New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-21
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
OH
HON. j. T.. WALLS,
In the House OF Representatives, Thursday.
May sth. 1874.


ami having under consideration the bill! III. X. No
s.sG Ia appropriate So 900 Ooo i'm aid OF the Cen ten
nal Celebration and International Exhibition OF
ls.6-
Mr.. WALLS said:
MIR. SPEAKER - From what have seen
of the wide discussion Of the proposed Cen
tonnal Exposition, in the public press, and
from the course of the debates upon tho sub
ject in these halls, it seems to me that a mis-
apprehension of the origin aHd character OF
the enterprise, has, from the beginning taken
largely from the dignity of the discussion,
and has largely and without necessity added
acrmOny and bitterness to the evident feel
inc attending it.
The Exposition has, in the Press. even of
this Capitol. been snecringly alluded to rs
"The Philadelphia job" as though it were
an evident attempt on the part of the people
of Pennsylvania and especially of the City
of Philadelphia, in an improper and unwar-
rantable manner, from motives of selfish
greed, TO foist upon an indifferent and unwil-
linz people, a scheme foreign to their inter-
esis, and in opposition TO their wishes, all for
the petty gains and nOtoriety that by the
adoption OF the proposed plan, would inure
to the local benefit of a particular section.
1t is only upon the suppositiOn of the eX-
istence of some such opinion, that can ac-
count for an accrbity of feeling and a harsh
ness of language in the newspaper discus
sion Of the Centennial, which, to me, seemed
utterly uncalled for, and unworthy of the
theme.
From my recollection of the Congressional
action hitherto had, and in which / particle
pated, the place of holding a proper Nation
al celebration of the one hundredth birthday
of this government and of this people. as
a separate and independent nationality, was
previous to the fixing of definite location
Tor Its celebration, i'll no sense of the word
considered as job, attempted to be put
upon anybody. From and indeed previous
TO any action whatever being had on the
part oi Congress, the whole subject had
been widely agtated in all parts of the co,n-
try. And Congressional action was proposed
and was had, not in advance of IL popular
wish and sentiment, but in response to the
general and popular demand, and in conform
ity with the popular wish of the whole pco-
pie, as cvnccd in the numerous petitions
presented to us.
Indeed, 1 can but feel that the mere scIcc-
ton and designation of the city of Philadel-
phia, as the place in which the Exposition
should be held, did more than ausht else, or
indeed all other considerations to excite
Jealousy and create animosity before unex-
pressed and unfelt, but which would, in like
manner and for the same causes in due time,
might have been named.
But, aside from all these minor and incl
dental considerations, the aid of Congress
having already been granted TO some extent
to the Centennial by such legislation as was
asked; and more, its former assistance hay-
ing been solicited in proper manner, by a
very numerous and respectable portion of
the people at large, rs well as by the Cen
lcnnlai Representatives selected ana COM
missioned by the Government from every
State and Territory of the Union; and GER
tainly very plausible reasons having been
offered for the grant of further national as
si>tancs, we have 7Iaii. duty before us.
And, accordingly, it seems to me that un-
der all the circumstances of the case and
in view Of the large share of public attention
already excited towards the Centennial. and
partly in consequence of the very decided
encouragement to il drawn from the Congress
sional action already had, the very least
that we can with prOpriety do, is to give the
whole matter full consideration, In Justice to
ourselves rs well rs To the matter appealing
SO directly TO the patriotic sentiments of our
whole people, and by full and fair discus
sion, endcavor TO ascertain the actual merits
of the place proposed; the probable success
OF the undertaking, the benefits that may be
expected to result from il, both to ourselves
and to the world; the prOpriety, upon gen.
eral principles, of a grant of national aid,
and whether or not the extension of such
national aid is, BY our previous action already
pledged.
First, then, what are the real merits of the
proposed International Exposition?
In reference to this point, the mere recital
OF the preface to the Act of Congress, to
which the Centennial owes its corporate ex-
istencc, would seem to summarize the whole
Whereas, it bchOOvcs the people of the
United States to celebrate, by appropriate
ceremonies, the Centennial Anniversary of
this memorable and decisive event, which
constituted the Fourth day of July, Ammo
Domini, l776, the birthday of the nation ;"
and SO forth.
From the very first then, a dominant and
not discrcditable feature of the Centennial
seems to have been that it contemplated a
public, emphatic and comprehensive express
sion by whole people, who for a hundred
years had enjoyed more than usual share
OF the ordinary blessings of human life, under
the genial but powerful influences of an es-
sentially popular government, based upon
The organic and paramount doctrines of the
Declaration, ascribing to every man born OF
woman an entire and absolute equality OF
political rights, of their gratitude for the
blessings attending their lot, and the pro-
found appreciation of the adequacy of a
Tree government TO the protection of the So
clal, political and personal rights of all with.
IN its scope.
Such recognition of advantages received
from the practical operation of existing sys-
TENS OF government have characterized the
people OF all the various known govern.
ments that have existed from time immcmo-
rial, so much so rs to have become custom
well-nigh universal.
Recognized thus as proper and becoming,
under monarchical and even dcspotic govern
ments, will any say that it is any less proper
and becoming to the happy people who OK.
ut IN the possession of the only literally
lree government upon the face of the broad
indeed, there would seem to be a peculiar
Propriety in such a national exhibition to Tho
nations OF the world, of our own satisfaction
win the capacities and cxccllencics Of our
own system OF government, thus approved
tested and favored, to be both sufficient and
satisfactory by the dangers and rcverses as
wen as the sometimes more dangerous sue
cesses oil a century of practical trial.
III may be very true that no absolutely new
truth and no thereto unheard of discovery
ia political science was announced i'm the
Declaration, as a novel and startling base
upon which to found a government structure
mat should challenge the admiration of the
nation. Such admitted fact in no way dero
Sates from the value or force of that noble
document. Right there, in the very fact tina
~ the declaration was nothing intrinsically
neg, but that it simply gathered up and ar
aanSed in systematic order and for practi
cal purpose in the promotion of human hap
Whcss and progress those simplc fOrciblc