The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-11-29
AN ADDRESS
By the United States Centennial Commission

10 the People Of the United States:
The Congress of the United States has
enacted that the completion of the One
Hundreth Year of Americ III Independence
shall be celebrated by an International
Exhibition of the arts, Manufactures, and
Products of the soil and mine, to be held
in Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appoint
ed Commission, consisting of representa-
tivcs from each State and Territory, to con-
duct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices of the
National Legislature, controlled by a
National Commission, and designed as it
is to commemorate the first Century of
our existence, by an Exhibition of the
National 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 necessary to make the
Centennial Celebration the grandest ami
vcrsary the world has ever seen.
That the completion of the first century
of our existence should be marked by some
imposing demonstration is, we believe, the
patriotic wish of the people of the whole
country. The Congress OF the UniIed
States has wisely decided that the Birth
day of the Great Republic can be most fit
tipgly celebrated by the universal collection
and display of all the trophies ofits pro-
gress. 1t is designed to bring together,
within building covering fifty acres, not
only the varied productions of our mines
and fthe soil, but types of all the intellec-
tual triumphs of our citizens specimens of
everything that America can furnish, wheth-
or from the brains or the hands other chill
dern, and thus make evident to the world
the advancement of which sclfgoyerned
people is capable.
In this celebration" all nations will be
invited to participate ; its character being
International. Europ, will display her
arts and manufactures, India her curious
fabrics, while newly-opened China and ia
pan will lay bare the treasures which for
centuries their ingenious people have been
perfecting. Each land will compete in
generous rivalry for the palm Of superior
excellence.
TO this grand gathering every zone will
contribute its fruits and cereals. No mine
raj shall be wanting for what the East
lacks the West will supply. Under one roof
will the South display in rich luxuriance
her growing cotton, and the North in
miniature, the ceaseless machinery of her
mills converting that cotton into cloth.
Each section of the globe will send its best
offerings to this exhibition, and each State
of the Union, as a member of one united
body polite, will show to her sister States
and to the world, how much she can add
to the greatness of the nation of which she
is q harmonious part.
To make the Centennial Celebration such
u success as the patriotism and the pride of
every American demands will require the
cooperation OF the people of the whole
country. The United States Centennial
Commission has received no Government
aid, such as England extended to her
worlds Fair, and France to her Universal
Exposition, yet the labor and responsible
ity imposed upon the Commission is as
great as in either of those undertakings.
1t is estimated that ten millions of dollars
will be required, and this sum Congress
has provided shall be raised by stock sub
scription, and that the people shall have
the opportunity of subscribing in proper
tion to the population of their respective
States and Territories.
The Commission looks to the unfailing
paIlotlSin VI INC Peopie vi cfcty ScCtlou,
to see that each contributes its share to
the expenses, and receives its share of the
benefits Of an enterprise in which all are
so , eeply interested. 1t would further
earnestly urge the formation in each State
and Territory of q centennial organization,
which shall in time sea that county associa-
tions are formed, so that when the nations
are gathered together in 1876 each Com
monwealth can view with pride the con-
trbutions she has made to the national glo-
ry. Confidently relying no the zeal and
patriotism ever displayed by our people in
every national undertaking, we pledge and
prophecy, that the Centennial Celebration
will worthily show how greatness, wealth
and intelligence, can be tostered by such
institutions as those which have for one
hundred years blessed the people of the
United States.
JOSEPH r. HAWLEY,
President.
NJ