Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-01
The Exhibition rs a School.

Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Many nations have gathered here in
peaceful competition. Each may profit
by tie association. This Exhibition
is school, the more thoroughly its les
sons are learned the greater will be the
gain" These are sentences from the
brief address delivered 10y Mr.. Welsh.
the president of the Centennial Board
of Finance, at the opening ceremonies
of the great Exhibition on Wednesday.
They indicate the loftiest purpose, and
the highest value of the means and
method adopted by Congress as the
worthiest and most expressive instru-
mentalities for the celebration of the
completed century of our existence as
nation-peaceful emulation among the
representatives of all countries in the
arts and industries which benefit man
kind-mutual instruction and profit
from the lessons to be derived from the
exhibits of all. These should be the
controlling ideas of all who consider
the Exhibition-as well as those who go
hundreds of buildings and its broad
grounds are places i'll which the produ-
GERS, artisans, artists, professional men,
teachers, legislators, and rulers of the
world may learn from each other what
ever lessons are to be taught by prac-
tised skill and accumulated experience.
The more thoroughly these lessons are
learned ''the greater will be the gain.
The nations from whom we may have
to make studies are by no means so few
in number as some of us might be led
to suppose, nor are we to contine them
TO those whom we may be disposed TO
regard as most advanced. While the
nations we call 1.-The great industrial
countries" including our own, are very
far in advance of China, Japan, India,
and even the Mediterranean countries
in the power we possess of multiplying
useful productions, through Cur useful
labor-saving machinery and wonderful
mechanical devices, they, on the other
hand, show a marvellous skill, an indi-
viduality of design aud delicacy of
manipulation in their handwork, de-
serving of attentive study. The pecu-
liar condition, situation and surround
ings of every people, hereditary, tradi-
tional, climatic, geographic, political
and social, give rise to peculiar genius
to meet the necessities of life; and this
in turn gives rise to peculiar eXperien-
ces, which ultimately find expression
in the selection of particular industries
in their ways of wording, the materials
they use, the process they adopt, the
implements they invent, the natural
products they utilize, and III various
other manifestations for the attain
ment of indispensable or desirable ends.
Herein are the characteristics from
which we may learn something of val
ne, from the least conspicuous of all
the countries represented in the EXhi-
bition, and through which may be
taught great deal in the aggregate
exhibits of all. We know the differences
which exist in our own country among
workshops and establishments engaged
in the same line of production; but
here, at the Centennial grounds, we
shall have view of the products and
processes of the brains and hands and
workshops of the world.
That grand university for industrial
and professional instruction is now
open. 1t should receive ten millions OF
visits from two millions of people be-
tween now and November, and at least
half those visits should be from those
who go to learn as well as to crafty
the eye and the sense of pleasure by
looking at the magnificent display.