The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-02-15
An Address by the Omitted States Ccntcn-
miaR Commission
To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:

To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:
The Congress of the United States has enacted
that the completion of the One HundrCth Year
of American independence eshallb 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 representatives from
each State and Territory, to conduct the
celebration.
Originating Under the auspices of the National
LEGISLATURE, controlled by a National Commits
sion, and designed as it is to Commemorate
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 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 graudcst anniversary
the world has ever seen.
That the completion of the first century 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 of the Great Republic can he most
fittingly celebrated by the universal collection
and display of all the trophies of its progress. 1t
is designed to bring together, within a building
covering fifty acres, not only the varied prOduC-
tlOnS Of our mines and of the soil. but typcs of
all the intellectual tTiumphS of our citizens,
specimens of everything that America can
furnish, whether from the brains or the hands
of her children, and thus make evident to tho
world the advancement of which asclf governed
people is capable.
InthiS Celebration" alInatiOnS will be invited
to participate its character being International.
Europe will 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 excel
lcncc.
To this grand gathering every zone will con-
tribute its fruits and cereals. No mineral shall
he wanting; for what the East lacks the West
will supply. Under one roof will the Soutt
display in rich luxuriance her growing cotton.
and the North i'll miniature, the ceaselcss
machinery of her mills converting that cotton
into cloth. Each section of the globe will send
it's best offerings to this exhibition, and each
State of the Union, as a member of one united
body polite, will show to her sister States and
~ NS "N'N ~" lll'N SliN I'll tNll 10 the
greatness of the nation of which She is q harmo
Nous part.
To make the Centennial Celebration s,1ch T.
success as the patriotism and the pride of every
American demands will require the co-oneration
of the people of the whole country. The United
States Centennial Commission has received no
Government aid, such as England extended tn
her Worlds Fair, and France to her Universal
| FynOSjtiOO vnt tho 1ohON aud ,o,,o.z,l.,.A-
imposed upon the Commission is as great as in
either of those undertakings. 1t is pstimatcd
that ten millions of dollars will he required, and
this sum Congress has provided shall be raised
by stock subscription, and that the people shall
have the opportunity of subscribing in propor-
ton to the population of their respective States
and Territories.
The Commission looks to the unfailing uhtriot
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. It would
further earnestly urge the formation in eacf
State and Territory Of a centennial Organization
which shall i'll time see that county associations
are formed, so that when the nations are
gathered in 1876 each Commonwealth can view
with pride the contributions she has made te
national glory.
Confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism
ever displayed by our people in every nationa
undertaking, we pledge and prophecy, that tn,
Centennial Celebration will worthily show how
greatness, wealth and intelligence, can be fos
5 tered by such institutions as those which havt
for one hundred years blessed the people Of tn,
United States.
JOSEPH r. HAWLLY,
President.
LEWIS VAIN SMITH,
TemOOrarv Secretary