The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-14
Am Address by the United States Centem
niaI Commission. -v g

To HI PEOPLE OF THE 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 midi mine, to be.
held at Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appointed
a Commission, consisting Of Representative from
each State and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
Originating under the auspices of the National
Legislature, controlled by u National Commits
sion, and designed as it is to " Commemorate
the first Century Of our existence, by an
Exhibition. of the Natural resources of tho
Country and their development, n 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
Centennial Celebration the grandest anniversary
the world has ever seen. asr. ~. -.
That tho 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
tfttingly celebrated by the universal collection
and display of all the trophies of its progress. 1t
is designed to bring together, within a building
covering fifty acres, not only the varied produc-
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 self governed
people is capable. awe. s 4~i. 5# ~" t#
In this Celebration all nationswil be invited
to participate it's character being International.
Europe win display her arts and manufactures,
India her curious fabrics, while newly opened
China and Japan will lay bare the treasures
whichfor centuries their ingenious people have
been perfecting. Each land will compete in
generous rivalry for the palm of superior excel
lenee. ssz sEE II. E.EEr#F.
To this grand gathering every zone will con-
tribute it's 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 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 n member of one united
body pelitie. will show to her sister States and
to the world, how Inueh she can add to the
~greatnesaof the nation OF which. she is a harmo
NOUS part. as.
To make the Centennial Celebration such a
success as the patriotism and the pride of every
American demands will require tie 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 France to her Universal
Exposition, yet the labor aud responsibility
imposed upon the Commission Is as great as IN
either of those undertakings. 1t is estimated
that en millions Of dollars viii be required, and
this sum Congress has provided shall be raised
by stock subscription, and that the people shall
have the opportunity OF subscribing in proper
tlon to the popuiatton Of their respective States
and Territories. q
The Commission looks to the unfailing patriot
ism Of the PEOPLE Of every section, to see that
each contributes its shares to the. expenses, and
receives its share of the heReft4 Of an enterprise
IN which oil are so deeply interested. 1T would
further earnestly urge the formation in each
state and Territory Of neutrality-suspicious.
which shall in time see that county asseeiatieas
are formed, aG that when the nations are
gathered in 1876 each Commonwealth can view
with pride Tire contributions she has made 10
national glory. 81
Confidently relying ON the zeal and patriotism
ever isplayea lV Quar- people in every national
RndeHtah1Rg, VIC pledge and prophecy, that the
Centennial Celebration will worfhiIy show how
greatness, wealth and Intelligence, can he fos-
tered ny such institutions as those which hava
for ono hundred years blessed tho people Of the
United States.
I0sEPH R,sHAEIEY,
President.
LEWIS VAIN SMITH.
Temporary Secretary.