| Show 1776 international NATIONAL aih exhibition 1876 AN andress annne cs c S by the united StIft states ten gen centennial com corm mission to the people of f the united states the congress Con grebs grecs of the united states has enacted that the completion of the one hundredth year of american independence shall be celebrated by an international exhibition of the arts manufactures and Product products a of the soil soli and mine to be be held at philadelphia in 1876 and has appointed a commission consisting of representatives from each state and territory to conduct the celebration originating under the auspices of the national legislature controlled by a national com Col commission mission and designed as it is to commemorate the first century of our existence by an exhibition of the natural resources of the country and their development and of our pro gress in those arts which benefit mankind in comparison with those of older nations I 1 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 overseen ever seen that the completion of the first century tur y of our existence should be marked by some imposing demonstration is we believe belleve the patriotic wish of the people of the whole country the congress of the united states has wisely decided that the birthday of the grest great republic can be most fittingly celebrated by the universal collection and display of all the trophies of 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 boil 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 bands of other her children and thus make evident to the world the advancement of which a self governed people is 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 bare the treasures which for centuries their ingenious people have been perfecting Dg 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 root the south will display y in rich luxuriance her growing cotton and the dorthin Nor thin miniature I 1 the ceaseless machinery of her mills converti converting bg that cotton into cloth each section of the globe will bend send its best ot one rings brings to this exhibition and each state of the union as ae a member of one united body politic 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 a harmonious part to make the centennial celebration such a success as the patriotism and the pride of every Amer american icah demands will require the operation cooperation co of the people of the whole country the united states centennial commission has hab re no government aid such as edgland england extended to her worlds fair and france to her universal Unive raal ex position position yet the labor and responsibility imposed upon the commission Commie slon sion 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 provided shall be raised by stock subscription and that the people shall have the opportunity of subscribing g in proportion to the population of their respective states and territories the commission looks to the unfailing I 1 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 ili 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 ure gathered together in 1876 each commonwealth mon wealth can view with pride the contributions sho has made to the national glory oon Con confided confidently fiden t I 1 y r relying ying on the zeal and patriotism ever d displayed epla by our people in every national undertaking we pledge and prophesy that the centennial celebration will worthily show abow how greatness wealth orld orid intelligence V can be fo fostered sterea by eboh a U 0 h a aa which have for one hundred years blessed the people of the united states JOSEPH R h HAWTEY HAWLEY president LEWIS WALN SMITH temporary secretary |
