Show 1776 international 1 NATIONAL exhibition 1876 AN ADDRESS by he the united states centennial corn conn mission to the people of the united states the congress of the united states has enacted that the completion of the one hundredth year of american independence shall be celebrated by au an international exhibition of the arts manufactures and Product products a of the soil and mine to be held at philadelphia in 1876 and has appointed a commission consisting of from each state land territory to conduct the celebration originating under the auspices of the national legislature Legis latue controlled b by a national commission and de deligney signey designed as it Is to commemorate the first century of our existence by an exhibition of the natural resources of the country and land their development and of our progress gress greba in those arts which benefit bone fil fit mankind lii Jil rid in comparison with those of older nations it is to the people at sit large that the commission look for the aid which is necessary to make mako the centennial Colebr celebration atlon the grandest anniversary the world has overseen ever been that the completion comp lotion of the first century of our existence should be marked by some imposing demonstration Is ie we believe the patriotic wish of the people of the whole country the congress of the united states has wisely decided that the Birth birthday dav of the great republic can be most fl fittingly celebrated by the universal collection and display of all the trophies 0 its progress it is designed to bring together within a building covering fifty acres not only the varied productions of our mines and of the boll but types of all the intellectual tel triumphs of our citizens specimens of everything that america can furnish whether from the brains or the hands of other her children and thus make inako evident to the world the advancement of which a self governed capable in this celebration all nations will be invited to participate its character being international europe will display her arts and manufactures india her curious fabrics while newly opened china and japan will lay jay bare the treasures which for centuries their ingenious people have been perfecting each laud will compete in generous rivalry for the palm of superior excellence to thia thib 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 the south will display Y in rich luxuriance her growing cotton cotto n and the dorthin Nor thin miniature the ceaseless machinery of her mills converting that cotton into cloth each section of the globe will wilt send its best offerings offe riDge to lo this exhibition and each state of the union as a a member of one united body politic will show to her sister states and to the world how much bhe she can add to the greatness of the nation of which she is a harmonious part parr to make the centennial celebration euch a success as the patriotism and the pride of every american demands will require the operation cooperation co of the people of the whole country the united states centennial commission has re no government aid such as england extended to her worlds fair and france to her universal exposition yet the labor and responsibility imposed upon the Comm commission lesion is as great as in olther oither of those undertakings it is estimated that ten millions of dollars will bo be required and this sum Con congress greas hns hab provided shall bo be raised by stock subscription and that the people shall have the opportunity of subscribing in proportion to the population of their respective states and territories the commission looks to the unfailing patriotism of the people of every section to see that each contributes its share to the expenses and receives its share of the benefits of an enterprise in which all are so deeply interested it would further earnestly urge the formation in each state and territory of a centennial organization which shall in time see that county associations are formed so that when the nations are gathered together in 1876 each commonwealth mon wealth can view with pride arido the contributions bho sho has made to the natio national nal nai glory confidently relying on the zeal and patriotism ever displayed by our people in every national undertaking we pledge and prophesy that the centennial celebration will worthily show abow how greatness wealth and intelligence can be fostered by such institutions as those which have for one hundred years blessed the people of the united states JOSEPH K R HAWLEY president LEWIS WALN SMITH temporary secretary |