The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-05-18

Inc COMMITTEE on Pr1nting made q report
as to the condition of the government print
ing Office. They recommended its entire
abolition. and the letting out Of government
journed.
Opening Speeches of the Exhibition.
The presentation of the Exhibition to
the President of the United States was
made in a speech by President Hawley,
of the United States Commission, as
follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENT-Five years ago the Pres
ident of the United States declared it fitting
that the completion Of the first century Of
our national existence should be.
GRATED by an exhibition of the natural re-
sources Of the country and their develop
ment, and of the progress in those arts
which benefit mankind, and ordered that an
exhibition Of American and foreign arts,
products and manufactures should be held
under the auspices OF the Government Of
the United States, in the city of Philadel-
phia, in the year 1876. To put into effect
the seyeFalelaws relating to the Exhibition,
the United States Centennial Commission
was consequently composed Of two Commits
sieners from each State and Territory, NOM
mated by their respective Governors, and
appointed by the President. Congress also
created our auxiliary and associate corpo-
ration. The Centennial Board of Finance,
whose Unexpectedly heavy burden has been
nobly borne, and the remarkable and pro-
longed disturbance of the finances and in
dustries Of the country, have greatly magni-
fed their task, but we hope for a faYorable
Judgment of the degree of success attained.
July 4, 1873, this ground was dedicated 10
its present use. Twenty-one months ago
this Memorial Hall was begun. All the
other $50. buildings within the Enclosure
have been erected within twelve months.
All the buildings embraced in the plans of
the Commission itself are finished. The de-
mands of applicants exceeded the space, and
strenuous and continuous efforts have been
made to get every exhibitready in time.
By general consent the exhibition is ap-
propriately held in the City. OF Brotherly
Love. Yonder, almost within your view,
stands the yenerated edifce wherein oc-
Cured the event this work is designed to
commemorate, and the hall in which the
first Continental Congress assembled. With
in the present limits of this great park were
the homes of the eminent patriots of that
era, where Washington and his associates
received generous hospitality and able
counsel You have observed the surprising
beauty Of the situation placed at our dis.
posal. In harmony with all this fitness is
the liberal support given the enterprise by
the State, the city, and the people individ-
ually.
In the name of the Uuited States you ex.
tended respectful and cordial invitations to
the governments of other nations to be repre-
scented and to participate in this exhibition
They responded from even the
remotest regions. Their Commissioners are
here, and you will soon see with what energy
and brilliancy they have entered upon thii
friendly competition in the arts of peace
1t has been the fervent hope of the Commits
sion that during this festive year the peopli
from all States and sections, of all creeds ant
churches, all parties and classes, burying al
resentment, would come up together to thii
birthplace Of our liberties to study the eyi
dence of our resources, to measure the pro
gress of a hundred years, and to examine
to our profit, the wonderful products Of othe
lands; but especially to Join hands in per
feet fraternity, and promise the God of GU
fathers that the new century shall surpas
the old in the true glories of civilization
and, furthermore, that from the association
here of welcome visitors from all nations
there may result not alone great benefits I
/ invention, manufactures, agriculture, trad,
and commerce., but also stronger intel
national friendships and more lasting peac,
Thus reporting to you, Mr.. President, undo
the laws OF the government, and usages {
. similar occasions in the United States, j
the name of the Centennial Commissioner
l present to your view the Internationi
Exhibition of 1876.
When President Grant rose to RESPOND
he was greeted with enthusiastic an
: long continued applause, followed b
three cheers and a tiger, led by GEE
& Hawley.
President Grant then read his responi
o to the presentation address. His I
Spouse was brief, and expressed in wei
chosen terms the sense OF the importanI
! of the Exhibition and the greatness
the events it commentaries. So gre
3 was the confusion in the crowd, howeve
and SO low the tone of voice in viii,
|" the speech was read; that people a fe
/ yards away could not hear what W
uttered.
L MY CoUNTRYMEN-It has been thong
4 appropriate, upon this Centennial occasic
& to bringtogether philadelphia, for POP
lar inspection, specimens of our attainmeI
20 in the industrial and fine arts, and in lit
2 AZURE, science and philosophy, as well as
the great business of agriculture and of CO
merce, that we may thoroughly apprecis
the exeellencics and deficiencies of Q
achievements, and also give emphatic
: preston to our earnest desire to cultiyi
the friendship of our fellow-members of Il
great family of nations. The enlighten'
i agricultural, commercial and manufacture
people Of the world have been invited
- send hither corresponding specimens of tn
he skill, to exhibit ON equal terms, in friens
a competition withsour own. To this inyi
se ton they have generally responded. F
SO doing we render. them our hearty than
4, + The beauty and utility of the contribute
in will this day be submitted to your inspect,
by the managers Of this exhibition.
ne We are glad to know.that a view of spe
mems OF the skill Of all nations will afford
ca you nnalloyed pleasure, as well as yield
On you a valuable practical knowledge Of
ne many of the remarkable results on the q
tennial Grounds.
We One hundred years ago our country v
les new and but partially settled. Our necel
81 ties have compelled us to chiefly expe
ne every means and our time in telling fore
u.s. subduing prairies, and building dwellin
ng factories, ships, docks, warehouses, roa
W. canals, machinery, etc. Most of our schot
n churches, libraries, and asylums have bt
yer established within one hundred years. B
or dened by these great primal works of nee
re- sity, which could not be delayed, we
M nave done what this exhibition will show
ng the direction of rivaling older and more
,ar vanced nations, in law, medicine, and I
ology; in science, literature, philosop
and the fine arts. While proud of what
N, nave done, we regret that we have not d,
80 more. Our achievements have been q
enough, however, to make it easy for