New-York tribune., 1876-01-22

missions stand upon their rights and dignity under inter-
national law and International etiquette Governmental
control also essential to avoid any possible sacrifice Of
the honor OF the Government the interests Of the
country. should they chance to clash with the private
local interests involved in the subscriptions to the
Centennial stock. The importance Of prompt, intei-
gent and final decision OF all such questions to insure
the harmonious and unbroken progress Of the ceebia
ton can hardly be Overrated
In wisely anticipating aud providing against errors OF
principle of in the Exhibition, Con
gress will naturally desire TO provide against recur-
OF the irregularities which compelled change In
our management at the last These can be fairly judged
of by the correspondence and testimony OF the Conmis
soners themselves as contained III the official record,
and by the careful reports Of Col Legrand b. Cannon and
Mr.. Jackson 5. Schultz who in turn succeeded to the
charge OF the Commission, and OF Prof Thurston and
Others in regard to the American Department together
showing the extent and the Of Its failure The
dearly bought 10y that mortifyng experience
should not be lost that are entering upon SINH
lar task where cannot afford to repeat single one OF
the errors from which we suffered at Vienna Two
points certainly will the attention OF Congress IN
careful examination OF the record The rst Is the I'm
potance OF selecting to represent the country IN an
national Exhbitionas members OF international
congresses judges jurors &c-whose character ana ac-
complishmcnts mark them examples of the higher
culture Of tho age The second OF which the PRESIDENT
well Congress will see the great importance has
regard to the relation Of Commissioners To exhibitors,
the powers and duties OF the class, the rights OF the
other and the prOpety OF Commissioners being permit
to take money under what Pretense soeyer in the
form OF loans or contributions, parties to whom
they may grant fayors who may be officially subject
~ their control On the facts admitted by the Che
Commissioner to Vienna, the proprety OF his permitting
the taking OF moneys and OF his sharing them
with his first assistant was apparently disapproyed by
the Government Subsequently the record OF the nves
ed by Government. publicly
reviewed by Ncw-Jersey committee, who found IN the
nothing improper SUI later, 1t was ntlInaed IN
pamphlet by the Chief Commissioner now the Consul
General Japan) entitled, Analysis Of the Evidence
and Report the Vienna Scandal that the Govern
lnent review Of the matter approved his action, and
that he yindcatcd by its public act" Similar
announcements made in Europe, especially In
the press OF Austria, which country several OF the
Assistant Commissioners had belonged, and 1t was IN
timated that the President had found nothing III
the conduct OF the Chief Commissioner to dlsapprove
and that he had announced to the world In the most sig
nicant way that in the anagement Of the Commission
Vienna he recognized the qualities and the principles
which he desired should mark those whom he scecedto
maintain foreign lands the dignity and honor OF the
Republic.
Apart from the general disadvantage from such reports
to the reputation OF our republican Government, III
which have the right TO demand that chastity
Of honor which feels stain like wound"
NAL OF the practices OF the Commission To Vienna OF the
raising Of moneys by individual Commissioners IN the
manner which is boldly claimed the tolerance, aI
proyal and Endorsement OF the Government itself, would
hardly add u the confidence OF foreign commissions, o
foreign exhibitors or exhibitors Of our own country
little f0iethOugh aud reflection on the dangers and
difficulties that inevitably attend such departures from
sound principle may save the Government a world Of
subsequent regrets such have attended our most un
necessary failure Vienna Could part Of the uneN
peuded balance Of the 100000 appropriated by Con
,ress for that Exposition be judciOusy devoted
than In the publication Of the official correspondence and
record exhibiting the actual results from the principles
aud practices then adopted To bury in oblivion an
official expose Of the Of that disaster, when We
need all experience to secure for us perfect success
AT Philadelphia, would 10 be sngularly unHise
How can one he forearmed II he refuses 10 be
forcwarned aud why should not the American people
learn the truth from their records Il IT not well Or
them to know how TO pass that when the other
nations Of the world rejoicing III their honorable
repes ntaOn in the great gathering at Vienna by Com
eminent for their character, culture aud by
vcll-fuInshed departments fairly representing their
national attanments the people Of the United States
alone raw their acting Commissioners multiply
ing bars and restaur in the American Department,
with private arrang gtments for loans gifts aud per
centagesl and bearing chief tribute to the clvlza
ton OF the age American drinks and American corrup
tiOni JOHN JAY
Ae.o- Yori, No. Do Washngton-squars, Dee IS 1873.