The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-08
An Address by the United States Cemten-
miRl COmmRissiOm.

To PEOPLE OF Il UNIFIED STATES:
The Congress of the United States has enacted
hat the completion of the One Hundrcth Year
of American independence shall be celebrated by
an Observation-Disclosures of the Arts, Manufac-
lures, and Products Of the soil and mine, to he
held at Philadelphia, IN 1876, and has appointed
a Commission, consisting of representative from
each State and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
Originating under the auspices OF the National
Legislature, controlled by II National Commits
sion, and designed as IT is to " Commemorate
the first Century of oar existence, by an
Exhibition of tho Natural resources of the
Country and their development, and of ur
progress i'll those Arts which benefit mankind.
in comparison with those of older Nations" il is
to the people at large that the Commission look
for the aid which is necessary to make the
Centennial Celebration the grandest anniversary
the world has ever seen.
That the completion Of the first centurvof our
existence should be marked BY some imposing
demonstration Is, We believe, the patriotic wish
of the people of the W hole country. The Congress
OF the United States has wisely decided that the
Birthday of the Great Republic can I've most
ftttHlgly celebrated by the universal collection
and display of all the trophies of itS urogress. It
is designed 10 bring together, within a building
covering fifty acres, hot only the varied rr0dnc-
lions Of our mines and of the soil, hut tvncs of
all the iptellectual triumpla of our citizens.
specimens of everything that America ran
furnish, whether from the brains or the hands
of her children, and thus make evident to +ho
world the advancement of which a self governed
people ia capable.
lhthls celebration" aEluatiens will be invited
TO participate; IT'S character being international.
Europe VIII display her arts and manufactures
India her curious fabrics, while newly ODencd
China and Japan will lay bare the treasures
which for cenUtlriea their ingenious people have
been perfeCting. Each land viii compete in
generous rivalry for the palm Of superior excel
lcnce.
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 mxuriance her growing cotton,
aud the North in miniature, tho e~easelesa
machinery of her mills converting that cotton
into cloth. Zach section Of the globe will send
its hest offerings to this exhibition, and each
1tttiS Va tHC 4IIuhJ tS ii lIIt'IIfLttt III one uIlIIttl
body polite, will show to her sister States and
to the world, how much she can add to the
greatness of tue nation Of which she is a harlno
NOUS part.
TO make the Centennial Celebration such q
success as the patriotism and the pride of every
American demands will require the co-0ueratiOn
of the people Of the whole country. The United
States Centennial Commission has received no
Government aid, such al England exteudea to
her WORLDS Fair, and France to her Universal
| Exposition, yet the labor and responsibility
imposed upon the Commission is It's great as In
/ either of those undertakings. 1t is estimated
that ten millions of dollars will be required, and
this SUM Congress has provided shah be raised
by stock subscription, and that the peonlc shall
have the opportunity Of subscribing tn propor.
ton to the population Of their respective States
and Territories,
The Commission looks to the nnfailing patriot.
ism OF the people of every section, to see that
each contributes its shares to the expenses, and
receives its share Of the benefits Of an enterprise
in which all are so deeply interested. 1t would
further earnestly urge the formation in each
State and Territory Of a Observation-Disclosures
which shall in time see that cslnty association
are formed, so that when the nations are
gathered in 1876 each Commonwealth can view
with pride the contributions she has made tt
national glory.
Confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism
ever displayed by our people in every nationa
undertaking, we pledge and prophecy, that thu
Centennial Celebration will worth5ly show how
greatness, wealth and intelligence, can be fos
tered by such institutions as those which have
for one hundred years blessed the people Of thu
United States.
JOSEPH r, HAWLEY,
President.
LEWIS VAIN SMITH,
TemuUrary Secretary,