Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-12-14
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
An Address by the United states Centennial
Comm sion.

To the People Of the United States:
The Congress Of tho United States has
enacted that the completion of the one hun
dredth year Of American independence shall
be celebrated by an International Exhibition
of the arts, manufactures and products of the
soil and mine, to bo held at Philadelphia in
1876. and has appointed a Commission con-
sisting of representatives from each State and
Territory. to conduct the celebration.
Originating under tho auspices OF the Ma
tioual Legislature. controlled by a National
Commission and designed as it is to Conn
memorate 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 man
kind in comparison with those of older ma
tons," it is to the people at largo that tho
Commission look for the aid which is neccs-
sary 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 I'M
posing demonstration is, we believe, the pat.
riotic wish Of the people of the whole country.
The Congress OF the United States has wisely
decided that the birthday of the Great Repub-
lie can be most fittingly celebrated by the
universal collection and display of all the tro-
phies OF its progress. 1t is designed to bring
together, within a building covering fifty
acres, not only the varied productions of our
lulIlob ana OF tne BOIL, Dub types Ol all lIe III
tellectual triumphs Of our citizens, specimens
Of everything that America can furnish
whether from tho brains or the hands OF her
children, and thus make evident to the worli
the advancement Of which a self lf-govorned
people is capable.
In this celebration" all nations will be i'll
vted to participate it's character being inter-
national 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 in
genious people have been perfecting. Each
land will compete in geIerou. rivalry for the
palm Of superior excellence.
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 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 to this exhibition,
and each State OF tho Union, as 4 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 she is
a harmonious part.
To make the Centennial Celebration such a
success as the patriotism and the pride of
every American demands will require the CO.
operation OF the people of the whole country.
The United States Centennial Commission has
received no Government aid, such as EnSla
extended 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 ton millions of dollars will
be required and this sum Congress has pro-
vided shall be raised by stock subscription,
and that the people shall have the opportu-
nifty of subscribing in proportion to tho
population Of their respective States and Ter
rtores.
The Commission looks to the unfailing pat
rotism of the people Of every section to see
that each contributes its share to the ex
peEses, and receives its share Of the benefits
Of an enterprise in which all are 30 deeply ill
tsrestod. 1t would further earnestly urge the
formation in each State and Territory of
centennial organization, which shall IN time
see that county associations arc formed, 30
that when the nations are gathered together
in 1876 each Commonwealth can view with
pride tho contributions she has made to the
national glory.
Confidently relying OH the zeal and patriot
ism ever displayed by our people in every
tiopal undertaking, we pledge and prophcsy
that the Centennial Celebration will worthily
show how greatness, wealth and intelligence
can be fostered by such institutions as those
which have for one hundred years blessed the
people Of the United States.
JOSEPH II. HhWLEY, Pres idcut,