Middletown transcript., 1872-11-23
AN ADDRESS
ny THE
q. s. Centennial Commission.

o. s. Centennial Commission.
To the People Of he United States.
The Congress Of the United States has
enacted that the completion of the One
llundrcdth Year of American Indepen-
dcncc shall be celebrated By an In,crna-
tional Exhibition Of the Arts, Manufac-
lures, aud Products Of the soil aud mine
to be held at Philadelphia, in 1876, ard
has appointed Commission consisting of
representatives from each State aud Ter
ri,ory, to conduct the celebration.
Originating under the auspices Of the
National Legislature, controlled by Ma
tional Commission. and designed as il is
to Commemorate the FIRST Century Of
oar existence, by an Exhibition Of the
Natural resources of the Country and
their development. and of our progress in
those Arts which benefit mankind, 10
comparison with those Of older Nations"
it is to the people a: large that the Com.
mission look for the aid which is neces.
sary 10 make the Centennial Celebration
the grandest anniversary the world has
ever seen.
That the completion Of the first cen
tury 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 0: the Grca, Rcpublic eau
be mos, liiiingly celebrated by the uui.
vcr,al collection and display OF all the
trophies OF it's progress 1t il designed
to bring together, within building COW
cring fifty acres, ~. caly the varied pro
ducticns Of our mines and Of the soil, but
types Of oil the intellectual ,riumphs Of
our citizens, specimens Of everything tha,
! America can furnish. whether from the
brains or hands Of her children, and thus
make evident to the world the advance.
mcu, Of which a self governed people is
capable
i In this :. Celebration III nations will
be invited to participate. lis character
being International EuroIo will display
her arts aud manufacture, Iuiia her Gu
tous fabrics, while newly opened China
aud Japan will lag bar the treafuras
which for centuries their ingenious people
have been pcrfecting Eaeh land will
compete in generous rivalry for the palm
OF superior excellence
10 this grand gathering every zone will
contribute its fruits and cereals No min
eral shall be wanting; ior what the Eas.
lacks the West viii supply. Under one
root will the South display in rich lux
nriance her growing cotton. AMI the North
in miniature, the cclslcss 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 I'ninn. a. \ mem.
Der Of one united body polite. will show
10 her sister states aud u the world. how
much she can add 10 the greatness Of the
nation Of sh;ch sht is harmonious, part
To make the Genicuaial Celebration
such success as the patriotism and the
pride OF every American demands will
require the cooperation of the people Of
the whole country The United States
Centennial Commission h.s received no
Government aid, such rs England cNien-
led To her Worlls Fair. and France 10
her Universal Exposition. yet the labor
and responsibility imposed upon the Com
mission il as great as in either Of those
undertakings |, is estimated that ten
| m.i'ops Of dollars will be required. and
this su.n Congress has provided shall be
raised by s.ael subscription. and that the
people phall have 'he opportunity of sub
scribing in proporloa II the population OF
their respective States anu Territories
The Commission looks to 'ht unfniling
patriotism Of the people Of every section,
to see tha, each contributes its share to
the expenses, and receives its share of the
benefits of an enterprise in which all are
so deeply interested Il would further
earnestly urge the formation in each State
and Territory of u centennial organization
which shall in time see that county as
socatinns are formed, 50 tha, when the
nations are gathered together in 1876 each
Commonwealth can view with pride the
contributions she has made to the national
glory,
Confidently relying on the zeal and pa.
trio'ism ever displayed by our people in
every national undertaking. We pledge
and prophecy, that the Centennial celc.
bra,ion will wor,hly shew how greatness.
wealth aud intelligence, can be fos,ercd
by such institutions as those which have
for one hundred years blessed the people
Of the United States.
JOSEPH r. HAwLEY.
President.
LEWIS WALS SMrru,
!.t