Arizona citizen., 1874-04-04
The Prospects of the Centennial
 Exposition.

as contemplated by the act of Congress of March, 1871, are gloomy. It is un- fortunate but true that large portion of the press and many able men in and out of Congress, persist in misrepresenting the management and purposes of it. Senators and Representatives and self styled leading newspapers, gravely but falsely represent it as "Fourth of July affair."" when it has for years been an nounced in all manner of ways that 1t is to be what the original act of Congress designed-an international exposition Of arts and manufactures and of the products of the soil and mine, and that it would open April 19 and continue to October l9 six full months. If there be any Fourth of July exercises, they will constitute mere incident and not any important fea- ture of that period. These great men and papers admit that Philadelphia is the proper place for the exposition but sneeringly call it Philadelphia show; whereas the truth is the whole manage ment is in the hands of two officers ot each State and Territory. Members of the Senate and House who would regard it as a personal affront to be told they were not statesmen and truthful ones, too, stand up in their places and say the eX- position will cost from fifteen to twenty four millions of dollars, whereas there could hardly be a grosser perversion Of the facts as shown by the most careful and experienced calculators whose repu- tation is above price and who are not put ting forth statements to secure public ap- plause nor votes for Congress. Then some ot them term it an administration mea- sure, whereas the officers are not of the Presidents choice but of the Governors of the several States and Territories. Some of the most enthusiastic members of the commission are men who earnest ly fought in the Confederate cause against the Union and others are persistent op- ponents of the administration. Califor- mia, Oregon, Nevada, New York, New Jersey and other northern States are rep resented in the Commission by able and enthusiastic opponents of the admins tration; and as a matter of fact there is nothing partisan about the management. Many of the southern members are Of the decided opinion that government could well afford to spend millions upon this exposition just for the effect it would have ln allaying unreasonable partisan and sectional feeling. The coming to- gether and becoming acquainted of the people, would inevitably allay prejudice. We cannot help believing that many of the intelligent opponents of the exposi- tion in and out of Congress are such from unworthy motives; some because of local jealously and others from unadulterated demogogism.
 Recent debates in Congress developed most unexpected hostility to and misrep- resentation of the exposition set on foot by a previous Congress, and which the tsnssS E.6tiRqssple and taxpayers of the :, 5Nedly anxious to have the
 fa1d srEees5 outlined by the Centennial Commission. The people want the ex- position and also want Congress to supply the necessary cash; only the demagogic press and public men who fear that branch of the press, opposeit. Suchinconsistent advocates of economy oppose public aid when they know that without It, it cannot be what it should be if at all, and at the same time they vehemently persist that they are in favor of the exposition. Such logic is pure absurdity if not absolute Gis honesty.
 Philadelphia and Pennsylvania may out of local pride decide to make the exposi ton such a success as the people of the nation demand it shall be, but which theil representatives are willing to make next to impossible. The ensuing annual meet ing ln May will determine the exposition; fate. If Philadelphia and Pennsylvania must and will save it, then the U. s. Cen
 tennial Commission should grant them al power and formally put period to it: own existence. In view of our connec
 tion with that body and annual officia
 visits 10 and with it, we make these re
 marks just before leaving, stil! hoping