New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
THE VIENNA EXPOSITION

tho prater at Vienna. Inc easy ahS"ei "
uoso cov;lers who said that it could not DO
made ready by the First of May was that IL
could be opened without being ready. Ihere
- No nretense that the Exhibition is as YET
completely organized or arranged. lt seems
even probable that at least two months must
oIonsc before this can be said. But the I'M
nerial ROYAL Apostolic Government easy-golng
and cood-natured in this as in everything else'
has thrown open the doors to all tho world at
tbe time appointed, like host too
bosnitoble TO be formal who welcomes his
friends to his unfinished house and bids them
be merry on the carpctless floors and under the
bare rafters. The whole world seems little
behindhand. 1t is reported that several
thousands of cars, loaded with the products
of all nations, cumber the rails on every line
which leads to Vienna, and cannot be disposed
of at more rapid rate than two hundred per
day. So that it will readily be seen that those
who were not able to be at Vienna yesterday
lost little by it. and all intending to visit the
Exhibition will gain by delay.
The formal opening was in accordance with
the new attitude and changed destiny OF the
Austrian Empire. Before the battle OF Sadowa
the two distinguishing passions of the Austrian
court circle were hearty hatred for Prussia
and an almost childish love of military dis
play. The EmperOr's pride and delight were
in his perfectly drilled and elegantly uniformed
army, and the only thing the army looked
forward to was giving their Northern neigh
bors beating. Yesterday, in the most notable
pageant of his reign, the Kaiser and his family
tha
Imperial family Of Prussia, and no military
ceremonies whatever attended the open
ing of the great cosmopolitan Iesu-
val. The sentiments OF the addresses were
eminently peaceful and progressive. There
was no ring of the ancient bigotry or abSo-
lutism, in speeches or in ceremonies. Long
ago an Austrian wit observed that his Gov
eminent was like wheat-good for nothing un-
Ill after it was thrashed and the word Is JUST
fed by every hour of the history of the coun-
try since that apparently disastrous campaign
of 1866. The defeat of that year gave life
and strength to the principle of Hungarian
autonomy. and the influence Of the Trans
Lothian Government has kept the Vienna
Cabinet out of the reach of foreign en-
tanglements and desperate adventures. The
Coronation at Pesth, which seemed sudden
revival of the splendid mummery of the Middle
Ages, was really the prelude to wider and
more rational life for the Austrian Empire.
After that came the series of laws which
broke forever the power of ecclesiastical des-
potism in the most Catholic country of
Europe, and set on foot the most radical lnno-
yations in politics. religion, and education.
The superb medievalsm of that scene on the
lower Danube was fifty followed and compile
mented by the pageant of yesterday in honor
of the opening of an enterprise devoted to
the glory of labor and intelligence. The
ceremony at Pesth was not, as it seemed to
be. the revival and apotheosis of the old
monarchy. 1t was rather the assertion of the
popular authority-of the peoples right to do
as they liked with their ruler. The Emperor
King was only the most brilliant captive and
trophy in the triumph of the people. Yester-
day there was no disguise-the whole perform
ance was sincere acknowledgment OF the
supremacy of democratic principles and pro-
gress.
After all the Exhibitions of the past, the
present promises to be as brilliant as any that
have gone before. The locale is unquestion-
ably more beautiful and imposing than that
of any former Worlds Fair The Prater Of
Vienna is famed in the poetry and romance
of all the literatures of the globe. The Palace
of the Exhibition has been reared in these
superb pleasure grounds with lavish and
princely expenditure Of space. The result is
singularly picturesque and striking. The city
is itself one of the most simply and cheerily
hospitable in tho world. 1t has none
of the morose exclusiveness Of London nor
the brilliant superficial coquetry of Paris. 1t
receives the stranger with cor dial and
hearty gladness which makes him instantly at
home. 1t has nothing provincial about it. 1t
has that easy grace which comes with mix
ture of noble and generous races. The blood
of Goth and Latin, of Czech and MOngol is
mingled in the veins of its people, and the re-
suit is seen in the cosmopolitan frankness of
their manners and their varied beauty of face
and form. Even their soft degenerate dialect
has charm of its own-as if it were cOncl-
ating the alien world by its false grammar
and the soft elision of its gutturals Alto
gether it is a winning and engaging capital,
and will gain thousands Of friends and lovers
before the frosts of tho coming Autumn red
den the leaves of the Prater, and the Emperor
comes to close the festival of peace which he
yesterday opened. The best wishes of the
civilized world are with him and with the
Empire which he is Loyalty attending in the
path of democratic development.
TIE WASHINGTON BOARD or WORKS.
We print this morning communication