Rock Island Argus

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

An Address by the United States Centennial Commission.

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 an International Exhibition of the Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the soil and mine, to be held at Philadelphia, in 1876, and has appointed a Commission consisting of representatives from each State and Territory, to conduct the exhibition.

Undertaken under the auspices of the National Legislature, controlled by a National Commission, and designed as it is to commemorate the first Century of our existence, by an Exhibition of the Natural Resources of our Country and their development, and of our progress in those Arts which belong to civilized life, in comparison with those of other Nations, it is to the people at large that this Commission look for the aid necessary to make the Centennial Celebration the grandest anniversary the world has ever seen.

That the completion of the first century of our existence should be marked by some imposing demonstration is, we think, the patriotic wish of the people of the whole country. The Congress of the United States has wisely concluded that the Birthday of the 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 buildings erected across not only the varied productions of our Farms and of the soil, but types of all our intellectual triumphs. Zones, specimens of everything that America can furnish, whether grains or bands of her children, must 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. Each land will compete in generous rivalry for the palm of superior excellence.

In 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 roof the South will display in rich luxuries her glowing cotton, and the North in ministering machinery her mills conveying that cotton into cloth. Each section of the Union will be widely represented by the best of her products.

The exhibition will be international and universal, comprising a representation of all arts, industries and manufactures, all natural or artificial products, and all the varied results of human skill, thought and imagination.

Not only do we urge and expect our own state to come forward and contribute to this display, but, in the eloquent language of General Hawley, President of the Commission, 'We invite the entire world to come and lay her richest and choicest treasures at the feet of the young giant of the west, and to behold what will rival in splendor the wonders of the palace of Aladdin.'

The benefits of such a comparison of the products of different countries is evident to all; and it is believed that fifty-five acres of floor space under roof will be required for this purpose, in order that ample space may be given to each state, territory and foreign land.

The site for the buildings and grounds has been located at Fairmount Park. The exposition will open April 19th, and close October 19th, 1876, these being, as you will remember, the anniversaries of the first and last battles of the revolution.

The undertaking, so patriotic in conception, so vast in proportion, and so useful in results, commends itself to the heart of every American, and to all who have enjoyed the blessings of American institutions.

The fire of patriotism is not quenched by the lapse of a century, but brightens as time rolls on, and shines with as clear beams today as those radiating from the spirits of '76.' I do not hesitate to promise that Illinois, though the fourth State in the Union, will be second to none, and will lead the van in preparing for this great event.

Only once in a lifetime will such a demand be made or such an opportunity be offered to display our national pride, and we must not allow other States to surpass us either in display of products or the display of patriotism which will lead us to help in any way deemed necessary for the success of the enterprise.

To erect the immense buildings required, and to remunerate architects and others who must give their whole time to the business, in short, to make the thing a success, will, of course, require a large amount of money, and the people must be made to understand the financial character of the Exposition, and that, as stockholders, they will not lose the money which they invest, nor will the control of it pass entirely out of their hands, though the truly national character of the scheme demands that the Commissioners retain proper power and control.

These difficult points were made the subject of mature deliberation by our Commission and the result embodied in the act of Congress, which seems to cover the whole ground.

It would be well to remember and keep before the people the fact that such exhibitions have heretofore proved very good investments, and statistics are not wanting to prove that stockholders have realized a very high per cent on their original investment, so that many who cannot be induced to subscribe through patriotic motives, will readily do so when they perceive its pecuniary advantages; and also that any state which does not avail itself of taking its full quota during the first days, will have no right to complain, if, afterward, other states buy up all the stock, which, under the act, can be done, without regard to quotas or locality.

It is for the purpose of designating proper places at which subscriptions shall be received, and the consideration of kindred topics relating to the scheme, and to devise means for making this glorious idea a still more glorious reality, and to secure your hearty co-operation and thus on the people of this State through you that I have called you together at this time. Our quota of the capital stock of the exhibition is $657,100.

Whereas, The time of one hundred days fixed by the act of Congress, passed June 1, 1872, for making subscriptions to the stock of the National Exhibition, to be held at Philadelphia in 1876, is, in our judgment, too short for the dissemination of information in relation thereto among the people, and the proper consummation of said subscription, therefore

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress are hereby respectfully requested, upon their meeting in December next, to so amend said act, that the time for receiving said subscriptions shall be extended to at least six months from the time of opening the books therefor.

The Board then proceeded to take a list of banks and bankers throughout the State to receive subscriptions—among them we notice, in this region, the Rock Island National Bank, in this city; the First National, in Geneseo; Farmers' National in Keithsburg, and others in every important town in the State.

The Board then adjourned to meet at the call of the Commissioners.