New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-11
THE OPENING or TIE hXHIBITI0N.

We may now safely congratulate ourselves
as a people upon the assured success OF the
International Exhibition. Confident as We
may have been that the energy ana devotion
Of the gentlemen who had the enterprise III
charge would surmount all obstacles ana
make the Exhibition an honor to the country
W, still could not conceal from ourselves
the fact that there were at every turn
nossibillties of failure. The long uncertainty
ended Yesterday with what we may with par
donable pride call a magnificent cOnsumina-
tion. When we consider the small beginnings
in which this undertaking had its inception,
the slow and hating steps with which IT.
growth began, the discouraeemcnts encoun-
tered by its projectors on the threshold, and the
constantly increasing burden of difficulties, de-
LAYS, and disappOintnents winch had 10 oe
borne, we cannot withhold our tribute OF
largest praise for the cheerful courage, the I'M
ceasing patience, industry, and energy WHICH
have brought out of s'eDderer resources larger
results than any of the nations which have
essaycd similar enterprises before us. whether
we would have it so or not, the reputation OF
the nation was largely staked upon the
venture. Now that the Exhibition Is fairly
launched and under way, and It's success as
surcd beyond peradventure, It's managers
directors, and officers and the people at large
may congratulate themselves that Government
Ind so little to do with its making oi
marring. Its interest III it is sufficient u
rive il a National character; 1t has not
been suficient-and for this we cannot
be too thankful-to permit it to NEEDLE
with the administration of its affairs or
interfere with the plans of the management.
II is not only an occasion for self graduation
that our International Exhibition has been
brought through so many difficulties and over
so many obstacles to such a brilliant opening !;
il is a lesson as well to the advocates OF pa
ternal government, from which they may learn
how much more successfully any undertaking
which falls within the domain OF moi
viduaI enterprise may lbs administered with
ont than with Government supervision
and interference. Had the Exhibition. with its
infinite amount of plans and details, Its awards
of contracts, its disbursements OF money and
its opportunities for fayoritisln and Jobbery,
been an affair of the Government, 1t Is not
supposahIo that we should to-day he conglat-
Uniting ourselves upon successful event
What would have happened IN such case
those who are acquainted with the mcthOdS
and results of political management rs Illus
trated in our recent history can readily
imagine.
The exercises yesterday were in perfect ac-
cordance with the programme previously an
Dounced, with hardly break or halt any
where, or a moments delay in any OF the
proceedings Everything was in perfect rtadl-
ness, and the Exhibition opened most auspi-
ciously with the display-than which there
could be no worther-Of the virtue OF pune
tuality. Nothing hung fire; there was no hitch
in the scenery nor jar in the movement !;
every man had his place and knew his
duty at the right moment each did his work
The cannon roared, the bands played the flags
futtered forth, and the Exl ition was de-
clared open. Then, when the procession OF
dignitaries reached the center Of Machinery
Hall, the great engine starteD and the vast
area of II shafts, wheels, and pulleys
leaped into life and motion. The whole
scene was full of dramatic effects, care
fully planned, and executed with wonderful
precision and harmony. The speeches of the
President of tho Board of Finance, the Presi-
dent of the Commission, and President Grant
were all in good taste, brief, pertinent, and
modest There was no violation OF the propri-
eties of the occasion, nor wearying OF the
patience Of the waiting multitude. Everything
was as well ordered as the most rigorous taste
or the most fastidious fancy could desire
To-day the course of business will begin
to settle into something like regularity
and routine, and although 1t is too