The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-22
WEDNESDAY, MARCH %, 1871.
THE CENTENNIAL.


The celebration which has been appointed to
take place in this city on the 4th of July,
1876, will be in many respects the most re-
markable festival the world has ever seen.
What other nation has birthday to celebrate?
or what nation can point back to such CEN
fury of national life and growth as that which
will close for the United States of America
five brief years hence? great experiment
has been tried, and, despite all the aeknow-
lodged imperfections of our political system,
it has been a success. Not merely have the
people of the United States prospered under
q republican form of government, but their
example has been most potent in inspiring
changes in the long-established order of
things in the Old World which cannot
but affect in an extraordinary
manner the whole future of the human race.
The word '1iberty' now has meaning to the
great mass of the people of Europe which it
certainly did not have a century ago, and
even in ar-distant Japan the last few years
have seen the breaking up of feudal system
which had endured for centuries, and the
commencement of a reform which will proba-
bly, revolutionize the whole of Asia. Our re-
public has not succeeded without passing
through dreadful ordeal which threatened
its very existence, but that it did succeed in
crushing the gigantic rebellion of the slave
owners has demonstrated to the world that
free government may also be a strong one,
when there is a necessity for the exhibition
of strength, and has raised the United States
to the position of frst-class power which
other nations admire, respect and fear.
Il 80 H. 80
Df the Declaration of Independence should be
celebrated in q manner worthy Of the occa-
sion. The whole world will be invited to
rejoice with us, and the celebration will
attract thousands of curious and interested
visitors from every quarter of the globe. A
grand exposition of the worlds industry has
been fixed upon as the proper method of
honoring the completion of the first century
of our national life; and this city, where the
Declaration of Independence was signed, and
where still stands Carpenters Hall and the
old State House, will be the place where the
exposition will be held. The whole expense
of preparing for the exposition of 1876 has,
through the petty meanness of Congress, been
thrown upon Pennsylvania and Philadelphia
but we are able to bear the burden, if neces-
y,
rations that there will be no occasion to say
that the citizens of Philadelphia, at least, did
not do their part towards making the national
anniversary brilliant success.
The work of preparation for the great
exposition, however, is one of magnitude,
and the time is none too long for the task to
be performed. Governor Geary yesterday
appointed Messrs. w. j. Horstmann and
Morton McMichael, of Philadelphia and Mr..
William Phillips, of Pittsburg, as State
Commissioners from Pennsylvania to CO.
operate with the other State commissions
and the national commission in making pre-
parations for the centennial celebration, and
he also recommended that the Legislature
should make liberal appropriation. This
the Legislature should do, and it should also
take such other action in the matter as will
facilitate the preparations about to be COM
menced. The city of Philadelphia, however,
is particularly interested in the success
of the exhibition, and the most
active interest should be displayed
in it by all classes in the community. 1t will be
a great thing to have the centennial anniver-
sary celebrated here, and it is better to com.
mence at once to prepare for it and to pre-
pare thoroughly, than to leave some of the
most important matters to the last moment
Our merchants, manufacturers, and the re-
representatives. of all the industries which con
stitute the greatness of Philadelphia, owe il
to themselves to take public action at al
early day as possible towards promoting the
success of the centennial, and committees ant
subcommittee should be formed without
further delay, SO that the whole machinery
may be got into operation, and the great en-
terprise fairly started. Few persons have an.
adequate idea of the magnitude of. the worl
to be performed in preparing for such cele
bration as it is proposed to hold here; ant
as ample official notice of the intention t.
hold a grand international exposition mus
be sent to every part of the habitable globe
the sooner a commencement is made the bet
ter il will be.
HHH DEVDTT I'M DADTo