The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-07

Philadelphia is in a frenzy about the Cen
tennial. This is 70 he expected. As tho
day draws near-the day to which the coun-
try has been looking with SO much anxiety,
and for which there have been preparations
so varied and yast-excitement rises 10 n
fever heat. There is some quarrclling nris-
ing ont Of tho disputes between the three
headed commission. But little common
sense and patience will control il all and
bring harmony.
We regret the resolution no. to open the
Exhibition on Sunday. 1t is grave error
to deal with Sunday in the Puritan spirit. as
day when whatever is innocent on secular
days must necessarily be sinful. What sin
can there be in strollng through the halls
of tho Exhibition, in looking at works Of
nature and art and industry? Above
all, it is legislation in favor Of
tho rich against the poor. Philadelphia
is tho city of the poor man-of tho
laboring classes Sunday is their day Of
rest aad observation. There is no objection,
so far as VIC understand the customs Of Phila-
delpbia, to workingman going into n
tavern and becoming intoxicated and yet the
education and recreation which come'froin u
display like the Centennial ara denied him.
This Exhibition will only last few months.
Then all this vast and varied aggregation Of
wealth and art and beauty and utility,
pictures from the oldest galleries Of Europe,
manifestations of the taste aud skill Of tho
finest workmen in the world machinery
representing the latest and most daring
achievements Of The human mind, evidences
of the untold wealth of our mines and
forests and streams--this embodiment Of
the highest achievements OF orr civilization
will dissolve and its lessons will be lost to
thousands who, but for this Sunday restric-
ton, would have the opportunity Of study
ing them. Even if we take the strict letter
of the Scriptural law rs expounded by
bath may be devoted to works of necessity.
Would it be straining this just provision to
argue that there is no work moro necessary
than tho bringing these wonderful results of
century of civilization within the reach
and knowledge of the poorest workingman
Exhibition? This Sunday question is much
more serious than will appear to our Puritan
friends in Philadelphia We honor the lib
eral and intrepid gentlemen who, I'M
der the leadership of Colonel Forney,
propose to protest against the restriction.
1t will be seen before the discussion is
over that they are the champions of the true
Christianity Christianity which brings
light and truth aud beauty to the humblest
which would make the Sabbath a day of
virtuous and tranquil enjoyment and not a
day of darkness and gloom, of sermons and
meditations and penitential psalms. Tho
men who have closed the Centennial Exhibi-
ton on Sunday are the men who can go to
it every day, and the poor laborer who has
only Sunday for his time of observation is
debarred from it altogether
We regret to learn from our correspond
ents in Philadelphia that the Exhibition is
in many respects backward. Some Of the
countries are absent altogether. Russia and
Turkey among them. This is because Of
accidents in transportation. The other
countries ore we'll advanced. The Exhibi-
ton will not be as complete on Wednesday
as we could wish, but it will be much more
SO than the Vienna Fair, where princes and
kings went in solemn procession through a
wilderness of unopened boxes.