The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-28
An Address by the United States Centeu-
niaI Commission.

&-
10 II PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Inc Congress of the United States has euacted
ChaC the completion OF the One Hundreth Year
Vi American independence shall be celebrated by
an Observation-Disclosures of the Arts, Mapufac
lures, ana Products of the soil and mine tn bn
held at Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appOintcd
a commission, consisting of representatives from,
each state and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
originating under the auspices of the National
Legislature, controlled by u National Commits
Slon' ana designed as it is to Commemorate
tie ffrst Century of our existence, by mn
exhibition of the Natural resources of the
Country and their development, and of ON.
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
Tor the aid which is necessary to make the
~CentennialCe Celebration the grandest anniversary
the world has ever seen.
Inat the completion Of the first century Of our
existence should be marked by some imposinr
demonstration is, We believe, the patriotic wfsb
OF the people of the whole country. The Congress
OF the United States has wisely deeided that the
Birthday of the Great Republic can he most
nttlnglY celebrated by the universal collection
ana display of all the trophies of its progress. IT,
Is designed to bring together, within q building
covering fifty acres, not only the varied produc-
lions OF our mines and Of the soil, but typcs or
all the intellectual triumphs Of our citizeps
specimens OF everything that America cou
furnish, whether from the brains or the hands
or her children, and thus make evident TO the
world the advancement of which aself governed
people is capable.
Tu+hfz EsCy,YnAA.-
4hth1s celebration" allnations will he invited
TO participate its character being international
Europe will display her arts and manufactures
Indla her curious fabrics, while newly opened
emma and Japan will lay bare the treasures
which for centuries their ingenious people have
Deen perfecting. Each land will compete in
generous rivalry for the palm of superior excel
lence,
10 this grand gathering every zone will con-
tribute its fruits and cereals. No mineral sl,oli
DC wanting; for what the East lacks the West
Will supply. Under one roof will the soutl,
DISPLAY In rich luxlriance her growing cotton
ana the North in miniature, tile ceaseless
machinery OF her mills converting that cotton
INTO cloth. Each section Of the globe will send
It's best offerings to this exhibition, u each
state OF the Union, as IL member of ons 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 a harmo
NOUS part.
10 make the Centennial Celebration such -
success as the patriotism and the pride of evorv
American demands will require the co-oprratio,,
OF the people Of the whole country. The United
states Centennial Commission has received,n
aid, such as England extended IN
hef Worlds Fair, and France to her Universal
Exposition, yet the labor and responsibility
imposed upon the Commission is as great as II,
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 subscription, and that the peopIe sbau
have the opportunity Of subscribing in propor-
ton to the population of their respective stotes
and Territories.
Ihe commission looks to the unfaiIing patriot-
ism OF the people of every section. to see that
each contributes its shares to the expenses. and
receives its share of the benefits OF an enterprise
III which all are so deeply interested. II wOuld
further earnestly urge the formation in each
State and Territory OF a centennial organization,
which shall In time see that county associations
are formed, so that when the nations are
gathered in 1876 each Commonwealth can view
with pride the contributions she has made to
national glory.
confidently relying ON the zeal and patriotism
ever displayed by our people in every national
we pledge and prophecy, that the
Centennial Celebration will worthily show how
greatness, wealth and intelligence, can be fos-
tered by such institutions as those which have
Tor one hundred years blessed the people of the
United States.
JOSEPH r. HAWLEY,
President.
LEWIS VAIN SMITH,
TanOnpar1y gecfntary