New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-19
THE CENTEkdRY

Present Philadelphia, either In its political
or social aspect, is not, for those who think as
we do, pleasant to look upon. But we can
well afford to think and speak of Philadelphia
of the past, richer in historical associations
than any other community on this continent,
and Philadelphia of the future, anxious, as
some of her best citizens affirm, to free her
self from the corrupt thraldom that has so
long bound her. Her citizens of all classes
and all shades of political opinion long ago
resolved to invite their brethren of the United
States to unite in o great memorial celebra-
ton of the day on which, ninety-six years
ago, our ancestors proclaimed the United Col
Onies Independent States. In less than four
years one of those cycles will be accomplished
which take hold of the imagination and, like
birthdays in the life of man, fasten, we know
not why, on the fancy. 1t will be century,
a hundred yoaro oinoo tho dood waS done,
and the people of the United States, still in
possession of the institutions their ancestors
created and bequeathed, are not content that
it should be passed unnOticed. That Phla-
delphia should claim that, on her soil and
within her limits, this honor to the classic
past should be rendered, is the most natural
thing in the world. The power of local assO
Citations in such matters is very great A
celebration of a century of independence, away
from Independence Hall, would be grotesque.
Neither Boston nor New-YOrk could, ON this
score, put in rival claim. From the day in
177G when Washington from Dorchester flights
saw the enemy retreat seward till the Peace
six years out of seyen-nether Boston nor
New-England knew hostile Footprint. In
Il a. Il
rendered to the enemy, and here, till 1882, the
invader remained unmolested. We have always
had our own quiet smile at Evacuation Day."
Not so Philadelphia. With the exception of
some ten months of hostile occupation, during
which time the enemy was persistently an
moved, Philadelphia was the great seat of
interfederal counsel. There, in Carpenters
Hall, the Congress of 1774 met. There was
the Congress of Independence and there, when
war was over and reconstruction began, met
the Federal Convention which framed the
Constitution Such was Philadelphia of the
past and now q word for Philadelphia of the
future.
The gentlemen who have taken this matter
in charge have shown eminent good sense and
good feeling. 1t was an instinct of common
sense which led them, at the outset, to reject
all ideas of mere pageantry. A parade, an
grafton, an illumination-even if such were
possible so near the Summer solstice-would
have raised the Centenary but hairs breadth
above the common Fourth of July celebration,
and would have left on the minds of men or
the records of our home story no trace what
ever. 1t was determined that there should be
n vast Industrial Exhibition of the products of
human skill from all the civilized countries of
the world, by which the progress Of society
should be marked; and where could that more
impressively be done than in city
which, hundred years ago, was the merest
village with the savage near at hand, and is
now the great manufacturing center of a con-
tinent from which the savage is fast disap-
pearing, and to the utmost limit of which the
enterprise Of Philadelphia reachesl But il
was the same good sense and feeling which
taught the OriginatOrs of this grand idea that
il would never do TO make this celebration, in
any sense, local. Such an idea seems not for
a moment to have been entertained. The
Municipality Of Philadelphia has given the
best pledge of their being in earnest by q
liberal appropriation out of the public treas
ury to defray incidental, or rather initial, e1-
penses. The State of Pennsylvania will no
doubt follow the example. This done, as it
has been promptly, the appeal for cooperation
is 10 the general public. IL is matter in
which every American is interested. and we
do nothing more than simple duty in earnestly
commencing it TO the favorable attention of
our own fellow citizens.
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