Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-03-07
THE CENTENNIAL.

THE CENTENNIAL.
Message Of the President The Commits
sIOners' Report 10 Congress
The president has sent the following
message to congress:
TO the senate and hoUac Of representa-
tires.
have the honor herewith to submit
report of the centennial commission
ers, and to add a word in the way Of
recommendation. There have now been
international expositions held by three
of the great powers of Europe. II
seems fitting that the one hundredtl
anniversary OF our independence should
be marked by an event that will display
to the world the growth and progress
of the nation devoted to freedom, and
to the pursuit of fame, fortune and
honor by the lowest citizen, as well as
the highest. A failure in this enter
prise would be deplorable. Success can
be assured by arousing the public to
the Importance Of the occasion. To
secure this end, in my Judgment, con
gressional legislation is necessary to
make the exposition both national and
International. The benefits to be de-
rived from a successful international
exposition are manifold. 1t will neces'
sarily be accompanied by expenses be
yond the receipts from the exposition
itself, but they will be compensated for
by commingling of people from all sec
tions of our own country, by bringing
together people of different national
tiles, by bringing into iuxtaposition for
ready examination our own and foreign
skill and progress in manufactures, agrl-
culture, art, science and civil station,
The selection of site for the exposl.
ton seems to me appropriate from the
fact that one hundred years before the
date fixed for the exposition, the declar,
alton of independence, which launched
us into the galaxy of nations as an in
dependent people, emanated from the
same spot. We have much in varied
climate, soil, mineral products aud skill,
of which advantage can be taken by
other nationalities to their profit. In
eturn, they will bring to our shore
works of their skill and familiarize our
people with them, to the mutual advan-
tage Of all parties. Let us make a com
plete success of our centennial eXposl'
tion, or suppress it in its infancy and
acknowledge our inability to give II
the international character to which our
self.esteem aspires. U. S. GRANT,
Executive Mansion, Feb. 25, 1874.
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT.
The report of the centennial commits.
sion, which the president transmitted
with his message, contains the follow
ing, among other information and sug'
eestions. Referring to the extent tC
which the international character OF the
exhibition has been accepted by tht
governments aud peoples of other coun'
tries This national undertaking has
now reached that phase at which, IN an
International sense, it is to be decided
whether the United States as a republi'
can nation will fill that responsibility,
They have already, so far as relates tC
foreign governments, assumed it, and
the commission, acting as the agents Of
the states, does not know how to retract
the steps which have been taken with
out discredit and injury to the nationa.
reputation. They have already pledged
themselves to compete with other gov
ernments in promoting through inter
national exhibitions the cause of human
advancement in the arts and industries
that are the foundation of the wealtl
and prosperity OF all nations.
In the case of the Paris exposition o
1867, the national government of France
and the city OF Paris provided abou
tbree-ifths of the capital for the pur
poses of the exhibition, and the balance
was made up by private subscriptions
The financial basis of the Austrian in
dustrial exposition of 1873 was as fol
lows First, the sum of 81, 800, 900 wa
subscribed, chiefly by the tradesuni
ons OF Vienna second, the imperia
government appropriated $4,000, 900
and added to this loan without inter
est of 81 500, 900, making sc, 900, 900 de
rived from the government for the pur
nose of the exhibition. From the fact
thus %, esented it appears that Europeal
Governments exhibit their practical sym
nqthy in the cause of labor and scienc
by a recognition of their just claim
upon the public treasury for a sutiicien
amount of pecuniary aid to insure tn
success Of these temporary Cxpositions
1t is respectfully submitted that tn
government of the United States,
true to its principles and its traditionG
devotion to the interests and elevatio
of labor and the promotion of universe
progress, will certainly not refuse I
follow those precedents established b
European governments. Past lnterni
tionai exhibitions have been to some e!
tent experimental, but the commo
Judgment of civilized nations proclaim
their success in advancing every branc
of industry, science, and national deve
opment. in diffusing throughout th
most advanced ideas, knowledge OF I'll
latest improvements in manufacture
and mechanical inventions, in metho(
and processes, as we'll as in product
and also in promoting social and cor
mercial intercourse between the peop
of the various countries. Europei
governments, pprceiving the beneti
specially accruing to the nations
which such exhibitions are held, ha'
emulated each other in their efforts
secure the privilege of holding ther
The reports received through sever
channels concerning the action of fc
} eign COVE nments in regard to the pre-
D dents recommendation to them OF t
, exhibition are such as to encourage t
belief that, if the president had be
A authorized to give a more direct and
5 plicit invitation, the acceptances Won
5 have been more general and prom
. The secretary OF state has informed t
3 commission that the governments OF t
5 following countries have officially co
0 municated their decision to palticipi
0 in the exhibition, viz The Germ
3 Empire, the Netherlands, Belgiu
. Mexico, Ecuador, and Hayti. The sec
S tary Of state has made known
% gratifying fact that Prince Bismar'
Q the chancellor of that empire, in co
Q municating printed copies OF the co
h munications of his government on
o subject to the German parllame
% recommended participation in the
y hibition and provision for the appoi
y ment OF commission for each state