New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20

representatives or our reueral auu ctato Wv
ereignties and of all friendly foreign pow
ers let him pronounce his DISCOURSE
simultaneously with its delivery it should be
transmitted by the combined aid of the greatest OF
American discoveries and inventions, the electric
telegraph to every postmaster in the republic and
to every agent of the republic IN foreign countries
throughout the world. This ceremony should take
place as early possible in the morning, O'Clock
at the latest that the Presidents words might reach
every hamlet in the country in time to DO read al
every local celebration, and where otherwise none
might be held, to provoke gathering to hear IL.
The assembly might then adjourn to public break
fast at which itssurpus patriotism might ma ample
opportunity of expressing itself without interfering
with the august simplicity of that portion OF the
ceremonial which should be conducted most strictly
and exclusively in the name of the nation and where
no voice but that of tho Chief Magistrate. who Is
the constitutional representation of the nation,
should be heard.
| The Presidents discourse would necessarily DO q
communication of supreme interest to all the world
1t would be widely read or listened TO propa-
bly, than any single speech that was ever uttered
Its effect would be intellectually enhanced by the
fact that it would strike the whole world stimuli
taneousy instead of reaching portions of It, accom-
| panied by the criticisms and qualifications whch
usually limit the range and power of all human as
| course No sovereign or potentate mas ever hau
| such an opportunity of impressing the world ana
the opportunity is rightfuly ours, for IL Is by Vtuo
| Of one of the greatest triumphs of human genius
| tho achievement of an American-that it is become
| humanity possible to render the opportunity so
| available.
The Presidents discourse would of course be
printed by Congress- and with it all the reports OF
the wise men which were utilized in preparing 1T.
| Now let us look at some of the features of this
! plan that commend it:
l. It's national Interpretation of the event, and
NAV be made to respond to every patriotic and
scred impulse which the occasion Is calculated TO
| inspire IN every human breast. The President
speaks for the whole nation to the whole world.
| lie has no temptation to boast for the facts
| he will have to state will leave no preteXt
| for exaggeratiOn. He will only have time to
say what would be of momentous interest. Its eff
feet would not be broken in any way impaired by
diversity or multiplicity of exercises On that oc-
casion the nation should speak, and the nation only
q In this way the celebration might, as it were, be
brought to every mans door, instead of requiring
the displacement of all who participate i'll it, at very
| great personal expense Inconvenience, and peril.
The Presidents discourse would of itself guarantee
the success of local celebrations within easy reach
of every one; it would furnish all who participated
in il fertile aud profitable subjects for meditation
and conversation not only throughout tho day but
| for years to come; it would give them juster and
more intelligent ground for pride in the institutions
under which they living and solicltude Tor their
| protection from abuse, degeneration, and corrup-
! ton; it would make every man in America a better
citizen and a more loyal patriot and it would place
republican institutions before the citizens of the
older States of the world in the way to dispel preu-
! dces and ignorance that are inaccessible to the
| ordinary currents of light.
8. 1t would be inexpensive indeed, for what has
thus far been suggested it would involve the Federal
| Treasury IN expense whatever.
There is no person fit to be charged with reporting
upon any of the subjects which might be referred to
him, who would not regard such an invitation as the
highest distinction the President could confer upon
! him. His name would be thenceforth permanently
| associated with the fortunes of the Republic. No
| royal OF imperial academy could confer any such
patent of Immortality Ii is needless to say that
our swftest-footed of messengers would be but too
proud of the privilege of transmitting the Presl-
| dents words to the end of the earth
The ceremonies | have described would by no
means exhaust the educational features of this occa
sion. Ii might be worth while to consider the pro-
prety of Offering prizes for the best tragedy the best
comedy and the best opera, each illustrating some
| period of our national history and the
manners of our people, the successful pieces
| to be played in all the theaters and opera
houses of the country the night of the anniver-
sary the author to be entitled to small royalty for
each subsequent representation.
| 1t is not worth my while to more than suggest
that this list of prizes might be extended to chef
dGlrre of some sort IN many other departments Oh
| literature and art.
| The Greek games and festivals. which furnish us
now almost the only basis for calculating the chro-
nology of Greece for q considerable period of her
| history, "took hold of the Greek mind by great
variety of feeling" says Mr. Grote. "as to counter
act in high degree their political observance and
to keep alive among their widespread cities III the
midst of constant jealousy and frequent quarrel
feeling of brotherhood and cOngenal sentiment such
| as must have otherwise died away" May not our
Centennial anniversaries have the same harmOnzing
tendency, and become with us, like the Olympic and
! Pythian games of Ancient Greece, a sympathetic
| bond of union of the numerous communities repre-
| scented at them.
| Mr.. Grote goes on to say: Besides the exhibitions
of the games themselves, there recitatons and
lectures in a spacious council room for those who
chose to listen to them. by poets, rhapsodists, phil
| osophers and historians, among which last Hero
| dotus is said to have been publicly read by its
author" Why should not our Centennial also be
| made the instrument of awakening some new and
more exalted ambitions in the countryf Why not
provide something besides opulence. and powers of
accumulation as standard of merit and influence
successful play poem introduced to our country
under such auspices would exert an incalculable
influence in developing the literary genius Of this
country. 1t would inspire thousands with an ainbi-
ton lookingto something more exalted and perma-
nent than the merely material conditions and physi
cal welfare of humanity. Why should not every de-
partment of literature and art do its best thing and
nut down its milestone in '76 to mark the point of