New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-04


tdFO the perfect cOmposure of some of the different
powers VINO have accepted invitation with
thankiulness AZ Governmental. and who may not
feel quito so BATTERED when they learn that Others
have rejected Is one that selfrespect and National
dignity compelled them TO decline Nothing 20 much
touches the sensibiltes OF nations as a suspicion
that they have been treated with q want of frank
ness and have been thus led tn do what they never
would have done had the truth been fairly spoken.
Gan any one believe that Prince Bismarck would
have proposed to accredit plenpOtentiary to the
Centennial Commission If the Presidents prccama-
ton and the diplomatic correspondence had not
gwen him % understand that it would be what Is
LOW denied q National CelebTatiOnf
Mir. Bright. Oh one occasion hkened a coalition IN
the House OF Commons to skye terrier so covered
with hair that YOU could not tell which was the
head and which the tail of itD The Centennial cele
bTation Of the Repubhc after four year, dandlIng
by ts foster nurses at Washington and Philadelphia
presents, 1t seems, to-day the unsolyed problem
whether IL Is . child of The Government private
bantling. When tine official correspondence snail
De brought TO light ib seems probable that the
character of the Centennial will be found 10 have
changed az different dates and in different places
Apparently II IL held to be National and Govern
mental at Philadelphia, local and private at Wash
lngton. But its first announcement from Washington
was accepted by the world As recognition OF its
nationality, and before the new and counter ali
nouncement had reached Prince Bismarck the Com
msslOn was awaiting plenipOtenUaTy from Berlin
while Russia wondered how our youug Republic
could possibly offer 60 her such an invitation.
CHAsGE or POLICY NECESSARY.
Now that the country is informed Of the grave
the Centennial by the Government at Washington
has involved as at home and abroad, can any pos
sible good arise from continuing for single day the
deadlock at home and Che very delicate position
abroad created by the irrecOncilable theories and
contradictory advice of its FIRST and second
nOuncements TO foreign Governments The eecOnd
announcements whatever ito object. has evidently
struck heavy blow at the lire OF the Exhibition,
and equally sharp at the character Of the Com
mission. The tTue plan, the only safe plan, would
now seem to he frank submission 10 the American
people uf the views of the Government, Of the Cen
tennal Commission, and OF the entire cores,
complications with friendly Powers, and IrreInedl-
diabe failure regards the celebration.
The people may have become indifferent to the
Exhibition, but they are not Indifferent TO tho ma
tional honor TO the honor. ole fraIkncss and cour
tcsy Of cur diplomacy, to misrepresentation
wounding 70 national pride ard coed men OF
all parties v0uid rejoice # the Administration, by It's
practical wisdom in this matter, could still wipe out
the memory Of the shame inflicted upon the
country and Its institutions by the grave
misconduct of ts mdr2rIns Commissioners a.
Vienna. There may possibly be a disposition on
the part of individuals. both at Philadelphia
and Washington, to snirk all inquiry whagso-
ever, tO ignore difficulties 20 cover NJ mistakes ana
let the Centennial DRIFT quietly to failure.
There is disposition on the part OF certain potI-
clans 10 pride themselves upon their facility in hold
ing irTecOdcilaJle views, and IN harncnIZing M
viii with either side Of q question hut peC-
pie are OF Mr. Burkcs opinion, thai great empire
ANA little minds 20 III together" aud they know tlai
however pleasant It may seem 20 rul WITH the hare
and hunt with the hounds, there can be but one re-
suit from such policy,
The first desirable thing for the country in the
mat or il 20 be advised by the whole foreign eorre
sDondence the subject OF the Centennial with our
own agents ard with the foreign Ministers az Wash
ingtOn, and the opinion of the Attorney-Gencral, II
the advice Of thai officer taken before the issuing
Of the instruction to Gov. Jewell which prevented
Russia from coming to The Centennial. The FRESH
dent furnish promptly 4 he pieases, tnat CORE
sp0ndence aad opinion without waiting Tor tle
assembling Of Congress and a. the G"VcTnlaent
shrinks from making known the cauees Of he fan
urc accomplished by its Commissions 1T Vienna,
there wOuid seem tc mere reason Tor here 3V;uiils
Itself In advance OF the advice Of tie people. The
next desirable thing w1ad seem 10 he 70 Get I'D OF
ihe uOndescrpt aud chamoic0n-ike character at the
Centennial Commission rs sueceSSlyeiy presented 70
foreign Governments, seeming like sort Of hybrid
fettered hy official disabilities and double allow
ance Of red tape, without beng encc%ed
with official powers and dignity capable
IS it would seem, Of exisRdlng invitations TO
foreign Governments, and Of receiving rom them
commissions. II not pienlFGtenlareS, but sun
a private CORPORATION That can only approach
the State Department through the intervention oi
the Department OF the Interior, and against NilCh
f9reic Governments NAV be properly placed on their
guard by warning that its own Government de-
cues 70 he responsible Tor ib conduct. II tho fr"S-
dent il indeed resolved that Che celebration OK tie
Centennial shall be private and not natlona-and big
language hitherto has no. ind catcd such ylew-a
idea of International Exhibition that shall rlva
or even approach the PERFECTION OF those on Europe
NAV be abandoned. The gentlemen OK the CCnten-
Mai Commission, which includes an expert 50 expe-
rlenccd az NT. BcelIWth, oar accomplish COnnnis-
si0ner at Paris If they accept tlaS position - con
utv of the states and HCrrit01cs which they r"DTo
aert can doubtless establish grand E-MbIt!On
with some foreign features OF great interest which
as local and private enttGpilso may DC n 9HHCt
creditablc and profitable TO tAc state and city which
thus far has borne almost uEaded the burden Oh the
work.
I+ IN tls oosa +lorc ehonId he M co left f,r the
smallest misunderstanding On the part Of the Gov
ernments which at the invitation and request 0f our
Government have appointed commissions or made
appropriations with the friendly idea OF assisting in
national celebration OF a national event ana tge
telegraph should promptly advise the whole world
Of the fact that every Power may unders and
thr private character OF the entertaul'uJ 10 which
It has been invited, as well az II was understood
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
Suppose, on the other haud that the President
should De satisfied thai Tie second announcement re-
ferred TO by Gov. Jewell not justified by the
language of Congress- and tended not 10 accom-
psh but to defeat the design of that body, that 1t
was neXact and unjust regards the Ccnten-
NAL Commission which had the right 10 claim the
national character which that announcement de-
med aud that correction OF the due alike
TO dignity and tnat OF other Powers then no
time il 70 be lost IN making known the new deter
mination of the PresidcnJ 10 stand 10y the Centeh-
NAL as q national celebration under the auspices cf
the Government, IN calling into play the assistance
OF our diplomatic and consular agents UArou gaeut
the world, and in using extraordinary Efforts 20 as
spate the erroneous impressions already created
and especially 10 secure the assistance of Russia,
Italv. Creeoe Persia, and Siam, ana every OtAer
Power that may not have accepted.
With the cable, negotiations can be easily accom-
plished in a week which formerly might have re-
oured years and TIE Powers OF Europe in an eTner-
gency are accustomed to act rapidly and With yigoT
Even Persia when international courtesy is coa-
cerued can act with extraordinary prOmptitude.
Tho Sfiah IN his diary describing h,s irFt visit %