, 1873-09-10

Tho ono-hundredth anniversary OF Cur national
cxiGtonco may have, ut tho opening Of aud dur
Ing tho Exposition, oeromonles mora distinctly
commemorative Of tile purpose for which, tho Ex-
hibltion was originally projected. 10 this end,
many fcaturos Of b1r. Digolow's p1an may DO
adopted without In my mannor interfering will,
the acopo Of tho Exhibition. Among the general
recommendations nsado by h1r. nlyelow for tho
celebration wero: /. Restoration Of tho gold
standard Of valuoB and repeal Of tho Inv mailing
paper money n legnl-tonder .. A reduction o:
our int1abtodncBs that would rondor o1lr Heouri~
tlos equally valuable with tho boat In tho world j;
80 rs to bo printed and roady for distribution In
Juno, 1876. All thego general features, II pro-
Vdod at oil, can DO provided just as wolf in con-
ncction with tho Exhibition as without It, and =
Memorial Hall suoh as tho Exhibition building
will furnish would 10 just tho place
for any ceremonies Tint ought to aooom-
pany thoir celebration. They are mntters Of
legislation and patriotism which tho project
Of q Centennial Celebration could suggest but
not conHummate. In addition to these general
propositions, Mr. Bigelow'a plan included a COM
momorativo Issue Of gold or silver coins, which
ia uaual in all national celebrations, md which
can and ought to DO provided for thia occasion
and kept for salo at tho Exhibition. Ho also
poets Of Amorioa should DO invited to sing tho
national farewell to tho departing century. This
is feature which tho managers Of tho philadol-
phta Exhibition certainly ought to adopt, and
alao eot aside the proper day for it. Mr. Big
CLOVIS proposition, that overy art bo laid undor
contribution for sono appropriate memorial Of
the excellence 1t ehall have attained, will bomore
fully realized wo think by mems Of tho display
at tho Exhibition than oven Mr. Digolow could
have anticipated. We have no doubt that SAM
ple Of each exhibited article could also DO pro-
cured for q pormanont contribution to ma
tional museum to furniah q standard for COM
pariaon Of progress at q aimilar celebration =
century honoo.
RIr. Bigolom's plan furthor includcd sorioa of
sketches Of the progroaa and product Of oivliza-
tion In tho United States for tho last ono
hundred yeara. Thia serios, according to tho
catalogue which he prepared, included tho eub-
dects Of our postal yico; to1egraphy progress
Of art, industry, and invention; Of emigration
and tho distribution OF emigrants in the United
States Of agriculture and the disappearance Of
growing timber; of mining and tho develop
ment Of mineral wealth Of military and naval
progress; Of manufactures Of all kinds; Of cdu-
cation and educational Institutions of relig-
ious and ecclesiastical institutos Of Sunday
schools; Of natural scionces; Of woalth and tho
financial vioissitudoa Of tho nation; Of
literature and Typography; Of tho news
paper proBH; of tho public ohnritiea Of
tho organization and growth Of tho dif-
feront states; OF tile Municipal, State, aud Fed
eral SYSTEMS Of political representation IN ao-
count Of everything memorable in the various
Fourth Of July celebrations from tho worry frat;
Of political economy; Of Law and our ayatems Of
judicial procedure; Of our fiahorioB; Of medi-
cine md It's offects on longevity; Of commerce
Ind navigation ; OF changes in cur social condi-
tion; Of tho aborigines; and Of the climacterio
aud meteorological changes Of tho century On
our Continent. This aories Of aketchea is tho
only feature Of hlr. Bigolow's original
plan which could not well DO carried
out by tho management Of tho Philadelphia
Exhibition but oven this could be provided In
connection with the Exhibition. II tho Society
TOR tho Advancement Of Science and tho Amerl-
can Social Science Association will, under the
auspices Of joint committee, organize series
Of lectures on those, and perhaps still other
aubjocta, tho lectures to bo given, ono every
night, during the Exhibition, and tho whole to
make up 4 Memorial volume, the feature can bo
made not only practicable, but ono OF tho most
entertaining and useful Of thcentiro celebration.
The sketches should naturally treat in every case
Of the progress made during tho century in this
country in tho particular mattor under
consideration. There is no doubt that tho best
talent the country possesses could readily be
secured, and euoh q committee ~ NO hive
would be qualified to exercise bet
tor discretion than Government Commissioners
in the distribution Of subjects. The managers
OF tho Philadelphia Exhibition will do well to
take measures toward the provision OF this foa-
ture ea well ss tho othora Of lIr. Dgolow's
original plan.
NOTES AND OPINION.