National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-21
THE o19T1NNIAL CELEBRATION
BY n. W. RAYMOND.

/ BYR ". RAYMOND.
/ The arguments used against an International
exposition OF Philadslphia are so various Is to
frequently contradict each other. shall take the
liberty Of considering o few Of them which are
usually advanced by persons protesting to adyo-
oate national, but not an international cslebrs-
tIor. ~ III. ~. .--
II Is said that the Centennial anniversary Of our
independenee Is peculiarly national one, and
| that 1t may even be an unpleasant reminder to
one foreign nation Of 9 conflict In which We were
victorious. To the FIRST point 1t may be replied,
If the entrance OF new nation into the family Of
nations is not an International occasion pray what
Is! Is not the birth u child family affair?
and does the family decline to celebrate It In AFTER
years, on the ground that the occasion Is pecu-
liarly pcrsonslf And ~ to the offence which, It
70 suggested, may DO given to Great Britain, the
fact Il notorious that our declaration Of independ-
enos, and tho war which followed 1t, indicated
principles now universally held In England, and
constituted the triumph Of o party to which all
Engilshmen nov. belong, whether they call them
selves Conservative or Liberal. The fippsnt
suggestion to Great Britain that she ought to be
offended at our present power or IL origin, Is o
piece ofImpsrtinsnce and folly. . r....
But tits said that we ought not TO invite the 90
operation Of foreign nations becsuse they will not
accept the invitation, and In this connection It Is
asserted that seVersl Of them have already de-
clinsd. Nothing could be further from the truth
Foreign nations have shown Q remarkable will
ingness, amounting almost To esgernsss, to take
part In this exposition, and those which have
hestated At all have done 50 by reason Of doubt,
unfortunately too well founded historically as to
the authority Of their Invitation. To those who
| remember the manner IN which the Danish treaty
was contsmptuously ignored by our Senate to
the great modification and Just Indignation Of
Denmark, 1t VIII not be surprising that mere
proclamation Of the President 10 no longer sum-
Gent to command the faith OF foreign govern
msuts. Nevertheless, some Of the leading ma
lions Of Europe, notable and foremost among
| them the Austrian empire, have earnestly enter.
ed upon preparations tor an adequate representa-
ton Of their resources and industries ct PhiIa-
delphia. .., .-..rr
But It Is said that we have nothing to
draw the cider nations hither. Those who
indulge In such g statement can certainly
never have Travelled abroad; otherwise
they would Be aware Of the intense interest which
Is felt by all classes OF Europeans In everything
relating TO the United States. Our institutions,
inventions, our scenery, society, our indus
tries and our resources the subject Of perpet-
ual study and comment. There Is no country in
the world In which 90 large portion Of the popu-
lstion IL connected by ties Of relationship with
foreign countries. To say that tho older nations
will not come hither is 10 ignore the greatest MI
grafton OF modern times. The older nations have
been coming htther for generations; and If we had
nothing to show Thorn like what they have to
show US thsy would still come, to look upon the
country which has given homes to 30 many Of their
children, and which has incarnated in its prosper
ity so many Of the best hopes Of mankind.
But the statement that we have little or moth
ing to exhibit which can interest Europe embodIes
shallow and limited conception OF our real posi-
tion among the nations. Europeans know better.
The fragmentary and imperfect displays which
We have made at International exhibitions in the
Old World, though sneered at By our hypercrItj
cal nespsper correspondents, have produced
abroad profound impression, and half the indus
tries Of the Old World sre to-day expecting from
the genius and enterprise Of the United States
those economical improvements which necessity
forces rs TO devise-a necessity which, In the form
Of high wages and diminishing materials, already
stands ct their doors, but with which they are not
prepared to eype.
The journalists who think the social conditions
Of our country are chiefly represented In leading
articles or political speeches. In custom house
frauds or commercial bankruptcy, and to whose
ignorance Of our technical and Industrial progress
nearly the whole press Of the country bears wit
ness are not the proper judges Of the value Of the
1880 w 10y .-eAS W tSAo PLOeESAb
Of human knowledge In an International Expost.
ton 1t ludiorous, but pttiful 10 hear them
protest that We should not ssk foreign nations to
participate lest they be disgusted at the fruits Of
democracy In public diseord and corruption. tits
Tor that very reason that we should be glad to re-
cetve the thoughtful men OF sl nations; that they
might see for themselves, as De TOcqusvills did,
NV muen peuer We &es tnAn our newspapers
~sAs ~ 0u' W oe'
Tnose VINO are In favor Of national exhibition,
however, should not plead such srguusnts Is
enese. II tner impressions OF our sterility and de-
graoation were correct We ought not to exhibit
ourselves a. AL. Inc real objection to purely
national exhibition % its thoroughly Improbable
cnsrsoter: II would eoss nearly. or quite Is
muen, ana "ouid not Do nearly a. likely to COM
mAno interest," even u nome, Is an International
exposition
~ mas oeeo SAID that We cap raise . noble
oeneing, peg every state and Territory to bring
.pss.sns VI ia moss cnarseteristie wealth and
~",S " % tnat tnsr exhibition shall
oe IulI u interest ana improyemsnti adorn the
Structure with our hirhsst art; bring TO the occs.
soo,euf psst orasory' ana poetry, and music, and
tnen go IN tnoeAAncs aed tens OF Thousands TO be
kinoied ~ me tecnsi sno the spectacle Of our
senisVements in.e higher endeavors." This elGb-
orate seH-gionneetion Nooia precisely fail in ad-
vaneei put sueceeded 70 the satisfaction Of It's
promoter, Noaia DC Almost barren OF useful re-
M. ~ -Veta M.ens,y tne very quAhty IN the
hiths,,s nnrslv a. ,...s.s,a - p.ostoss
tIonS hsrs sos,,o,tkhss. = M
.s,v., - rr.sIs.s : ,n...',,ss - " oSl-
an ,..iv:. ,~h,nh - ao-,,.,-e ,..,...' "
vt..1 W. sssno. s,.cs,.s,,II. ne .,ss.,- Ios
an, a., hoo, &c.,. "
-" ss.,"
,. ~ ueI' ssIon ilou sne nlsn agnincanee OF
.ss.1 ,.s,. sApo,lons 70 eon,ee tnse their
psrt In them Far the ssts A. T,Ii,a $500. ~
excelIenee on thsIr v,,ss ~ :, ,d,s- .x -.
fer them. Foraiv, n.ttors iii 80 I,s.-.,,-.
an exposition IN ausriss na.snsa ..a.
large buyer. and iii ,ndorh,.SIS $500. ..u,
lar9er b1ysr m tha-,n.-Sst. ~ - a. xr. III
Foreign merch.nts viII ,1.,, sr.n :. "s,-.,..N-
because they a.. Inv - a., $3.50.
chtnery Ard our nrnhsr,... 49,. -
the saving Of lsbo, snd -. $500.