12 New York at the Woelb's Columbian Exposition. 



and ennoble womanhood and give her opportunity to make her way in the 

 arts and industries. 



At the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia Morse's telegraph com- 

 prised almost the sum of our knowledge of electricity, but a building at 

 Ohicag.) twice as large as Cooper Institute, devoted entirely to electrical 

 appliances and inventions, will demonstrate by the advance in one 

 department the enormous progress of the country in every department 

 since then. 



At the time of the Centennial Exposition we had 45,000,000 of 

 people, now our numbers reach the grand total of 64,000,000. Then we 

 had thirty-seven States, but we have since added seven stars to our flag. 

 Then the products of our farms in cereals was about $2,200,000,000, now 

 it is over $4,000,000,000. Then the output of our factories was about 

 $5,000,000,000, now it is over $7,000,000,000. Such progress, such develop- 

 ment, such advance, such accumulation of wealth, and the opportunities 

 for wealth — wealth in the broad sense which opens new avenues for 

 employment and fresh chances for independence and for homes — have 

 characterized no other similar period of recorded time. 



It is an insult to the intelligence of our State to ask what should be 

 the place of New York in this grand exhibition. First in population, in 

 manufactures, and almost in agriculture, first in all the elements which 

 constitute a great and growing Commonwealth, its place in the emulous and 

 friendly rivalry of sister States in this grand exhibition should be that 

 which nature and the enterprise of its people have given it. 



Our markets are v/est, our competitors are west. We must remove 

 any prejudice that may exist agaiust our trade and then command the 

 markets by the superiority and cheapness of our product. The oppoi- 

 tunity is before us to suffer great loss or gain incalculable advantage. 

 But aside from material considerations New York has never failed, when 

 patriotic effort was demanded, to respond with volume and enthusiasm 

 which sustained its imperial position. In the presence of this representa- 

 tive body, sp' aking for them and through them for the people of the 

 Commonwealth, I can say to the country east and west and north and 

 south : 



" New York will be at the Columbian Exposition, and it will be there 

 in the full grandeur of its strength and development." 



The Columbian World's Exposition will be international, because 

 it will hospitably welcome and entertain the people and the products of 

 every nation in the world. It will give to them the fullest opportuni'y 

 to teach us and learn from us, and to open new avenues of trade with our 

 markets and discover materials which will be valuable in theirs. But its 



