Year: 1873

and profound study.


Celebrating tho Centennial-Thc Right


Way, tho Wrong Way and Mr..


Bigclow's Way.


Any man Of average experience and COM
mon sense might have anticipated that the
proper method of commemorating the ap-
preaching Centennial would be question
widely and warmly discussed. That vague
and ridiculous theories would be suggested,
that absurd programmes would be elaborated
by every unbalanced mind that entertained
the hope of gaining the ear of the newspapers,
were foregone conclusions. The event has
already justified the expectation, but we own
that we are little surprised at propositions
which have come from certain quarters where
one would not have been rash in suspecting
the existence of liberal views, nice Judgment
and large and intelligent sympathies. The
questions have been raised, for instance,
whether such an exposition as is intended to
be held in Philadelphia in 1876 is suitable
celebration Of the Centennial at all whether
Philadelphia is the appropriate place in which
to hold it whether the ten millions of dollars
which have been voted necessary are not in
ordinate for the purpose, and, finally, whether
the cupidity of the predatory class will
not sooner or later transfer the control of
the affair into their hands. The ambiguity
which is thrown over the pure and patriotic
motives of Philadelphia is coupled with the
specious insinuation that if the intention to
hold an exposition be adhered to the display
ought to be exclusively an American one, and
that if foreigners are invited to unite with us
at all it should be for the distinct and exclu-
sive purpose of showing them what we have
accomplished since 1776.


Whatever ground may be taken in regard to
the other points in these specifications, it
seems hardly possible that any one with an
impartial eye should seriously question the
peculiar propriety of holding in Philadelphia
those celebrations which especially commem-
crate the lapse of the one hundredth year of
our national existence. All the most solemn
and affecting historical associations connected
with our Declaration of Independence cluster
together there. To waste words upon the
felicity of reviving those associations upon the
very spot where they were first created were
as vain as to laboriously set to work to demon
strate the truth Of an axiom or the homely
wisdom Of a truism. 1t seems pity that the
eloquence which the Hon. John Bigelow en-
ployed in a city paper yesterday could not
be turned to better account than in at
tempting to prove the disadvantages under
which Philadelphia labors for Centennial
celebration purposes. That Philadelphia is
warm in July it is, alas impossible to deny.
That it is Zone of the hottest places in the
world and that the collection of large mass
of people there at the date specified is in
cutter defiance of health, comfort and
economy" no one who is acquainted with the
facts and who wishes to be candid Will be
found willing to admit Philadelphia hap
pens to be one of the healthiest cities in the
world, and SO far as economy goes there is no
reason to anticipate that the vice of exorbi-
fancy will be practised by the Philadelphia
hotel proprietor and shopkeeper to any greater
extent than by the same class of people upon
similar occasion elsewhere. This perhaps,
is not saying much for Philadelphia, but the
facts of the case are quite sufficient to kill Mr..
Bigelow's argument in this single point.


But Mr.. Bigelow denies not only the felicity
and propriety Of Philadelphia being selected
as the place for celebrating the Centennial,
but also the feasibility of holding an exposi-
ton at ALL He will not allow that q world s
fair is the legitimate expression of the thoughts
and feelings incident to such an event, and
suggests that if fair be held at all il
should be exclusively American, and that
all foreign nations taking part should
be given to understand that they are
asked to do SO simply and solely in
order that we may show them what
we have done. But would not the more liberal
and sensible method be to accentuate oui
. progress as strongly as possible by inviting
those contrasts which the contributions of the
nany-centuried nations of the Old World
void provide2 By this means the slow re.
sultAof many centuries would be placed side by
side With the evolutions of one, and the bes'
and bfshtest sxponents of young country
would ptasess more interesting vitality from
Q being conparedwith the late blossomings o.
peoples webs stxiken in years. What Vs nov