New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-27

TIE PRESIDENTS CENTENNIAL MESSAGE.
Whatever Congress may conclude to do in
regard to the Centennial celebration, one thing
at least is sure-it 10 not matter to dawdle
over. There Is necessity OF prompt and de-
cisive action in regard to it. III we are going
to attempt to have an International Fair IN
Philadelphia two years from now, we have not
an hour to spare. The utmost diligence IN
organization and building will scarcely save
us from beng behindhand on the 10Th of
April, 1876 The main causes of our lamenta
bic and discreditable failure at Vienna were
the same as those which threaten to make the
Centennial Exhibition equally disastrous if it
is persisted in-the shOrtness of time allotted
to the work, and tho lack of interest LII it. If
the work of building were.now begun as soon
as the frost is out of the ground, it would re-
quire an almost feverlsh haste to have everything
ready in time. Still more important and moro
difficult is the work of organizing the admin
istration of great Worlds Fair. 1t will
require year at least to get the cumbrous
machinery of the present Centennial Com
mission into working order; and even after it
begins its functions. the friction of hundred
prominent and philosophical citizens will be
sure to entail endless endorsements and
delays. These are among the difficulties which
confront us at home. The evident apathy of
foreign nations in regard to the matter is
another fact which requires to be considered
in reference to the shortness of the interval
which separates us from the Centennial. With
proper effort this apathy may be in a measure
overcome, If time enough be given to the
work but it cannot be done in day.
If Congress talks about the question a
month or so ant then passes some evaslve
resolution, we may expect the cooperation of
Mexico and Ecuador and the moral support of
Prince Bismarck, but we shall have our
Worlds Fair without the Worlds assistance.
II the international Show is to be given up, it
is equally important that the matter should
be decided now, so that we may withdraw
without any further awkward complications
from the equivocal position in which we stand
in respect to other nations. If the Interna
tional scheme were once ont of the way. the
Centennial Commission might then devote
itself to preparing genuine national cele-
bration, which would be of great advantage
TO us in the future and would be of as much
interest to visitors from abroad as a distant
imitation of European exhibitions would be.
For these reasons we hope the Presidents
Message Of the 25th, which he evidently took
the trouble to write with his own hand, will
receive the immediate attention of Congress.
We cannot agree with him in his description
of our country az one devoted to the pur-
" suit of fame, fortune. and hOnors," and the
statement that it was in Philadelphia that we
were launched into the galaxy of nations
is a trihe confused. His closing proposition
is perhaps the most extraordinary one, in point
OF dignity and temper, that ever emanated
from the Executive Mansion. Gen. Taylor and
Andrew johnson are both OutdOne when the
President says: " Let us have a complete
success OF our Centennial Exposition, or
suppress it IN its infancy, acknowledging
~ our inability to give it the international
" character 10 which our self-esteem aspiresn
But we long ago ceased to be exacting i'm
regard to good taste in Presidential utter
ances, and we hope that Congress will not be
prevented by the tone of the Message from
doing full justice TO all its recommendations
and acting upon it with the least DELAY
possible.
We $50 no reason 10 modify the views we
have already Expressed in regard to this en-
terprise We believe Centennial Celebration
can still be made great and signal suocess-