The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-06-04
LETTER FROM SECRETARY FISH
DEFINING THE POSITION OF
THE GOVERNMENT IN RE-
LATION TO THE CEN
TENNIAL EXPOSE.
TON.

TON.
The Commissioners Of the Centennial
Exposition met in Philadelphia On Wed
nesday last The Executive Commit. e
suhmitteas a lengthy report, in which Is
Iglven the following letter of the Secreta-
Try of State It corrects a misapprehen-
sion which the Phlladelphians have of
the responsibility of the General Govern
ment for the success of the Exposition.
/ DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON Nov. 8, 1878
, To the Diplomatic Officers Of the United
States:
] GENTLEMAN-I regret to find that mis-
apprehension has arisen in certain quar-
ter as to the meaning Of he proclamation
of the President. OF the 81 OF July last,
relative to the Centennial Exposition, to
be held in Philadelphia in commemora
ton of the Declaration of the Independ-
ence of the United States. 1t is, therefore,
dee med nece- sary to make the following
communication for your In formatiou and
guidance:
It will be observed that the President,
in his proclamation, has extended no iuvi-
tation to forcign powers to participate in
the Exhibition. He was not authorized 80
to do and, while he desires to attract
as much attention and interest as possible
thereto, he carefully confines himself to
commencing the celebration of the Gen.
tennial Anniversary Of American INDIE
pendence, and the Exhibition which is
to be held IN connection Herewith, to
all nations WIN, may be pleased to take
| part therein.
1t is presumed that you have not failed
to observe the guarded language of the
Presidents proclamation. and The differ
| ence between itand that which would I1u
used in extending an invitation to other
! Powers. You should he aware also, that
the Exhibition is under the control OF
commission created into corporate body,
and that it is not national in the sense of
being governmental, or under government
al control With the exception that
Congress created the commission iato q
body corporate, and that the delegates
or commissioners (who are named by the
Governors of the several States and Terri
tories) are commissioned by the Presi-
dent, and that Congress authorized the
proclamation made by the President, and
sYmpathizes with the sentiment of the
people in a general but deep interest in
the success of the Exhibition, the National
Government has no connection with the
COMMISSIONER has no control over it
and is in no way responsible for It's man
agement or its results. 1t is important
that you should correctly appreciate the
fact, for. while tue President feels deep
and sincere interest in the succesa of the
Exhibition, and Congress has given to it
the sanction of its approval Of it's object
and design, neither the President nor
Congress has authorized any invitation
on behalf of the Government to be given
to foreign powers, nor assumed any re-
sponsibility of management or control of
the Exhibition.
1t is, unquestionably, the hope of the
President that foreign powers will take
interest and cooperate In the celebration
and Exhibition and the instruction OF
the Department of July 7 directed you to
avail yourself of such opportunities as
your official relations with the govern
ment to which you are accredited would
afford, to make known to the .proper
authorities, and through them to the peo-
pie Of that country tho object and scope
of the Exhibition. and thereby aid in
securing their interest and cooperation.
But you will not allow the relation of the
Government toward the Commission and
les objects TO b. mimpprehended.
In correcting any understanding in
this aspeot, you will be extremely care
ful not to throw any mistrust upon the
tcelebFntion. or excite any suspicioa of the
absence OF very deep interest In its sue
cess ON the part Of the government. T
am, gcntlemen, your obedient servant,
HAMILTON FISH
af8 THE NEW CARRIE rArp