The workingman's advocate., 1876-07-01
AMERICAN STATESMEN.

AM6klCAN 0TAT6SM6N.
The American people take a just pride
in the results Of a hundred years of Ma
tional life. They have invited the nations
Of the earth to exhibit the products Of
their industry and skill, their achievements
in art, their inventions, which are called
labor saving, and which, if they are right
ly named, ought 10 SS'v laborers, and do
not fear that comparison Of these with
what they have themselves accomplished,
and with the evidences of civilization
which they can abundAntly oflsr, will dis
close any inferiority, on their part, in use
full inventions, in cunning or skill of work
manship or IN any OF the products, which,
the Nations exhibiting them, can indulge
themselves in fair and reasonable pride
We point to our Sewing Machines and
challenge the world to exhibit better ones.
We do not fear that Europe will carry away
premiums over our moving and reaplng
machines.
Our rifles and cannons, whatever merit
as contrasted with needle guns and chasse-
pots, the awarding Juries may discover,
will, on battle held, vlndIcatc, II not their
superiority, at least, their fatal efficiency
Our pianos III beauty of tinlsh, and quality
Of tone are not inferior to the work turn
in, ha
England, or Germany or France. In all
the products of loom and spindle, If We
have not achieved superiority, We have, at
least, attained to a high excellence. If
our manufacturers have no equal cunning
III matters Of color, and ia dyes, The IT blues
and browns, their magentas and mauves
gain IN brllllance what they lose in dura-
bIhty. Our painters, If they do not take
rank with the Immortal NAMES that
were not born TO die"-wrap our
landscapes III such ideal glories as never
were on sea or land, and or book ma kers.
IN science, III religion, IN history and ia
literature have added Innumerable volumes
to the worlds wealth, indispensable to
men Of education everywhere
But We fear, despite the acres upon
acres at the Centennial grounds. where
American art and industry display them
selves, that the one peculiar product Of
American civilization, the one thing in
Which We are without rival will not be
ON permanent exhibition.
We mean the average American States
man. We do not forget that he has been
there-a guest Of the city, carried thither
IN gorgeous Pullmans, dImed and wined
at the public expense We do not conceal
his gratitude, for, he forthw ith, on his re-
turn to " ashington, recognized the honors
done HIM by voting a few millions 10 the
big show. We would not Intentionally
hide any OF his Tine qualities by suppress
ing anything he has done to promote a
national pilgrimage TO the Hall, where the
Colonies declared themselves independent
OF the British, and where Just one century
ago. the 4th ofnext July, big bell was
rung, which, if it did not proclaim iber-
ty throughout all the land to All the m
habItants thereof, bore, at least an in.
scrIptlon to that effect upon it. We re-
cord with sentiments Of Just pride, nobly
participated III by the general boarding
~ l..
patriotic donation OF millions from th1
plethoric treasury Of the people, and this
only makes us the more regret that the
average statesman could not be on perma-
nent exhibition for the delight and won
derment OF all people visiting rhe Centen-
NAL. What sight would persecuted
Blaine make, and Indiana Morton, and
the Ohio Sherman and If the record Of
their average craftsmanship could be shown
along side Of the man, how they voted
subsidies to railroad companies, how they
built railroad with public money and
gave millions upon millions Of the public
lands into the bargain, how they took a
second lien on the road for the money that
built it and released a first one, how they
managed 10 make the bonds of the nation
sold for greenbacks, payable in gold, and
other wonderful feats Of legislation, the
exhibition would eclipse everything else in
the big show.
The only thing that can make amends
for the non exhibition Of the American
is the nearness Of the Moyam-
enslng penitentlary, where few inmates
may be seen, who have lacked only the
opportunities Of the average statesman to
to be A great "A ha n