The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1877-01-11

judgment and ability of the distinguished
managers, aud in the unexampled liberaiftJ
and hospitality of the people of Pennsylvania
and Philadelphia. Throughout the Exhibi
ton the utmost good order prevailed, and
its associations have powerfully strengthen
ed the reciprocal good viii of the nations ol
the earth
The results have been great and far reach
ing. 1t has deepened and widened the
public mind at home, and contributed to a
better understanding and higher opinion OF
our nation abroad. 1t has been an exhibi-
ton not only of the material products Of
our Institutions, in the necessities, comforts
and luxuries of civilized life so lavishly dis
played, but il has also shown the mental
characteristics which are at once the source
and security Of the same institutions, the
patriotism and liberality, the love of law
and order, and the superior average intelli-
gence Of the American people. 1t has
brought the work of our people into COM
parison with that of civilized nations, and
in summing up what we have done has dis
covered to US the direction in which we
must proceed. 1t has crowned the century
with unalloyed satisfaction, and we can en-
ter upon the work of the future with the
confidence and hope derived from the pro
sress Of the past.
PROGRESS OF THE CENTURY.
The past year was the centennial Of the
State as well as of the nation. 1t is ma.
tural to review the progress of the century
to trace the rise of the useful and orna
mental arts, and to mark the changes that
have taken place in society. At the latter
part Of the eighteenth century the province
contained about four hundred thousand in
habitants. The population scarcely ex-
tended beyond the Susquehanna, except q
few settlements that struggled into the
wilderness and held precarious existence
amid hostile tribes of Indians, and the diff
culties Of communicating with the more
popalous regions. The people were chiefly
engaged in agricultural pursuits; few in
the east were manufacturers and merchants
and the rude distilleries of the west turned
the products of that region into merehan-
disc There were faints traces of the min
ing. manufacturing and lumber interests OF
the present day, and only a suspicion ex-
isted of the incalculabe treasures buried in
the earth The means of disseminating in
telligeHce and knowledge were scanty, and
while the higher classes were educated and
refined, iliteracy was common among the
people. \ hundred years have wrought a
wonderful change. The population has in
creased ten fold, the area under cultiva-
tion hundred fold, and wealth almost be-
yond comparison. Thousands of miles of
canals and railroads intersect the Common
wealth. Immense mining, manufacturing,
agricultural and carrying enterprises give
employment to the toiling millions Of the
State. All the products of the earth are
within our raach fuel and provisions are
brought to our doors gas and water in our
houses, and the news of the world of yes
terday is laid on our breakfast tables in the
morning Thousands of schools and col
leges are scattered over the State, and the
post is burdened daily with millions of let
ters attesting the general diffusion ofknow-
ledge, The people are more intelligent,
freer and happier more cheerful, tolerant
and liberal The charges of modern de-
gencracy are refuted by the clear testimony
of hundred years. The cant of politics
is wilful perversion of the truth of his
tory Comparing 1876 with 1776 it is ap-
parent that we have advanced not only in
population and wealth, but in freedom, in
intelligence, in morals and in general well
fare.