The Washington critic., 1886-08-02
WASHINGTON THE PLACE.

Says yesterdays Capital, referring
to the singular position of Mr. Hale of
Maine with regard to the Permanent
Exposition project:
We are at loss to understand why SEN
ator Hale is so much opposed to allowing
an exposition to be held in Washington.
lie probably has not considered that no
other city is likely TO afford so much pres.
tige to such an exposition 10 the eyes Of
foreign nations. Instead OF saying that any
other Of the great cities OF the nation would
be preferable, Senator Hale should have
declared that no other great city was com
parable in fitness to the city OF Washington
Tor this occasion. The vote OF the Senate,
which was Al to IL, showed that the narrow
views we have referred to are entertained
by only small number OF the Senators.
There are many reasons for the Sc.
lection Of Washington that will readily
suggest themselves to persons who
have given the subject any thoughtful
consideration. The Capjt0l well says
that mo other city is likely TO afford
so much prestige to such an exposition
in the eyes of foreign nations" This
is true, because Washington is the seat
of government and it is only proper
that an exposition of which the Gen
eral Government has chief supervisory
control should be at its immediate OIL.
cial centre.
At no other place, moreover, could
the several States of our own country
so harmoniously cooperate in carry.
ing out and maintaining the objects of
this truly National undertaking. To
no other place can the attention of the
people be directed with such unanim.
ity. Washington is rapidly becoming
city which every patriotic citizen is
desirous of seeing. He can get along
without going to Chicago or Clncin-
natl or even New York, but nowadays
it is getting to be a very common feel
ing that nobody ought to forego an oc.
casional visit to the Capital of his
Countrywide great political and official
headquarters OF his government and
the repository Of so much that is inter
esting and instructive in art, science
and history.
Here, too, there would be an entire
absence of the rivalries and jealousies
that exist between the great commercial
cities, and all sections could meet on
common ground. The spirit of local
prejudice that would operate against
the success of u similar enterprise else.
where would here be imperCcptible,
while the advantages aCcruing to Wash
ington in various ways from being the
site Of the worlds greatest exposition
would in certain sense be common
property, for the people of all the
States and Territories arc interested in
whatever conduces to the growth and
prosperity of the National Capital.
1t is through misunderstanding of
the scope and objects Of this project
that objections are raised against it.. 1t
Is regarded as a speculation, when. in
fact, there is nothing Of a speculative
character in it. it is impugned as a
scheme for committing the Government
to millions of expenditure when no
such drafts upon the Treasury are con.
templated. 1t is condemned in al
vance because other cXpositiOns have
proved financial failures, when there
is no analogy between the conditions
and contingencies of the temporary
and private enterprises in question and
what is here proposed to be done
through the cooperation of the States
by gradual and inexpensive steps to-
ward the establishment of systematic
and continuous display of their re.
sources.
But the objectors will all understand
In time and In common with other
patriotic citizens perceive the wisdom
and justice both of holding the centen-
nial celebration and laying the founda-
tions here of the contemplated perma-
nent exposition.