The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-28
Che autland daily Globe
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1874
THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL.
Its International Prospects Unga-
vOrabIc.

The preparations for the international
part of the centennial exhibition are going
forward at Philadelphia. The director
general will next week send out copies of
the ground plan of the main exhibition
building showing the preliminary allotment
Of space to foreign countries, together with
copies of the treasury regulations for the
reception of goods from foreign countries
intended for exhibition. AS no foreign
governments has yet signiied how much
space it will desire to occupy, of course the
allotment of space on these plans is only
provisional. The backwardress of the
preparations of such countries as have ex-
pressed desire to be represented is large
ly due to the chaotic condition in which the
whole scheme at Philadelphia has remained
up to the present time. The number of
government which have accepted the invi-
tation sent out by the state department is
quite large, but does not include any of the
powerful governments, which seem gener-
ally to have ignored the scheme, or to have
| taken the merest formal notice of it. The
most that has been done by any one of the
principal nations of Europe is to name one
or more of its official representatives in this
country as agents to look aftei the interests
of such of its citizens as may send goods
to Philadelphia for exhibition. France has
appointed its consuls at New York and
Philadelphia as such agents. and Austria
will he represented by its Minister here,
Baron Schwarz-Senbord. This is a very
different thing from sending regularly
organized commission of scientific men
and official dignitaries, as is the custom at
European International exhibitions. The
Austro- Hungarian government, as well as
the government of Russia and Denmark,
has distinctly declined to take part in the
exhibition as government. The latest
advices from St. Petersburg are that prob
ably there will be no attempt made even by
individuals to be represented. The gov
eminent of Denmark says that it might
have broken over its rule never to take the
initiative in such exhibitions, but it does
not find much interest existing i'll the exhi-
bition ameng its manufacturers and Min
lister Cramer writes under date of October
q, that he thinks their Discrimination may
arise from the fact that the government of
the United States has no decorative orders
to bestow upon them as reward for the
trouble and expense incurred in partci-
pating in the exhibition. The Swiss fed
eral council has accepted the invita-
ton of our government, and promised
to be represented, but on September
minister Rublec wrete to Mr.. Fish that
the Swiss government speaks discouraging-
ly, and says the Swiss peogle are fatigued
with the frequent recurrence ofinternation-
al exhibitions. Mr.. Rublee seems to think
| I,
it is not a government undertaking here.
There has been some correspondence with
Belgium and Germany, but there is no in
dication that either government will be Of
ficially represented at Philadelphia. Eng
land, of course, will not participate. Spain
accepted the invitation last February, but
nothing has been heard from that govern.
ment about the matter since. The European
government which seems to have entered
most heartily into the scheme is that of
Sweden, where royal commission has been
announced, and an appropriation of $4,000
made, but Minister Andrews writes that the
failure to get an appropriation last winter
from congress and the criticisms of the
newspapers here have tended to check pre-
parations. The government has, however,
sent an agent to Philadelphia, and the So
ciety for the promotion of the production
ofiron has resolved to spend 81 900 to make
a good exhibition of that industry. The
only other government which appears to
have made any inarc'al provision for par
ticipation is that of the United States of
Columbia, which has appropriated $50, 900.
The Argentine republic has accepted, and
appointed commission; also the govern
ments of Guatemala, San Salvador, Liberia,
and Mexico. The president of the latter
country has appointed national commit
tee. Venezuela, Peru, and Chill have ac-
cepted, but not appointed commissioners.
No representation is likely to be made by
the latter country, because its own Nation
al exhibition will absorb all is energies I'M
til January /, 1876. The government OF
Japan has promised TO send social COM
mission, but China is not likely to be rep
resented. 1t will be seen that the foreign
governments which promise to take part are
not nearly frst-rate powers, and there is
every reason to believe that the internation-
al part of the exhibition will be complete
failure.