The Republican journal., 1875-02-18
The Centennial.
From the Lewiston Daily journal.

Our citizens will soon be invited to as
sist in an entertainment which will be the
initiative of Lewistons movement in aid
of the national centennial in 1876. We
have held from the beginning that such
a commemoration of the first century OF
our existence as nation. is eminently
appropriate and desirable. In opposing
the passage OF any bill which should sub
sidize the scheme, or take money from the
treasury vaults to ensure its success, we
have meant to emphasize our opinion
that the celebration of 1876, unless it be
the spontaneous act of the people them
selves, will lose its entire significance.
The exposition at Philadelphia, to mark
in the truest sense the progress made by
the people OF the United States during the
past one hundred years, must be a popu-
lar and not a governmental enterprise
Accepting this as fundamental princi-
pie, we come to a troublesome question
In the first place, anything short of com
plete success in the undertaking will be
simply a disgrace to the people of the
United States Having invited the nations
to behold Row great and how progressive
a people we are, and to survey the collect
ed evidences of a centurys progress it is
hardly necessary to show that a confess
ion of Indifference or OF impotence to car
~ out the programme we have so loudly
proclaimed, would be Notifying in the
extreme There is hardly citizen who
will deny this, or who does not feel per
sonal interest in the success OF the ccnten-
NAL
Yet Notwithstanding this theoretical in
terest, we find 4 practical Indifference.
The whole thing is 4 singular spectacle.
Here is what purports to be national
centennial exhibition, and yet the coun-
try is standing with its hands in its peck
cts, looking on unconcernedly and chatf-
ing Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, as I'M
assisted they strain every energy to ac-
complish the great task. We cannot con-
slider this Indifference as anything more
serious than the usual disposition to delay
cooperation in matters of such magni-
tude. But it is a dangerous delay. We
could not do the country in which we live,
with its atfluence of resources and gener-
osity OF temper, the injustice to believe
that it could be anything but sorry, should
the centennial, though the procrastination
OF those who should hasten to support it,
be failure or a questionable success in
the presence Of the nations which have
been asked to come and participate.
The other States must act 1t was the
proper thing for Philadelphia and Penn
sylyania to do all they could tor them
selves, before they came outside to ask
assistance, They have done their share
generously The measures-tardy per
haps, but etiectiye-taken by those who
have the financial control Of the undertake
ing, seem so sensible and practical that
they can hardly fail to secure the cooper
alton desired. The nation is committed.
The buildings for the exhibition are I'M
der way. The projectors are building up
on faith. Every State in the Union is in
terested in their success. The situation is
not Il difficult one to comprehend; and M
less the whole thing falls through mean
while, the rest of the country will proba-
bly, be ultimately slammed into taking hold
and helping
Bringing these facts right home to our
selves, we find that the ladies who have
the centennial interests in charge-and
these interests could have no better Gus
todians have arranged the first move by
which Lewiston may take part in the
work. The demand upon the purse CO.
operation OF every citizen is thus given
definite form No one can plead that he
or she is without opportunity to assist.
Duty and patriotism cannot misunder-
stand and no words are too earnest to
express our hope that the support render
ed the ladies of the centennial committee
by the people of our two cities may be
prompt effective and hearty.