Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
The Atlanta Exposition.

1
general purpose. From its inception the exhi-
bition has grown in extent and Importance
| till IL now attains TO international rank and
| dignity. At the outset the exposition was
greeted throughout the north as a practical
means of bringing the north and the south
together on basis that had in it more of
the elements of genuine fraternity and of
reciprocal good understanding than the
most astute political measure could combine
The south, with her vast staple products
and undeveloped resources, and the north
with her improved machinery, OVERLOOKING
capital and restless spirit of enterprise, could
not forever be kept in false attitude TO-
ward each other by the remembrance of
past antagonisms. The commercial element
in each section, the free, generous, enlight-
ened classes, north and south are destined Of
their own volition to accomplish under nat
ural laws that which would wait In vain for
political enactments. The North American
Indian, highland clansman, or discontinued
Irishman, might nope over the feuds of past
centuries, but Americans could not long
allow the animosties born of few decades
Of violent political discussions, engendering
gigantic civil war, to divide them into
hostile camps. A career begun together a
century ago must go on together, and the
influence Of such industrial gatherings as
that for which Atlanta is now preparing
will tend to foster friendly feelings, and to
render the recurrence of hostile relations be-
tween the north and the south as remote a
probability as between the east and the
west.
cotton exposition at Atlanta was pro-
posed by Mr.. Edward Atkinson of Boston.
This gentleman had shown in a plain
spoken address to the people of Atlanta
last winter that this great staple of the
world was most shiftlessly cultivated and
wastefully handled. The people which
raised the crop, and the people which man
featured it, were Of radically different edu-
cation, habits and customs, and separated
geographically as widely as they had been
socially and politically. These classes had
common interest in cotton, and it was EN-
inently proper that staple valued in an
nual crop, in its crude form, at three hum
bred million dollars, and at six hundre
million dollars when manufactured, should
have an exposition especially devoted to its
interests, where all engaged in its produc-
ton, in buying and selling and manufacture
ing it, could meet together on common
ground. The suggestion was embodied in
an organized form. Northern capital was
freely subscribed, and northern men warmly
embarked in the enterprise, and months
ago the project became an assured fact. The
original scope of the exposition has been
fields, but her tobacco product, her gold |
fields and orange groves, her mineral wealth,
her forest treasures, tropical fruits and flow |
ers, will be shown at Atlanta, and the ma
chinery of this country for cultivating and |
manufacturing their products will compete |
there with the best machinery of Europe. |
The demands by exhibitors for space in |
creases rapidly. Mr.. Sabin, the chief of |
machinery and engineering reports that |
" the rush is getting to be overwhelming.
The grounds are haudsomer naturally than |
were the centennial grounds, and when we
finish the ornamentation we will have the |
prettiest place for our exhibition ever seen
in this country. Thousands of dollars have
been appropriated for decorating the grounds
with palms, magnolias, and rich southern
flowers and shrubbery." Northern men are
actively engaged with southern in the man.
agement. Senator Brown of Georgia is
president, ii. |. Kimball, northern man,
now resident in Atlanta, is director-general.
The exposition will open October 9th and |
close December 3lst. Excursion rates are be- |
ing arranged from all parts of the country, |
and an immense attendance is assured.
Thus in the city around which the great |
armies of the Union and the confederacy |
were fiercely contending seventeen years
ago, and from which its noncombatant pop
ulation was removed that it might be razed |
to the ground, the north and the south are |
once again marshaling their forces, but the |
implements of their warfare are changed. |
The hum of machinery replaces the drum
beats roll and no smoking ruins will mark
the elimination of the conflict. "Peace hath
her victories no less renowned than war;"