Year: 1872

To the people of the United States;


The Congress Of the United States has enacted that
the completion of the One Hundredth Year of Ameri-
can Independence shall be celebrated 10y Interna-
tioual Exhibition OF the Arts Manufacturers and Pro
duets OF the soil and mnc to be held at Philadepha
in 1876 and has appointed Commission, consisting
of representatives, from each State and Territory
conduct the celebration


Originating under tie auspices of the National Leg
islature controlled by National Commission, and
designed as it is Commemorate the first Century
u lu" ~Stenre hy nh Exhibition of the Natural re-
sources OF the Country 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 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 century of our ex-
istence should bc marked by some imposing demon
sra0n is believe the patriotic wish of the people
o. the whole country. The Congress of the United
States has wisely decided that the Birthday of the
Great Republic be ittngly celebrated by the
universal collection aud display OF all the trophies of
its progress 1t is designed to bring together within
a building covering fifty acres not only the varied
productions of mines and of the SOIL but types of
all the intellectual triumphs of our citizens specimens
of everything that America furnish, whether from
the brains the hands of her children, and thus make
evident to the world the advancement Of which self
governed people is capable.


In this Celcbation7 all nations will be invited to
participate; its character being International Eu-
rope will display her arts and manufactures India her
curious tabucs, while new ' opened China and Japan
viii lay bare the which for centuries their
ingenious people have been periecting. Each land
viii compete IN generous rivalry for the palm of supe-
roC excellence.


To this grand gathering every zone will contribute
its fruits and cereals. No mineral shall be wanting
for wha; the East lacks the West will supply Under
roof will the South display in rich luXuance her
grswing cotton and the Mouth in miniature, the
hnr
cloth. Each section of the globe VIII send its best of
terngs this exhibition, and each State of the Union
as Il member Of one united body polite Will show to
her sister States and TO the world how M ch she
add the greatness of the nation of which she is
harmonious part


To make the Centennial Celebration such success
the patriotism and the pride of every American de-
manls will require the cooperation of the people of
the whole country. The United States Centennial
Commission has received no Government aid, such as
England extended TO her Worlds FAIR, and France to
her Universal Exposition, yet the labor and respons
bty imposed upon the Commission is as great as in
cithcrof those undertakings 1t Is estimated that ten
millions OF dollars will be required, and this Con
gress has provided shall be raised by stock subscrip
tion, and that the people shall have the opportunity
of subscribing in proportion to the population of their
respective States and Territories.


The Commission looks the unfaling patriotism Of
the people Of every section to see that each contrib
utes its Share to the expenses and receives its share
of the benefits of an enterprize in which all
deeply Interested 1t would further earnestly urge the
formation in each State and Territory of centennial
organization which shall in time that county
Citations are formed, that when the nations are
gathered together in 1876 each Commonwealth can
view with pride the contributions she has made to the
national glory


Confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism
displayed by people in every national undertaking.
pledge and prophecy, that the Centennial Celebra
tion will worthily show how greatness wealth and in
eligence be ostered by such institutions those
which have for one hundred years blessed the people
of the United States. JosEPH K. HAwLEY, Prts't.


LEWIS WALN SMITH, Temporary Secretary.