such successful issue, but upon the whole country. We all s.h.i.+ne in the reflected glory of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, which shows the high-water mark of human progress. It is indeed the greatest of all international fairs and a lasting credit to the artistic skill of the men who planned and executed it. It is the culmination of all that has been done in the wide expanse of territory purchased from France in 1803, and the achievements of all nations in the world since that day. It is a far cry from the early oriental fairs in the East, which were perhaps the early ancestors of this great Exposition, and all honor and credit and glory is due the men who stood shoulder to shoulder in carrying this great enterprise to such a magnificent culmination. It represents American skill, American enterprise, American endeavor, and its influence will be felt upon this country long after those men who have played their successful part in this great moving drama have pa.s.sed from earth. Words are inadequate to fittingly describe the beauties of this magnificent Exposition. It is individual effort as well as concerted effort which has brought about these splendid results. It is one of the brightest pages in American history, and what glorious memories a perusal of these pages arouse! We can turn the pages of recorded history from the time when the boats of the adventurous Genoese unfolded their white wings in the harbor of Palos and sped across the unknown seas to bring back upon their return evidence of the existence of a new world far across the wide waste of waters. In fancy we picture that st.u.r.dy band kneeling with Columbus, richly attired, upon the tropic sands, while over them floats the blood and gold banner of Spain, as the priest clothed in vestments of his office asks the blessings of Almighty G.o.d upon the land which Columbus claims in the name of the House of Castile. In the background we see waving palms and dark-skinned men who gaze with awe upon the white discoverers. In another scene we see the cold wintry waves surge and dash around the frail craft fighting its way across dark tempestuous seas from Plymouth, the little bark tossed like a feather here and there until she lands on that rock-bound coast known as New England. We see that little colony--Freedom's seed--germinate and thrive; first the grain, then the tender plant, ever exposed to severe conditions, then matured into the oak of a giant nation. We see those brave colonists who have planted the banner of human liberty upon the inhospitable sh.o.r.es push ever onward, ever extending the fringe of civilization, struggling against disheartening obstacles, fighting wild beasts and savage men, but pus.h.i.+ng on with indomitable courage. We see the historical gathering at Philadelphia, resulting in that doc.u.ment embodying Jefferson's superb crystallization of popular opinion that 'all men are created free and equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;' that American magna charta which swept away forever the will of kings in this land. The people became the rulers and the accident of birth carried no rank, conferred no privilege. We see the loosely joined colonies building a nation which contained these elements of greatness little dreamed of by those hardy pioneers who so generously gave up their offering of blood on Freedom's altar. The kaleidoscope still turns. We see those intrepid founders of the school of liberty pus.h.i.+ng their lines ever onward across rivers, deserts, over mountains clad with eternal snow until the golden sh.o.r.es of California gladden the eye of our valiant explorers. Then a pause, and over land and sea hang dark clouds of fratricidal war. Four long years through the valleys and over the mountains of the Southland surges the red tide of battle. The days were dark and full of gloom, when lo! the clouds parted and the heavens again were blue. The nation had been born anew, and on the fair pages of her history appear no longer the dark stain of human slavery. The strong arm of enterprise quickly washed away the red stain of war. The word 'America' had a deeper and more sacred meaning than before, and the nation was re-established on the indestructible foundation of national unity; the blocks were laid in the cement of fraternal esteem. Still the picture which we see revolves. Across the waters of the Pacific America sweeps towards the fulfillment of her world wide destiny. The Stars and Stripes wave over the palace of the kings in Honolulu. Still again the nation's sword is unsheathed in the cause of human liberty, and the last vestige of Spanish power is swept from the new world. The thunder of Dewey's guns awakens us to the fact that the American banner is planted into the far Orient, there to stay forever, and under its protecting folds manifold blessings are carried to the people of those islands lying in the purple spheres of summer seas. While the drum of all American progress is heard around the world, it too may be truthfully said that the sun never sets upon the soil over which Freedom's banner proudly floats, for when the light of the dying day is fading from Porto Rican hills the golden rays of the morning sun are reflected upon the s.h.i.+mmering folds of Old Glory on the gray old battlements of Manila.

"It is indeed inspiring, the history of this great nation, guided to its ultimate issue as a stately s.h.i.+p is wafted over the seas to the harbor of its destination. I wonder if in this ceaseless struggle for gold and gain we pause long enough to study the true character of those men to whose valorous deeds we owe so much, those men who planted the tree of human liberty so deep that even the shock of revolution of succeeding wars could not uproot it, those men who demanded of Jefferson a free Mississippi and who made this Exposition possible. All honor to those heroes who stood shoulder to shoulder in the days which tried men's souls, who, in the gloom and suffering of Valley Forge, saw in the distance the rainbow of hope s.h.i.+ning over the dark clouds of defeat.

They saw the light of a great nation which would serve as a beacon in the world progress and a refuge for the persecuted of the nations of earth. All races contributed to the founding of this beloved country.

The roster of the Revolution is filled with names which show that the liberty loving of all European nations gave up a generous offering of blood on Freedom's altar. In our veins courses blood of all nations, and it is the healthy commingling of that blood which has produced a race of world conquerors. It has produced the men who have made possible this great Exposition. We have been placed in the world's crucible, have been melted in the glowing heat of a nascent life, and have been forged into a weapon which shall carve the world. Our ideals are worthy, the hopes and aspirations of the nation devoted to justice and love; ideals which shall be the steadfast inspirer of nations and individuals to uprightness, to justice and to honor."

The presiding officer then expressed regret at the unavoidable absence of President Francis on account of bereavement in his family. He introduced judge Franklin Ferriss, General Counsel to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, who delivered the following address:

ADDRESS OF JUDGE FERRISS

"I regret extremely, for your sake and his, that the brilliant man who stands at the head of this Exposition cannot be here to-day to greet you in person. Still I must admit that I am not unmindful of the fact that I owe to his misfortune and yours the very great privilege of appearing before you to extend a welcome to the people of my native State.

"The President of the Exposition bids me say to you that there has been no occasion on these grounds--that there will be none in the future--in which he would more gladly partic.i.p.ate than this.

"The Exposition management feels under peculiar obligations to the State of New York. We are indebted largely to her prompt and liberal co-operation for the high stand which the Exposition has taken. We are indebted to the Governor, to the New York Commission, to the gracious hostesses of this building, to the splendid woman who has, with rare tact and dignity, co-operated with the Exposition as President of the Board of Lady Managers.

"In the building of this Exposition, science, invention, art, manufacture, the field, the forest, the mine, the air and the water have contributed their choicest treasures. How well we have succeeded in presenting them you must judge. But I wish to say to you that no matter how high a standard we have reached, still more important than all else is the representation upon these grounds of our splendid American man and womanhood. No man can walk about this Plateau of States, view these beautiful structures, see the people coming together from the north and the south, the east and the west, uniting in common loyalty and respect for our inst.i.tutions, without feeling his heart swell with pride and grat.i.tude.

"It is no disparagement to our sister States, for me, a loyal son of New York, to say that it is most fitting that the Empire State should be pre-eminent here also in the beauty of her building, the character of her exhibits and the magnificent representation of her people.

"I am proud of the State of New York--proud of her history, her scholars, her statesmen, her soldiers--proud of her material prosperity--proud of the great metropolis through whose gates thunders the commerce of the United States.

"I love the State of New York--her broad and fertile valleys, her stately rivers, the lakes which glisten like jewels on her bosom, her mountains which rear their tops to the clouds; but most of all I love the quiet life of the country home--the honesty and industry of the plain people.

"Our old home! Who can forget it? The great barn with its huge beams and fragrant mows of hay--the sparkling brook whose s.h.i.+ning shallows bathed my naked feet--the broad meadow with its fence corners of luscious berries--the old schoolhouse, whose desks are impressed with generations of jack-knives! Was there ever so sweet a draught as that which we drew from the s.h.i.+ning depths of the old well?

"And yet the country boy grew restless. With his ear to the ground, he heard the distant hum of industry. He heard the tramp of a million feet in the great cities. He felt that the battle of life was on, and, that he must take his place in the struggle. And so he turned his back upon the old home.

"Ah! how many grave faced fathers and tender, sweet faced mothers have watched their boys, one by one, go out into the world, and have turned back in solitude, cheered by an occasional visit, an occasional letter, to wait until their days should be fulfilled. And how many of us must now say that their days have been fulfilled, and that a simple stone marks their last resting place in the village churchyard.

"What have we gained by this? Contentment? They had it. Respect of our fellowmen? They had it. Success in life? They had it. True, their fortunes were small--and yet they had no clutching fear that speculation, fraud or treachery would rob them of the fruit of a life's toil. And they had an abiding faith that there would be provision for the years to come. Aye, that there would be provision for the last journey to that land, where, according to their simple faith: 'The wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.'

"I will yield to no man in loyalty to the State of my adoption; but who can chide me if my heart clings to the home of my childhood, to the graves of my forefathers?

"If we, who have left the old home to build a new one in the West, can be faithful to the traditions of our childhood--if we can bequeath to our children the lessons of industry, honesty and economy which our fathers gave to us--we shall do more to honor the State of New York than we could do by rearing marble to the skies."