The New York herald., 1876-01-18
rhs centennial celehratlon.

attention of Congress. If it should be
thought that his suggestions are offered at
too late period for adoption, little reAec-
tion will show that this is hasty conclusion.
True, he recommends important features not
comprised in the original plan, but they are
features which would not disturb or inter
fere with the scheme of the Exposition first
adopted The acceptance of Mr.. jays sug-
gestions would be like adding new wings
and towers to a constructed building, or in
Producing episodes in a great poem, or sub
joining expository notes to superb edition OF
q classic author contributing instruction and
establishment without upsetting or confus-
ing any part of what has yet been done There
is abundant time for the new arrangements
proposed by Mr.. Jay 1t is not necessary
nor would it even be suitable, for the inter-
national congresses 70 assemble at the open
ing of the Exposition, or even in its earlier
months. Their proceedings would partake,
more or less, of the character of commen-
tary on the achievements of art and industry
presented for exhibition. A congress-, for
example, on prehistoric antiquities, includ-
ing those of the American continent, would
take up and discuss the specimens on exhi-
bition, and could not proceed intelligently
until these had been carefully studied and
compared; and the same remark will apply
to other departments of inquiry. The Ex-
position will open in May and continue six
months During the first three months
of the six none of the international
had been arranged for at the outset and the
invitations had been already given. 1t is
not probable that any one of the congresses
would be in session more than few days or
n week, and to produce their best effect they
should not be held simultaneously, but in
enable students and men of science to attend
them all, and make it possible for the press
to report all their proceedings for the gen.
eral instruction of the public. No congress
would like the Exposition, be open con-
tnually and if, beginning in August, they
should hold their sessions one by one, they
would bring freshness and novelty at the
point where the interest of mere sight
seeing would begin to flag, and would
impart the superior interest of instruction
reinforced by legitimate curiosity to see
and listen to the most eminent men of
science of both continents There is
ample time for the requisite prep
arations to add this great feature to the
other attractions of the Exposition, because
there is no necessity for any of the congresses
to assemble before the month of August. We
hope, therefore, that Mr.. jays suggestion
may meet with the favor it deserves, and
trust that DR.. Henry, President of the
Smithsonian Institution, and other Ameri-
can savans of like standing and eminence,
will give it their influence and co-opera-
ton
1t is earnestly to be desired on many
grounds that Congress will not permit the
Centennial to be failure. BY timely assist
ance and liberality Congress can make it
great success and there is no other way by
which, with so small an expenditure of
money, Congress can do so much for the
general welfare. Viewed from the lowest
standpoint of immediate pecu-
MARY advantage-the Centennial deserves
the patronage of the government. The APP
preparation of a million and half would
add only between three and four cents a
head to the taxes of the people, and it would
increase the general wealth by many mill
ions 1t would retain at home that large
part of our wealthy population who pass
their summers in Europe. 1t would attract
hither multitudes of people from all parts of
Europe and South America, who would
spend money freely in this country during
their stay of several months. The swarm of
visitors would not merely go to the Exposi-
ton; most of them would travel through the
country visiting all points of interest, con-
tributing to the prosperity of our railroads
and the hotels of our principal cities and
chief watering places Hundreds of thou
sands of Europeans who have relatives in the
United States would take this occasion to
New World and renew old ties of kindred
and friendship. Our visitors would vastly
exceed the number Of our own citizens who
usually go to Europe in the summer on ex-
pensiye pleasure trips. The population OF
Europe is about two hundred and seventy
million; that of South America including
Mexico and Central America, about thirty
million; while our own population is but
little more than forty million. The sources
from which we shall draw visitors are more
than seven times as great as those from which
we usually send them, and besides keeping
our own people at home to spend their
money here we should attract many times
their number from abroad. The effect Of
such an influx of foreigners would be to lift
our people out of the dependency into
stagnation of the last two years and give
needed impetus to hope and confidence.