114 New Yoek at the "World's Columbian Exposition. 



the belief that the preservation of American liberty and the unequaled 

 advantages of American opportunities could only be had and enjoyed in 

 the preservation of the American union. 



New York is here to-day celebrating her day, claiming the elements 

 which constitute her glory, but only in that spirit of friendly emulation 

 which recognizes the merits of every one of the sister Commonwealths. 



We are here in this building with its admirable architecture, its artis- 

 tic finibh and hospitable dimensions. We are here with our arts, our agri- 

 culture, our manufactures, the products of our mines and our forests, the 

 illustrations of our educational system and of our general progress, to 

 explain to the other Commonwealths and to the world why it is that we 

 enjoy and retain and will continue to hold the proud position of the 

 Empire State of the American Union. 



We are here with our Governor to say to the country and to the rep- 

 resentatives of other nations that we have done our best for the excellence 

 and success of this great exhibition. It will be the distinguishing feature 

 of this century that in its last years and dying hours there gathered upon 

 the borders of Lake Michigan such a display of the beneficent results of 

 peace and good will among men in promoting the happiness of mankind 

 and the welfare of all people as no other age has ever seen. May its 

 example be felt in every department of industry, in the realm of diplo- 

 macy, and in the expansion of liberty during the twentieth century. 



I will now introduce a New Yorker; a New Yorker of New York; 

 one to the manor born and with some old Dutch blood in him. He is 

 New York itself, officially. Governor Flower. 



Gov. Flower's Speech. 



Gov. Flower spoke as follows : 



Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Commission, and Fellow-citizens of 

 New York and other States : 



We came here nearly a year ago, representing the Empire State, to 

 dedicate this building to the purposes of the exposition. We brought 

 with us our best wishes for the great success of the national enterprise, 

 and we pledged our best efforts for the accomplishment of that end. 

 To-day we have returned to witness the result of your labor and ours — 

 to celebrate a triumph made possible by the stupendous enterprise of this 

 western metropolis and shared without jealousy by the people of the entire 

 country. If upon this occasion, devoted particularly to the celebration of 

 New York achievement, we congratulate ourselves also on New York's 

 part in the work and the triumph, our fellow-citizens of other States 



