Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-05
An Address by the United States
Centennial Commission.

To the People Of the United States;
The Congress of the United States
has enacted that the completion of the
One Hundredth Year Of American In
dependence shall be celebrated by an
International Exhibition of the Arts,
Manufactures and Products of the
soil and mine, to be held at PEiladcl-
phia, in 1876, and has appointed a
Commission, consisting of representa-
tiyes from each State and Territory, to
conduct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices of
the, National Legislature, controlled by
a National Commission, and designed
as tits to commemorate the first Cen
fury Of our existence by an exhibition
of the natural esources Of the country
and their development, and of our pro-
gress in those arts which benefit man
kind. in Comparison with those Of old
er Nations" it is to the people at large
that the Commission look for the aid
which is necessary to make the Centen-
NAL Celebration the grandcst anniver-
sary the work has ever seen.
That the completion of the first cen
fury of our existence should be mark
cd by some imposing demonstration is,
we believe. the patfttic wish cf 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 itingly
celebrated by the universal collection
/, aud display Of all the trophies of its
progress, 1t is designed to bring
together, within a building covering
fifty acres, rot only the varied produc-
tions Of our mines and of our soil, but
types of all the Intellectual triumphs of
our citizens, specimens of everything
that America can furnish, whether
; from the rains or the hands of her
children, and thus make evident to the
world the advancement of which a
self governed people is capable,
In this celebration" all nations
will be invited to participate; its char
acter being international. Europe will
display her arts and manufactures,
India her curious fabrics, while newly
opened China and Japan will lay ba'e
the treasures which for centuries their
T ingenious people have been pergccting.
Each land will compete in generous ri
yalry for the palm Of superior excel
lcnce.
To this grand gathering every z5nc
viii contribute its fruits and cereals.
No mineral shall b. wanting. for what
,he East lacks the West will supply.
Cndey 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
the Union, as a member Of onc 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
; oh a success as the patriotism and
the bride IF every American demands
will r, nuiro the cooperation of the
people o. the whole country. The
United States Centennial Commission
has received no Government aid, such
as England cxtcnu' d to her Worlds
Fair, and France to Ter Universal Tx
position, vet the labor nd responsible
ty imposed upon the Cont lsslon is as
great as either of those unn ~rtakinss.
Il is estimated that ten millions NJ dol
lars will be required. and this sum
Congress has provided shah be l.'sGd
by stock absorption and that the pto-
pie shall have the opportunity of sub,
scribing in proportion to the popula-
ton OF their respective States and
Territories.
The Commission looks to the unfail-
ing patriotism Of the people at every
section, to see that each contributes its
share to the cxpenCss. and receives its
share &c the benefits of an enterprise
in which all arc so deeply interested.
1t would further earnestly urge the for
nation in each State and Territory of
a centennial organization. which shall
in time sec that the county associations
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
patriotism ever displayed by our peo-
pie in every national undertaking, we
pledge and prophecy that the Contcn-
NAL 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.
Jos, r. UAwLEY. President.
LEWIS WIN SMITH, Temporary
Secretary.