"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 shining 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 shining 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."
The presiding officer then introduced Honorable Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.; Governor of the State, who received a great ovation, it being some time before the Governor was able to proceed with his remarks. His speech was punctuated with liberal applause.