New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-11
at our resources and accomplishments has bee,
universal. Ry.s
A TALK WITH GEN. HAWLFY.
HIS OPINION OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FAIR,

| HIS OPINION OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FAIR-THz
GREATEST EXHIBITION EVER HELD.
| lFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBusxI
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1O.-Now that the grea,
American Worlds Fair is over and its marves and
glories have become things of the past living onlyin
history and in memory the opinions Of the men who
created and conducted it, upon its management and
results, will be timely and interesting reading I
give below the substance of recent conversations
! with the President Of the Centennial Commission.
the President of the Board of Finance the Director
General aud the chiefs of the several departments
of the Fair.
Gen. Joseph r. Hawley, President of the Cen.
tennal Commission has been the head Of the legis.
lative body that has governed the Exhibition, es-
! tablshing the system upon which IL has been con-
! Quoted and supervising in general way its execu-
ton His force of character and enthusiastic devo-
ton to the enterprise have enabled Iii n to fuse a
Neutrality-suspicious. bodyintO homogeneous whole,to
keep the designs of few sef-seeking and unfit men
subordinate to the general unselfsh and patriotic
purpose of the majority and to on nearly all
questions that have arisen wise decision. As the
official head Of the Centennial organization oc-
casions of celebration and ceremonies, and IN its
dealings with Congress and public bodies AID Dig
nitaries his oloQuence and zeal have been In
valuable in exciting interest in the great undertake.
ing and enforcing conviction to the grandeur and
national importance Of aims and results.
Gen Hawley, in conversation with THE TRIBUYEs
correspondent, spoke follows: People ask me If
the Exhibition has equaed our expectations. an
swcr by saving that did not 90 beyond even 10
orr dreams, grand as it is but that it was better than
we had reason TO expect year before 1t opened.
The estimates Of the commissioners to the attend
ance ran from 100000 TO 100000. The paid
admissions have been about 100000 So far as
tI,o G,,o,, Ia il we for
qualification. If the apparent prosperity which
prevailed when the enterprise begun had
continued il is impossible to say how great
the attendance would have been. We are well
aware that mere extent and multitudes u
visitors DO not make great Exhibition, and
we but accc the Judgment of foreigners and Amer
leans oualfed by knowledge of other Exhibitions,
when we say that it is the largest best situated, best
arranged, best managed, and most successful Tx
hibtiOn ever held. We were early met by the obiec-
ton urged by Charles Sumner and others, that
monarchcal countries would not take part in an
affair which had somewhat Of a character of a family
celebration Of the success Of republican ideas, but
orr invitations were accepted by foreign nations in
the kindest spirit and they evidently exerted them
selves to make fine displays. OF course, commercial
motives influenced their action more or less but it
is delightful to believe that something due to
genuine good will Uncle Sam appears to be one If
the most popular members of the brotherhood Of
nations
II must be that such gathering as we have had
here will have large influence upon international
commerce and friendship Reflect that commissions
crs from thirty governments are making reports Il
their examinations and especially the American
features and that these reports will be published
official documents. In addition, 125 foreign judges,
specially qualified by their examinations, are report
thcrmore every newspaper in the world has pub
lished descriptions and accounts of the Exhibition.
so that. to use a commercial phrase. the United
States have been advertised 20 an immense extent.
The world knows a great deal more about US THANH it
ever did before With scarcely a single exception
orr foreign guests have manifested satisfaction and
pleasure at their stay in the country. Many have
had false impressions removed 10 the character Of
our people and their moral elevation The perfect
good behavior Of the 100000 visitors is be-
yond praise. The American people never in the
hundred years of their history appeared great
an advantage as this Summer.
." In one respect only the Exhibition did not quito
come mp to our anticipations. We were anxious to
see Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and other
Southern States with unbOunded natural resources
present themselves here as Kansas, Colorado Ar-
kansas and others have done, and we hoped to see
and sem-political features of the year. Maryland.
Delaware. Mississippi, Arkansas. Tennessee, and
Kentucky. among the Southern States, expended
money in assisting TO make the Fair and found their
advantage in it. 1t would have delighted us if all
lad done the same. Had the Governor Of Virginia
appointed a day for his people to meet here he would
have received the warmest greeting he ever saw IN
his life The masses of the American people de-
sired to make long strides in the Centennial year
toward perfect reconciliation. Divine Proyi-
dence gave us splendid opportunity to
shake hands There has been great deal
done but [ wish there had been more.
Ii has been four and half years since the commis
sion organized IL has had many dark DAYS. 1t be-
gan with No flll Is. ard with no machinery for mS-
uganv. Tie jealousy of States and localities was
cry dIs,ouraging. The American people two and
-h.,e wears ago were in faut-hndng mood. 1t
was a time of investigation, criticism, and general
dissatisfaction. The press was indih rent or I'M
iustly critical toward the exhibition pr Jet. :
was, am bound to saw because the project proposed
to put us before the world IN az attitude mere We
should he closely eNauincd, and there was great
skepticism rs to whether the Exhibition could he
well managed. In the end we gained public conf
dence and the press became our warm and indis-
pensabe supporter.
Il feel great satisfaction in rejecting Tat have
demonstrated two things-that an almost voluntary
association can conduct all the material concerns q
such an exhibition with ease and accuracy and that
the enterprise has come TO the last day without
single occurrence above microscope size that could
make a scandal if exposed 10 public view. Ii l. my
testimony, after four and half years presiding
over the commission, that its members although Sc
lected with no just idea of what their work was 10
be. have proved to be a very capable and entirely
honest body of men. Many of them are gentlemen