The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-11-21
THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL.
Address of the Commissioners.

lie OOu III CndlSC vi Tue
celebration of the National Centennial
Exhibition at Philadelphia have issued
the following address:
ToTuE PEOPLE oFTHE UNITED STATES
The Congress of the United States has
enacted that the completion of the One
Hundredth Year of American Indepen
dence shall be celebrated by an lnterna
tional Exhibition of the Arts, Manufac
lures, and Products of the soil and mine,
to be held at Philadelphia, in 1876, and
has appointed Commission, consisting
of representivcs from each State and
Territory, to couduct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices of the
National Legislature, controlled by a
National Commission, and designed as il
is to commemorate the first century oi
our existence, by an exhibition of the
natural resources of the country and thei
development of our progress in those art:
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 necessary to make the
centennial celebration the grandest
anniversary the world has ever seen.
That the completion of the first century
Of our existence should be marked 10y
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 birthday of the Great Republic can
be most fttingly celebrated by the un
iversa collection and display of all the
trophies of its progress. 1t is designed
together, within building covering Fifty
acres, not only the varied productions Of
our mines and of the SOIL but types Of all
the intellectual trinmphs of our citizens,
specimens Of everything that America can
furnish, whether from the brains or the
hands o!her children, aud thus make evil
dent to the world the advancement of hich
self governed people is capable. La this
'celebration" all nations will be invited
to participate, its character being Interna
tional. Europe will display her arts and
manufactures, India her curious fabrics,
while newly opened China and Japan will
lay bare the treasures which for centuries
their ingenious people have been perfect
ing Each land will compete in generous
rivalry for the palm ofsuperior excellence.
To this grand gathering every zone will
contribute its fruits aud cereals NoI
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, 10 miniature, the ceaseless machin.
cry OF her mills, converting that cotton
iutO cloth. Each section OF the globe
Will seaI its best offerings to the exhibi
tIun. and each State Of the Union. as a
member of one united body polite, will
show her sister States and to the world
how much she can add to the greatness
CT the nation Of which she is harmouiou,
part. To the Centennial Celebration such
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 Eueland extended to her
Worlds Fair, and France to her Tn
iversal Exposition, yet the labor and
responsibility imposed upon the Com
mission is as great as in either OF those un
dertakings. 1t is estimated that $40,
100000 will be required, and this sum
Congress has provided shall be raised by
stock subscription, aud that the people
shall have the opportunity Of subscribing
In proportion to the population of their
respective States aud Territories. The
Commission looks to- the unfailing patrio
tism of the people of every section, 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 deeply interested. 1t would further
earnestly urge the formation in each State
and Territory of centennial organization
which shall in time see that county asso
Citations 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 ma
tional glory.
Confidently relying on the zeal and