The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-14
THE CENTENNIAL AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

0oAA " THE CENTENNIAL MAN
AdERs-FoREIoN FEARs-THE POSITION OF
THE GovERNAdENT-PUBLIsH THE coRRE-
sPoNDENcE
| TO THE EDITOR or rHE HERALp.-
me HERALD Of the 9th, in commenting upon some
views touching the Centennial expressed by me in re-
cent ie'ler makes no alusion to certain facts which
previously cited and therefore beg leave with your
permission, 70 explain the grounds OF my suggestion
tnat would be safe TO examine ADJUST the foreign
machinery Of the Centennial before the world as
sembles to view its operation
When Congress enacted that the National Centennial
should be celebrated under its auspices by an nterna
tiona exhibition II intrused 10 the President task
of securing the cooperation OF foreign governments
The world invited by proclamation and diplomatic
notes, and the foreign Powers advised that no
persons could be received exhibitors unless their
spectve governments accepted the invitation and APP
pointed commissions deal with the Centennial Com
mission ordained by Congress and appointed by the
President
The proclamation was cordially received in Europe,
and Prince Bismarck responded
g" The German Empire accepts with sincerest
thanks the invitation OF tho government of the United
States TO take part In the aforementioned exhibition
The appointment Of special commission for the exhi-
btion, also plepipotentiary residing in Phadel-
phia will therefore DO made in time"
On the close Of the Vienna Exposition, the most mag
n1cent that the world has seen, Vienna sheet hailed
the American Centennial its legitimate
with the salutaton 'The King is dead live the Kng
But presently sudden change in European opn-
ion and coury GOODNESS. The Philadelphia celebra-
ton seemed to be looked upon, king but
beggarly pretender and the ntimated that while
the American government asked other Powers recog
niZe and assist it, the President had blended with the
request significant warning that the Commission had
no claim to an official character and that govern
ment declined all responsibility for its acts Soon the
question began to be asked by Continental manufacture
ers If they could safely assist the Centennial without
risk Of their goods being seized sold the debts OF
tho Commission, had happened TO some of them at
New York. and IL said that whoever trusted the
Commission in the face OF the caution given from Wash
ington would deserve to suffer.
An explanation Of this change In European opinion
and Of the refusal Of Russia accept tho invitation is
afforded by recent statement attributed Governor
Jewell OF the terms Of tho second invitation given by
His Excelency at St Petersburg Governor Jewell ad
vised the Court that "whle the United States urged
other nations to attend and contribute exhibit
tion, government not responsible for it, and
that 1t not national affair He was
told in reply that under circumstances could Russia
accept such invitation from private persons .
private corporation Governor Jewell explains that
|
our government ask them to accept an invitation
from private persons private corporation"
Tho view attributed TO Governor Jewell that the re-
fusa was not due to any change In the cordalty Of
our relations is, think, probably just The Emperor
when at Vienna expressed cordially his appreciation OF
the reception of his Alexis by the American people
| He may have been less pleased by the Grand
Dukes treatment at Washington but with
| the trained statesmen and monarchs Of
| Europe personal feelings not too easily
permitted to complicate international relations To
wound the American people by declining Congress
sonal invitation to assist at national celebration OF
| their hundredth year account of such affront
real or imaginary, from quadrennia government
would hardly be In accord with the well considered
cherished policy of the Russian Court toward the
| lean Republic
1t would be interesting to know what grounds the
President and his Cabinet, with the Attorney General
held to be in accordance with constitutional law and
the acts of Congress- and with the safety
the country TO deny TO the Executive tho high control
over the Centennial Commission that he claimed and
exercised tho commission which he appointed
the Vienna Exposition, and which, when ''irregulari-
ties'' appeared in its management, he promptly and
wisely suspended At present il does not appear how
the President could regard himself liberty discam
all connection with the Centennial Commission whose
existence depends upon the commission issued by his
executive authority and which is compelled report
him from time time the progress of the work and
its final res uts
But IL the Cabinet held these opinions II NAV BIO
asked, Why the proclamation and diplomatic notes
issued form to induce the world believe that the
celebration would be national affair." under tho
auspices of the government Why was the invitation
given at different times in such different forms that
while Germany accepted with sincere thanks, Russia
| eurnrisad that II should have heen ofnred
If 1t could have been proper for us give such an
invitation to any government at any time it certainly
seems if IL would have been in accord with
dignity, and with the respect due to other Powers
| to have advised them frankly at the beginning that
| they might know from the first the sort Of en-
tertainment to which they invited Tho an
nouncement of the private and irresponsible charac-
ter OF the Commission might well subject govern
which had in good faith, accepted
as national and called upon its Parliament supplies
to tho unpleasant dilemma Of observing reluctant
lence or of taking the step OF rcvokng
an acceptance and calling upon Diet annual ap-
preparation.
There arises also the interesting question: Does the
whole world understand fairly and squarely that
the President dsclams all connection witthe Centen
NAL and all control over itS misunderstanding on
this point by the Chinese, the Japanese Turks
the Egyptians If they coming under the idea that
the Centennial Commission is governmental body and
the Exhibition a national celebration may be long re-
membered disadvantage. And how is IL with the
European PowersH When England, with a magnan-
unity that people appreciate accepted the invita-
ton of Congress and the President assist a
tonal celebration Of our Centennial, did she quito
derstand that government disavow all connection
with the AFFAIR." The Queen, II is said will send tho
Duke OF Richmond as her representative. Is Her
Majesty expected accredt His Grace private cor
poratIonf
"a failure OF the Exhibition" the President plain
lively said to Congress, ''woud DO deplorablc = But
beyond all thought OF tho Exhibition is the thought
that the diplomacy, the honor the prestige Of tho Re-
public at stake and that in a matter Of historic
where all nations concerned and where all
are attentive watchers