Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-28

II
Universal Yankee nation.
Special Correspondence OF the Union and
American
PARIS, Aug. 8, 1S75.-"Decidedly, they
do these things better in France | have
heretofore given a few words descriptive of
the Sale des Etats; let me now tell its con-
tents on the ever memorable Sunday, the
LIST of August, 1875. Time, 8 p. N; weather.
beautiful; not hot, not cold exactly cor
rect. Here are the results of my Observa-
tions. A great hall magnifcently decorated,
filed with great men, ditto, ditto. Stars,
crosses, ribbons, collars, and fine Jewels,
with dazzling brilliancy, quite sufficient to
bring water into the eyes of an humble re-
publican; and more, those bearing the
decorations were men Of noble mein, all q
whom were dressed as if in attendance atA
State ball. Then there were ladies in all the
glory Of the newest Partisan fashion, whose
raiment quite harmoniZed with the flags
and banners which proclaimed from side
to side Of the hall that in peaceful discus
sion every nation had now met together;
Lthat standing armies and rife practice
might be excellent occupation, but still a
little COM ultation for the good Of the
whole world was not bad thing once in a
while.
The question is: Who is here? Let US
lOOki Upon large platform at the upper
end o. the hall we see seated the President
and Commission of the Geographical Con-
gress of 1871. Behind them are arranged
the different eminent members of home
and foreign scientific societies, and men of
| rank and distinction in politics and in COM
merce. Here We find Alexandra Dumas,
Ferd nand de Lesseps, lie Due de BrOglie,
Herbert, Levaseur, Andre, WALTON and
Duclere, besides many others just as
eminent who are unknown to me.
Seated in the body of the hall
are the different delegates from
all parts Of the world, some twelve hun
dred IN number, and there in the center
row can be seen the Tennessee dele
/ CATION, beaming in all the glory Of
! conscious innocence and immaculate shirt
fronts. Two velvet draped boxes, at the
end of the Sale, are occupied, the one
By the white-haired Marshall President Of
the Republic, Buffet, his Prime Minister,
le Due DeCazes, etc, the other by the
members Of the Diplomatic Corps. |
visitors of distinction, and there |
we behold the ladies who come pre-
pared to be deeply interested in the ap- |
preaching ceremony, and ever and anon to |
manifest this appreciation by a vigorous /
shifting together Of their lovely lavender |
gloves and a complimentary waving Of /
their pretty hankerchiefs. Bless 'em,
At the appointed hour Of three n. Steen-
hugs, President of the Congress of 1871, |
arose and in a graceful speech, wherein he
related briefly the history of the project
which gave rise TO the present meeting,
handed over his authority 10 Vice-Admiral
La ROnciere LIE Noury, the President-elect
Of the Congress Of 1915. The Vice-Admi-
raj, and his commission then took seats
upon the platform. The President, having
been conducted TO the Tribune, arose
and replied, detailing the business with
which the present Congress had TO labor, 1
finishing by giving expression 10 the wish
that the second meeting would leave as
good an impression behind it as did the
first one in Antwerp. At this point the as
semblage was treated 10
A POLYGLOT EXHIBITION
which made the Tennessee delegation feel
quite happy. There were speeches in Ger
man, English, Russian, Italian, Flemish,
Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and French.
When all these illustrious foreigners
finished saying that they felt proud TO be
there, and that the remembrance Of the
scene would be a bright spot, etc, etc the
meeting was adjourned. Everybody |
seemed satisfied with this opening, and, to
judge from expressions heard, the meeting
mus4be proud point in the history of the
French Geographical Society, under whose
auspices every arrangement has been made.
viii remark, in order TO prevent a false
idea spreading, that we have here a Babel
instead Of a Congress, that the language to
be used in the Seance will be uniformly
French, since that it is the language best
understood by the body Of the delegates
as a whole.
In this Congress are represented France,
Germany, Russia, England, Italy, Spain, |
Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, |
the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, |
Persia, India, China, Japan, Siam, Hawaii, |
Brazil, Argentine Confederation, Paraguay, |
Chill, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, Mexico, |
and Nicaragua, all the principal
States Of the Old and New World:
but where is the United States?
IN. B.-This is not a geOgraphi-
cal conundruml. Certainly our
country has contributed a few
articles TO the Geographical Exposition,
but she has neglected to send delegate or
delegates who are especially fitted to repre-
sent the interests Of the republic, and has
left them in the care of persons who were
going to Europe for purposes Of their own
worthy Of all honor and re-
spect morally and socially, but who were
prepared neither by chance nor intention
to cope with the gigantic iniellecis which ]
are assembled here from every quarter Of
the globe, and who are for the most part
even unacquaiDted with the language in
which the debates are spoken. Russia paws
her representation 5000, Belgium hers,
$4,000 and little Costa Rica hers, $500.
Does not this show that the Congress is of
some Importance, and should not some re- !
spect be paid to it by the ''best Government
that ever ezisted?' We send yearly hun I
dreds Of delegates to Europe who exagger-
ate and falsify the productions of the |
United States until no sane man can be-
lieve them. Why not send one responsible I
person who can tell the truth? Are the
connections between the States ard
European civilization 50 good and solid
that il is unnecessary to take steps to i'm /
prove them? Is the tide Of emigration run /
ming so fast that no other streams need be )
added TO increase il? In a word, ought ]
the American republic country as full
Of valuable resources, as strong in intellect. I
and as true in action as any-sO far forget !
its position among nations as not 10 have
itself represented in a Congress Of nations a
engaged in finding out matters for its good 4
rs well as for their own? 1t strikes me that
The least thing our Government could have
done would have been TO make some ap-
and pay some attention to this J
Congress Of savants, especially in face of :
lhe well-knOwn fact that the United States $
ask the same nations, whom they thus /
slight, TO do them a like favor at the Cen :
.ennial Exposition next year. E.. L
PADRE SECCHI, the great astronomer,
believes in the possibility of ghosts peTam-
5ulating over the earth in sireaks of light
hing.
OK mn DN"a~SI