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 assistance which they have so willingly rendered this Commission in every way. Our Governor has taken a warm interest in New York's participation 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 participation in this great Exposition. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition has a deep interest for New York, for one of the principal 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 passes, 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 passes, it is a death blow to the Constitution.' 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 shine 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 passed 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 sturdy 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 God 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 shores push ever onward, ever extending the fringe of civilization, struggling against disheartening obstacles, fighting wild beasts and savage men, but pushing on with indomitable courage. We see the historical gathering at Philadelphia, resulting in that document 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 pushing their lines ever onward across rivers, deserts, over mountains clad with eternal snow until the golden shores 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 shimmering 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 ship 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 shining 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 participate 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 institutions, without feeling his heart swell with pride and gratitude.