Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-19
The Centennial.
B Y j. b. 10 SSO y

L. wa" VIII sb!iiI IekiSC Va. iIf.c anticipated
by u great number OF the ~citizc:s Of our State
that the Legislature would nave made the rcs
sonsble appropriation Of ten thousand dollars
for the purpose of enabling Virginia t. b. pre-
sent at the coming Centennial exhibition; Tor
they thought that no place would have been
more fitting for Virgins to Lave made h modest
display. She WIS one Of the first of Il! G colonies,
and around her name cIu3ters not only sll the
reality and roinance of aboriginal tradition, but
she stands first in being associated with al the
thrilling events OF revolutionary history. Henry,
Jefferson and Washington were her soma, and
their lives Of patriotic devotion to the maintain.
ance Of the cause OF civil and religious liberty
made their every act the property of the world.
As the people of cd England hon red George
Washington with their admiration after the
revolutionary War, SO the people OF New Eng
land have honOred with respect the memory OF
Rvbert =. Lee since our civil WAT and where
should Virginia De placed but in 3 becoming
position to afford the world an opportunity to
study and mc;!itste the many ~virtuuus glories
Of her history? Her association there with her
sistar and daughter States would do for her pco-
pie what b recent visit OF some of her sons to the
city of Boston di2 tor u gallant son of the South.
The ref cted i!.hIencc OF that visit inspired the
noble represe, la.lyes of Massachusetts to step
forward amid the dissenSion Of angry debate,
and AK III pcace-iorlng words the rn!eaGo of the
name Of Jefferson Davis from the accusation Of
treason
Our country is now engaged in the pursuits
Of peace, and not in the turmoil Of intcrnccinc
War, and st this time more than IT any other
there Is needed \ more intimate association and
q closer friendship between the people of the
South, tIe North and the West, III order -
better understand and appreciate each others
aims and purposes and no one can doubt the
ultimate happy effect of n gracious Interchange
of kindly sentiments between the 20, pie OF the
res pective sections OF this grca. and imposing
naLlon. The centennial exhibition vii! bc rs he
festive board VI u gsia day, and the guests 10 Us
semb.e around 1t will display ~ each other, III
the sweet harmony VI peace, the wealth vi ayrI
culture, the achievements of Art and the tl.
umphs OF science, and each will vie with the
other in doing the kind offices of mutual good.
honor and respect 1t is TO be the assembling
OF the results Of the labor of the body and mind
of an hundred years; and rs the trophies Of =
century Of The worlds progress are placed upon
their respective n.tars, y spectacle such rs c.vII-
iZation has not seen Tor maAy centuries viii be
presented, and the joy of each exhibitor will BE-
seen in the pride which each country viii evincc
III showing what has been done in the msrch Of
those IMPROVEMENTS. that minister to tho COM
fort intelligence and Happiness Of mankind.
All this is to be done to commemorate the spirit
Of he work vi vi GINA OF five score years ago;
a.d should she not participate III the jubilee VI
the occasion she will prove ~ her ab:crce that
she ignores the wisdom, glory and bravery OF
her Sons, ilrmortai in tales OF history. Ii VII! be
strange, indeed, if Virginia Is absent from An
exhibition which is not only intended to JOY
over n Declaration Of Independence wllch one
Of her W sons penncd. but to aifprd her Ii
grand upporsuni.y OF displaying % the world
.hs maleria! sbuadance Of her agricultural and
mineral resources.
Inirty.siX OF the mot csptcta5le foreign mn
tions have accepted Invitations t. DC present nj
the Centennial EXHIBITION, and II may be surrey
expected tina: ali these pcop.'s Will manifest II
desire Ia make the acquai7tance OF the inollcr
of statesmen aad Of Statcs, and 10 do honor to the
mother Stste OF Henry, jefferson, Washington
and Lee, snd when inquiry ShaIi be made a'Nihg
why Virgins is not present, IN nVar'ciouS ell
boarlng in its greedy arms the puny, SHRINKING
shuddering form Of The little god PIuLus "l1t
reply that q minority of the Legislature KEPT
Virginia at homo, and thereby concealed nh
exhibition of her pure history ana great re-
sources of lands and minerals IN order TO SAY"
ten thousand doll .rs to pay SIX per ceItuh IN
tcrest to stock JobDing gamblers on evidences
Indebtedness that cost them but fifty or siAty
cents on the dollar; and Il sigh Of regret VIE <"
out ut the II ought That Virgins, who, Tor " con
fury, fought IN triuinphs tine battles vi cl'i, "nu
religious liberty, should, At last, have !a'lch "
helpless victim TO n peOn slavery That hascrlsh-
ed out the pride snd energy OF heF present
children, and mor.gaged for long Snd "e'y
years yet to come the sweat OF their br""s i"
psy the ~interes. and principal Of ri, ilI,bes?t:cn
debt in the creation of which they had neither
voice nor vote, sn6 the proceeds .! when nae
long since gone and ere still going to make INC
rich richer and the poor poorer.
The other day, while the wogkmen at the
saw-miII, Campcriown ship-bulldlog yard III
Dundee. Scotland, were engaged cutting oPa
large log Of Quebec yellow pine, they laid open
several sections yfa wasp's nest. lie meet oe-
IN, mar rho c,ntra nf the tree, the anllUaI7,