The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-10

Congress without Serious opposition. 1t
would be unfortunate in many points of
view for the Centennial Exposition to fail
The greater part Of the governments of all
civilized nations have accepted the invita-
ton of the government of the United States
to participate in that interesting occasion,
and have made appropriations of money to
enable their national productions to be suit
ably represented. 1t would be q most I'M
seemly and humiliating thing if our foreign
guests, induced by our invitation to spend
money and make preparations, should find
after all that they have been trifed with
and asked to assist at ridiculous interna-
tional miscarriage. Even if the Exposition
had been appointed for an ordinary year
the country would suffer great loss of dig
nifty but in our centennial year, so linked
with proud memories and patriotic associa-
TONS it would be too notifying for patient
endurance. Another reason why the EXPOSE
ton ought not TO fail is its happy effect, if
brilliant and successful, in burying the re-
cent differences between the North and the
South, of which we had a gratifying foretaste
in the patriotic celebrations at Lexington
and Bunker Hill last April and June The
favorite regiments of Richmond and Charles
ton attended the Bunker Hill centenary,
and the enthusiastic welcome which they
and other Southern citizens received did
more than anything that has occurred
since the civil war to revive frater-
nal feeling and relight the fires on the
oil Tba 10
Revolutionary memories and national pride
which will attend majestic and glorious
celebration of the centennial of our indie
pendence will have magical effect in foster
ing patriotic ZEAL that ''cheap defence of ma
tons"
The petty and illiberal carping against
this appropriation is SO discordant with the
generous pride and warm love of country
which pervade the national heart that Con-
gress will pay no heed to it. Congress does
not doubt, and has no reason to doubt, that
such en- appropriation would be perfectly
constitutional. The original and most siren
uous opponents of an appropriation admitted
that it was constitutional by the very
form of their opposition. They caused
the insertion in the act of 1871 of
declaration that "the United States
shall not be liable for any expenses
attending such Exhibition or by reason of
the same' and similar declaration was
repeated in the act of 1872. This precau-
ton would have been quite needless if the
mourning of such expense is repugnant to
the constitution, because an unconstitutional
appropriation would be void of itself Those
precautionary declarations were made on
grounds of economy and expediency and
would have been superfluous if expense of
that kind is unwarranted by the constitu-
ton. They were doubtless wise in 1871 and
1872, when the country was apparently in a
state of high prosperity. Had that delusive
prosperity continued the contributions for
TIE Exposition would have been ample from
necessity for an application to Con
gress. But the panic which set in
in 1873, and the universal stagna-
ton which has followed, have bhghted
the prospects which seemed so fair when the
movement was started. Meanwhile the na-
tional honor has become committed by the
invitations sent to and accepted by all the
leading foreign nations, and it is better to
make an appropriation than that the centen-
NAL of our independence should be by
word and laughing stock throughout the
civilized world. The appropriation will cost
less than three and three-fourths cents per
capita to our population, and the number of
citizens must be small indeed who are I'M
willing to pay their share rather than hang
their heads with shame in the presence of
our foreign guests.
Congress has precluded itself from raising
constitutional objections by what it has
already done. 1t has appropriated half
million for erecting q building on
the Centennial grounds for the government
exhibition. Now, whatever the authority
may be which warranted that appropriation,
it will equally warrant further appropria-
ton in aid of the Centennial. That grants
for like purposes of promoting science and
knowledge are within the power of Congress
has been assumed by our statesmen from the
beginning of the government Washington,
who was q member Of the Convention which
framed the constitution and its presiding
officer, said in his first annual address to
Congress- THE advancement of agricul-
ture, commerce and manufactures, by all
proper means, will not trust, need recon-
mendation but cannot forbear intimating
to you the expediency Of giving effectual en-
enlargement as well to the introduction of
new and useful inventions from abroad rs to
the exertions of skill and genius in pro-
ducing them at home" If the Gen.
tennial Exposition is successful it
will contribute to ''the introduc-
ton Of new and useful inventions
from abroad" which was strongly recon-
mended by Washington as among the fore
most duties of Congress "Nor am / less