New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-28

!, :. ooroo,bing fearful and wonderful, and
there ~ one mink moonlight when IL even more as
toniebjnv The figure painting is very weak one OF
Tu tn Iobnson;s mixtures would shine out like a
gem in the midst of il. found no landscape worthy
TO be placed anywhere near En4,u anu ih;h
hos been announced for some time past as one OF the
attractions of the season. 70 one more capaDlc OF
artistic criticism Frederick william OF russia ana
bns wife stood long while in front of IT, and so
many Anstrians slipped IN to see them that there
was no chance for quiet inspection. ms must be
said however for all the T9{a penoaages; Ihsy 80
seek to avoid being recognized, and accept the in
eyitabe stare when they are with patient courtesy
which is the perfection of good manners.
Our own sovereigns, now congregated here, are
not so quiet in their ways, Impatlence IN the ex-
hibitors, embarrassment in the Commissioners,
wrath in the old emotions of every sort in the 10 or
so Honoraries and the unspeakable modification in
the citizen spectators of the scene, make vienna
anything but pleasant TO an American, Just now. ]
have tried not to write of this but it is part of the
situation, and must at least, be mentioned. The
Direction of the Exhibition simply waits and is pa
tent. Most of the representatives of other coun,
tries know little, and probably care less, In regard
to the matter: even the English, so far as my per-
sOnal acquaintance extends, maintain courteous
silence. the reason of which u Is easy 10 Ieei.
But our situation is none the less burning
disgrace. Had the new Commission overcome
its inevitable embarrassments, were the Amerl-
can Department IN order ana tne [V ~. sTyon I'D
feel it with equal keenness. The root OF the eVll
lies behind the irregularities" of this or that Com
missioner. w G may say InaV tue Cultl gum
been fixed upon one who is not an American by
birth--n fact, native of Vienna: but what system
is that which sends here to represent us before the
congregated world, thirteen Executive Commission
ers only two or three of whose names have ever
been heard by the people of the United States five
of whom are of foreign birth, and two of the latter
Viennesef Some of the suspended Commissioners
know to be men of character and honor, who are
deeply Inundated by their position. IL is the system
of rewarding party services by otiice-ot putting
any man into any place-which they must accuse.
] will say nothing of the absurdity of Honorary
Commissioners, and anywhere from three to twenty
Commissioners from each State. for very few OF
them have any specified duties, and none OF
them are recognized by the Austrian OH
Gals Those who come with purpose aud in
telligence, will quietly accomplish their
work. while the ignorant and the swaggerers
among them are stripped of all authority The Ex-
ecutive Commission, however, should have been
composed of known and honored individuals, men
fitted by previous study experience for their pla-
ces men qualified to meet their fellow Commission
ers from other lands equal ground of character
and intelligence. The New York and Erle Kings ana
the Credit Mobiier exposure have already sufficiently
damaged our national name abroad. But they were
domestic matters and not understood here, or only
in very confused way. This is a black Hnutch
thrust directly before the eyes of all nations on an
occasion when our escutcheon should have been
newly FURNISHED and proudly held, Every honest
and upright American at home, no matter what his
party will understand our shame: those who make
politics trade and Office bargain, Will not and
cannot. b. r..