The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-29
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
PHILADELPHIA, July 4, 1878

the Auriliary Centennial Commission !
to the Women Of the United lStdtes:-
The International Exhibition of 1876 is |
designed to commemorate our National
Independence.
While it seems natural that the spot
where the nation drew its first breath,
should be the point selected by Congress
for the proper celebration of the One
Hundredth Anniversary Of its exist
ence, it seems also fitting that Philadel-
phia should take the initiative in or
ganizing a systematic plan of work.
Having this in view, the Citizens
Centennial Finance Committee APP
pointed in February last an Executive
Committee of thirteen women-with
power to add to their number II neces-
sary. Their appointment was confirmed
| by the Executive Committee of the
Centennial Commission, and their work
approved by the Commission itself,
during its session in this city In May
last, when the formation of similar or
ganizations throughout the Union was
recommended.
The Women's Executive Committee
selected q woman in each ward in Phil
adelphia, to act as Chairman of Com
mittee of not more than thirty-six
women, whose duty it is to arouse the
interest of all in the success of the Ex-
hibitiOn, and to aid in obtaining sub
scriptiOns to the stock of the Centennial
Board of Finance, Incorporated by an
act of Congress for the purpose of
raising the funds necessary to conduct
the International Exhibition. The
shares are ten dollars each, payable In
easy installments.
We, members of the Womenis Execu-
tive Committee whose names are here
unto appended, now seek the co-opera-
tiOn of the women of America, that
similar organizations may be begun,
improved upon, and carried into perfec-
ton, in every village, township, city
and county in all the States and Terri
tories of the Union. And in asking this
aid and this interest, we appeal to our
sisters throughout the United States,
first, on the ground of patriotism.
: Every good woman desires that her
country should hold prominent place
in the family of Nations. Although il
may be that in many respects we are
. faulty as a Nation, it is only by contact
! with others that We can hope to have
our faults corrected. This Exhibition
| will bring to our shores men and WON.
en- from all countries, who, while they
may point to our defects, will carry
r away with them a proper regard fol
what is great and good among us, and
; thus promote feeling of respect for us
} in lands where Americans are now toe
often regarded as semi-barbarians.
r Conscious as we must be that Ameri-
can women enjoy greater privileges
, than are accorded to women in any
, other land, let us enter on our work,
carrying with us the thought of ouI
r blessings. Let us feel as If it is the
D birthday of our mother that we are
about to celebrate-a mother with
. whom some of us cannot hope to live
long. Or, our land is yet so young, we
may almost imagine that our son will
reach his majority in 1875, and we must
: help to light the bonfires in his honor
, We would urge upon the serious con-
G sideration of our women the great ad.
, vantage to be derived for our sex
through this Exhibition. Through it
, women will be found to possess busi.
ness qualifications which may be use.
fully called forth; the value Of their la.
, Dor will be raised, and many who art
. now struggling for their daily bread
:, may be enabled to obtain for themselves
n remunerative positions, by which they
may earn a comfortable livelihood.
4 Every subscription that is gathered
will be but another stone added to the
building of the pedestal on which tbs
American woman is destined, through
o her work, to stand; and in helping our
9 selves, we shall help the women il
: other lands, where now it is not un
common to see woman and a Gov
harnessed together to a plough and .
man driving them.
Actuated, then, for our love for ou
land, and our ambition for our sex, W,
go forth doubly armed to make the ex
hibitiOn Of '76 a grand success. Som
= may say that the exhibition will merely
= affect the interests of Philadelphia, bu
this is not so. Just as the Declaration
Of Independence brought freedom to al
the States, so will this Exhibition brinl
; high consideration for each State in tn
Union. Each signer of that preciou
document did not insist upon returning
to his own State, there to affix his sig
nature. 1t was given here for the wei
fare of all; and here shall the product
of each State be brought gladly by he
s. children; while here for the honor OF al
l. shall these commemorative ceremonie
2. be held.
= 1t is true we all have certain sort O
b State pride, which is natural and com
j. mendable. Massachusetts, is deaf to tn
IF noise of her shuttles and looms, or find
,e sweet music in them. Pennsylvani
t, thinks the SCOT of her mines becoming
Ie to the complexion of her people. Soutl
Carolina is proud of her many cotto
[. fields, and Louisiana finds nothing s
ID sweet as her sugar-cane. The West re
y joiees, first, in her prairies, and then 4
ID the iron belts which girdle them. Bu