The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-21
An Address by the United States Cemtem-
MiaI Commission

To THE PEOPLE OF H UNITED STATES:
The Congress Of the United States has enacted
that the completion of the One Hundreth Year
OF American Independence shall be celebrated by
an Observation-Disclosures of the Arts, Manufac
lures, and Products of the soil and mine, to be
held at Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appointed
a Commission, consisting of representatives from
each State and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
Originating under the auspices of the National
Legislature, controlled by Il National Commits
sion, and designed as it is to Commemorate
the first Century Of our existence, by an
Exhibition Of the Natural resources of the
Country and their development, and of our
progress in those Arts which benefit mankind,
in comparison with those of older Nations tits
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 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
Birthday of the Great Republic can be most
tittingly celebrated by the universal collection
NNh NNS1fNt Va 't III AclAtAo VI u llO%ICSS. i u
is designed to bring together, within q building
covering fifty acres, not only the varied produe-
tons Of our mines and of the soil, but types of
all 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 evident to the
world the advancement Of which Itself governed
people is capable. .-
Tn thiS GGnla1NpottnD II -. ~
to participate its character being International
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 pcrfecting. Each land will compete in
generous rivalry for the palm of superior excel
lence.
To this grand gathering every zone will con-
tribute 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 i'll rich lHxuriance her growing cotton,
and the North in miniature, the c~easeless
machinery 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 Il 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 aho Is u harmO
NOUS part,
To make the Centennial Celebration such a
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 England extended to
her Worlds Fair, and Franco ia her Universal
Exposition, yet the labor and responsibility
imposed upou@he Commission is as great as in
either of those undertakings. 1t is estimated
that ten millions of dollars win be required, and
this sum Congress has provided shall be raised
by stock subscription, and that the peopIe shall
have the opportunity of subscribing in proper
ton to the population of their respective States
and Territories, g.
The Commission looks to the mfailing patriot
ism of the people of every section, to see that
each contributes its shares to the expenses, and
receives it's 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 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 te
national glory
Confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism
ever displayed by our people in every national
undertaking, 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
for one hundred years blessed the people of thu
United States,
JOSEPH r. HAWLEY,
President.
LEWIS NALN SMITH,
Temporary Secretary.