National Republican., 1874-05-14
APPEAL FOR THE CENTENNIAL

FROM THE woMEN'S CENTENNIAL Ex
ECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF WASHING
TON TO THE WOMEN OF THE UNITEl
STATES.
1t is probably known TO all of you that Congress
on March 3, 1871, appointed m "internationsl ez
hibition" to be held in Philadelphia in 1875, t
commemorate the hundredth birthday of the na
tlSn; The better to arrange for and carry out thi
restoration, two persons from each State and Ter
ritory were chosen by the Governors OF the State
and Territories, and appointed and commissioned
by the President. Subsequently Congress ere
ated body corporate under the name Of the Cen
tennial Board OF Finance, whose duty should b.
| to provide the funds for carrying out the law o
Congress ordering the exhibition. A large amount
OF the necessary means had been secured, wher
the financial crisis gave q sudden check to the
subscriptions and led to an application for aid tC
Congress, which at the outset 1t was deemed
would be unnecessary. The bill, though warmly
and eloquently advocated, was defeated. 1t now
becomes necessary to look to each State and Ter.
rltory, and to every individual of them all, 70
raise rsSe money needed to make this great cele.
bration d pv1"s.sct success In order that every
o one might sOItIibrts the shares s S o.
paid at the tune .. ."hSariplign, a2d two Dollar,
every ever three months til all is aid
In October last the board Of finance invited the
women Of the country to cooperate with them, by
using their influence in exciting an interest in the
success OF the celebration, and In procuring sub
scriptions TO the Centennial stock.
The women Of Philadelphia were the first to or
u
and have sent forth stirring appeal to their sis
! ters in every part Of the Union. Most cheering
responses have come back to them from many
States, and the women Of Washington our nation g
| capital, ara rapidly organizing. A committee Of
twenty-one whose names are attached TO this
paper, have begun their work, and are appointing
efficient aids, 10 act as chairmen of a committee OF
women in each ward, who will aid zealously IN
the good wotk. We have pledged ourselves to do
al in our power, singiy and collectively, to make
| great people. In the fulfllment Of this duty
We have thought that an earnest appeal to our
countryWomen of the capital might be more care
fully needed than II II came from any one State in
| the Union. We feel the utmost confidence in ASK
ing your cordial cooperation, from the high mo-
tiyes which we present, and from our faith in the
power that woman may WELD.
| A feature OF the great exhibition Is to be de-
p3Ttment exclusively for woman's work. Here,
whatever she can produce in art, literature or
manufactures. with chisel pen, pencil, or needle,
shall be brought to show her skill, her industry
and her intelligence in those fields of labor which
are not debateable territory. Every woman can
weigh for herself the advantages to her sex
which must come from such an exhibition. But
deeply as we are interested in the success Of this
measure so fraught with good to women, there is
higher, grander object for US all to aim at in
this celebration which embraces men and women
alike IN its blessings.
-Four years Of civil war have LEFT deep wounds
in many hearts all over our broad land. To heal
these wounds. and 10 restore true peace and har-
mony is the noblest work that over o benedcent
God entrusted TO women. This incalculable good
we can accomplish.
The quiet and eEclent way in which the women
OF the whole country redeemed the tomb of Wash
ington, and gave 1t TO the American people q
legacy for all time is proof Of what women can
do when they ore united and moved by q lofty
sentiment. Their influence North and South
during the late war can hardly be over estimated.
They showed their fidelity, constancy and zeal
by their untirlng labors, their ceaseless vigils
with the sick and dying, their uncOmplaining,
heroic endurance of suffering through broken
health, destitution and bereavement.
There 10 no doubt that We have the power to ac-
complish the great work, and 1t must rest on our
cOnscences that we use all our influence In the
interest Of peace. 1t seems as If the very spirit
O. peace had planned this golden opportunity for
us 10 blot out the bitter past and come together
bearinS the rich treasures Of our fertile fields,
sSbanstJess n, 'nas and busy manufactures, from
Torfb and Sortb -st- and West, united by a
common interest, seeking q Co. Uen pt Sssing am,
above all, cclnenting in fraternaI IaIth ano
charity the foundations Of our common I'~uiI'
Mrs. Montgomery Blair, Mrs. Edward Beale,
Madame Berghmans, Mrs. Jas. NJ. Carlisle,
Mrs. Arch'd Campbell, Mrs n. p. Chapman,
Mrs. Gen. Eaton, Mrs. Gen. Emory,
Mrs. VIM. L. Marcy, Mrs. Richard MerTick,
Mrs. = & Mitchell aT-s g V. Niles
Mrs SdmnIfal FSweli, TfS Adnirai ? Dor,
Mrs. Sec'y Robeson, Mrs. Gov. Shepherd,
Mrs. Gen. Sherman, N-s- Justice StrSnS---
Niss ..IsLEY SEWARD, Chairman.
Miss SARA CAER UPToS, Secretary.