The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-29
An ADD resS,
An ADJ ress,
ny THE
UallpA states CG temial Commission.


TO TIE P,3p'e 0f Ue United States
The C)ugress Of the United States has
enacted that tbs completion of the Ouo
Hundred'h Year of American Inds-
pendenco shalt be celebrated by an In.
ternational Exhibition of the Arts,
Manufactures, and Products of the soil
and mine, to be held Mt Philadelphia,
In 1876, and has appointed Commiss.
ion, consisting of representatives from
each State and Terri tory, to conduct the
celebration.
Originating under the auspices of this
National Legislature, controlled by a
National Commission, and designed as
it is to "Commemorlte the first Century
of our existence, by an Exhibit lon of
the Natural res )urces 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 Cen
tcnnial Celebration the grandest
anniversary the world has ever
seen.
That the completion of the first cen
tury of our existence should be marked
by some imposing demonstration is
we believe, the patriotic wish of the
peorl, of the whole country. The Con-
gress of the United States has wisely
decided that the Birth day of the Great
Republic cln be most fittingly celebra
ted by the universal collection and dis
play of all the trophies of its progress.
1t is designed to bring together, within
a building covering Atty acres, not only
the varied productions of our mines
and of the soil, but types of all the in
tellectual triumphs of our citizens,
specimens of everything that America
can furnish, whether from the brains
or the hands of her children, and thus
make evident to the world the advau
cement of which a self governed peo'
pie is capable.
In this "Celebration" all nations will
he invited to participate; its character
being International. Europe will dis
play her arts and Manufactures, Indif
her curious farics, while newly opened
China aud Japan will lay bare the treas
ures which for centuries their ingeni'
Gus people have been perfecting. Eacf
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 mineral 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 cease
less machinery of her mills converting
that cotton into cloth. Each section OF
the globe will send its best offerings tC
this exhibition, and 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 o.
which she is harmonious part.
To make the Centennial Celebration
such as the patriotism and the pride o
every American demands will require
the cooperation of the people of the
whole country. The United States
Centennial Commission has received nc
Government aid, such as England ex
tended 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. 1t is estimated
that ten millions of dollars will be re-
quired, and this sum Congress has
provided shall be raised by stock sub
scription, and that the people shall
have the opportunity of subscribing in
proportion to the population of their
respective States and Territories.
The Commission looks to the unfail
ing patriotism of the people of every
section, to see that each contributes its
share of the benefits of an enterprise in
which all are so deeply interested. Il
would further earnestly urge the for
nation in each State and Territory of 6
centennial organization, which shall il
time see that when the nations arr
gathered together in 1876 each Com
monweath can view with pride the
contributions she has made to the natiol
al glory.
Confidently relying on the zeal ant
patriotism ever displayed by our peo
pie in every national undertaking, W,
pledge and prophecy, that the Centen'
NAL Celebration will worthily show
greatness, wealth and intelligence, cal
be fostered by such institutions as thos
which have for one hundred years bless
, ed the people of the United States.
: JOSEPH r. HAWLEY,
President
LEWIS WALN SMITH,
Temporary Secretary