, 1872-11-16
THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL.


tlon Of the National Centennial Exhibition at
Philadelphia have issued the following address:
10 THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES: The
Congress Of the United States has enacted that
American Independence shall be celebrated BY
an international Exhibition Of the Arts, Manu-
features and Products OF the soil and mine. to
be held st Philadelphia, in 1875, and Las appoint
ed Commission, consisting Of representatives
from each Stats and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
citing Under the auspicesof the National
Legislature, controlled by a National Comnais-
sion, and designed 90 it is to commemorate the
first century Of Our existence, by an exhibition
OF the natural resources OF the country and their
Development aud OF our progress in those arts
which benefit mankind in comparison with those
Of old nations, it is to the people at large that
the Commission look for the aid which is necos-
grandest anniversary the world has ever seen.
That the completion of the first century of cur
existence should be marked by some imposing
demonstration ia, We believe, the patriotic wish
gress OF the United States has wisely
decided that the birthday OF the Groat Republic
can be most fttingly celebrated by tho universal
collection and display Of all the trophies Of its
progress: It is designed to bring together, with
in e building covering fifty acres, not only the
varied productions OF ouE mines and OF tho soil.
but types Of all Of the intellectual triumphs OF
our citizens. specimens. Of everything that
America can furnish, whether from the brains or
the hands of her children, and thus make evi-
dent to the world the advancement OF which
6elf-gogerned people is capable. In this ''cele-
bEation" al nations will be invited to partici-
pate. it's charcter being international. Europe
will display her arts and manufactures, India
her curious fabrics, while new1y-opened China
and Japan will lay bare the treasures which for
centuries their ingenious people have been per-
fecting. Each land will compete in generous
rivalry for the claim of superior excellence,
IT,
trubute its fruits and cereals. No mineral shall
be wanting; Tor what the East lacks the West
will supply Under one roof will the South dis
play in rich lnxuriance her growing cotton, and
the North, in manufacture, the ceaseless ma
chinery 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
politic 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
q SUCCESS as the patriotism and the
pride of every American demands, will
require the cooperation OF the people Of
tennial Commission has received no Government
aid, such as England extended to her Worlds
Fair, and France to her Universal Exposition,
yet the labor and responsibility imposed upon
the Commission is as great as in either OF those
undertakings. It is estimated that S1o, 1000, 900
will be required, and this sum Congress has
provided shall he raised by stock subscription,
and TINT the people shall have the opportunity
Of subscribing in PROPORTION to the population Of
their respective States and Territories. The
Commission looks to the unfailing patriotism
Of the people Of every section, to sec
that each contributes its ahare to the e1-
penses, and receives its share OF the
benefits Of an enterprise in which all are
60 deeply Interested. It would further enrnest-
y urge the formation in each State and Terrific
r. of centennial organization, which shall in
time see that county 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 patriotism
ever displayed by our people in every national
undertaking, We pledge aad prophesy that the
Centennial Celebration will Eorthily show how
greatness, wealth. and intelligence can be fos-
tered by such Institutions as those which have
for one hundred years blessed the people Of the
United States.
JOSEPH r. HAwLEy, President.
LEWIS WALS SMITH, Temporary Secretary.