Message Upon The Centennial

ïho President to-day sent the following message to Oongresa : o the Senate and House of Representativos : 1 have the honor herewith to submit ie report of the Centennial Commissionrs, and to add a word in the way of reommendation. Thero have now been inernational expositions held by threo of 30 groat powers of Europe. It seoms itting that the lOOth anniversary of our ndependence should be ïnarked by an vent that will display to the world the ;rowth and progresa of a Nation devoted o freedom and to the pursuit of fame, ortune and honor, by the lowest citizen s well as the highest. A failure in this nterpriso would be deplorable. Success an be assured by arousing public opinon to the importance of the occasion. - 'o secure this end, in my judgmont, Conjressional legislation is necessary to make ie exposition both National and interational. The benefits to be derived f rom successful international oxposition are ïanifold. It will neccssarily bo accomanied by expenses beyond receipts froni ie exposition itself, but they will be oinpensated for niany fold by the iningng of people from all sections of our ountry ; by bringing together people of ifferent nationalities ; by bringing into uxtaposition for ready examination our wn and foreign skill and progress in manufactures, agriculture, art, science nd " civilization. Tho selection of the te for the expoaition seems to me approriate, from the fact that lOOyearsbeforc he date fixe.d for the expositiou the Decaration of Independence, which launchd us into the galaxy of nations as an inependent people, emanated from the ame spot. We have much in our varied límate, soil, mineral producís and skill, f which advantage can be taken by othr nationalities to their profit. In return ley will bring to ourshores work of their dl], and familiarize our people with lem, to the mutual advantage of all paries. Let us havo a complete success in ur Centennial Exposition, or suppress it n its infancy, acknewledging our inabilij to give it the international character o which our self-esteem aspires.