New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-26
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT, And REPORT OF THE
CENTENNIAL COMMrssIOS-AN APPROPRIATION

MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT AND REPORT OF THE
CENTENNIAL COMMIssIOS-AN APPROPRIATION
by CONGRESS URGED
GENERAL PRES DIsPATcHl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-rhe President to-day sent
the following message to Congress:
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
have the honor herewith to submit the report of the
Centennial Commissioners, and TO add "A word In the
way Of recommendation.
There have been international ExpOsitions held
by three Of the great Powers OF Europe IL seems M
ting that the hundredh anniversary OF our lnde-
pendcncc should DO marHed by an event that Will
display to the world the growth and progress OF nation
devoted 10 freedom and 10 the pursuit OF fame,
fortune and honors by the lowest citizen well as the
highest. failure in this enterprise would he deplora
BILE Success he assured by arousng public opinion
the i'm portaBce OF the occasion TO secure this end
in my judgment, Congressional legislation ~ necessary
to make the Exposition both national and
International The benefits 10 be derived from a sue
cessfni International exposition are manifold. 1t will
necessarily DO accompanied by expenses beyond the
cepts from the Exposition ITSELF but they will DC COM
pensated for many fold by the commingng OF people
from all sections OF country, by bringing to-
getber the people Of different natonates, by bringing
into iuxtaposltion for ready examination our own and
foreign skill and progress manufactures, agriculture
art, science, and civilization.
ie selection of the site FOR the Exposition
me appropriate from the fact that, 100 before the
date fixed for the Exposition the Declaration OF indie
pendence which launched into the galaxy OF nations
AZ an independent people. emanated from the same
spot We have much In our varied climate, SOL, uni
yersal products and skill of which advantage can be
taken by other natonalties TO their profit In RETURN
they will bring TO our shores works OF their skill and
famiiarze our people with them to the mutual advant-
age OF al parties Let us have complete success OF
our Centennial Exposition suppress it in Its infancy,
acknowledging our inability give it the international
character TO which our selfesteem aspires.
Rrec,etire Mansion Feb Is, 1874 u. :. GRANT
The report of the Centennial Commission which
the President transmitted with his message contains
the following information and suggestions among
Others referring to the extent to which the inter
national character of the exhibition has been ac-
cepted by the Governments and peoples of other
countries:
This national undertaking has reached that phase
at which, in international sense Is to be decided
whether the United states as republican nation VIII
relates foreign governments, assumed H. ana the
COMMISSION acting the agent OF the States does not
know how the steps which have been taken
without dscredt and injury to the national reputation
Ia the case Of the fars r Exposn aOd ,f Gt
city OF PARIS provided about threeifths OF the capital
for the purposes Of the Exhibition and the balance was
made up by private subscriptions. The financial basis
Of the Austrian International Exhibition OF 1873 was ~
follows FIRST The sum of s. 10000 was subscribed,
peria Government appropriated s45OO0O0 and added 70
this loan, without interest, of sl,5oOOCo making
5000 600 derived from the Government for the purpose
of the exhibition.
Ii il respectfully submitted that the Government OF
the United States IL to its principles and Its ira
dtona devotion TO the neres q and elevation or labor
and the promotion of universal progress WIZ certainly
not refuse follow those precedents established by
European Governments. Past international exhibitions
have been To extent experimental, but the com
mon Judgment OF civilized nations proclaims their
in advancing every branch of industry science
ana national development; in dflsng throughout the
world the most advanced ideas knowledge OF the
latest improvements in manufactures and mechanical
methods and processes, as well as IN pro-
ducts and also in promoting social and commercial IN
tercourse between the people of the various countries
The reports received through several channels con
corning the action foreign Governments in regard to
the Presidents recommendation to them OF the ex
hbtion are such encourage the belief that II the
President had been authorized give more direct and
explicit invitation the acceptances would have been
more general and prompt. The Secretary OF State
has informed the Commission that the Government
of the following countries have officially communicated
their decision to participate In the Exhibition,
viz The German Empire, the Netherlands, Bel GUM,
Mexico, Ecuador aud Hayt. The Secretary OF state
has made known the gratifying fact that Prince Bis
marck, the Chancellor OS that Empire, IN communicat
ing printed copies Of the communication or his Govern
me nj on the subject 10 the German Parliament. recon-
mended "A participation IN the Exhibition aud a pro
| VISION for the appointment OF commission Tor each
state of the Empire we'll a. a plenipOtentlary u
reside at Philadelphia until the close OF the Exhibition