The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-06-19
THE VIENNA SHOW.
Distressing Arp,et Of AfEAirs.


Bayard Taylor writes from Vienna
to the Tribune as follows:
There were about 5000 visitors TO
the exhibition. in spite of the weather.
To-day the returning sunshine, though
| accompanied as usual with a furious
and cutting wind, attracted about
1900. 1t was pleasant enough, after
one reached the main building, to
oick his way between the piles of un
OOXed goods, stroll more freely
through finished transents OF Switzer-
land and Tunis, watch The increasing
order of England, France and Ger
many, and even to see that ground
plan of display is at last laid for the
United States. But when | plodded
through loose wet gravel to the Hall
Of Art, L found its doors still barred,
[ only learned that the central hall
will be opened in three or four DAYS,
and will contain a picture by Wiertz,
IT Belgium, covering LOO square
feet; one by Cabanal OF $40 square
ieet, and one by Piloty of 750 square
feet. The hungarian Art Commits
sioner courteously admitted me into
lls saloon, but most OF the pictures
were leaning against the wall on their
leads or sides, and more or less dusty.
It is therefore not fair to speak oI
them yet.
All the royal personages go about
plainly dressed, with few attendants,
seek to avoid being recognized, ana
accept the inevitable stare when thew
are with u patient courtesy which is
the perfection of good manners.
Our own soVereigns, now congre-
gated here, are not so quiet IN theiI
ways. Impatience in the exhibitors,
embarrassment in the Commissioners,
wrath ia the old. emotions of every
sort III the seventy or eighty honora-
,-ies, and the unspeakabIe mortitica-
ION in the citizen spectators of the
,,cene, make Vienna anything but
pleasant to all American just now. /
rave tried not to write of this, but ii
3 part of the situation, and must at
east be mentioned. The Direction
If the Exhibition simply waits and is
patient. Most OF the Representatives
It other countries know little, and
probably care less, about the matter
sveh the English, SO far as my per.
,onal acquaintance extends, maintain
l courteous silence, the reason OF
which il is easy TO feel. But our sit
lation is none the less burning dis
grace. Had the new Commission
IVercome its inevitable embarrass-
nents, were the American Depart
nent in order, and the rivalry for |
'Iaces among the exhibitors subdued, |
We should teel it with equal keenness.
The root of the evil lies behind the |
Irregularities OF this or that Commis-
siOner. We may say that the chiet |
nil IA hnnH,
lot an American by birth-in fact a 1
iative OF Vienna; but what system il
nat which sends here to represent us /
IeiOre the congregated world thirteen
executive Commissioners, only two |
II three of whose names have ever
Jeen heard by the people of the Uni /
Led States, OF whom are of foreign |
birth, and two of the latter Viennese 4?
some OF the suspended Commission
;rs 1 know TO be men of character and /
lonor, who are deeply humiliated bl |
heir position 1t is the system of rel
Varding party services with offiee-of |
putting any man into any place
which they must excuse. | say moth
ug of the absurdity of Honorary
commissioners, and anywhere from
Ihree to twenty Commissioners from
Zach State, for very few of them have /
Gny specified duties, and none of them |
sre recognized by the Austrian Off
ials. Those who come with purpose
lnd Intelligence will quietly accom-.
lIish their work, while the ignorant
md swaggerers among them are strip
Ded of all authority. The Executive
Commission, however, should have
leen composed of known and hon.
Ired individuals, meTi fitted bv pre-
{iOus study or experience for their
places, qualified to meet their fellow
Commissioners from other lands on
IN equal ground of character and in
diligence. The New York and Erie
Rings and the Credit Mobilier expo
,ure have already sufficiently damaged
Iur national fame abroad. But they
we're domestic matters, and not un-
IerstOod here, or only in very CON-
used way. This is black smutch,
hrust directly before the eyes of all
Iations, ON an occasion when our es-
;utcheona should have been newly +
and proudly held. Every
lonestand upright American at home,
10 matter what his party, will under 1,
tand our shame those who make
politics trade and Office bargain
will not and cannot. a