The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13
gntIama @'rekIy GIube.
INTERNATIONAL INSTEAD OF
NATIONAL.

Although it is impossible, as yet, to
judge with accuracy, appearances indicate
that il our centennial is celebrated at ALL
it will be strictly national IN its character,
instead of taking the form of an interna-
tional exposition. Indeed with the present
temper of the people, we should not be at all
surprised il the anniversary was suffered
to pass without being commemorated in
manner which could be called national. 1t
would be disgracetul to the American peo-
pie, after the high sounding promises, the
proceedings of Congress, aud of the several
state legislatures, a year or more ago, if
the proposed centennial celebration should
be given up, allowed TO prove an utter
failure, or contemplate fizzle. In our
judgment, the commcmoration should be
International 1t should be an intcrna-
tional exposition. The whole expenses
thereof ought to be paid by the free will
offerings of the people. Ii is evident,
however, that the necessary funds cannot
he obtained in this manner, but this fact
ought not to stand in the way of a success
\ full exposition. While demanding retrcnch-
nent and economy, we believe that the
america" people would justify and sus-
tain Congress in making an appropriation
sufficient to supply the deficiency between
the actual expenses and the money raised
by voluntary contributions. There are
several reasons why the commcmorition
should be international IN its character, to
some of Which we propose to call attention
taking it for granted ihat every ono
believes that the anniversary should be
celebrated, by the nation, in some way.
The anniversary which we are called upon
10 commemorate, would, probably. never
had been regarded by Us, had we not had
moral and material aid from other coun-
tries Our very Independence as nation
was wrought out by foreign aid by cili-
zcns of all nations. Our population is, so to
speak, international in its character. 1t is
more SO than that of any other country
on the f,ce of the earth. The foreign born
population and those whose parents, one or
Doth, were foreigners forms Il very large
percentage of our population. We can
almost say, as was said when "the day of
Pentecost was fully come" that in this
G1lnlry""hear we eyeTy-flsn in our own
tongue. wherein we were born. Hardly a
nation but is represented by its own sons
and daughters, and the immediate, as well
as remote, descendants of its sons and
daughters. We need not again urge the
results which will directly flow to us, in
wealth and population, by such a coming
ling of nations, where our adopted cit
liens can urge upon their brothers by birth,
every man in his own tongue, the advan
tages of our institutions, the extent of oul
territory, the cheapness and fertility of oul
soil, our vast mineral resources, etc" We
moreover, owe such an exposition to our
selves, not alone from our promises and
action, but because we have freely par.
taken of the benefits of international eX.
positions in the different countries Of the
old world. Shall the new world be behind
the old world? Shall we, as nation,
prove Oursclf Unequal to the task ? When
our turn comes" the time is suspicious
the eyent to be commemouted one of the
most momentous in the worlds history
will we give to the nations of the cartl
practical proof of the charge that we care
for nothing but the almighty dollar"