The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-30


The Paris Exposition is soon to be opened
with the pomp, parade and circumstance
suitable to such an occasion. The amount
of space assigned to the United States in
the Paris Exposition seems pitifully small,
but the modest figure our country is to
make in this grand affair may be easily ex-
planned In the first place, owing to o
hitch which prevented Congress from nu-
thoriz;ng the President to accept the invi-
tation Of the French government in season
for adequate preparations, such of our citi-
zens as were inclined to send their pro-
auctions were kept back and dis
couraged until it was too late to
occasion. But even if our Executive had
been empowered to accept the French invi-
tation in season the United States would
have required but modest amount OF space
in the Paris Exposition. The distance is so
great that we are at great disadvantage in
comparison with the European neighbors
of France. In our Centennial Exhibition
at Philadelphia America occupied more
space than NIL foreign nations together-a
fact which illustrates the advantage OF near
ness on occasions Of this kind. But ma
ton which offers the fewest articles
for inspection and examination may,
nevertheless. contribute most Of real
value Had such international expositions
been in fashion in the time Of Watt his
steam engine would have overtopped and
eclipsed the whole mass Of contemporary
contributions. It is not the petty things
but the great things that tell on such occa-
sions. In the first of these great Worlds
Exhibitions, that of London in 1851, the
United States occupied but little space; but
when the juries came to report it was found
that American ingenuity had made con-
tributions of greater value in the depart
ment Of mechanical invention than any
other nation. It is easy enough to make
great display of mere ordinary manu-
tactures, but the things which really
tell on the progress of arts
are the improvements, few in any
brief period, which tend to revolution
ize some particular branch of industry.
Small as is the amount of space the United
States arc to occupy in the Paris EXPOSE
ton this year, we shall be disappointed if
the most signal triumphs are not won by
American inventors. We undoubtedly sur
pass all the world in mechanical ingenuity.
But the Paris Exposition of 1873 suggests
some larger views of the relative advan-
tages OF contemporary nations. Such ex-
hibitions are supposed to be in the interest
OF peace but with the dark war cloud which
hangs over Europe what assurance can
England, or Russia, or Austria, or even
Germany have that Europe will not be
kindled into general confagration before
the Paris Exposition closes? No affair
Of the kind was ever opened under such
malign auspices. But the very distance
which makes our space in the Exposition
so small enables us to escape the destructive
effects of the thunderbolt if during the
Europe.
Unfortunate Europe, happy America
Even France, which is more out of the
cyclone of the present European quarrel
than any other great nation on the Cont
nent, dares not disband her immense and
oppressive standing army. Her fear of Ger
many compels her to maintain in time Of
peace military burden which weighs upon
her resources and subjects her to the vast
expense Of constant military preparation.
England, Russia, Austria, and even Ger
many, are watchful and anxious, and ncne
Of them could disarm without peril. How
fortunate in contrast is the condition of the
AZ
posed between US and Europe, separates us
from the circle Of European interests, and
we are SO entirely safe that we are disputing
over the question whether q paltry army of
twenty thousand men is sufficient for our
domestic wants. How trifling and insignif-
cant is this to the army of four or five
hundred thousand men, which even
France, the European nation which
stands in least danger Of war,
thinks it necessary to maintain Unlike
the European Powers, we are under no
necessity for arming against the possible
aggression Of our neighbors Canada on
our northern frontier and Mexico on our
southern frontier are too weak to give us
any uneasiness, and we are exempted from
tho vast military preparations which eat up
the substance of tho great nations Of
Europe. Nobody can predict time when
tho European nations may safely disarm,
and while they are thus heavily handicapped
this country has every advantage in the race
for industrial and commercial supremacy.
If our statesmen shall have the wisdom to
allow us fair play the United States will be
the first of nations before tho close Of this
century.
What should hinder as We have a range
of climate, q variety of productions and an
extent and richness of soil unrivalled by any
other nation. England has mines of coal