The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-27
Tho Centennial.

The Centennial.
The fair weather has made the Centennial
more attractive'and profitable for the past
few days than at any time since the open
ing. It's to be regretted that the adversely
which fell upon this splendid enterprise at
the outset did not teach the managers the
wisdom that must come with experience
liberal management-an adaptation of means
to results-bringing the fair in its largest
sense home to the people. Nothing is more
painful than to hear out of this centennial
enthusiasm discordant voices about ex-
tortions, Encouragement and Selfshness
There has scarcely been day since the
opening when we have not had these voices
from Philadelphia--voices of reproach and
entreaty. When the journals Of that city
complain of the comments Of the HERALD
and the other journals and throw out impu-
tations of insincerity as to their support of
the Centennial, they forget that we could do
the Exhibition no greater harm than to print
what we read every day in the Philadelphia
papers. We feel that the greatest embarrass-
ment under which the Exhibition labors is
the fact that as national and international
show it has been imposed upon other than
metropolitan city. The true place for the
Centennial was New York. New York could
have taken the Exhibition without feeling it.
As it is our Philadelphia friends have
gone into sublime speculations as to the
effect the Centennial will have upon the
greatness of the city, forgetting that so much
remains to be done before it is a success.
How can we expect statesmen who are deep
in calculations as to the influence of the
Centennial in restoring to Philadelphia the
supremacy she enjoyed in the beginning of
the century to bring their minds down to the
question OF lodgings, and transit, and beer,
and opening on Sunday. And yet the sue
cess of tho Centennial will depend more
upon the manner in which these humber
matters will be handled than upon any
movement Of trade.
What the Centennial needs is head.
Since we have recognized the propriety of
holding it in Philadelphia we should oil do
our part to make it success. Nothing will
contribute to this result more than severe
criticism. We regret so many occasions for
criticism. Philadelphia will learn that her
Centennial fever, like fevers generally, has
had its illusions. The Exhibition will not
make the American commercial and political
world stand still The city will not be show
cred with wealth. The stagnation of trade
will not be arrested. There will be no over
whelming additions to the city's resources.
All the country and all the nations of the
civilized world will not hurry to pour their
money into the broad brimmed hats
of our Philadelphia friends. The city
will not gain new life In fact, we shall
be surprised if this period of business
stimulus and artificial success will not give
way to season of depression. Philadelphia
has exerted herself beyond her strength to
help the Centennial, and it would grieve
but not surprise us to find o season Of mis-
fortune and severity as the result Of this
artificial straining. The facts are Ineligible
and not embarrassing There is stupen-
dous show in Philadelphia. greater than was
ever dreamed Of by the people, greater
than her capacity to handle it. This,
at least, is what persons outside of
Philadelphia who read the reports from
that city believe. Now let the people,
and, above all, the managers of the Gen.
tennial, resolve to disappoint the country
in this as they did in the success which at
tended their efforts to found the Exhibition.
TO do this we must have cheap and rapid
transit from the grounds to the city. We
must have no more extortions from hotel
keepers and restaurant people. We must
have the grounds open on Sunday. We
must have higher spirit in the management
than money-getting and political preferment
We must have the visit to Philadelphia made
a comfort and not q burden. Above all
things do not let what Congress, the people
and the country intended to be a Centennial
Exposition of national wealth and achieve
ment degenerate into Centennial EXPOSE
ton Of national meanness and incapacity.
Tho Thcosophic Funeral.
Elbow soon we are forgotten when we are
cou a" ia the simpla and frue remark of moor