Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/280

 232 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS of June 9, 1883, attended its opening, and deliv ered an address on August 2. He aided in many ways the World s Industrial and Cotton Centen nial Exposition at New Orleans; and on December 16, 1884, in an address sent by telegraph from the executive mansion in Washington, he opened the exposition, and set in motion the machinery by the electric current. On September 25, 1883, he was present at the unveiling of the Burnside monu ment at Bristol, R. I. On November 26, 1883, he attended the unveiling of the statue of Washing ton on the steps of the sub-treasury building in New York city; and February 21, 1885, he made an address at the dedication, at the national cap ital, of the Washington monument, which had been completed during his term. President Arthur s name was presented to the republican presidential convention that met at Chicago June 3, 1884, by delegates from New York, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Louisiana. On the first ballot he received 278 votes against 540 for all others, 276 on the second, 274 on the third, and 207 on the fourth, which re sulted in the nomination of James G. Blaine. He at once telegraphed to Mr. Blaine, &quot;As the candi date of the republican party you will have my ear nest and cordial support,&quot; and in the canvass which ensued he rendered all possible assistance to the republican cause and candidates. The national