Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-07-21
CENTENNIAL E-HHIBIITON AT
PHILADELPHIA.
Address of Ex-Governor Bigier before the
New Hampshire Legislature.

| tIlAN a I<4NA fhfl Ll2tLfIDi Il JOAN n
PHILADELPHIA.
Address of Ex-Governor Bigler before the
New Hampshire Legislature.
Ex-Governor Bigler, of Pennsylva-
mia, made an address before the mem
bers of the New Hampshire Legisla-
ture in the Hall of Representatives ON
Thursday afternoon, July 2, and spoke
for quarters of an hour in ex-
planation of the preparations for, the
objects and the advantages of the
Great National Exposition at Philadel-
phia next year. We append the sub
stance of his remarks
The reasons for the Centennial Cele-
bration might properly embrace the
history of our country from its dis
covery.
The planting of settlements on tie
shores OF the Atlantic, under the
auspices of Great Britain; the organi-
zation of these settlements ntoseparate
colonies the resistance of those colo
nies to the oppressive measures of the
mother country; the evidence Of dis
affection growing out of the oppressive
policy of Great Britain how the colo
nies united to resist the offensive prin-
cipie and practice of taxation without
representation how the stamp act was
openly resisted by individual citizens
and how indignant communities did
rise up and destroy shipments of tea,
because its use implied submission to
an unjust principle Of taxation.
The centennial anniversaries of these
events have already been celebrated at
Boston, in December, 1873 at Balti.
more, in February, 1874, and at Bridge
ton, N. j., in 1875. We should have
TO tell the story Of the organization of
the Continental Congress, and how the
military of George the Third cxerted
themselves to defeat that step, and
bring to your notice the heroic daring
Of Samuel Adams at Salem, who slam
med the door in the face of the British
soldiers and locked il until thodelegates
to the Continental Congress were
elected And also how hostlities actu.
ally commenced at Lexington and Con-
cord, And it would do ones heart
good to tell the story of the night ride
Of Paul Revere on that memorable
occasion.
The reasons for the celebration would
embrace the entire doings of the Con-
tinental Congress at Carpenters Hall,
in Philadelphia; and il makes the blood
tingle in ones veins TO repeat the
words of George Washington enunci-
ated at the most critical period-"I
will raise a regiment at my own ex-
pensc and march to the defense of
Boston"
Next, we should have TO consider
the great decisive cvent---the signing
ofthe declaration ofindependence in the
State House at Philadelphia the won
derful character Of the paper itself
(the more wonderful the older il gets.
The lights il threw upon the idea of
selfgovernmcnt have grown brighter
in this country as well as in Europe.
And above all the unanswerable reason
ing by which the Congress was brought
to tho conclusion that "these united
colonies are, and of right, ought to be
free and Independent States"
Then the protracted struggle in the
field to sustain the Declaration against
the military power Of Great Britain.
The scenes at Trenton, at Germantown,
at Brandywinc, at Saratoga, at Kings
Mountain, at Cowpens, at Guilford
Court House and Eutaw Springs
closing with a glorious triumph at York
town. Then, after peace began that
marvellous growth in population in
territorial acquisitions in the found
ing of additional States, with the con-
stant improvements in the arts of
peace, under which the thirteen original
colonies have in 100 years become
thirty-seven sovereign States, and the
population of 100000 has been in.
creased to 10000, 900, and under which
the civilization that seemed one hun
drcd years ago only to touch along the
rugged shores of the Atlantic, was car
ried across the continent and planted
on the Pacific. Step by step the pio-
neers encroached upon the forests, and
the soil yielded its fruits, and the will.
derness did "blossom as the rose"
With such history was it singular
as we are nearing the close of the first
century of the Republic, that the
thought should have occurred to some
one that the centennial anniversary of
the decisive events that brought that
Republic into existence, should be com
memorated by ceremonies beftting u
great nation, in manifesting reverence
for the memory Of the patriots and SOL
diers who founded it2 The American
Institute at New York, the Franklin
Institute, the Councils Of Philadelphia
and the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
brought this subject to the attention
of Congress, and that body, in the pre-
amblc to the law-making provision for
the celebration, commended IL to tho
people in the following fclicitous terms
"Whcrcas, the Declaration of Indc-
pcndence the United States of Ameri.
ca was prepared, signed and promul-
gated in the year l77G, in the City of
Philadelphia and, whereas, II bchooves
the people OF the United States to cole
bratc, by appropriate ceremonies, the
centennial anniversary Of the mcmora-
blcand decisive event which constituted
the Fourth day Of July, Ammo Domini.