Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-04-10
government and the Centennial.

Gen. Garfield objects TO a bill, reported
from the Committee on Ways and Means,
to admit free Of duty articles intended for
"thc International Exhibition in Philadel-
phia in 1876" He bases mis- objection, not
on amy opposition TO the principle OF tho
Till, but on the use of the word "interna-
tionnl" in the title, and he does so because
he does not wish to see the government
committed in any way with the scheme.
Mr.. Garfield is not singular in the position
he thus occupies but as it Is disputed by
the friends of the exposition In Congress,
it may be worth while to review some Of
the facts of the case.
In March, 1871, Congress passed an act
creating Board Of Commissioners, and
"to provide for celebrating the one hun
dredth anniversary Of American independ-
ence, 10y holding an international Exhi-
| bition," DC. The first section OF that act
reads thus:
| "Be it enacted by the Senate and House
| of Representatives of the United States Of
| America, In Congress assembled, that an
| exhibition of American aud foreign arts,
! products, and manufactures shall tie held
| underline auspices of the Government of the
| United States, in the city of Phila( el phia,
| in the year eighteen hundred and seventy
| six."
In the month Of June following, sec
ond act was passed creating The Centennial
Board of Finance. Tho act was entitled
"An act relative to The Centennial Internal
| tional Exhibition, to he held in the city of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, in the
year eighteen hundred and seventy-six,'
/ Al
on that title. In accordance, then, with
| the provisions of these two measures, the
| President. in the month of July, 1873, is
sued a proclamation in which, after certain
formal rccitations, he used the following
words:
"Now, therefore, be it known, that l.,
| Ulysses :. Grant, President OF the United
States, in conformity with the provisions Of
| the act of Congress Aforesaid, do hereby
| declare and proclaim that there Will he held
at the city of Philadelphia, in the State Of
| Pennsylvania, an international Exhibition
| of arts, manufactures, and products of the
| soil and mine, TO he opened on the nine
teenth day of April, Ammo Domini, eigh
| teen hundred and seventy six, and to be
closed on the nineteenth day of October in
the same year.
These three documents, cmanating as
they do from Congress and the President
of the Republic, would seem TO justify
! the assertion made by Mr.. Kelley and 9TH
ers Immediately Interested in the exhibit
ton, that the national government is al
ready committed TO the undertaking. But
the case can be made stronger yet. On the
9th of July last year, note was sent from
| the Department of State TO the foreign
ministers, inclosing a copy of the Presi-
dents proclamation, and asking through
them for the cooperation of their respec-
| tive governments. In that note, the Pres
| ident was made to indulge the hope that
"the opportunity afforded by the exhibit
| ton for the interchange of nation Il senti-
| meut and friendly lnterc jurse between the
| people of the two nations may result in
| new and still greater advantages 10 science
and industry, and at the same time serve TO
strengthen the bonds Of peace and friend
ship, which already exist between the GOV.
| eminent and people of -- and those of
the United States" This note was sent on
| to the several governments throughout the
world which have representatives at WASH
| ington, and the invitation was answered
and accepted by Germany, IIollsnd, Belgi-
UNI, Ecuador, IIayti, and Norway aud
Sweden; and their acceptance is in the
| hands of Mr.. Fish. The Swedish Palia-
ment have even passed a bill approprating
| $4,000 crowns for expenses To be incurred
in representing the national industries Of
Philadelphia.
II the government OF til country is not
| Identified with the proposed exhibition, it
| is hald to conceive what course would be
necessary to adopt ii we were DESTROYS Of
making the identification stronger. More.
over, if the project is 10 be regarded as quite
distinct from and Independent of the gov
| ernmcnt, il must become necessary TO re-
trace the steps already taken-to repeal or
amend the acts Of Congress, and to repudi-
ate both the Presidents proclamation and
the official letter of the Secretary of Safe TO
foreign governments. But il seems TO us
that the issue raised is not sound one.
Because both Congress and the Executive
are committed 10 the exhibition, that is no
reason why Congress should be asked for
money to support ii. And, especially, when
we remember that the work shops of Eu-
rope are already busted with preparations
for the exhibition, there does not appear 10
be any tangible reason why the country
should avoid the responsibilities It has as
sumed. II il had not already taken them,
the matter would I've different. But the
government clearly is committed 50 far as
to have given lie project lis sanction and
countcnanco abroad. We still hope 10 see
a generous support given 10 this great un-
dertaking.--N. y. Times.