Connecticut western news., 1873-03-28
One Hundred Years Old.

One hundred years constitute but an episode of the countries of the elder hemisphere-a page of their chronicles. That period in the younger hemisphere covers the whole of the country's career. When we have said that the Republic is not yet one hundred years old, we have said the most wonderful thing about the Republic. Such marvel ous example of rapid growth all history fails to parallel. The progress from community of colonies, numbering only three millions of people, to Union of States with population of nearly forty millions, has been accomplished in less than ten decades. There are men now living who were born before the Repub- lie; within whose life term the wilder ness has changed, like 8 spectacular transformation scene, into a series of great cities, thriving towns and culti- vated sections, abounding in all the proofs and fruits of vital civilization, rivaling in wealth and achievement the most venerable of European countries, and surpassing them in substantial prosperity. And so the infant of na- tions stands in their front rank. Surely such swift development is the phenom- enon of the ages.
 When the Republic celebrates it's centennial, as it will in & little more than three years, there will be enough to commemorate. From @ national point of view we shall look back upon narrow interval of time but measured by what has been done the interval is overfowing with fact and suggestion. The Republic in it's young manhood has had the full advantage of the mod ern stimulus to successful effort. The tedious processes of the last century have given place to new methods that imply creative genius in the material arts. The sons of the Republic cross the continent, from ocean to ocean, in the time consumed by the Fathers of the Republic in passing between the Atlantic cities. The swiftness of travel is type of the improvements of the later time. Within the short life of the Republic steam communication, instan- taneous telegraphic correspondence, and all contemporary material agencies have become accomplished facts. Nor has the progress been only material. Education has been made nearly uni versal, and the masses of the people have grown intellectually and morally stronger.
 There is certainly enough to celebrate on the coming Ono Hundredth Fourth of July. The question is, how shall we celebrate ? Thus far the celebration has only taken shape in the proposed National Exposition at Philadelphia. If this enterprise shall not fall into the hands of mere spectators, if it shall be general, genuine, and popular under taking, it ought to be a grand success. It will show our own citizens and all the world, in tangible and impressive form, what the Republic is, what it has done, and what it can do. It is 8 good thing, so far as it goes.
 But there is prevailing and instinct i've feeling that it does not go far enough. The people will hardly be sat isfied that the celebration shall begin and end in Philadelphia. The Centen- nial Fourth of July ought to be pres ent and vital force throughout the length and breadth of the land. Every State, every city, every town, every vil- lage, every remote settlement should prepare such universal commemora- tion as the world hitherto has never known, and thus emphasize the signif- cant announcement that the Republic is one hundred years old.