The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-10

physical degeneracy of onr people were done
away with, and that we heard no more of those
Jcremiads which our lecturers have been wont
to inflict upon their audienccst If the history Of
our past has any significance, it proves that we
have done more in the same space of time than
any other nation on the face of the earth, and
we need only look at the wonderful develope-
ment which we are now making of our great re-
sources, and the rapid progress of our country
in material and physical greatness, to prove that
We are not the ignoble sons of worthy sircs,
which these lecturers would have the world be-
ieve
TIE AMERICAN INSTITUTE AT WAR WITH THE
ExHlBToRs.-The destruction OF the Crystal Pa
lace by fire last Tuesday evening" and the con-
fagraton Of all the valuable articles there on
exhibition, has precipitated a collision between
The managers Of the American Institute and the
thrty nine hundred exhibitors. II required but
an incident like this to develope the sentiments
OF hostility which long course Of mismanage-
mcnt on the part Of the Institute had very gene
rally awakened among exhibitors and with the
public. And now we see practical direction
given to that feeling. The exhibitors and the
managers are arrayed against each other as if
they represented not the same but totally diverse
and opposing interests.
The managers held meeting on Friday, in
which they came to the determination not to
renew the exhibition this year. This proved to
be at variance entirely with the wishes Of the
exhibitors themselves. They, too, have been
holding meetings, in which they have expressed
emphatically their disapprobation of the whole
course Of the American Institute. They had
many grievances to complain of. A committee
which they had previously appointed complain
cd that it had been shabbily treated by the
Institute in this that it had been invited to
attend the meeting Of the latter body, and when
ii presented itself, in compliance with the invi-
tation, had been refused admittance. One ex-
hibitor remarked that the Institute had disre-
garded the wishes of the exhibitors, and treated
them with neglect, not to say contempt Ano-
ther remarked that the courage and devo-
ton of the American Institute had all
leaked out-or, in other words, that it was I'M
faithful to its trusts. Another observed that the
that they should now look out for themselves.
And, in fine, the sense Of the meeting found ex-
preston in a set of resolutions, which were una
nimously adopted, reciting that every fair and
honorable proposition that could be suggested
for the purpose of continuing the present Fair
under the auspices of the American Institute had
been rejected by its managers, and resolving that
as inventors and exhibitors they would continue
the Fair under their own management and dircc-
ton, and would apply to the Legislature Of the
State for charter.
This Is q bold declaration Of war made by the
inventors and exhibitors Of the country against
the miserable corporation which has existed for
thirty years under the title Of the American In
stitute. The imbccility, ignorance aud care
lessness perseyeringly manifested by the In
stitute must eventually have ended in such n
coup dfta on the part Of long-sufyering exh-
bitors. We ned not point to tie coniagration
of the Crystal Palace as evidence Of the mat
tention Of the managers to the interests Of the
exhibitors and Of the public. Property yariously
estimated at from aquartcr of million 10 mil
lion Of dollars was placed in their charge, and
fer the want of the commonest care and atten-
ton on their part was suffered TO I've consumed
with rapidity only equalled by the course of
prairie fire. What can be said in favor Of that
sort Of management which would leave unguarl-
Cd store room abutting on the street and ex-
posed to the brand Of the incendiary. piled up
with all sorts Of inaammablc materials, such as
seasoned wooden patterns dry Us tinder empty
oil barrels and paint barrels and the odds and
ends Vi such . place. But not only did
the managers Of the American Institute fail
to observe the slightest prccaution against the
,illanous designs Of incendaries or the mi-chiey.
Gus pranks Of idle boys, but they did not even
zee that In the event Of fire from that or any
other quarter Of the building, there was a supply
of water at hand to cxtingush IL. They did see
ilat there were hydrants in the building and hose
attached thereto, but they had not the curiosity
TO examine whether the hydrants were supplied
with sufficient volume Of water; and when the
necessity Tor the water came, there was not, a
one witness expresses 1t, head Of water sufficient
10 readily expand the hose to its full extent.
That was specimen Of the management Of the
Institute, which may be now regarded as defunct.
The burning Of the Crystal Palace will be long
regretted by the citizens Of New York, and Of
the whole country; but there will be few, We
imagine, who will cxpcnd any amount Of syrnpa-
thy on the American Institute. II has long failed
to give satisfaction either to exhibitors or the pub
lie. twas full time that IL existence should cease.
II IL only TO be regretted that TO accomplish such
a desirable end, the destruction Of the Crystal
Palace WAS found requisite. Az the French pro-
verb runs The game was not worth the candle"