The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
FoUR MILLION DEADHEADs.
How the Centennial Managers Might Repay
the Governments Apprepriation.

the 0evernmcnt Apprepriation.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: 1
have been disappointed In common no doubt,
with many OF your readers, In not seeing some
attempt made in peculiarly American way to
utilize the great Exhibition at Philadelphia for
tho benefit Of the people-of that Democracy In
fact, which we are and feel proud to be. As
Exposition il now conducted, while 1t may very
well natter the national pride, 1t IL really con-
tributing but little to the national advancement,
and so far forth is solecism, for no institution
eau be peculiarly American, unless its utilities
far outrun the mere matter OF display. Certainly
nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nlne OF
every ten thousand who are visiting the Cen
tenial go for amusement, for entertainment,
and to satisfy vague and purposeless curlos-
ity. Those to whom this grand display of
the industries and tho arts OF the
world would he revelation and a
school are unable to GO. as class individuals
may and do go Of course, hut the great class Of
our workingmcn, mechanics and artisans who
should prpnt 10y the new things on exhibition
most assurcdly arcnot able to visit tho Centen-
NAL at all.
This should not he. and n will virtually be a
shame and disgrace to the practical charact er
Of our Republic, II a means cannot be contrived
to include among the visitors to the Centen-
NAL those honest craftsmen, those enlightened
and intelligent mechanics who have done most
to win us honor and distinction the world over.
II seems TO I've an accepted fact that the Expo
stion will not be a success from a pecunary
point Of view. and even II IL should pay the in
corporAtors anything. It Is highly improbable
that the liberal advances made to 1t by our Gov
eminent will ever lie repaid. The money ex-
pended by the Government toward promoting
this show, including the amounts spent by the
departments. Is not far from e2OnOo. This il
the peoples moncy-thc money of the crafts
man and tho mechanic much more than 1t Is of
the merchant and the banker. the idlcr and the
connolsscur. Are the people 10 get back moth
ing at all In return for this large outlay Those
who cannot afford to 20 to the Centennial rs
things now stand have contributed quite as
much to make II a success a. those who can
afford to -, yet, unless special effort be made
In their behalf, they are I'm n fair way to receive
nothing AT all for their money but the glory OF
hearing about the great show, and how the
fortunate ones are enjoying its sights
Just here II seems ne N the Congress Of the
United states, as the representative Of the peu-
pie, ought to step In, Ia their name, and demand
The Managers OF the EXPOSITION have assumed
the right to grant 1900 free tickets The Con-
gress should say for the people Of the tnited
In advance; we demand In return from you four
million free admissions for our poor mechanics
VINO nave no Nthcr CnAucc 10 get 10 see the
show ~ the MAXIMUM OF lmVh spectators
per diem. this would be equivalent 20 demand
ing that tho great Centennial Exhibition should
be kept open forty days for the free admission
Of the industrial classes.
Ia this way, and In this way only. would Con-
grcss get back the peoples money 50 literally
advanced, and truly American character lie
given To- the Centennial Exhibition. To make
such an arrangement profitable to the classes in
tended t. Toe benefited. the railroads aud trans
portation companies ~ the country should Ice
urged. In n way they would not he likely to re-
A. afftrtfl nff
free entrance, accommodation and excursion
trains from all points at exceedingly low rites
for second-class and third-class passengers. 50
rs To overcome nearly a. practicable the
great adverse factor of distance which prevents
our millions 50 often from gathering AT special
points upon national occasions. The railroads
would lose nothing 10y this: philadelphia would
gain largely. but chiefly there would thus Ice a
practical realization OF the benefits Intended to
hc conferred upon our whole people by this
The American workinrman's lines have not
fallen in pleasant places during the past three
years lie has had a rough time Of H. fpushcr
FAR than he deserved. He has seen his substance
sIuandered in riot. high living. and proiigacy.
lie has had the labor denied MS hand AND the
bread snatched from his mouth hy the reckless
folly of those who pretended to be his servants,
anu vino in.eurs,tely claimed his consideration
and ruined him. II the thlng can De contrivcd.
he seems now fairly entitled To q little holiday
Invested ia this exhibition. and If he cannot ret
II back In cash he ought &C. receive u at least IN
kind.
IL a hardship IL the United states should demand
ol them 4,WAnJ free admissions Tor S20s.Wn
paid down. They have issued iatpl free ticket
to SAY that they have given away. without any
pocuniarS consolidation whatever, Just SvhvN
free admissions To "a few specially favored per
sons. udcr such ciir'um- tauccs, the Hoard ot
Finance " 'uld scarcely have the hardihoud 10
refuse his money worth TO their iargeL cred
itor y. \. 4.
BALTIMORE, June II, 1879.