Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-05-19
THE CENTENNTiL.
Speech or Hon. w. Il. Frye in Favor OF the
Centennial Appropriation Bui.

The following is the full text of the
speech OF Hon. Wm. p. Frye in favor Of
the bill approprialing three millions Of
dollars for the National Centennial:-
Mr.. Chairman. have been listening 10
this debate for the last day and n half.and
have been grouping in my mind whatever
facts found entirely beyond dispute, in
the hope that by such grouping | might
be able 10 determine my own action upon
the measure before the committee. In the
first place. il is 4 fact that this country. on
The 4lh day OF July. 1876. will see its one
hundrcdth birthday; and gather from
everything that has been said, including
the speech just made, that there is nothing
in all its history for the past hundred
years. in its marvellous progress in arts
and sciences and literature, and its growth
in wealth aud population. in its wonder.
iul development in agriculture and man.
ufaclures. in its stcadfast. faithful adher-
crce to the great underlying principles oil
the Rcpublic--I say there is nothing that
should compel the American people in
shame or in sorrow or humility 10 refuse
TO celebrate this birthday.
# Is i fact, sir, that the Declaration Of
independence was prepared, Signed and
promulgated in the city OF Philadelphia !
and that settles, beyond peradvenlurc or
cayil, rs TO where this celebration shall be
held, il anywhere. II is fact that Con
gress, in March. 1871. provided for Il
centennial celebration, and by the same
act provided that it should be an inter.
national exhibition of arts. etc. 1t is
also a fact that tho President The oil
United States. in obedience To that law,
sent forth his proclamation to The world,
using language which | ask the clerk 10
real.
rhe cleIk reads
1t is fact that The Secretary OF State,
instructed 10y the same law, sent this
proclanl1.io OF the President TO all the
diplomatic representatives Of the world.
expressing the trust that they would make
known its contents 10 their people and
invite them to co operate in the ceiebra
ton. Il is 4 fact, rs have gathered from
this discussion, that thirteen or fourteen
foreign countries who received that invi.
ta,ion TO unite in that celebration. have
in terms accepted it.
Ms colleague from Maine. (Mr. Hale.)
says there have been no invitations-there
has been no acceptance of any invitation
In Heavens name, gentlemen, you heard
that declaration OF The President read. you
know what the Secretary OF State has said
and you heard Bismark's acceptance read
in this house yesterday; and il that does
not constitute invitation and acceptance,
are there any words in the English Ian
guage which shall make an invitation and
acceptance2
1t is fact, sir, that the same law pro.
vided for, and the President appointed. Il
centennial commission, men OF judgment,
men of discretion, men in whom the whole
country have confidence; and that in
obedience 70 the law, that commission
reported from time to time progress 20 the
President OF the Uniled States; that in
February last they made their lastrepot.
which is before the House here to-day
and the President of the United States
sent that report TO this House. andacc
panied it by message. wich | desire the
clerk to read OH account of the crisp.
cogent manner of putting the case.
The clerk reads.
Mr.. Chairman, the President says "a
failure in this enterprise would DO deplor
able" and the commission in the perform.
ance Of their duty have said to the House
and the President of the United States,
lowing to great financial di stress and
panics, we find it is impossible 10 raise
the money as we expected, and unless
there is Congressional aid. the enterprise
will be failure" And there is the posi-
ton of it before this House 10 day. Oar
Executive says that failure in the enter
ris, would be deplorable. and our com