New-York tribune., 1875-08-06
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
SECOND LETTER FROM MR.. JOHN JAY.

SECOND LETTER FROM MR. JOHN JAY.
ORIGINAL DOUBTS or THE ExPEDrrNCY or AN
AMERICAN CENTENNIAL ExmDITION-THR PLAN
OF NATIONAL PLOTS-sCIENTIFTC CONGRESSES AT
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or REPRESENT
ALTON ny RUSSIA, GREECE, AND IrALY-THE
SIGNIFICANCE or A REFUSAL BY RUSSIA.
To the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: While our Centennial Celebration no longer
presents to the American people the questions which
it originally presented to Congress, some OF those
questions may still have q bearing on its present
aspect, as exhibiting special reasons why the E1hl-
bition having been decreed by Congress and under
taken by tho Government, should bo made by the
Government a complete success.
One of tho questions related to the expe'liency OF
our Government assuming the responsibility OF an
International Exhibition at any time; another TO
the advIsability of making our first attempt so
Immediately after the Exhibition at Vienna and q
third suggested % doubt of the convenience Of 80
connecting an international Exhibition, with our Ma
tional Centennial that tho invitation to the Royal
and Imperial governments to assist at tho Exhibition
might seem like an invitation to assist by govern
mental commissions and governmental appropria-
tons in commonioraing the birth Of our Republic.
Subsequently another, and perhaps still graver
doubt was suggested by the management OF the
original commission appointed by tho Government
TO represent the Republic st Vienna.
In referring to what he calls "the National iascO
at Vienna" Mr. Charles Francis Adams, jr, in his
official report to the Legislature Of Massachusetts,
said:
The American depGrtment the least oreditable
part of the Exposition The exhibit 81 machinery saved
department excited some general interest Including
these rcdc,mng features, however, the whole resIlt
Co"ny C"ni Fair walk through tho American
department left on the mind an unpleasant impression
ertv In Imagination, which was painful II the ys-
Or happened to APPROACH 1t through the SUPERB hI-
gsh and French displays next to 1t In order o arrange
ment
The contrast between our department and those
of orr ncighbors in the Industrial Palace was not
confined to the features alluded to by Mr.. Adams,
but was extended to the Commission itself, when IL
was announced that the President OF the United
States after ordering an investigation into charges
of misconduct. had upon proofs and admissions
changed by telegraph the direction at Vienna with
n pr0mptnoss and decision that compeiled respect.
The Government has deemed it proper to with
hold from tho light the official records of that in
vcstigaton, excepting such parts ~ have been Sc
cc,cd, mutilatcd aud published liz the interest of
the parties, and tho people are, therefore, still but
imprrf.ctiy advised of tho extent Of the ncon-
p"tcncy ana tno linilOfdlty NIlcu iHd"o tHo
American department a failure, and had compelled
the Prcsidcato intervention.
The fact however,, of that Intervention has passed
into history. and ii is known throughout the world
that the Commissioners thus displaced had been
chosen az Washington to represent to the assembled
nations at Vienna, tine hight to which the American
people under republican institutions had attained III
culture and civilization.
Such an incident naturally connecting itself with
the project of the Centennial appears to have sng
gcstcd doubt whether il quite prudent for our
Government after that experience with single de-
parment in 1873, 10 attempt to rival the Vienna
Exposition in 1875. and to make that attempt on an
occasion and under circumstances especially calcu
lated to challenge criticism. But whatever may be
thought of tho reasonabencss of those doubts or of
the force of the early arguments. they have been
alike disposed of by tho decision OF Congress, which
may perhaps have regarded our conspicuous failure
at Vienna almost at tho close of first century, as
imposing the Government positive necessity for
an attempt to recover our lost prestige.
THE PEOPLE COMMITTED TO The EXPOSITION.
Whatever the mpclling motives, both our Govern
mcnt and our people arc today committed to tho
celebration by legislative acts, by the Presidents
proclamation, by diplomatic correspondence, by
formal invitations and formal acceptances.
of Congress on tho subject and within sen months
the Government and the people are to receive on
American soil the representatives of foreign powers
coming TO assist as what will be ut once an lnterBa-
tional Exhibition and national fGte
1t will be Il Governmental celebration, novel in
our history thc Exhibition of 1858 was got up by
n New-York stock company and in it's doubie aspect
in the history of the world 1t will present a striking
contrast to the scenes through which we have re-
Gently passed. as the North and South. recOnciled
and reunited, welcome to their common country tho
foreign powers which recently regarded us as
hoprlessly divided and such celebration HvOlv
ing the nation, pride aud tho nations prestige, may
well appeal to the sympathes of tlo American peo-
pie and justify popular interest in the perfectness
of the Governmental preparations.
Tho rule recognized in Europe a. established by
the successive Exhibitions since ISL is that leach
new Intcrnat toHal Exhibition is new starting
point II te worlfs industry" aud by this rule, if
or celebration shall 30 IA Success the year 1876 in
marking tho commencement of new century for
tho Republic, will mark also now epoch for the
world.
Among the points of interest in considering our
Exhibition comes first the extent to which It will
excel as universal exhibition of tho civilization
of the period i'll the number of the Powers to be
rcprcsoncd and in the probable pcricctncss OF each
foreign department.
Next may come the inquiry ~ to the perfectness
of our own arrangements regards Organization,
funds time. and systematic arrangement for the
proper reception OF our guests; for making the Exhi-
biion in all respects as attractive and useful -
possible to own people in agriculture commerce,
and manufactures, of which Ar. Webster said,
" They stand like pl9rs in cluster tho largest
in tho center, and that largest is agriculturo'-ia
science and in art.
The PLAN OF NATIONAL PLOTS.
For rural population the plan of national plots
already alluded 10, would afford excellent oppor
tunity of observing and comparing the farm-stcad-