The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-17
THE COMING CENTENNIAL.
INDIANA TO THE FRONT.

TIE COMING CENTENNIAL.
INDIANA TO THE FRONT.
THE cENTENNIAI.'' MEETING LAST wEEK-
GENERAL LANSING PRESENTS SOME EPUNGEN
POINTS FOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BEEE-
FITS THAT INDIANA WILL DERIVE BY
PROPER REPRESENTATION IN 1876. -..l
The centennial meeting held last week
in the state board rooms called to
gether q fair number OF gentlemen, especial
ly considering how foul the weather was out
side. Thu speeches of General Lansing, sec.
retary of the stock subscription committee
for the west, and Secretary Cresswell, of
the Centennial commission, are given
below In full, and contains many
points of interest well worthy the con-
sideration of all who feel a pride in
having Indiana represented at the centenni-
al of '76. The meeting being called to or
der General Lansing presented his views as
follows: to
Mr.. President: Gentlemen of the Indiana
State Board of Agriculture; The commem-
Grafton of the one hundredth anniversary
of our grand republic, should be dear to the
heart of every citiz3n of the union. Never
IN the history of the world, has similar
event been celebrated. For the first time
on Cur globe, there will assem-
bic in 1876, a free people
of 40. .oO0, OOo-ruling continent stretching
from the Atlantic to the Pacific; rich be-
yond computation; and reveling in the
blessing bestowed by self government, and
in the light shed by thousands of free
schools, and free churches. One hundred
years ago, upon the spot where they will
then meet, the voice of only
10000 on narrow strip of
land by the Atlantic, declared that
all men were free and equal and had right
to govern themselves. TO this end they
pledge their fortunes and their lives, and in
much sorrow, if hunger and nakedness.
with the sacrifice of their property and many
lives, they showed the world that they were
fully capable of maintaining their declara-
ton, and band il down to their posterity.
At that anniversary, the Tooth, in the city of
Philadelphia, will be assembled to do honor
TO the giant republic of the world, the repre-
sentatives, the productions, the manufac-
lures the people of all climes, and all coun-
tries, from civilized Europe, from semi-bar-
barrie Asia, from barbaric Africa, from the
Orient, from the east, and from the isles of
the sea, viii be seen in their own native
costumes, their own peoples. come upto see
to wonder, and to learn lse
THE THOUSAND LESSONS
that will be given them by the expositions
of each state and territoritv of our Union,
with their manifold and unparalleled pso-
ductions of art manufacturer and of soil
and mine. The lesson will not be lost for
there will go out to the world from
that exposition such food for thought,
such cause for reflection and comparison as
will spread broadcast over the earth, the
seed of human liberty. Each state of ours
will learn something to its advantage, and
have just cause for self pride in some por-
! ton of it's exhibition. Foreigners and our
own people will learn more of us, and of
each other, than they ever could in
any other way 1t should be, it must be
| HE grandest exposition yet laid before the
world. Whilst every State has deep i'm.
| 6rest in its success, you, citizens of Indi-
ana. have very great one, to crafty
your pride in exhibiting your great
resources and progress, and show
the worlds visitors that you have
yet room for mora, and as a good prospect.
of still increasing prosperity
When 1876. shall come you viii have been
state just 90 years. Your population when
admitted into the union was about 1000.
Taking the average of your growth, the last
five years, in 1876, your population will have
increased, in the last sixth -tenths OF
the century We celebrate, from 100000
to a number equal to two-thirds
OF THE ENTIRE REPUBLIC,
When in I776 they declared their indepen-
dence; 100000 of people, and, in popula-
ton, the sixth state of the union, of AZ
states and territories. Following out the
same average, you will have Ii, 100000 acres
of improved farm lands, worth, in cash,
with their 100000 of woodland,
500, 900, 900. Using on these farms
improved American agricultural i'm
plements worth the great sum of S21 900, 900
your annual farm products, including in
crease of stock, $50, 900. To reach the
markets Of the world you haye your canals
and rivers, your northern ports on our in
land seas and your southern ones on the
Ohio, by which you reach the Atlantic and
the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, network
of railways, that rssdiate from thiscity, like
the divergent rays of a planet, reaching the
lakes, the gulf and the Pacific
ThroEgh these varied channels You can en-
ter and compete with the markets of the
world. not only with your productions of
soil and mine, but with your manufactured
| goods, already large and steadily increasing
amount of coal, your central position will
make yen the smelters of the mine products
of your neigh boring states, who must
stop here instead of seeking-the coal
Gelds of the Atlantic coast, as il will save
them time, as well as expense: t
All these great results, ad led 10 your per-
msnent school fund that will then be So. .0OO,.
000, and your 10000 school houses and thou
sands of churches, should and must induce
each citizen ofsthe great state of Indiana,
to rejoice at the opportunity offered by that
exposition to exhibit all these wonderful re-
suits, and to pledge himself that Indiana
will give her share for shelter and fence,
and do her best to make her display
equal to the greatness of her empire
The exposition of1S76 originated in a de-
sire on the part of the people of the United
States to properly celebrate theevent. Many
plans were laid before Congress, many cities
claimed the right of having it within their
limits, and many states asked for it; but
the applications of all were sent to a special
committee, who reported bin designating