New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-14

cesses il can hardly be necessary 10 specify NJ io"o
TO the present generation Of newspaper readers
Is there any sensitive American who does not no"
regret that we attempted to be represented a' the
Vienna Exposition, or who DERIVES any particular
satisfaction from our representation at any OF It's
predecessors, that held in the City Oh NeW-iorA'
many years ago. inclusivef
very recent incident will give some idea Of the
bumilatons which the Philadelphia Exposition has
in store for us. Before that enterprise had any
official existence while vet an inchoate state, the
late Empress of the French invited by some one
pretending to be clothed with competent authority
to issue such an invitation to send her son to the
Exposition. The answer-for the invitation came
with such color Of authority as to require an an
swer-was given at to the press, and under the
sole sanction of an anonymous newspaper CORE
spondent.
If such an indecorum is possible before the Expo
stion has passed beyond the chrysais condition OF
project, and with less than S2OOO,00O at command,
what ought we not to apprehend when 1t shall have
reached the stage of perfect official development,
and with ten millions of money to batten ont
The art of giving national entertainments is
very difficult one; some pretend that it only can
flourish under despotc governments. However this
may be- 1t is very certain that is an art which we
have not learned, and in which as people we feel
too little interest to DO at any considerable risk OF
trouble in cultivating Gen. Hawley. who. 1 be-
lieve is President of the Philadelphia Centennial
Commission, and who seems to be fully alive to the
difficulty of spending S1OOOO,OOO upon an exposition
in WAYS that shall be entirely edfyng, proposes 10
meet this difficulty by clothing the people generally
with the authority Ito shoot on the spot" any one
who should allow any selfish interest to influence
his expenditure of the funds of the Exposition
That mode of furnishing crime, by making the lm-
mediate victims judges, jury and executioners mas
often been tried: but as o means of preventing
crime and maintaining the good order OF society, IL
has not thus far commended itself to the favor Oh
urists OF statesmen. If our centurys experience IN
self government has conducted us back to the sum-
mary jurisprudence of the savages whom our ances-
tors displaced to make for what they regarded
az the gospel of civilization there does not seem to
be much for Us to celebrate and the more quietly
We allow the anniversary to pass, the better for
every one.
Whether Pennsylvania can realize any such pecu-
niary advantages from an International Exposition
as would indemnify her for handing over her eriml-
nails to the summary justice of street mob, IS a
question which do not care to discuss 1T is enough
for my purpose to know that the mere prospect oil
having S100O00O0 to spend on great fair has called
forth from the distinguished President of the Board
of Commissioners the public confession of the in
suficiency of the usual ministry of justice in Penn
sylvana to keep corruption within suferabe limits
Without trespassing further upon the hospitality
of your columns. / think have already made IL
sufficiently clear that the Philadelphia Exposition
cannot in any sense deserve to be regarded as suit
able OF even practicable place for national COM
memoration of the approaching Centennial
1. Because its leading purposes are quite moon
sstent with those which should give form and
oh ctar IN auch ceremonial,
g. 1t is local. sectional and partial nits operation
so that in no possible sense can any considerable
portion Of the nation participate in it.
8. 1t involves more or less serious displacement
of population, a fatal objection to any national
demonstration
4. 1t involves the collection Of a large mass Of
people at one of the hottest of places in the world
at the hottest season of the year. in utter defiance
of the three primary and essential conditions OF all
popular gatherings-health, comfort and economy
g. 1t contemplates the expenditure of larger sum
of money than is necessary, and therefore larger
than the people will be willing to contribute for
purely commemorative purposes.
G. The possession of large sums of money for such
purpose would be sure to transfer the control of
the affair sooner or later to the predatory Glass; and
what originated in the hottest instincts of patriotism
would run the risk of ending in loatbscme job.
Ut turpiter strum
Desinat in piscem muller fornosa supreme.
In view of all these considerations, is it not time
for the American press to put to its readers the
question have placed at the head of this communi-
cation: "Are we to commemorate the Centennial An
niversary of 1776p Yours very respectfully,
JOHN BIGELOw.
Highland Falls, Aug. 4. 1873.
NoTK-A distinct corporation entitled The Centennial Board OF
organized charged with the duty OF collecting the
remainder necessary funds At its head 20 directors
wisdom Of material Affairs and above
their hde They accept the trust with ready real
Not dollar OF the million need can be obursed
approval Perhaps blush little
in feeling place give these Of
integrity In Of this national aud patriotic enter
Prise all Of Judgment Bur ne pp< dis
corrupt breach Of trust on the part Of any person charged wh
duty shall shoot him the potiGen HRwJs
speech TRIBUNE. July 5, 1873.