New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-23
rHE PAhA 80 ~ ~.

Those persons who urge the choice of Central
Park a. he only fl site for the Fair of 1883, how
ever puce tneir motives plausible their reasoning
fail utterly to meet two pontsyz: that the clty has
no moral right to appropriate one foot OF that public
domain TO tins rposo. and that tine Park is worth
more than the Fair could be. With WISE oreth0ught
and creoitabc humanity the city set apart that
SPOT for the free of its inhabitants, subject only
10 such restrictions rs were absolutely
necessary to their comfort and Its preservation
1t wOuld be waste Of words to show
that This gift was not greater than the want which
It supplied, and that each succeeding yearmultiDles
the proofs of ITS benciccnce. Central Park Is the
only spot on earth where a multitude Of orr poor
tired people can ever hope TO breathe purr AR or
catch a glimpse of woods and green fields. 1t is the
one great endowment which IL used mp to the full
measure of the spirit in which 1t was established.
1t loses s best significance wneu It is thought Of
the fashionable resort through which the rich roll IN
their carriages aud visitors from abroad paraded;
and not chiefly for the sake of the rch but IN behalf
of the poor rnE TRIBUNE il determined to what
ever influence 10 may be able exert preserve the
Park.
Even our valued friend, Mr.. Thomas McElrath
whose sincerity no one doubts, aud who IL always
sure OF the war nest welcome from Tribune read
ers, proved by his letter published last Saturday
'hat ne fails 10 appreciate luily v this point
lie declares that. according to his plan, every
drive and every walk except one seldom used,
wond have been left entirely undisturbed. flo
would merely confscate "a strip Of the Park
on the west side that part OF it known
as the playground and shecp-pasure" The play
around! Mr. McElmth would have strengthened
MS rgument If he had left ont that description.
lie would needs try hard t. find spot which could
IL L., H..
ly 1.-THE pla, ground" winch best represents the
spirit in which the Park was consecrated to the
vice OF the people. There Is small credit in offering
to preserve the drives at the expense OF the play
ground.
Suppose tn perverted judgment of honest men
and the peryrrse ingenuity of tricksters 10 have ac-
complshed their purpose suppose That tbe Fair has
been neld IN the Park and that the multitude OF
visitors have shaken off the dust from their feet and
departed and left us IN peace suppose even, for the
sake of argument, that there has been little COM
plant and that one or two fire structures, adapted
to permanent uses, remain as the memorial OF
great exhibition. Doubtless, it will then be IN
order for some TO and say in behalf of the
committee: "Secl we were right and you were
wrong. You took counsel of your fears and are
entitled TO no credit for this magnificent result;
80 None buI the brave deserve the Fair"
To this tine obvious and unanswerable rejOinder
would be: I'VE have had successful exhibition,
which would have been more successful on another
site; we have one or two fine buildings which
would have been less in the way somewhere else
and we haye inflicted upon multitude of persons
vast number Of small deprIvatIons winch in their
sun total make this Worlds FAIR and these build
ings look puny"
No, gentlemen. Central Park is not place in
which to have international exhibitions and the
sooner you ascertain this fact the sooner you will
be in accord with the great body of your fellow
citizens.