The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-12-28
no,ralosolrbille Cbicf,
AN ADDRESS
BY THE
United States Centennial Com.
mission.
TO the People Of the United States

To the People Of the United States:
The Congress Of the United States has en-
acted that the completion Of the Zone Hun
dredth Year of American Independence shall
be celebrated by an International Exhibition
OF the Arts, Manufactures, and Products of
the soil and mine, to be held at Philadelphia,
in 1876, and has appointed Commission,
consisting OF representatives from each State
and Territory, to conduct the celebration.
Originated under the auspices Of the Ma
tional Legislature, controlled by National
Commission, and designed as it is to Com
memOrate the first Century of our existence,
by an Exhibition of the Natural resources OF
the Country and their development, and Of
our progress in those Arts which benefit
mankind, in comparison with those Of older
Nations" it is to the people at large that the
Commission look for the aid which is neces-
sury to make the Centennial Celebration the
grandest anniversary the world has ever
seen.
That the completion of the first century of
our existence should be marked by some i'm
posing demonstration is we believe the pa
triOtic wish OF the people OF the whole coun-
try. The Congress OF the United States has
wisely decided that the Birthday OF the Great
Republic can be most fittingly celebrated by
the universal collection and display Of all the
trophies OF its progress. 1t is designed to
bring together, within o building covering
fifty acres, not only the varied productions
of our mines and of the soil, but types Of all
the intellectual triumphs Of our citizens,
specimens of every thing that America can
furnish, whether from the brains or the hands
OF her children, and thus make evident to the
world the advancement of which self gov
erned people is capable
In this Celebration" all nations will be
invited to participate; its character being
International. Europe will display her arts
and manufactures, India her curious fabrics,
while newly opened China and Japan, will
lay bare the treasures which for centuries
their ingenious people have been pertecting.
Each land will compete i'll generous rivalry
Tor the palm OF superior excellence.
70 this grand gathering every zone will
contribute its fruits and cereals. No mineral
shall be wanting; for what the East lacks the
West will supply. Under one roof will the
South display i'll rich luxuriance her growing
cotton, and the North in miniature the cease
less machinery OF her mills converting that
cotton into cloth. Each section of the globe
VIII send Its best offerings to this exhibition,
and each State of the Union, as o member of
one united body polite, will show to her sis
ter States and to the world, how much she
can add TO the greatness of the nation of which
she is harmonious part.
10 make the Centennial Celebration such a
success az the patriotism and the pride of
every American demands will require the CO.
SToA"LAoA1 - 1uC pCOplc VI ZIG WIOlc country.
The United States Centennial Commission
receives no government aid, such us Eng
land extended to her Worlds Fair, and
Franco to her Universal Exposition, vet the
labor and responsibility imposed upon the
COMMISSION is as great as in either OF those
Undertakings. 1t is estimated that ten mil
lions Of dollars will be required and this sum
Congress has provided shall be raised by
stock subscription, and the people shall have
the opportunity Of subscribing in proportion
to the population Of their respective States
end Territories.
The Commission looks to the uufailing ma
triotism Of the people of every section, to see
that each contributes its share to the expen
ses, and receives its shares Of the benefits of
an enterprise in which all are so deeply in
tcrested 1t would further earnestly urge
the formation in each State and Territory Of
a centennial organization, which shall in tune
see that country associations are formed, SO
that when the nations are gathered together
in 1876 each Commonwealth can view with
pride the contributions she has made to the
national glory.
Confidently relying on the zeal and patriot
Ism ever displayed by our people in every
national undertaking, we pledge and proph-
ecy, that the Centennial Celebration will
worthily show how greatness, wealth and
can be fOstered by such institu-
tons as those which have for one hundred |
years blessed the people Of the United
States.
JOSEPH r. HAWLEY.
LEWIS WALN SMITH, President
Temporary Secretary.