The Morning herald., 1876-05-10
THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD,
rHE LESSON OF TO-DAY.
FOR PRESIDENT !

To-day, the great Centennial Erposi-
tion opens. 1t is an event of vast import
ance, no matter what aspect one may
view it from. As congress Of nations
and peoples, each exhibiting the fruits Of
their progress in manu- facture and art. it
must be great factor in the worlds on
ward march. How much mole truly
noble is such an exhibition than the pam
oply Of tournament of arms. This, and
other like exhibitions, beginning with
that of London, are mute, but convincing
testimony, that the human family is ap-
preaching a grand unitication; that we
are within cycle, wherein the contest
will be for excellence in the fruitage of
human labor, into which the great power
of the soldier will not be an element. 1t
is curious to mark the mile stone, as it
were, Of the worlds progress.
In the distant past, the soldiers sword
alone, carved the way to fame and fortune,
cut the bays, Of which the glory crown
was made. A little while after and the
Priest, divinely commissioned, if not a
contestant for gcry, became rival to the
soldier, for the affections and love Of the
people:--two avenues to destruction were
then open. The needs of free men:--the
menaces Of tyranny to free institutions,
created the advocate, or lawyer:-the:e
contests, in the form for liberty, and right,
lifted their guild into the front rank, and
20 long as oppression. and wrong are to be
confronted in the great court Of public
opinion they must remain as the fore
most men of the world In the 18th
century the Press loomed up into power,
and another gate through which destruc-
tion might be reached, was opened. 1t
ought to be the greatest power Of The world;
but its license-its abnegation Of dig
nifty, tendency to be mere budget OF
news, demanded, it is true by the craving
desires of the people, while it enlarges its
circulation, lessened the vitality Of its true
power.
In our day the manufacturer, the miner
the engineer,-the producers Of the world
have entered the arena, to contend for the
choicest honors, due TO successful man
with tho soldier, the priest, the lawyer
and the literateur. The various national
exhibitions are exclusively the domain Of
the workers, and they have become III,
grandest opponents Of human power. What
lesson the one which opens to-day
teaches. That people who thus celebrate,
the centennial Of their political orsaniza
tion as federated Republic, should riva
those nations, whose existence go back tt
the days of chivalry; in all the arts which
give strength and prosperity to people i,
like fairy tale The Exposition is one
of the many steps towards closer alliance
OF the peoples" and will tend to remov,
those obstacles which stand in the way o
a fraternization Of divergent races. How
rapidly the brotherhood of man is extend
ing, is evidenced by the incoming of th,
japanese, Egyptians and Turks, to con.sn,
for honors in peaceful arena, with thos,
they looked upon as deadly enemies, "a gen
Grafton or two ago.
We have great reason to be Thankful
that our country ssrviv cd the deadly peril
of the civil war, AID that the au.mus..:,
beso.: zen thereby have b,eH hu.. I'd i, H.,
graves o. lse G. cln&&,in :, III, ... wn..on
wesrers o ne B.leau Cray a.e -lce.,.
rivals in adva cirg ,he g,cy q .-p,
common co.n;rv. We car aIord % u
proud oi on hundred Yeas. [ eon ya.l
teen tury aj.o. es we have conaAGo.e,
the g:ea.es: .sg0.. c ne Sun esS.' .Ea,t
upon. Il Is r>el .ess % 0we!. lpoa o.
wond,r.u. ooead :o.waES. IN agriculture
commerce, manufacture and art. Ta1