Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-12-19
Am Address by the United States Gem.
-- temntal COmmlssIom.
TO the People Of the United States: y '"'1sf


The Congress of the United States has en-
acted 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 be held at Philadelphia.
In 1876, and has appointed commission,
consisting of representatives from each State
and Territory, to conduct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices Of the Ma
tional Legislature, controlled by National
Commission, and designed as it is to ''Com-
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
tions, it is to the people at large that the
Commission look for the aid which is neces-
sary to make the Centennial Celebration the
grandest celebration the world has ever
seen. .v.5 '. u . ."u.r'..., III
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 coun-
try. The Congress of the United States has
wisely decided that the birthday of the Great
Republic can be most fittingly celebrated by
the universal collection and display of all the
trophies of its progress. 1t is designed to
fifty acres, not only the varied productions
of our mines and of the soil, but types of all
the intellectual trinmphs of our citizens, speci-
mems of everything that America can fur
nish, whether from the brains or the hands
of her children, and thus make evident 70 the
world the advancement of which Q self-goy-
erned people is capable
In this celebration all nations viii be in
vited to participate, its character being inter-
national. Europe win 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 perfecting.
Each land will compete in generous rivalry
for the palm of superior excellence.
To this grand gathering every zone will
contribute its fruits and cereals. Nomineral
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
ceaseless machinery of her mills converting
that cotton into cloth. Each section of the
globe will send its best offerings to this exhi-
bition, and each State of the Union, as a
member of one united body polite, will show
to her sister States aud to the world how
much she can add to the greatness of the ma
tion of which she is a harmonious part
To make the Centennial Celebration such
. success as the patriotism and pride of every
American demands, will require the Coop
Grafton 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 and responsibility imposed upon the
Commission Is as great as in either of those
undertakings. Its estimated that ten mil
lions of dollars win be required, and this sum
Congress has provided shall be raised by
stock subscriptions, and that the people shall
have the Opportunity of subscribing in pro-
portion to the population of their respective
States and Territories: a," - ," .'7"'
81 The Commission looks tn the unfailing
patriotism of the people of every section to
sec that each contributes its share to the ex-
penses, and receives Its share of the benefits
Of an .eptorprise in which all are 50 deeply
Interested. 1t would further earnestly urge
The formation in each State and Territory of
= Centennial a organization, which shall in
lime see that county associations are formed,
20 that when the nations are gathered tOgeth-
er in 1876 each Commonwealth can view with
pride the contributions she has made to the
national glory. .. r +.-....-.......s
Confidently relying on the zeal and patriot
Ism ever displayed by our people in every
national undertaking, we pledge and prophe-
cy that the Centennial Celebration will wOr-
lilly show how greatness, wealth and intelli-
gence can be fostered by such institutions rs
those which have for one hundred years
blessed the people of the United States. H
JOSEPH r. HAwLEY, President
LEWIS WALS SMITH, Temporary Secretary.
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