The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-15
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.


TIE PROPOSED CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY AT PHI
LADELPhiA-srEECHo OF HON. LEONARD MYERS IN
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
MIR. MYERS, of Pennsylvania, addressed the
House in support of the bill. He said; Mr. Speakers
In little more than i've wears hence America will
witness the most remarkable celebration that his
tory will have to record the hundredth birthday of
Republic which has done mOie good for mankind
than ever before was accomplished by any govern
ment. 1t will mark a century of such advancement
not only in freedom, discovery aud science and
civilization as was never dreamed of by the widest
enthusiast. National holidays are the well-springs
at which people drink new life, remembering the
sources of their happiness, and this great holiday
will recall and reiterate for postcrty the noble be-
ginnings, the sefsacrihcing virtues of the fathers
who founded government in which liberty was
the cornerstone, and manhood the only title to
preferment. The joy at this event will be uuiver-
sal in this favored land. The newest State vieing
with the Oldest ones in gratitude for the wide
spread blessings which have followed that declara-
tion of peoples independence to which the annals
Of the world afford no parallel.
Where the flag of the Union floats this celebration
will take place. None humble upon whom its
sunlight will not fall; none so exalted as to be
prouder than the rest of its glorious position. 1t
will tell of nationality now, Of a Republic vind-
from the quarrels of the old world of honorable
battles when war became necessity, of arts fos-
tered, of humanity elevated, of progress unsur-
passed, and finally, when internal strife arose from
the only blot civilization, it will register the
story of people redeemed, reunited, and henceforth
without a motive for discord This roughly con-
summation most to be honOred, not merely by
general thanksgiving, but it is conceded that
unOer the national sanction there should be
tonal commemorauon OF the time, an interna-
tiOnal exhibition, where not only the United States
but other lands shall bring together some Of the
results which this wonderful country has quickened
into existence; where agriculture shall still assert
the supremacy of the soil, and the mines will pour
their wealth of ores; where commerce shall watt
on new wings the gifts of the nations; where
factures, the prohibition of which was fruitful
cause for the colonies to rebel will contribute their
vast storehouse of improvements, and from which
it is hoped that other lands may learn the lesson of
unity and peace
There is but one place where this national ob-
servauce of our centennial anniversary can pro-
perly be held. A nation created and preserved
will not by legislative decree celebrate its birthday
by choosing locality other than its birthplace.
Especially will it not do so, when every incd 9nt
and adjunct unites with every association in rem
dering that birthplace most admirable selection.
My colleague, the chairman of the Committee on
Manufactures, Mr.. Morrell has spoken OF the many
advantages which Philadelphia presents for the oc-
cason, All concede its historic title, for there the
three great steps were taken which gave us these
hundred years of prosperous life. There the first
Congress met to deliberate on the expressions which
rendered necessary our separation from the mother
country body of whom Lord Chatham said to
Franklin, 'they were the most honorable assembly
OF men ever known"
There two years later. in letters which kings
might read from afar, John Hancock. with the
great men who had been his fellow labOrers in the
cause with jefferson Franklin and Adams Lee and
Sherman, and the rest set their names to the De-
caration of our Independence. There, eleven years
later, still when the confederation proved faulty and
insecure Washington presided over the convention
of wise and patriotic men which framed the COnsti-
tuition and assured MS that more perfect union
which DDS tRir 10 De perpetual IL is Jne S)Ou tOT-
tune of Philadelphia that her location and wonder
full progress, and every fitness TO the history which
renders the selection of that city appropriate for
! this great occasion. The local advantages for the
site we're strikingly foreshadowed by William Penn,
when in 1888 he wrote, "Of all the many places |
have seen in the world, remember not one better
! suited so that it seems to me to have been APP
! pointed for town, whether regard the two riv-
ers the loftiness and soundness of the land and
| the air."
| Beautifully laid out by Penn himself, the public
squares he planned have led to the establishment
| an uneQualleu Park,
| authorities and scientific associations have asked
| that the exhibition shall be held under that gov
| ernment sanction which it deserves. With archi-
! tecturai beauties to allure, comprising every
beauty the mind can conceive. with the solid COM
forts of its buildings, and the hospitality it viii
tend; the first manufacturing city IN the Union,
| the metropolis of a State whose mineral wealth is
almost boundess, Philadelphia most aptly can well
come the visitors from every land TO gathering
where science ana the mechanic arts must bear the
! chief feature.
! MIR. Speaker, have only arisen at this time be-
| cause, while the subject not referred 10 the
Foreign Affairs Committee, of which have the
| honor to be member, its attention has been es
pecially called to the subject, account chiefly OF
! its international character; and after full con-
| ference, / am authorized by the members of that
committee to state that the project and selection
/ has their approval. My friend, Mr.. Cleveland, OF
New Jersey says he the first to introduce petit
ton of the American Insttute OF New York for this
Industrial Exhibition. Then, as his paper stated
he had no objection TO government aid, provided i
was for the place of his choosing. 1t is not only
our celebration, the Franklin Institute, far olde
than the Institute which seeks this CongressOna
dience to a sentiment which 'embOdies the feeling
of large majority of the people of this Union
presents the matter officially to our careful con
sderaton. The commissioners are to receive M
salary, each party is TO be represented in the boar
! of commissioners, and feel certain the first pro
posal will meet with patriotic response.