Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-22
GcneraI Graut and the WorId's Fair.

$500
General Grant and the Worlds Fair.
The New York EpeHizs Post Of Friday
says: Tits ascertained to day from one Of
the leading members of the executive CON-
mittee Of the proposed Worlds Fair of
1888 that General Grant was expected to
send in his resignation as President of
the commission before leaving on Mon
day for Mexico. The member in ques-
ton said that it had been expected that
General Grants election as President
would create great interest and enthu-
siasm in the project Nothing of the
kind took place; on the contrary General
Grants suggestion concerning a change
OF site to Central Park awakened wide
dissatisfaction, unsettled matters and
made the prospect unpopular. 1t was
understood at the time of his election
that he accepted the Office at the desire
of w. H Vanderbilt. According to
present report another President will be
elected on Monday and renewed efforts
will be made to obtain subscriptions.
The project viii be abandoned only in
the event of the subscriptions not
amounting to $3,OOO,OOO by the first of
May"
The appointment of General Grant to
the Presidency of the Worlds Fair
Commission was a grave mistake, for
while his personal popularity with the
man worshiping centralizationists and
eonsolidationists of the North was no
evidence of his peculiar fitness for the
position, his selection and the spirit in
which it was endorsed by Parson New
man. and especially by Mr.. E w.
Stoughton in his speech at the
Delmonico banquet, was well cal
culated to neutralize the interest
which had been very generally mani
tested in the proposed International
Exposition by the people of the South.
In the speech alluded to, Mr.. Stoughton
gave some reasons why he felt sure that
the proposed exposition would be sue
cessful 'In the first place" said he,
addressing the commissioners and others
present at the banquet, you will be led
by man who never fails. Applause.
You are led by a man who never will
fail renewed applausel-and he is fol-
lowed by men who, when Fort Sumter
was fred upon, rallied in this city and
pronounced this nation, and to be for
ever a nation, and not an aggregation Of
States. With such leader and
such a following, l have faith
that this enterprise will succeed"
While such an appeal, so heartily ap-
plauded. may have inspired confidence
in the success of the enterprise as a grand
political demonstration in the interest Of
General Grant and his third term asplra-
tons, it was certainly not calculated to
enlist the enthusiasm of the country at
large. especially of the South, in support
of the proposed Worlds Fair. From
the date of General Grants cleo
ton as President of the Commission,
the interest in the proposed Interna-
tional Exposition has waned, and those
in this section who would have labored
to promote it have entertained doubts Of
Grants election to the Presidency of the
Commission, and the partisan 'send
of" given to the project at the belmont
co banquet, while it gave the enterprise
backset at the South, has failed
entirely to inspire the popular furore
and bring TO it the prompt material aid
which was so confidently counted upon.
1t is to be regretted that this result
| could not have been foreseen, as his res
ignation at this time will no doubt have
a still further damaging effect upon the
enterprise, as many will attribute his re
tirement to his lack of confidence in its
| success. Gen. Grant gives as
reason for his resignation that
his engagements in Mexico will
prevent him from giving such attention
to the enterprise as its Importance de
mands. This would be good excuse if
he had not entered upon his Mexican
engagements before accepting the Presi-
denoy of the commission. 1t is more
probable that his action is induced by the
fact that the necessary subscriptions of
money are not forthcoming, and that
owing to the general apathy in the coun-
try and the dlsagreements among the
local commissioners in regard to proper
site for the exposition, there is pros
pect of failure.
1t is to be hoped that better fate
awaits the enterprise, from which so
much benefit to the national metropolis
and to the country at large was
reasonably expected, and that with
the executive management placed
in able hands, and prompt and
harmonious action on the part of the
commissioners, the scheme may yet be
carried to successful consummation.