New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07

community the whole future prosperity OF which do
matters Of education OF Ingenuity. and Of skill Tho
figures OF the census are Significant or coming dangers
Ss Ess pcSssu saS
accept lessons from all who can teach them
nation or a community, in entering upon the com
petition OF worlds fair have one both OF two
objects In Wow 10 must go there 10 exhibit or u must
object tho other, for the two combined. there
In, after tho experience we now have % such under
tangs no possible excuse for any people 10 gong soa
complaining the objects IL has In view or 10 humilsb
tsef and its citizens IN che eyes OF those with whom "
proposes to compete Whether TO exhibit or 70 Observe
however Ia not too much say that the entire ar
rangement Of tho American organization at Vienna,
both state and national, utter, entre, ana d
graceful failure failure in conception. aud failure IN
execution failure unjust to our industries, dis-
credtable 10 the country and humiang 70 thOse moro
Immediately concerned.
PROPER OFFICIAL ACTION BT aAssACHU5Errs roo LoSG
DELAYED.
To us representing the State upon the spot II was
painful 10 think OF what the Massachusetts
Exposition might easily have been made; most morti-
tying to see what 1t was better opportunity to
achieve great and brilliant in the eyes OF all
civilized nations offered to any community
than was lost by the Commonwealth at vienna ~ Was
lost simply from the fact that the state az such under
took to participate without previously having any ne
mite idea either TO what 1t proposed 70 DO OF now
proposed TO do IT, The means appropriated TO tho emu
were ample-the matured design was wanting IN tnls
and every similar all depends upon horoughness
OF preparation. Tho course which should nave oech
pursued IL now perfectly hpphItnt iHo lt~i9't'"
ton taken in February 1873 should have boon taken In
February, 1872, and the Commissioners VINO were
to carry the design into execution should then mne,
dately have been selected. BY them tho state SHOULD
have been thoroughly canVassed and ito industries mar
been Interested in the scheme, and their contributions
collected and shipped while the agents OF tho COhmon
ns sn1g1u haso pDen HAD bs been done no
one at all familiar with tho resources ann results Oh %
industry for instant doubt that the triumph Oh
Massachusetts would have been conspicuous as was
the failure OF the United States the State would have
redeemed the credit OF the nation IL Is IDLE 10 regret
an opportunity lost but in future 1t will DO for massa
chusetts to remember that ~ better mHeh better nos
appear at all than unwOrthY 70 exhiOit herseu AZ
worlds far. worthy appearance cannot oo lmPro o
vlsed 1t implies labor provision. ana experience.
this last provided both the state aud ito csens nAd
best stay az home.
THE AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS LESS cREDrrABLs TO TIE
COUNTRY THAN THE AMERICAN WARES.
All this however related merely to the Exposition as
mart to the saesroom only into which all countries
brought their choicest products in competition with
each other. But less pointed lesson Of experience
can be drawn from the manner in which approached
the Exposition school 1t was not possible to look
at the amazing results OF science and skill there ds
played and not be impressed with the inexhaustDle
wealth of suggestion they contained for any American
community. There Ia probably no other people wnlch
benefits it necessary that the displayed, and yer
the hidden Of the Exposition should DC
studied and developed by men VINO were mas iers OF
their subjects A a rule, however, the men selected
officially TO represent America were even less creultaDe
u wholly erroneous impression TO say that among
the many Americans present during the Expon-
ton, and occupying more or less Official realiOns
with IT, there not some competent to M the posi-,
tions IN which they found themselves placed ~ rS,
and not the rule The various organizations as whole
the furthest possible from what they should nave
been. This criticism applied to ALL from the Commission
OF the United states down through those OF the several
States, and TO representatives on the Jures nave
already sufficiently referred to the strenuous and very
partially successful efforts made TO discover the mate.
rial which would enable us TO onrry cut tue pan OF
special reports which We had conceived as RUE our
researches brought TO light only notceaoie sp5enge
both OF education and of thorough practcal khoWi-
for presumption that individuals selected TO represent
America upon international juries which are 70 pass
industries OF ali civilized countries would know
something. Ia far too many Instances thoSe
function at Vienna seemed to fail regards this ee-
nenary prerequisite II thus no unusual clrcuin
stance to find an individual holding the position OF
Judge, whose ignorance OF the snolectImatter untoe
discussion only surpassed By hl5 Ignorance Oh tne
Quoted. Certain there were upon the ures amply
competent to I'LL any position-men OF education AT
speca.tes. These, however, constituted Dsluahs OK
ceptons to the general rule OF Incompetence
AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES, NosrLr IGNORANT AND
WORTHLESS
Asa whole the American Official representation was
curious and instructive commentary in the eyes OF all
other countries OF both hemispheres upon national
system Of appointment Office Previous qualification
for the perormane OF duties had apparently not been
regarded as requisite. There accordingly hadrocked
70 Vienna motley accumulation OF nonueserip,s; tne
m arnrtorsl naraerapbs ceIebrites
in matters Of education OF science. and Of art 1t
indeed matter OF curious observation how very rarely
the of the true scientific authorities-hose on
the spot recognizedtas suchwere ever mentioned ana
what frequent and noisy reference made TO others
whose efforts were least appreciated by those most
competent Judge OF their worth. There werei also
in attendance large number OF others,
whose presence it not easy to ex-
plain They had certainly not been commissioned on
account OF any public service they were qualified
der and II was difficult TO appreciate the
OF private benefit they deriving from their sojOur4
They certainly knew nothing. and TO all appearances
they did nothing They had apparently secured appoint