Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-13
The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.

The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.
Notwithstanding some blunders in the IN
eeption Of the United States International Lz'
hibition. it Is bound to come of, and the rel
u.ation Of the American people Is, more OF
les. involved in its success or failure. The
conception was grand one, too grand TO be
urborne and carried on the narrow shoulders
Of any one locality ], may have been
chivalrous to attempt it md to have II pro-
yided BY law that no aid from the nation
should ever be demanded but the projectors
were from the outset doomed to some humll-
iation. They proudly started independent
Of the national government as 10 financial
assistance. and vet, after straining their Owl
resources, even beyond prudence, they still
need much help. and have been compelled to
resort 10 the humblest means to exc ont tie
amount Of funds required 10 complete their
outfit. When the whole world Is to be IN
vited. the ark II ust be Of mple dimensions
10 admit specimens Of all created things.
The world Is coming, or enough Of ii Ger
tainlv. 70 see and to report what they have
seen. Whatever else they may ind, It Is not
aft occasion for the exhibition Of any harrow
ness The place i admirable, AID the struc-
ture-. if they can be completed, viii be
creIitajle. Certainly they have been begun
upon magnificent scale
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have re-
ponded WIKI great liberality to the heavy
demands made upon them and should not
be pushed longer, a. iOrl0rn hope Neither
the burden, nor the hunor- all belong to the
keystone State Il errors have been com
mi.,cd. it can be pleaded that they are not
more numerous nor 50 great a. those which
preceded tie London Exhibition 10 ISL,
where many cheap make-shiits were re-Jrted /
t. and it is now nearly certain that Con-
rre-~. Ike Parliament, will at last Ice -4..fi
upon o. contribute TO q deficiency. The
sum wanted Is too large to be hoped for from .
States ~ individuals. But because all that is .
desired cannot he secured, Is 10 reason why /
wi! vet have time to act Unfortunately /
the State of Vermont j. not likely to have
such an opportunity, a. the Legislature die-
not assemble until next year. The present
reliance IN, = be mainly upon private and
personal generosity. Some individuals. As
for instance those engaged in the Industrial
art, viii be more interested than Others and
they viii be foremost, as they should be. TO
respond literally to calls for pecuniary aid at
this nick Of time
Foreign guests have been invited IL the
name Of the nation, and they VIII not only
expect room and shelter for the products
they bring, but they Will come prepared to
meet with vigorous competition from all the
forces Of the New World. These forces We
have not been wont to uuder-rate and We must ,
at least Try to come up to the standard OF I
or frequent manife>toes. American work @
men and whatever Of ingenious machinery S
we have, viii be put to the test which in t
their behalf Las been challenged I; Will be y
great school to our people, and the benefits l
to arise vii be broadly distributed among y
them. Since We are now embarked for the IS.
voyage AMI there i DO retreat, those Il
among the mar uiacturers who are able should y
az once step forward with their contrib4;.u~ q.
and not wait 10 be awakened by missi0nare- "
whose labors smack Of commissions. Con a
gress at is earliest meeting, though i- may Of
shirk the responsibility of some Of the pre- il
Iiminarie~ and perhaps of some ,f The To- N
competency. which e5al hardly ilil T. he d..
shown by inexperienced men engaged ir $50
undertaking upon so large scale. vi. he 70
likely, as We Judge 10 appropriate who's, :,
ever sun may be finally needed To carry n-t I'll
the just expectations OF The nation We n
cannot afford 10 have the patriotic enterprise y
which j. ., marx the epoch Of l7-6. charged b..
il the -el.e with imro;ency OF bankruptcy y
and il vii Doe far better to d. in advance ID
graeiou-.y what after the lair VI >.aA in
have To do, though with shame and iepas le.
nance. Ny can tie nation af.Ii 80 leave
city 10 tie lurel which Is acting NOT only in
Der own behalf, bat conspicuou-ly .a hebalf a. -.
Of the United States d"
The interests Of Vermont are not cla,pna- 60
lively large bal they are positive AID AT -l'
east equal 10 or number There is u.ta
county in the state which canno, occupy va
'ome space a: this exhibition. I, olr ai- All
7antage and attractively to the public. A. FL
uredy there are many branches Of industry 1.s &c.
hat honor the State, and, if unrepresantei. Lou
her PRODUCTS viii surely be missed But N.s
III artisans must do their best. and send op
omething worthy OF prize. whether obtain Ten
4 or not. VI.
As nation We may be forced to yield the a,
aim Of superiority to Great Britain in An
arthern- ware. broad-cloths. wor,ted goods. Per
ne cottons, cotton stocking, linens. eneaus- NJ
c tile, PAPER mache, some descriptions pect
machinery a1d some manufactures Of iron: stol
Germany in painted and eolored glass, n
ind instruments, chdren's toys terra-cotta. W.
I'D various other elegant articles to France efeC
silks, ribbons, fringes. braids, gloves. ten
ate glasS, carriage furniture, fine carpets. Cove
welry, bronze, porcelain, and paper-hang- -:
6; and Of course no private establish DAYS
ents can be expected TO compete with the suir
vernment works at Dresden, Munich and viou'
r-,.. lishe
.'' s''1ii 'iI'e VAST collection to be
mineral ores, rare show Of agricultural the
oducts, including all that hou-ishes from class
arctics 70 the tropics, and in all Of the soSe'
eful articles Of life We shall make a strong
We may hope to enter the Ii
Is without misgiyings Quality and price mer
lsdered) a. 70. the bulk Of cotton fabrics, unda
olens TO some extent; boots. shoes and whicl
-nesses guns, rifles and pistols. wire man value
etureS, manufactures Of india-rubber. able
er and plated ware, watches. saddlerv- Grave
re- house-farnishing hardware, nails. to CT,
9Ws' pins. edge tools, table cutlery, cotton was
wool cards, cast-iron ware excepting rains
amenia), organs and piano-lortes, agri- the f
'ural implements, wooden wa-e. scales Of disas;
larger sort, locomotives. rsilway-cars. world
'iages' sewing machines. special descrip- At
Is OF machinery, sehool-house arehitec- pied
;, marine architecture, and hundreds Of the Oh
II >pecia,ties located all over the country, crops
oh the makers need not be ashamed TO one II
z into the strongest light. ;na,s,
be ordinary American printing and book moi.
ling Is perhaps inferior to the English. most
yet occasional specimens Of it NAV be fall.
- lA' - 'he farest workmanship of the eff
world and 50 Of many other articles re- danar
'Hs MOI Only skill but an extravagant cite s.
unit Of labor We sre ~. ...-, -, .