New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-14
Spec, u Of Hon. Richard Cain Oh
the Centennial.
Delivered In House OF Representatives.

1t is because the race to which | belong
have been received into the nation as part
and parcel of it that | regard it as duty
which l owe to my constituency, and to those
with whom am more especially identified,
at least to express my sentiments in relation
to the great national celebration which is to
take place in this country. Interested now
as we never were before in all the interests
of this country, brought into happy re-
lationship with those interests such as we
never before enjoyed, it seems to me, sir, to
be betting that we should express our inter-
est in whatever concerns all the citizens of
this country.
We anticipate, sir, with pleasure the cele-
bration Of our national birthday. l will not
detan the committee by speaking of the
financial question connected with this sub
ject. Gentleman far more able than myself,
who have grappled with the financial ques-
ton, have discussed it pro and con, and
therefore deem it unnecessary that should
say anything on that branch of the subject.
One or two other considerations, however,
present themselves to my mind, and to these
| shall invite the attention of the committee
for few moments.
Objections are made to the celebration on
the ground that the nation is too poor, that it
will cost too much, and that we are not now
prepared to give 5000, 900 to such an enter
prise as this. Now, if it be urged that on
the score Of poverty we ought to desist from
engaging in any noble enterprise, l would
only point to the vast wealth of our nation,
to its growth to its constantly accommodating
wealth. No nation on this globe, in nv
judgment, has made such rapid progress in
developing its resources, in creating, SO TO
speak, vast wealth as our nation has done.
| 1t is objected that in the present condition
OF the country we are not prepared to enter
upon this enterprise. We are told that the
Secretary Of the Treasury has informed us
| that we are still increasing the national
debt. That may be true it is true; but is
this a sufficient reason why we should decline
to undertake so noble an enterprise as the
celebration of the hundredth year of the
nations independence? Is it not, sir, an
object of sufficient magnitude for the nation
| to make 4 sacrifice of few million dollars d:
Are not the people of this country willing
to make that sacrifice, and to tax them
selves, so to speak, for the purpose OF cele-
brating so great an event as the nations
hundrcdth birthday?
Let us ask ourselves, what influence will
this great event of the centennial celebration
| have upon the prosperity of the nation
Admitting that it will cost $3,O00.00o, the
question comes back, will the nation be adj
vantaged in proportion to the expenditure
! which will be required to carry out the enter
| prise: five can settle the question in the
affirmative, it seems to me that we should
not have much trouble in settling the other
question, whether or not we ought to give
5000, 900 for this purpose.
The beneficial influences, Mr.. Chairman
which believe this centennial celebration
would have on the nation far Outstretch the
comparatively paltry sum Of $4,000, 900. If
n,..ilt .
ton as they have never been brought
together before; if we give a powerful i'm
petus to progress in science, in art, in litera-
ture, in sculpture, in agriculture, and in COM
merce and if by its means We bring here
the gold of Europe and vast numbers OF
visitors from other nations; if by means of
this celebration we quicken the energies of
the people OF our country throughout its
whole length and breadth by bringing our
citizens together to celebrate the nation s
birthday-ifwe accomplish all this, it does
appear to me that we shall lose nothing by
appropriating few million dollars to carry
out the enterprise.
1t has been said by gentlemen on this floor
that the people are not ready for it. dc
not know, Mr.. Chairman, whether this asser-
ton be true in regard to particular sections
Of the country. | have always, however
found the people ready TO respond to any
great enterprise for the promotion of their
welfare and for their advancement which
has been brought before them. This cele-
bratiOn, as l have said, will exert a most
beneiicent influence on the commerce of the
country. Our vessels will DO laden with the
commerce of other nations. Gold wiki be
brought to our land. The energies of our
people will be quickened. Our mining in
terests, all the vast interests of our spreading
country, will be brought out before the world
as they never have been before. The labor
ing class of the country will feel an interest
in this great enterprise.
But, Mr.. Chairman, it has been remarked
that very few, comparatively speaking, OF
our constituents will visit the centennial
exhibition and see all these great develop
ments of science and art. That may be true;
but it is also fact whatever tends to ma
tiOnal progress, whatever national character.
affects the whole nation. Every man, wo-
man, and child in this country will feel the
influence of this great enterprise. More than
that; it will have an influence in the future
history OF our nation. We are making his
tory, MIR. Chairman; and every effort of the
nation OF this description tending to the adj
vancement OF human progress will be felt i'm
the future by every citizen in the country.
Then, too, sir, it will have harmonizino
influence on this nation. Hitherto we have
had the North and the South, the East. and
the West; but by this gathering together oil
all sections national harmony and national
unity shall be brought about. When from,
every hamlet of our land and from every
kingdom beyond the sea shall have beef,
gathered all the developments of science and
art, when there shall be presented in this
line hall to be erected at Philadelphia the
fruits OF the genius of every nation and Of
every people, OF every factory and every
workshop, of every mechanic and every arti.
san, and when they shall be displayed in that
vast area, each man will be able to see AT
one GLANCE the greatness of his nation and
the genius OF the people to which he belongs.
THIS gathering will have happy and moIli-
Tying influence. Each man there will see
that he is part and parcel of this nation,
And, sir, particularly desire in behalf OF
the race to which belong that we shall have
place in this great gathering of the nation.
nope to see there evidences of the develop
ment OF the genius of my race. | hone 10
see there that which shall eflectuallv renel
the charge often made of lack of oenius on
their part. Through long wears Of slavery
they have waited patiently the coming of the
happy era when they can feel that tIev are
part and parcel of this nation. We have
our cotton-felds, our rice-fields, our corn.
fields, our iron mines, aud our coal-tields,
We have the work of our mechanics and arti-
sans, and desire Tor my race place in this
grand and noble structure. Let all races he
represented as evidence of the unity of the
nations of mankind, and of that more hannv
and glorious era which is dawning upon this
country.
Mr.. Chairman, this assemblage at Phila.
| delphla will have an influence in heal;no