The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-10
The Centennial-yow York's Duty and
Opportunity.

The country begins to show an intelligent
and Jealous interest in the Centennial Exhibi.
ton. Two facts are accepted. The first is
that the Centennial belongs to Philadelphia,
as the hone of American independence, the
city OF the Declaration. The second is that
the celebration will be in all respects national,
and commends itself to every American. 1t
would be to demean the subject to dwell upon
merely selfish advantages, but we cannot help
seeing that any gain will largely accrue to
New York. For this, among other reasons,
we are glad that Mr. Goshorn, the Director
General, has addressed Governor Tilden. We
see no force in the criticisms made upon this
letter, that it is vague and unintelligible. The
Centennial people are not mendicants asking
for aid, but brothers asking brotherly asso-
citation, to the end that the common glory OF
the Republic will be served. Now that there
is no shadow of pretext that Mr.. Goshorn
and his friends crave federal patronage, in
the way of o subsidy, it is unwise to dis
courage any attempt to arouse and invigorate
the fraternity of the States. 1t is the most
natural thing in the world that the chief COM
missioner of the Centennial should approach
| the Chief Magistrate of New York and ask not
SO much for sympathy as cooperation, in order
to give due prominence to the products and
fabrics of New York herself 1t is perfectly
in accordance with good taste and propriety
that the suggestions should be made in gen.
eral way. Had Mr.. Goshorn been more pre-
else it would have been intrusive. He called
Governor Tilden's attention to the subject
and left it for him to determine on the mode
in which New York will cooperate.
We cannot permit ourselves to doubt that
the Governor will call the attention of the
Legislature to the subject and that it will take
some affirmative action-the more decided and
liberal the better. The Legislature of Penn
sylvania has acted with great liberalty. When
was there better opportunity for New York,
acting through her Executive and General
Assembly, to do graceful and patriotic and
withal polite thing than now and just here9
Never has the Empire State had better
chance of demonstrating her serene repuda-
ton of all local jealousy and rivalry. What
we press as matter of duty and interest on the
city of New York we urge with stronger en-
phasis on the State. Curiously enough, too,
the democratic Governor of great State has
chancs by timely expression of his interest
in the matter to do that which the President
of the United States, supposed to be so much
more potential, has failed to accomplish.
Time and again has President Grant called the
attention of his nominal majority at Washing
ton to this subject, and as little attention has
been paid to it as to his urgency about Louis
lana The charter and the invitation to foreign
nations is oil the federal Executive has been
able to extort
Here, then, is Governor Tilden's opportu-
nifty. He, the Governor of single State, can
largely aid in making the Centennial sue
cess. He, too, is one of those trained, edu-
Gated mem student, not superficial West
Point one, or reader Of dime novels and poor
periodicals in frontier camp, but student
of our classic history. He knows-no one
better-what its records and its traditions are
He knows what great event in the past was
American independence, and he IS too loyal
to the faith that once was in us-reverential
I faith in the patriotism of the men Of the
Revolution-to be willing that the century
which saw its birth should not celebrate its
glorious centennial maturity. In another re-
spect Governor Tilden stands on higher ground
and acts from more effective position than
does his competitor the federal President
He is the representative of POLITICAL and, es-
pecially, of pecuniary integrity, and, in its
true sense, Of reform. If ever there was an
enterprise which, down to this time, has been
conducted on sound, economical basis and
with scrupulcus integrity, it is this Philadelphia
one. There is not, and there never has been,
the faintest favor of jobbery about it, and
Governor Tlden, in wheeling into line by his
influence the great Commonwealth he as Ex-
ecutive represents, will give countenance TO
an undertaking which, in all its relations, is
as pure as it may be impressive.
As we have said, it almost demeans theme
like this to narrow it to selfish considerations.
We commend them to the Governor, because,
as the guardian of the interests of the State,
be will not be insensible to whatever will
bring advantage to it. But there can be no
selfish considerations in the Centennial. We
ask the nations of the world to come and see
what we have done in a hundred years; how
we have discharged our stewardship. In the
louder achievements OF q people we have done
a great deal. We have made wars and sent
out armies and fleets and paid our tribute to
the bloody splendor of military renown. We
have added Gettysburg and Antietam to the
galaxy which embraces Blenheim, Austerlitz
and Waterloo We are prouder, more Sc
cure, We fear also q more truculent people,
because of these brilliant but sad achieve
rnents. Have we done anything else but talk
and quarrel? Have we given nothing to the
civilization, the humanity and the peace of
mankind? Is the world any better because of
the commonwealth which in hundred years
have risen from prairie and forest desolation
70 rival the greatness of Rome! Is it true