Year: 1875

COLUMBIA. July 3, 1915
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-


deeply regret that other engagements nave
long prevented me from replying to your request
that would give through the HERALD such views
and information as | might have respecting the
relAtlons OF South Carolina TO the coming Centen-
nal Exhibition in Pniadelpha. 1t is subject on
which feel a strong and increasing interest. per
sonally and Officially; but OF is general patriotic
claims on all Americans It would be supernuousto
speak. The American who would not join with his
whole heart In helping forward this Centennial
celebration must surely be the original ''man with
out country.n


think there Is at the present time widespread
ana genuine interest felt by the people OF this
State In the Cen tennial. From causes which need
not now be stated little mas yet been done toward
a practical expression Of this interest. With the
revival OF the spirit OF nopefulness among our
people and the composing OF the political bitter
ness Of later days, and especially with the in-
fiuence OF the recent centennials at Lexington
and Charlotte, there has appeared-as 1t seems to
me-a new desire on the part OF our citizens to
Join in the great reunion at Philadelphia. Is lie
but just 30 say that no State has better right TO
appear there than South Carolina upon the score
OF her Revolutionary record. she was early
and constant In her adherence TO the colonial
cause; her soil was the scene OF numerous
conflicts and her partisan leaders supplied one OF
the most brilliant cha pters IN the great struggle.
high authority has declared that "the romance
OF the Revolution was found In the Carolnas."
These early glOries are again appealing to us all
Nowhere Is It truer than mere that tine chords OF
memory arc "touched by the angels OF our better
nature" and are responding in tones unfamiliar
TO our ears In more recent times.


Little, almost nothing, has, however, been done
up to the present time toward the WORK OF prop
yfofo dali
missloners have been appointed IN accordance
with the act OF Congress, but l am not
aware tnat any effort has been made By
them to furtner the object OF their ap-
pointment Quite recently some OF our repre-
sentative bodies, among them the Charleston
Chamber OF Commerce. have unof1iciaIy communi-
Gated with me in reference to proposed Efforts to
organize movement TO this end. All these Efforts
still ineipient, but feel warranted In express
ing the confident belief that IN some way the desire
of the people TO participate In the exhibition VIII
nnd pract cal expression.


The Legislature OF the State cannot be SAID to
have given much, If any, practical aid in Tits
work. No appropriation OF money for that pur-
pose has been made, but 1t is my purpose to rec
ommend such legislative action at the next ses-
sion as Will best promote this work, and feel
sure that favorable action will be taken by tho
Legislature. Small outlay Of money, in conjunc-
ton with the earnest enort Of our citizens gener-
ally, would cause South Carolina 10 ap-
pear at Philadelphia with such products Of
her mineral ana agricultural wealth, with such
mementoes OF her history and achievements, with
such proofs OF her industry ana skill in the arts OF
civilization as would be commensurate with her
vast natural advantages and the vigor and hIgn
spirit OF her people. such result must be Sc
cured, aud intend to leave no stone unturned In
doing my part OF the work.


At the last session OF the Legislature a special
Joint committee was raised 40 ascert ain ana
port as to the best means OF furthering the
representation OF the resourc OF South Carolina
CT the Centennial Exposition.n 1 am rot aware
OF any action on the part OF this committee up to
the present time. Whatever Is done must, l am
persuaded, be the result largely, II not wholly, OF
the more recent awakening Of our people to the
great importance OF the matter ana the organized
action sf representative commercial ana
agricultural societies and bodies. or the organiza.
tion OF some special agencies for promoting this
work.


TO one point am glad TO bear witness, namely,
that If there Is a want OF present progress in the
work here or II SCUM Carolina shall finally fail to
be properly represented az Philadelphia. this re-
suit Will not arse from the Indifference OF the
people at large especially from any sullenness
OF spirit hostility toward the Centennial cee-
bration, but 1t Will be occasoned by other causes
which II Is easier to understand here than to
adequately state TO the country. Ny hope and be-
lief however, is that before the great OCCASION
comes on we shall have devised ways and means
10 present the proofs OF the past present and fu-
ture character and greatness OF our State when
America shall NEE. at Philadelphia TO take note OF
the results OF the nrst completed century Of her
national life. The object Is so grand and inspr-
ing tnat no State will be found wanting especi-
ally one OF the ''Old Thirteen" Very respectfully,


d. II. CHAMBERLAIN,


Governor south Carolina.


CEEpMAN AND RI.AIP