New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-10

country's development during the first century
of her history, and instructive measure OF that
development, through comparison with the
best achievement of older nations. AT no pre-
yious time would such an enterprise have
been possible. The binding together OF all
parts of our vast territory by lines OF swift
travel and continuous links of occupation; the
settlement of vital questions by the fierce
arbitration of war; the recovery OF exhausted
strength and the subsistence OF mutual pre)u-
diccs and passions,-all these must have been
experienced before we could invite the world
to any true, dignifed, memorable festival OF
peace. 1t is good omen for the future OF
the Nation that the year which permits us TO
send forth such invitation, which sees 1t heartily
accented. and which now finds the multitu-
dinous triumphs of modern civilization brought
together i'm. amcable rivalry on American soil,
is the hundredth year of our independent ex-
stence.
The sentiment of the year-which is also IN
separable from the cercmOnials OF tO-day-ls
twOfold. 1t is at once jubllant and solemn,
congratulatory and sternly retrospective. We
have sufficient cause for rejoicing, in the TACT
that the great enterprise is already achieved,
and the honesty, energy, and wisdom of It's
directors are already displayed. 1t will therefore
do our people no harm, ii their own share IN
the Exhibition should either mark an inferior
plane of achievement. "a contrasted with that
of the lands with which they chiefly measure
their strength, or if it should even fail to be
an adequate representation OF Their real abii-
ity. In ether case, the lesson will be whole
some. "Raw Haste" according to Tennyson,
is in England "half-sister of Delay" but here
the former is the legitimate daughter OF the
latter The combined operation of the double
vice will no doubt be abundantly manifest Ill
the American portion of the display to-day,
and for some time to come The patriotic
visitor must soOthe his pride through the ex-
tent and variety of the interests represented
rather than their separate completeness.
We are a people capable of receiving strong
impressions, and addicted to couespondingly
strong utterances. The jubiation, this year,
would be boundless, if our political situation
were not so provocative of depression. But
the popular sentiment, although somewhat
grave, as yet, is strong and hopeful, and IN
consonance with the cncouragcments of the
OCCASION Whatever part the Nation may play
in the arena hcncclorth opened, she is at
least a stately hostess to her competitors. She
meets them to-day with music and choral
song, with simple and dignfed ccrcmonials,
and with the grandcst display of mechanical
force the world has ever seen, set
in motion by single hand. As, III
the person of her chief representatives,
she moves down the main aisle of the great
hail. one after another of the elder political
powers of the civilized world will greet her
with its choicest treasures of Art and Labor.
England, France, ana Germany will meet her
in the central space Brazil, Holland, Austria,
Spain, Russia, beneath their national escutch-
cons and banners, will stretch Il friendly hand
as she passes; Sweden, Norway, and Switzer-
land will be found in cordial neighborhood
with Egypt, China, and that lately so mysteri-
Gus but now so familiar Japan. Our neighbors,
Canada and Mexico, may even look upon the
grand display as partly their own; for they
also illustrate the development OF their por-
tons of the New World.
Let each and all be assured of n welcome i'll
which there is no reserve. With us, each citi-
zen considers himself as a representative Of the
whole people each, therefore, will take his
share of the honors and duties OF host, and
will be watchful that no guest is sighted. The
chief pride and pleasure of owning stately
mansion lies in the power of entertaining many
friends. All the aspects OF the occasion are
large, noble, and humanizing; and every one
will Join with the psalmist OF the day, III pray
ing that the Divine Providence hich guides
the destnies of all nations
May unto common good ordan
This riva,hp Of hand and BRAIN