Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1874 — President Grant’s Message on the Centennial Exposition. [ARTICLE]

President Grant’s Message on the Centennial Exposition.

The following is a copy of the President’s message sent to Congress on the 25th: To the Senate and House of Representatives: I have the honor herewith to submit the report of the Centennial Commission, and to add a word in way of recommeidation. There have now been international expositions held by three of the great powers of Europe. It seems fitting that the 100th anniversary of our independence should be marked by an event that will display to the world the growth and progress of a nation devoted to freedom and a to the pursuit of fame, fortune and honor, by the lowest citizen as well as the highest. A failure in this enterprise would be deplorable. Success can be assured by arousing public opinion to the importance of the occasion. To secure this end, in my judgment, Congressional legislation is necessary to make the Exposition both national and international. The benefits to be derived from a successful international Exposition are manifold. It will necessarily be accompanied by expenses beyond the receipts from the Exposition itself, but they will be compensated many fold by the commingling of people from all sections of our own country, by bringing together people of different nationalities, and by bringing in juxtaposition for ready examination our own and foreign skill and progress in manufactures', agriculture, art, science and civilization. The selection of the site for the Exposition seems to me appropriate, from the fact that, 100 years before the date fixed for the Exposition, the Declaration of Independence, which launched us iuto the galaxy of nations as an independent people, emanated from tlie same spot. We haver much in our varied climate, soil, mineral produets and skill »f which advantage can be taken by other nationalities to tlieir profit. In return they will bring to our shores works of their skill, and familiarize our people with them, to tlie mutual advantage of ail parties. Let us make a complete success of our Centennial Exposition, or suppress it in its infancy, acknowledge ing our inability to give it the international character to which our self-esteem aspires. U. S. Grant. Executive Mansion, Feb. 25,1874.