The republic., 1851-10-31
The Great E.hlbltion-Its Lessons.


Union Meeting at Wesfehesier.
The Great Exhibition-Its Lessons.
The Worlds Fair is ended, and the London
journals are now devoting themselves to dis
cussion of the lessons resulting from it. The
Times thus states the great issue raised by the
event, SO far as it affects Great Britain:
''In what direction as an industrial community,
should we henceforth travel Should we, yielding
20 those tastes for the splendid which the possession
of great wealth promotes, dedicate our efforts to
the costly and the beautiful in production should
course be still guided by those unpretending
and material influences which have already raised
us to such pitch Of prosperity and power Stand,
ing between the civilization of the New World and
that of the Old, should we raise manufactures
10 the highest European and Oriental standards of
taste or should still struggle chiefly TO extend
their boundaries, and to command, by the element
Of price, the market of the world? That is is
sue, and is already receiving solution by which
we may hope in time to secure both the alterna-
tves suggested, and TO show that practically they
may be united in the industrial system
The aim is to extend the boundaries OF Brit
ish industry and commerce, land TO command,
by the element of price, the markets of the
world" in other words, to strengthen the pre-
tensions of England as "the workshop Of the
world" by enabling her still to undersell the
products of other countries. Ii has already
been admitted, however, that this ability to
maintain the quality of cheapness depends upon
the continuance of a population redundant, ne
cessitous, and, above all, manageable; and that
this is continually being endangered by the ef
forts of the laboring poor to escape from a sys-
TEN which is to them little better than feuds-
ism. The constant drain by emigration, and
the unmistakable uneasiness of those who re-
main, both Indicate peril to the permanence Of
the existing state Of things, and give sign of
more difficulties than the Times admits with
regard to the settlement of the issue raised
Again: The ability of England Ito command
the markets Of the world" certainly depends
in some measure upon the willingness of the
world TO be commanded" in the matter
Mere cheapness is not the beginning and the
end of true political economy, though it is Of
free trade philosophy and it is for the natous
dealing with England to say whether she shall
be allowed to make her pauper labor the means
of monopollzlng their markets. That alto
gether depends upon their adoption or rejection
of her commercial policy; and there is nothing
to warrant an expectation of its universally at
present.
1t is not claimed for England that her me
chanics and artisans take the lead of others
either in artistic skill or in the faculty of me
chanical invention. To the former they have
never made any pretension, and the Exhibition
has shown that their modesty was wise and
proper France, Austria, and other countries
have far exceled her in all that pertains TO
art manufactures; and the FINES comedies that
in reference TO mechanical inventions she has
experienced mortifying but useful defeats"
from American exhibitors. The Daily .Ne,rs
pays poor compliment to its coUntrymen when
it says
zone great good that the Exhibition has done
has been TO explode the notion that an immense
amount of unnoticed talent lies buried in the va
rious towns and villages of England We believe
safe in asserting that not single netc prin-
cpie NOT single noUei application Of old one has
been brought TO light in the thousand and models
Dhieh hare been sent in by trorkingnen and amateur,
mechanics. On the contrary, they exhibit the most
whimsical conceit and puerile contrivances, and
must have cost melancholy waste of time which
would have been prevented by a little elementary
education. In this point of view the collection ia
instructive, and may we'll occupy one of the closing
days Of the season."
Very severe this, but we dare say not more
severe than just. AS general rule, the work
ingmen of England are too deeply absorbed in
a struggle for subsistence to have leisure or dis
position to develop any inventive genius with
which they may be endowed.
As, then, il is conceded that, whether in re-
gard to art or utility, England has come "sec-
ond besp' cut of the Exhibition, she can have
no right on either ground to claim supremacy
IN "the markets Of the world" Doubtless the
magnitude of her wealth, the vastness and re-
sources OF her manufacturing interest, and the
cheapness of her labor, arc circumstances that
go far to compensate for these defects; but tbey
form no reason why she should be permitted
quietly and without opposition 10 extend her
boundaries, and "to command the markets Of
the world"
While England is deteminedly measuring
her strength, and endeavoring to ascertain how
far the industrial ability Of other countries can
be made TO minister to her greatness, is it not
worth the while of our countrymen to see if
they can derive no profitable lesson from the
exhibition just cosed2 Whether on land or
on water, they have confessedly carried off the
prize; they have demonstrated their superiority
IN more than one important branch Of industry;