The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-09-26
That CentenniaI Celebration,

1
our proposed Centennial celebration.
On the one hand there are pa
triOtic few who can extract enough
interest and enthusiasm from refec-
tions which relate solely to the one
hundred years of history of our old
town, to want nothing more. Their
enthusiasm kindles into fame at
the mere mention of our one hun
dredth anniversary. They ask for
nothing better than that as the foun-
dation for a jubilee. Any collateral
concomitants to such an occasion
would be superfuous and out of
order. Theirs is genuine, old
fashioned patriotism which, at least,
calls for our admiration and respect.
On the other hand there are a
large number, perhaps, majority of
Our people, who, while sharing in
the patriotic impulses of the first
class, takes more practical view of
the subject. They have been asso-
ciating our Centennial celebration
with the opening of our railroad
They regard the chief profit to be
derived from it that of bringing a
large number of strangers and visi-
tors from abroad, who would see
our beautiful town for the first time
get acquainted with our people and
be induced to come again. The idea
is that it would be a splendid adver-
tisement for our town. This would
result if we had railroad to bring
the people here. Without railroad
they would not come from abroad.
1t would be purely local affair.
Our own people from the county
would gather in town, probably, in
large numbers. They do that more
or less every year-at commencement
occasions, at political meetings, at
shows, DC, &c. There would be
nothing new in that-nothing new to
us or to our visitors. We might
have big frolic, but there would be
little glory and no profit in it. Our
neighbors and the stranger would not
be there to see us put on airs and hear
about that one hundred years of his
tory.
The news received from the rail
road company, few days ago, dissi-
pated all confidence in the compile
ton Of the road by the date fixed for
our celebration, and at the same time
it dissipated the enthusiasm of those
who had been depending upon cele-
brating the two events at the same
time.
Wherefore, at a meeting of part
of the Centennial Committee, on
Thursday last, the question of post
poning the Centennial celebration
until the completion of the railroad,
was discussed and it's postponement
favored by a majority of those pres
ent. The Committee did not feel
authorized to dispose of the whole
matter, nor did they wish to throw
any obstacle in the way of having
the celebration at the time fixed, if
there is any disposition to do so.
But they simply passed resolution
expressive of the sense of those pres
ent, that the celebration should be
postponed.
Now, if anybody wants the cele-
bration to come off according to the
program, railroad or no railroad, all
they have to do is to step to the
front, take up the work of complet-
ing the arrangements and assume
the whole responsibility for it. No
body will complain. Nobody will
oppose it. And we presume that
everybody-including the original
committee-will appreciate the cour
age of those who undertake it and
give them all the aid they can.
If nobody comes to the rescue, ii
will be understood that the celebra-
ton is-not dead-but postponed
for the railroad.