New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-20
PUMPKINS And PATRIOTISM.
TIE PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL.

TIE PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL
To the EdftOr OF The tribune.
SIR: | think no American, with sense
OF self-respect rather feeling OF national SELF
respect has read Mr. John Bigelows letter on the Phs-
dephia Centennial without hankfulness that man so
emnently fit he broken ground against the pro-
posed show" The scheme is amcDaDe 10 all bis crit
cism there other objections 10 which be has not
given prominence that practically, would interfere with
the success Of any grand reunion IN Philadelphia
These il may some time be well discuss, bnt for the
present il is better TO call attention 10 the utterly pro-
vnca narrow and material character OF the plan pro-
posed 1t is an attempt initiate the frog of country
fair into an OK big enough for international barbecue
The country fair with its Oedqts and lis cheeses ts
moving machines and its stations, is very well in It'd
way But 1t small way after all, for II Is the expo
sition OF products and appliances (which, though con-
veneut and comfortable. not essential 10 manhood
or manly development nation that can show nothing
but machinery and Ores and grains, and roots has not
reached such a place in history that it need gorify
much. A nations grandeur II it have any is IN its
laws its schools, its knowledge its morality. What has
il done to make citizens better. fuller, larger menf
What has it learned by experience, or inherited py
tradition or found by circumstance, that ennobles man
noodl What is its social system Is its jurisprudence
enlightened Does il provoke scientific research and
encourage culture Can its men think truyf Do they
act well These submit tests Of progress, meas
ures Of attainment. II is not necessary that should
have a steam-hsmmer and my wife sewing maehlne.
We can get on without them fathers and mothers
did But it necessary that should see justice, and
live it; and that we should apprehend truth.
II cannot be too often said that spirit is supreme aud
real and that matter, and tme and place, are acei-
dental aud transient do not appreciate that action of
spirit which governs and controls and shapes matter 10
It's will and use do not underyalue The degree OF IN
tellectual effort there is in invention / believe IN
laborsaving machinery; admire it a proof OF what
mind can And in this view 1t is vel enough to have
frequent displays OF all that cunning or subtitle
in art and science and mechanics What - obeetona
BILE assumption that these only are 10 be exhibited
and that national growth is recognizable only IN these
its material developments. Tune perhaps when
travellers could nothing but these obvious and out
ward tokens of life The British traveller today IL
chiefly concerned ia America about cooking and
dress coats. But 1t is not for such VISITORS
that we should make centennial preparation.
And the proposed Philadelphia plan is an insult to
foreign intelligence as well depreciation OF our
own They who would come to us want, and we can
OFFER better entertainment than this
That entertainment is grand International Congress
From this there should be exclusion Of but on the
contrary the heartest welcome for any aud every KIND
OF raw material and manufactured product and operating
machine that But there should be also inter
change of thought comparison of ideas, adjustment Of
differences, relation Oh III ".t'cNoi WV
Germs mau as social being. The laborlqueston prison
reform the methods of education. the eodfcaton OF
laws the unidcation OF language-in a word. social
science-these are what should put first and make
secondary what Philadelphia proposes TO have SOLE TX
the Philadephans had Peter Cooper for instance they
would display his glue rather than his philanthropy and
point Gus his factory in preference TO his Cooper Union
Such Congress nation as nation could recognize
participate in and undertake appropriately In at least
one regard-that which relates to International Law
what more dc than that invite representatives Of
other civilized governments to meet those Jurlsts We
shall name TO embody into code for common use such
principles of natural equity and national expectancy az
may be rules OF International conduct binding for the
future the contracting powersi Could there be q
grander celebration than this OF our centenary An
International Copyright International Patent sys'
TEN could also be discussed and arranged, and our ma
ton could governmental capacity ask TO such con
ferenees and supply cOnvenences for their meeting by
our political scheme the Government Is excluded from
many lines Of activity which are In other nations sup
posed TO functional to the State and the conferences
that moved in such nes would be called and purveyed
for by appropriate private associations II would be
best that conferences meet not all in one place nor
sit all at one time. Many OF them would necessarily
travel considerably through the United States inspect
ing here aud there where occasion demanded As these
conferences would be representative in their character
there would not be the expense and inconvenience at
tendant upon moving large masses OF people whcn Mr.
Bgeow points a defect OF the Philadelphia plan.
The sum OF the work these conferences would be the
outcome this International Congress SO far as the
United states concerned, whatever change OF laws
might DO recommended could be communicated 10 Coy
gress in the Winter following for its action.
Any amount Of local celebration OF the Gen.
tennal would consist with this International
Congress- Each city could have its pagan
try and eoQuence; every village orator could re-
count the past OF our country and suggest It's future
and he would probably find inspiration in the fact
that while he was speaking the representatives OF those
many ideas which 20 to make up civilization CON
yening 10 discuss what contribution they could make to
the common store OF manknd-called together, too by
nation which hundred years before had existence.
There time enough to carry this plan II win meet
with encouragement from abroad aud satisfy Us at
home 10 viii enable modestly 10 eongratulate our
successes earnestly 20 seek In the best
thoughts OF Others aids to future welbeng ms
plan viii be inexpensive but fruitful There Will not DO
money enough In 10 require resort to Gen. Hawleys
mobaw IL is novel; No other nation ever did u, but
there never before American nation fuIoi Ideas
disdanul OF mere precedent, making It's OVID history
and furnishing It's own examples. Inc very TACT that
International Expeditions, such are contemplated by
the Philadelphia PLAN have been held half dozen
times Is conclusive that our centenary should
have different celebration. Our nation Is unique ami
should be It's demonstrations ~, after hundred
OF original hfe must have the German
of British Queen teach US how To celebrate Gen.
tennial would that our hundred years had been
passed 70 little purpose. X. ID. MUsssy.
Washsn9sos. ID. e.. Sept D 1878.