Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-31

every citizen then living, who was born on or
before July 4, 1776.
These are the preliminaries, a sort of general
clearing up, in preparation for one grand nation
al celebration. For the occasion ITSELF his plans
are comprehensive and worthy of consideration,
at least They do not include, however, elab.
crate ceremonies or gorgeous pageants. These
are unsatisfactory because they can be shared or
witnessed by only small number of the mil
lions interested, and if itwere possible to con-
centrate the ceremonies of the day at one point
the gathering of so many people would be at
tended with inconvenience and danger. His
idea Of the general character with which the
memorial exercises shoald be impressed, is in
timated in the following suggestions:
First. At least one complete set of gold or
silver current CONS, with new devices commem-
orative of the day, should be struck off at the
mint or every citizen of the United States able
aud willing TO pay for it.
Second; One of the eminent poets ofour land,
or all, should be invited to sing in enduring
verse our national farewell to the departing cen
fury.
Third: Every art should he laid under contri-
button for some appropriate memorial of the de-
gree of excellence TO which such art shall have
attained, and with which it will begin the sue
ceeding century.
Fourth: Foreign nations might be invited to
participate in the celebration in such way as
should seem most fitting. AT least the oppor.
tunity could be offered them of sending or with
holding their congratulations upon the occa-
sion, and thereby showing in what estimation
we as a nation will be held abroad, and the ma
ture of our relations with the rest of the world
at that period.
Fifth: II is TO be hoped and presumed that
by 1876 no portion of the continent OF America
la in nplp al
power, but that we shall constitute one compact
family Of independent states under such form Of
government as shall best suit the people living
under them, and all in friendly alliance with
the United States No better opportunity per-
haps than that could be selected for holding an
American congress for settling many grave in
| ternational questions which Europe seems too
distracted by conflicting interests and jealousies
| ever TO decide.
Strth: Competent persons should be invited
| TO prepare series of histories by which to
| measure the progress and product of civilization
in the United States for the expiring century.
| l. Prominent in this category, if executed in
| season. would rank a book which Mr.. Seward
| told me some two years ago he was medltating,
| and which be described as History OF the
Obligations Of the World to America" and for
| which, in part, his recent travels in Mexico and
| on the Pacific coast were undertaken.
2. A statistical history of our postal service,
| from the days of Postmaster Franklin; of telC-
| graphv in all its varieties in the United States;
| of the progress Of art, industry, and invention,
including the disclosures OF the patent office of
| emigration to the United States, and its dlstri-
| button; of the agriculture, ana incidentally of
| the rate of increase of land under culture, and
| OF the disappearance OF growing timber; OF
| mining, and of the progress made in the deve-
0pment of mineral wealth; OF the natural SCI
ences, their progress and the progressive meaus
| provided for their culture; of the progress Of
wealth, and the financial vicissitudes of the
country; of the public charities, and incidentally
a classification of the poor and intirm who de-
pend upon them; OF the organization and growth
of the different states, in so far as they not
treated of under any OF the preceding catego-
ries, &c.
Seventh: A national museum, to be perpetual
ly associated, both by name and purpose, with
this anniversary. The edi6ce might be dedi.
Gated or its corner stone laid on that occasion.
and when ready, be made the repository of such
works of art commemorative Of the event us
proved worthy of its hospitality, and specimens
Of everything printed in the United States dur
ing the years 1776 and 1876, and Of all memo
rails Of that day in each of the intervening
wears that needed and deserved such a shelter.
| Fhis should be the nucleus of national repos.
| itO1y in modest imitation of the museums of the
| Vatican and the Louvre and of the British
museum in London.
| These are not all of Mr.. Bigeow's sugges-
tons, but they are enough to show that if they
are to be duly canyaSsed, and, ii adopted, ade-
| quatey carried into execution, no time is TO be
| lost in getting about the work. Some commem-
Grafton of the nations hundredth birth day is
inevitable, and certainly Mr.. Bigelow's ideas,
| though some OF them appear impracticable, sug-
gest a worther recognition of the event to be
| celebrated than any vast assemblage of people
drawn TO one spot by the attractions of impress
| siye ceremonies. The historical work contem-
plated, embracing many more details than are
included in the above summary, would be in
itself noble national monument, if il could BE-
executed by competent hands.