New-York tribune., 1873-05-20
At TTENNI.

TWENTY-FIVE ye9Ts ago, on the first OF May,
1851. the first great exhibition Of the works of
industry of all nations was opened in London.
The world was at peace. Nearly every nation
on the globe brought into the competition
there specimens of its skilled industry and
the best products of its mechanic arts.
America was there with the best work of her
artisans and the most ingenious mechanism
of her inventors, exhibiting with conscious
pride the large results of the growth, pro-
gress and development of the youngest of
the nations in tho New World of the
West. The event proved that she was no
mean competitor with the older countries for
premiums upon the originality and value of
her inventions, the perfection of her skilled
labor, and the superiority of her manufactures
Her citizens bad reason to remember the occasion
with pride, for besides bringing away from the
contest large number of premiums for the eS-
celence of their work, there was nothing in
their relations with the Great Exposition that
need cause blush of shame for their country;
no display of sharpness, or pettiness, or mean
ness.
Twenty-Five years having passed. the coun-
try is represented in its productions at another
great exposition of the worlds industry at
Vienna. What progress have we made in
these years7 How have We kept up the rep
utation then gained9 Are wo still abreast
with the nations of the world in all that goes
to make up the welfare, prosperity, and pro-
gress of countryH These are the questions
that naturally arise with regard to the ex-
hibition this country will make-alas, has
made-at Vienna. And there are ques-
10 hat IN ha mo
material, progress of the country which we
are to answer there in the presence OF the
nations of the world. In this industrial tour
nament where the knights of forge and loom
and anvil shivcr lances on grander field
than any OF medieval times, there are other
trials than those merely of skill and handi-
craft; there are tests of manly courtesy, of
knightly honor, of gentle breeding, dignity,
and culture. In all these respects, how do we
stand before the world at Niennaf
We have had twenty-five years for growth
and progress. How have we used themf The
empty aisles in the American department, the
litter and truck which cannot be arranged for
exhibition because of unseemly quarres among
exhibitors and the incapacity of the Commits
sioners to adjust them, the lack of anything
creditable TO the country OF its industries in
the Exhibition as yet, may not be taken as
certain indication that we have nothing to show
for our material progress of twenty years.
Possibly by and by, when something like order
comes out of the existing chaos, we shall have
something not entirely unworthy of us in the
lists. But we have shown already more than
manufactures or machinery; We have
shown ourselves. Not our better selves
but our meaner, trading, peddling selves-Our-
selves as politicians. We have washed our
dirty linen at Vienna. Instead of going
there in a hearty, earnest way, man fash
ion, contributing our share to the glories
of great industrial comparison and COMPETE
ton, striving fairly and honorably for its re-
wards we have peddled out our privileges
and traded away our good name. There is
nothing about our connection with the Great
Exposition that we can contemplate with pride
or satisfaction. The slime and mud of our
politics are over it all. The small politics into