National Republican., 1876-01-08
THE CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EX-
HIRITION

HIBITIoN.
Inspector General Hart has telegraphed
from Picking that the Chinese Government
has decided to ask for 1000 square feet of
space.
1t is intimated when Mr.. Hopkins bill
comes up next Monday, which enacts that
the sum of 81, 100000 be appropriated
from the Treasury to complete the con-
struction of the buildings and for other pur,
poses, that few Congressman willimprove
the occasion by asking for space, six feet
by two, for the purpose Of making their
political graves by opposition to the bill.
Mental capacity and inventive genius find
it quite impossible TO conceive what fair
argument the opposer of the bill can bring
forward, and they will be heard with an
amazing curiosity. 1t is limited, however,
that the opposition will base their argument
on economy and the protection of the peo-
pie, and some may venture to say that no
reason exists why the people Of the coun-
try should be taxed for the benefit of
Philadelphia, though such q remark would
be so utterly stupid it is hardly reasonable
10 suppose it will be made. 1t is not Phila
delphia's ''take" in any sense Of the word,
and it's the candid opinion of her citizens,
best informed, that the city will be poorer
bvmany thousands on account ofit-that is
to say, the natural profits to the city will
be much smaller than the expenses. 1t is
an affair which belongs to the entire coun-
try, and the people in every section of the
country, and the classes to be NOR. distinctly
benefited are the mechanical and agricul
tural. After it had been projected it was
taken under the patronage of the Govern
ment by the acts Of 1912, which created
the United States Centennial Commission
and the Centennial Board of Finance, "and
to them was intrusted by the act the exc
cution of a plan for holding 'tan exhibition
''of American and foreign arts, products
"and manufactures in Philadelphia. "
The invitation to take part in it has been
accepted by Great Britain. with Australia
and Canada, France and Algeria. Ger
many Russia, Austria, Italy, Spain. China,
Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway,
Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey Egypt,
Brazil, Peru, Boliver, Chill, Hayti, Eene-
zuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Persia,
Liberia, Siam, Guatemala and Salvador,
Honduras, United States of Columbia,
Hawaii, Argentine Confederation, Tunis,
Orange Free State, in all, thirty-six nations,
and they have each appropriated large
sums Of money for the purpose, and Great
Britain, Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Japan,
Spain, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Turkey
and Morocco have already and will erect
buildings on the grounds. Besides all this,
the States Of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts,, Missouri,
Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Wiscon-
sin, Iowa, Minnesota and Arkansas have
selected their ground and are putting up
buildings for the use and convenience of
their citizens and exhibitors
The Finance Committee have received
in gifts, concessions and interest, $3.50, 900;
appropriation by Pennsylvania, 81, 000 900;
appropriation by Philadelphia, 81 500, 600,
stock subscriptions, s., ,3551i, 80, making
total of $5,1S7,;50, and leaving required to
finish the buildings and prepare for the
opening, $l,5311, 100, and this is the sum or
nearly that asked for by Mr.. Hopkins bill,
and it will be a shame, the shame of
shemes, 10 hesitate moment in passing it,
for it is the work of the nation, and for all
the better interests Of the people. 1t
would be robbery of the people not to
pass the bill. 1t is net question of poll
tics. There would be no Republicanism
in refusing it support, snd no Democracy.
in securing its defeat. The subject is ex-
haustless in affirmative argument, while
the poverty of the negative side is abso-
lutely shocking. We apprehend. how
ever, that argument is not necessary in its
favor, and that the Opposition will hardly
be worth notice.