The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
" The Era OF Good Feehng"-The
Centennial.

reference to the reception given to the South
ern visitors to the Bunker Hill celebration.
We have also printed an appeal from the
Board of Finance of the Centennial Com
mission in Philadelphia calling upon the
people to assist it in completing the build
ings necessary for the great Exhibition.
1t is gratifying to know that our friends
who have Immediate charge of the details
of preparing for this Exhibition are push
ing on their work with SO much courage
and industry, and they well deserve the
compliment which they have received from
the English Commissioner that their work
is further advanced than was that Of the
French or Austrian Exhibition at the same
period of preparation. The Centennial
movement will receive an impetus from
! the different celebrations that have taken
/ place and are announced to take place before
the Fourth of July, 1876 We might COM
pare these festivities to the lighting up Of the
signal fires over the Union-the reillumina-
ton Of patriotism and national pride and love
| for the Union. Thus we have had at Lexing-
ton and Mecklenburg and Bunker Hill. and SO
on, from these anniversaries to that on which
we shall celebrate the first administration of
Washington. 1t will be series of events con-
secrating in the minds of the people that
memorable day which witnessed the found
ing of our Republic.
The effect of this revival of patriotic
feeling will be to make the celebration in
Philadelphia the climax of Centennial time.
The browning event of the Revolution
was the Declaration of Independence, which
we commemorate on the Fourth of July. The
Exhibition in Philadelphia will be the cele-
bration Of that event, and must become the
especial memorable event of the centennial
period-the one national circumstance which
cannot be limited to New England or the
South or the West, as it belongs to every part
of the Union. Consequently our friends in
Philadelphia, who have labored SO long with
out encouragement and almost without hope,
and who now see before them so bright
prospect OF achieving the best results of the
Exhibition, will find their account in
these preliminary festivities, which are
only, as it were, so many steps toward the
climax of the Fourth Of July, 1876. But what
|
plete success are not simply banners and music
and rhetoric and enthusiasm. Let us look at
| it in the practical sense, because in that point
| of view we must, sooner or later, consider it.
! The last statement published by Ex-Governor
Bigler in the HERALD was of such favorable
character that it should be regarded as a new
inducement to our business men to assist in
ri, To Goxv
ernor Bigler, it must be remembered, is cit
izen of so much distinction and of such high
reputation for fairness and integrity and
prudence of statement that we can accept his
facts without question or pause, and the
good influence of his financial exhibit is to sat
isfy the public that there can be no failure in
carrying the great work through triumphantly,
and that the success of the Centennial, either
as national or international exhibition, is
already assured.
Something should be done toward the cere-
monies that will naturally attend the opening
of the Centennial Exhibition. We were told
I some time since that programme had been
laid down, which embraced Mr.. Longfellow
as poet, Mr.. Emerson as reader of the Declar-
alton and some eminent Southern and North
ern gentlemen as orators. The selection
of the men who are to perform these
offices should be made at once. Too
much time cannot be given to the
poem and the Grafton that are to com
memorate the opening of this Exhibition.
They should be marked by the maturest
thought. No hasty rhymes or hurried dec
lamation will be acceptable. The commit
tee should name the orator Of the day as soon
as possible. II Pennsylvania itself is worthy
of the honor let it be her own eloquent and
brilliant Daniel Dougherty, whose reputation
is already national Ii New England is de-
sirable let it be the silver-tongued Phillips or
the wise and honored Adams. New York could
| give Evarts, in whose veins runs Revolution
AIRY blood, or O'Conor, whose genius shows to
what eminence the child Of the foreigner may
attain in this free land. In the West we have
Morton or Sherman, while the South could
send us Lamar and Gordon. But whoever
is named should be named at once. Nor
should the selection be narrowed to sections.
Whoever is most worthy of the honor should
be chosen, and chosen now, that he may be
able to do justice to his noble and mighty
theme.
What our friends who direct the Centennial
should avoid is that apathy which SO often
paralyzes success. Disasters come from
this cause as frequently as from any other.
We may bring the cup to our lips without
drinking. The Centennial may be to-day
in the complete and absolute assurance of
success, and yet tomorrow receive a blow
from the hands Of its friends from which it
cannot recover. The true lesson for the Cen
tennial people is that the more they succeed
the more earnestly they should continue their
work. 1t is Of the first importance to New
York that she should do her part toward com
! nletino this work regardlesa Of the o1nonAi..