The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-07-29
HONOR TO ART AND INDUSTRY.

tlIcu "uSiC, uiluSl tle SpVNc CAptloi, III 10
lation to some of the proceedings connected
with the opening of the Crystal Palace, ;
portion Of which we subjoin:
Our public festivals are countless. On al
national jubilee days they spring up by ten,
of hundreds over the land. They are made
the occasions of national Qualification, or il
other words, things and persons are suppos
ed to be dwelt upon in toasts and speeches
which are honorable 70 the Country, and ena
Bile it to hold IFS headup among others of the
earth. But we record as Il dismal fact, which
taken single would place America among
barbarous nations, that never, never on these
occasions has any man been signalized, ind
viduated, honOred, or elevated by notice in
tOasts or speeches, who was not connected
with politics either civil or military. We
challenge proofOf any such official notice be.
ing taken of Rumsey, Fitch, Evans, Fulton
Whitney, Morse, Mccormick, Ericsson, Ais
ton, Sulley, lnman, Hicks, Powell, Powers
Greenough, Bryant, Willis, Irving, Anthem
DR.. Thomas Jones, Sears Walker, SilIiman
Hare, Wells, Haviland, Strickland, Renwick
William Norris, David Dale Owen, franklin
Bache, Ralph Waldo Emerson, II. c. Carey
or any other of the historical names of the
country-names which will live when the
work of political shams will be reduced to
their least elements, when Army and Navy
shall be abolished, when the Mint shall be in
private hands, when the Post-O Office shall also
be so directed, when Foreign Missions shall
be done away, when the dignity of the citizen
shall be truly eliminated from the huge load
of ancient and medieval oppression, form and
falsehood, and ndividualism assert its proper
claims to notice, profit and honor.
This fact of political function overriding
and sitting worth, work and genius upon all
occasions of public or national character
was simply carried out in full dctormity at the
opening of the Crystal Palace; and, in order
that the barbarism of that occasion might not
BIO contrasted with its opposite at the public
banquet at Nibo's Saloon, on the day follow
ing, the same ignoring of all names and per-
sons not political was repeated
Let us consider the real condition and phil
osophy of the occasion:
In presence of twice ten thousand specta.
tors, of Commissioners from Europe and
America of the Chief Public Servant of the
Republic, of corps Of journal-reportcrs TAX
ing down notes to be reproduced within
few days in thousands of newspapers at home
and hundreds abroad, the ceremonies of the
took place. There scared above
them the vast dome: there loomed around
them the great structure, covering five acres,
and seemingly light as dream; in which the
might OF engineering and the splendOr of
architecture resonant of the triumphs of the
century are combined-m archi-
lecture no stale iteration Of the ever-present
and under-done rendering of Grecian orders
in this country, but FACILITATING with the cour-
ngeous and advancing heart of the age-of
the age when iron wrenched from the stub
born earth is made to work with the genius
of the natiOn-to cut its way in the aborigin-
al forest; to redeem from swamp and pcsti-
lence the richest land to wreathe great sta
pies into form and value; to cleave in the
steamer the angriest seas; to support with the
strength of tabled deity whatever incumbent
massive structure; and, in the last capacity
threaded through fields of crystal, to solve a
new problem in the builders skill. This all
was before them-not the names of politi-
clans who did nothing toward it, not the
prides of men paid out Of the public purse,
not the precedents and actors of Church and
Art and Labor so displaying its
and proportions, and 50 opening
its doors to the world. But no Art or Labor
was there represented in person, while the
Roman IDEAS which confined greatness to the
politician, warrior and priest-cOmbined in
the high patrician person-were absolutely
carried out, and the world did not appear to
have advanced for two thousand years. And
the Banquet which followed was full in keep
ing with the Inauguration. Sir Charles Lyell
being foreign Commissioner, and Lord Els
mere, Il Norman nobleman, being absent ow-
ng to severe indispostion, was called upon
10 speak, but that was the only real tribute to
science on the occasion. We wished on that
occasion to have something except from poll
.icians, in power or out of power, but with
The above reservation wedid not hear word.
We would like to have seen the company
rise up en- maSSe and cheer the architects who
planned the building, and thus receive the
homage which was so ungallantly withheld
from them at the Inauguration-in the same
that Mr. Paxton was thanked and honored in
public. But there they sat--countrymen If
Thorwaldsen-unnoticed and unknown-no
more named than they arc in the official ca
.aogue of the Crystal Palace.
We have no patience with such proceed
ngs. Rhetoric is palsicd in characterizing
hem as they deserve. Fejee islanders would
honor n Robinson Crusoe who would give
hem new string to their bow, but on the
greatest occasion of Art and Industry this
continent has ever known, we thrust both in
% the background-we wrench the claims
rom genius-we drive the laborcrs among
he rafters of the dome to look down like
boys on the official crowd be-
lcath-we tell the makers of the treasures
IF the Exhibition to keep by their wares
during the ceremonies" as though they were
not fit to sit alongside of cassocks and SOL
lier clothes-we follow out the uniform poll
.cal fraud that prates of this or that speech
n Congress saving the Republic, that Omits
IN every public occasion to signalize Genius,
hat never mentions the Inventor, Painter,
Composer or Poet, that is circumfuscd in
sea of Roman and Norman lies
The time has come when the Artists and
Laborers of this country must seek to redeem
themselves from the fardels of caste. They
must make themselves represented on pub
ic occasions. They must not forget politics |
,r the practice which overrides their claims. |
Politics have hitherto almost revolved in
rclc. There is as much vllainy in the gov
of this City rs in either House of
Parliament. Butiti is genius outside this that
hapes the destiny of nations. 1t is n Column
rus, a Newton, a Fulton, Whitney, that re-
writes the history of Nations. Carolina,
doring Calhoun, forgets Whitney, whose
contribution to her wealth and glory are as
million to one of Calhoun's, and so runs the
'arallel.
s-9S" Accounts from abroad represent tho