The Republican journal., 1876-02-03
The Centennial.

\ correspondent of the Boston Tran
script, writing from Philadelphia, makes
the following notes concerning the com
ing great event
A great deal has been said here lately
tor and against opening the exhibition on
Sunday. This proposed Dissertation OF
the Sabbath" as the Sabbatharians are
pleased to call it, admits OF much argu-
ment In the first place, both the consti-
tuition of the United States, and the con-
situations of the separate States allow per-
feet freedom in religious matters, accord
ing to the dictates of conscience A man
is neither compelled to attend church nor
compelled to remain at home, SO long rs
he respects the rights Of others to do as
they please and Sabbatharians are not at
all justified in trying to force their reig-
ious prejudlces upon unsuspectng foreign
ers. We have invited the world to see orr
great show, and not 10 a camp meeting;
moreover, we know about the class OF
people we may expect to see here the
majority will be composed principally Of
English and French, and the better classes
of either nation are not over demonstra-
tive in their observance of the Sabbath.
The French, particularly, will miss their
boulevards, theatres and gardens, while
the English, unused to the earnestness
which characterzes the American preach
er, would be apt to apply to them. as
rule, the appellation given to that sect
which originated in secession from the
Wesleyan connection. Then there will be
other guests from all quarters Of the globe,
more or less notable tor their non-observ-
ance OF the first day of the week as day
of devotional exercise. Now what are all
these people to do with themselves on
Sundays if the exhibition be closed ? There
are about 500 churches in Philadelphia. of
large and small dimensions, which are
now tolerably well thronged on Sundays
Therefore, as there will not be sufficient
church room to accommodate one-twen-
tleth part of those who would attend
church If they could, how are the masses
OF our floating population to employ their
time? If they can visit the exhibition they
will be able to find pleasant instructions
at every step. and to pass the day quietly
and certainly not irrationally. Moreover,
it will be the privilege of the Sabbatharian
to keep away from it, as it will be the
privilege of others to visit it OF any other
place they please. Surely Christianity is
not "the extreme bigoted exercise Of re-
ligious predjudices."
The Boston Journal, in recent article
on the relation OF the Government to the
Centennial, said, The obvious advan-
tages will chiefly accrue TO Philadelphia.
where the buildings will remain after the
exhibition, although the general expenses
of the enterprise will have been sustained
Especially in the event Of an appropria-
ton having been made) by the whole
country; and the Public Ledger replied,
stating the truth, as follows. which can
not be too wildly impressed en- the minds
OF the public: Thus far ninety per cent.
OF all the moneys paid have been contri-
buted by Philadelphia and Pennsylvania,
and the only buildings which are to re-
main after the exhibition for the use of
the people OF this city and State, are the
two which have been built erclusirely wiM
the money appropriated to the enterprise by
the State Of Pennsylvania and the cuy of
Philadelphia" If these facts are remem