National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-04
THE INTERNATIONAL EXPOSE.
TON.
VIRGINIA, MARYLAND AND VISIONS IN |
SPEAKING.
(From the Baltimore Gazette.l

VIRGINIA, MARYLAND AND VISIONS IN
SPEAKING.
tFrom the Baltimore Gazette.l
. THE CENTENNIAL.
Information Of reliable character has
reached us that the original international idea
of the Centennial celebration will be strictly
adhered to, and that there is every reason te
believe that Congress will aid in the great work
by making such an appropriation as will GER
tainly assure its complete success. This is ex-
actly as 1t should be. Upon the question OF
properly celebrating the one-hundredth ami
Rerssry Of American independence there cannot
be two opinions. As to the manner in whichit
should be done, there might possibly be some
diversity Of views. Yet we imagine the time
has gone by even for any difference on that
point. If celebrated at all, It should be in such
way as to attract the attention of the civilized
world, and this can only be done by the inter-
national plan go wisely agreed upon. In fact,
the national faith has already been pledged
to this step, and many foreign Govern
ments have accepted invitations TO par
ticipate in the celebration. Under
such circumstances, failure would be
humiliation. Better, far, abandon the whole
project, and admit 10 the nations OF the globe
that hundred years of national life have de-
stroyed all national pride, and made US utterly
insensible to national greatness. It was right
that the place which witnessed the birth Of
American freedom should have been chosen as
the spot where men from all parts of the earth
should meet to worship at its hallowed shrine.
At such tim, all petty jealousies and un-
worthy riyalres should cease. Maryland stood
a hundred years ago side by side with Penn
sylVauia on q common platform; so she should
stand to-day. The same ties of brotherhood
that bound them together then unite them
now. In view of Msryland's past and present
position, 1t is scarcely necessary to urge our
Senators and Representatives In Congress to
give this measure their earnest and undivided
support. They cannot fail to recognize the
wisdom and feasibility of the plan proposed,
action will command the hearty appreciation Of
their constituents. ........ -...
THE FEELING IN THE WEST.
The Madison (Wisconsin) State Josrnal, of
March IS, in its leading editorial, Gays:
1.-THE subject of the Centennial Exposition in
1876 is now being considerably agitated by the
press throughout the country. The action of the
Senate, in attempting to take from it the inter-
national feature, has filled the friends of the
enterprise with pain and establishment, and
has given consolation to those who, from
jealousy or other causes, have been inclined to
throw cold water upon It. It seems to us that
the year 1876, which concludes one hundred
years of our national existence, should be COM
memorated by something more substantial than
a mere noisy, frothy Fourth of July celebra-
ton, in which the principal element is made up
of boys igniting fre-crackers, thereby fright
ening horses, and annoying everybody. So
evidently thought Congress when, in March,
1871, it provided for holding an international
Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, and also
provided for the appointment of a commission
to carry out that idea.
$50 evidently thought the President of the
United States when, in July last, he issued his
proclamation, in which, 'on behalf of this Gov
eminent and people," he commended this in
ternational exhibition to all nations that might
be pleased to take part therein. So thought
the members of the Centennial Commission,
who under an appointment of the President of
the United States, authorized by law of Con-
gress, when they met and organized in March,
1872, and at several meetings since that time.
So thought Congress again, when, in 1872, it
incorporated a Board of Finance to aid in car
rying out the intention of its former act to pro-
vide for an international exhibition. So, for
three years past, have thought nearly the whole
people of the United States; and, in our opin-
ion, so they still think. But the Senate has
recently discovered that 1t will be exceedingly
improper to hold an international exhibition,
and proposes to go back on an enterprise to
which the country had been fully committed
for over three years.
"We cannot believe this honorable body will
adhere to this, to US, indefensible position. The
country would be disgraced by such action in
the eyes of the civilized world. On the faith Of
the laws of Congress great progress has been
made for the Exposition; foreign nations have
already signifed their intention to participate
1t 1t; money has been voted and subscribed on
the idea of the international character of the
enterprise. To abandon it now would place
this great nation in q humiliating position be-
fore the world. Its faith would be broken, and
this great patriotic movement would sink to
the low level of mere local celebration of the
closing century Of the life Of the nation. This,
Of course, would be gratifying to a few Jealous
spirits in some of the rival cities of Philadel-
phia; but it would not crafty any considerable
PROPORTION of the masses Of the people even in
those, cities"
THE VOICE OF THE SOUTH.
The Richmond Enquirer says: Now that the