Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-22
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MISSION.


To the people Of the United States;
The Congress of the United States has
enacted that the completion of the one hum
dredlh year of American Independence
shall be celebrated by an International Ex-
hib.ion of the arts, manufactures, ana
products of the soil and mine, to be held
at Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appointed
a Commission, consisting Of representa-
tives from each State and Territory, to con-
duct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices of the Ma
tional Legislature, controlled by Nation
| al Commission and designed as 1t is to
commemorate the first century of our ex-
istence by an exhibition OF tho natural re-
sources of the country and their develop
nent, and of progress in those arts which
beHeiit mankind, in comparison with those
of older nations" 4 is to the people at
large that TIE COMMISSION look for the aid
which is necessary 10 make the centennial
celebration the gran1es, anniversary the
world has ever seen.
Thai tlie completion Of the 1rst century
| oil 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 United
States has wisely decided that the birth day
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 n
building covering fifty acres, not only the
| varied productions of our mines and of the
soil, but types of all the intellectual tri-
umhs of our citizens, specimens OF every
thing that America can furnish, whether
from the brains or the hands OF her chill
dren, and thus make evident to the world
the advancement of which self governed
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 Ja-
pan will lay bare the treasures which for
centuries their ingenious people have been
perfccting. 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 min
eral shall be wantng; for what the East
lacks the West will supply. Under one
roof will the South display in rich luxuri-
ance her growing cotton, and the North in
miniature, the ceaseless machinery of her
mills converting that cotton into cloth.
Each secti, n of the globe will send its best
offerings to this exhibition, aud each State
of the Union, as 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 harmonious part.
To make the centennial celebration such
a success as the patriotism and the pride oi
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 hel
= Worlds Fair, and France to her Univers"
Exposition, yet the labor and responsible
ty imposed upon the Commission is rs
great rs in either of those undertakings
1t is estimated that ten millions of collars
will be required, ard this sum Congres,
has provided shall be raised by stock sub
scription, and that the people shall have tho
opportunity Of subscribing in proportion
to the population of their respective st ties
and Territories.
The Commission looks to the unlailinp
patriotism of the people of every section
to see that each contributes its share to the
expenses, and receives its share of the ben
| elitS Oi an enterprise in which all are SC