Year: 1872

dependence shall be celebrated by an International Exhibition of the Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the soil and mine, to be held at Philadel- phia, ii 1876, and has appointed Commission, consisting of represent atives from eech State and Territory, to conduct the celebration.

 Originating under the auspices Of the National Legislature, controlled by Q national Commission, and designed as 1t Is to commemorate the first Gen. tury of our existence, by an Exhibition of the Natural resources of the Coun- try and their development, and of our progress in those Arts which benefit mankind. in comparison with those of older Nations" it IS to the people at large that the Commission look for the aid which Is necessary to make the Centennial Celebration the grandest anniversary the world has ever seen.

 That the completion of the first cen tury of our existence should be mark ed by some imposing demonstration IS, we believe the patriotic wish of the people of the whole country. The Congress of the United States has wisely decided that the birthday of the Great Republic can be most fit tingly celebrated by the universal col lection and display of all the trophies of it's progress. It Is designed to bring together, within building COv- ering fifty acres, not only the varied nroductions of our mines and of the soil, but types of all the intellectual triumphs of our citizens, specimens of every ything that America can furnish, whether from the brains or the hands of her children, and thus make evil dent to the world the advancement of which a self governed people is capa- ble.

 In this Celebration all nations will be invited to participate its character being International, Europe will display her arts and maDufac- lures, India her curious fabrics, while newly opened China and Japan will lay bare the treasures which for cen turies their ingenious people have been perfecting. Each land will compete in generous rivalry for the palm of superior excellence.

 To this grand gathering every zone will contribute its fruits and cereals. No mineral shall be wanting; for what the East lacks the West will supply Under one roof will the South display in rich luxuriance her growing cotton, and the North in miniature, the ceaseless machinery of her mills converting that cotton into clcth. Each section of the globe will send it's best offerings to this exhibi- tion, and each State of the Union, as a member of one united body polite, will show to her sister States and to the world, how much she can add to the greatness of the nation of which she Is harmonious part.

 To make the Centennial Celebra- ton such a success as the patriotism and the pride of every American de- mands, will require the corporation of the people oc the whole country. The United States Centennial Com mission has received no Government aid, such as England exteno>3 to her Worlds Fair, and France to Ter Universal Exposition, yet the labor and responsibility imposed upon the Commission is as great as in either of those undertakings. It Is estimated that ten millions of dollars will be required, and this sum Congress has proYide6 shall be raised by stock sub scription, and that the people shall have the opportunity of subscribing Tn proportion to the population of thelr respective States and Territories. 1

 The Commission looks to the un- falling patriotism of the people of ] every seclOn, to see that each contrib utes its share to the expenses, and | T4@ es It's share of the benefits of an |

 1rprlso ln which all are so deeply interested. It woald further earnestly | urge the formation in each State and 1 Territory of q centennial organization which shall i'll time see fllat conn+v 1 associations arc formed, so that when ! the nations are gathered together ill 1876, each Commonwealth can view with pride the contributions she has made to the national glory.

 Confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism ever displayed by our peo- pie in every national undertaking, we pledge and prophecy, that the Cen