The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-02
COMMUNICATIONS.
1776.---1S76.
. RoUsING APPEAL.

TO THE WORLD!
To the Editor OF the Sentinel;
SrR:-This question 10 becoming Oh quite
serious import. Only eight months remain
for all the necessary preparations, ana these
include not merely the preparation OF arti-
cles for DISPLAY, but all the details OF ar
rs,oanent which will secure the proper al
lotnent of space to the parties concerned.
All but three of the nations OF the earth
have accepted the invitations eASshoeu Dy
congress through the president, nave ap-
nointed commissioners and already have
everything well in progress. OI these snree,
Russia EXPLAINS that the report of the Wen
ma Exposition is not yet publisned ana tnat
the time elapsed since then will not justify
the great expenditure OF money ana enor.
which such An exhibition involves 10 tnat
government. whose trade relations with the
outside world are different from those OF an
exportipg nation seeking market. Inc
other two, Italy and Greece. are proDaDly In
a similar condition, with even less aoi!ity.
England, France and Germany are wanting
for more space than is allotted to them, ana
as the entries are now closed in all OF those
countries il is not merely conjecture as 10
the extent of their requirements, DuS Is SUD-
ject to careful estimate. Great Britain was
allotted 40 600 square feet, but It IS now
found that tie mother country alone VIII
need over 60 900 feet and Canada wants O,OO0
more. Even at I<ldderminster. the carpet
weavers- who at first announced that they
would have nothing 10 do with the Expo
sition on account of the obnoxious tariffs,
are now asking for % 600 feet OF wall space.
The German governments having louhu s1e
first appropriation Inadequate have made
an additional grant of 100000 r1x marks,
about S12O, 600. and have asked for several
thousand more feet OF space. Seyeral OF the
commissioners from foreign governments
from foreign governments have already ar
rived in the country, and others are now on
route. Coming nearer home, ONO IS max
ing active preparation and Will be well rep
resented, both as state, and by individual
exhibits. A liberal appropriation was maue
by the legislature, and the people have fuily
endorsed its action. Kansas, away out
west, is also moving vigorously, and her
Representatives have liberal appropriation
to work with. She is also appropriating sou
OO0 for separate building in which to
present her peculiar productions 10 better
advantage. Missouri is aroused, and Der
citizens are proposing to raise az least SloO-
600 for the last named purpose. Other states,
which we need not enumerate in detail, are
acting promptly and fully sppreelative
of the golden opportunity now presented TO
them. And now 1 repeat the query,
WHAT WILL INDIANA DO?
Thus far she has accomplished but little.
The legislature was in session before the
subject had attracted public attention, in
deed it was rather unpopular, and the APP
preparation was the small, almost insignifi-
can't sum OF s. 600. III il were to be done
again, S25 600 would hardly be con-
sidered sufficient. But the appro-
priatlon is made and is not likely
to be altered, and we can only accept the
situation and make up by individual effort
the deficiency OF the public stipend. 1t VIII
not answer to even encourage the idea that
it will not be done. Every consideration Of
private and public policy imperstively de-
mands that it shall be done, and fit IS TO be
there is not an hour TO spare IN Oily daily.
Indiana stands in the front rank OF states
in population and wealth, in abundant nat
ural resources. and in the energy, industry
and consequent prosperity OF her citi-
zens. Not another has greater inducement
to show to the world her wonderful treas
ures OF ores and coal and timber, and few
can show so much of either OF these. Hardly
another can make a more creditable exhibit
of manufactured products from these raw
materials. Her agricultural productions are
varied and attractive; her educational sys-
tenn a source of Just pride. In Unitarian
sense, leaving aside the question OF the pa
triotism which should prompt as to COM
memOrate the struggles and trlumphs OF
our ancestors by such an exhibit OF the mar
vels which have bsen wrought, no sum OF
money necessary to make a COM
plete exhibit of all these can
be so judIciously expended, What
ever criticisms may be made OF the
management OF the Exposition In the past,
the facts are ineOntrovertible that the exhi-
bition is to be held, that other nations have
accepted the overtures of our government
aud are coming in good faith and full force
TO show America what the rest of the world
is producing, and TO place themselves in
competition for the trade OF this and other
countries. We cannot afford TO ignore these
facts, nor again 10 disregard our duties as
entertainers, In extending cordial greeting
to the distinguished strangers who VIII visit
us. We have a state committee to act in
concert with the general commissioners of
TO organize state association. Numberless
committees-far too many, such as they are
proving-have been appointed, charged with
all sorts Of duty, which they do nos show
ANY DISPOSITION TO PERFORM,
and still it may be safely said
that nothing effective or really
practical has been accomplished. 1t may on
the other hand DO doubted whether there
has not more harm than good resulted from
the inaction OF the appontees, by making
the matter subject OF public ridicule This
course viii not answer. 1t Is depreciative
of the character which Indianians justly
claim for themselves rs sub
stsntial, thorough going business men.
The traits thus lsr developed are not thoseI
which h&v5 won her the position she now
occupies in the sisterhood OF states, and her
distinction as great manufacturing state.
The time allowed for applications from pri-
waite exhibitors has nearly elapsed-only
two or three weeks yet remaining-and yet
we are informed by the general management
that but seventeen applications ere on file
for the entire state OF Indiana. She has con-
tributed nothing to the construction fund;
she has not even raised or attempted to raise
the means for her own proper representation.
She will not certainly remain so much the
laggard. This Is not flattering statement,
and deserves the most serious consideration
from all who have the welfare of the state at
heart. III may be permitted to suggest the
causes which are now retarding the action
which everybody must feel ought to be
taken and at once, ] should say first, that
there is not sufficient unity of action on the