New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-26
THE PARIS EXHIBITION.
II.
FURTHER NOTES ON FRENCH PECUIARI-
TIES TOWARD FOREIGNERS.

TIES TOWARD FOREIGNERS.
ryRox THE REGULAR coxREsroxpExr OF rkIBUxE.l
Paris, May II.
Some weeks since I asked a friend in Paris,
whom supposed to be expert in such matters. 70
arrange about cards for the ceremonies OF Sun-
day and Monday at Versailles and at the Champ
de Mara He wrote for the latter TO NJ Berger.
who NAV be called the managing director OF the
Exhibiston. NJ. Berger replied after some delay
no longer than the dignity Of the administrative
Hstem reauires-that application should be made
"a M Hebrard. chairman of the Press Committee
NJ Hebrard was written TO, but the dignity OF
the administrative system required, in his case
that no answer at all should be made. came
70 Paris on Friday, two days before the Versalles
ceremony: and found matters in this state
exactly where they were when my friend made
his first application to NJ. Berger. went 70
80 NJ Hsbrard, who is Editor of lie Temps
He was not in, but the approaches 70 his once
were plscarded al over with printed notices. 70
the effect that he had nothing to do with apph.
cations for the foreign press. Then found OUT
that there was Q foreign press here and az the
Exhibition ITSELF and went there. - Very sorry
hut you are too late" was the answer OF the
commissioner in charge, who told me that they
were allowed but twenty invitations for the
world. France excepted. I explained why was
late and how my friend had been misled, and
in tie midst Of this long story In walked NJ
Re,srii the Commissioner General Of the Foreign
Fsesa.
NJ Be ardi is Editor OF the Independence
BEIGE, perhaps the most widely citcuhoea
throughout Europe Of all journals printed IN IN"
French tongue He wears the red rosett OF "a
Commander Of the Legion OF Honor haa nr'
him before, and l ratold my story 10 h'n' NV
promised to do what he could Another Official
advised Inc to apply 10 the Minister OF commerce
and give me the address OF his 'hci dc Ca''n'''
I went to him; he was good enough 10 s'' NV
and TO explain to mo that neither he nor thc
Minister OF Commerce had any power
But the Minister of Commerce, observed
- Is 4be official head Of the Exhibition
.Truc- was the answer. /" he is; mt he mas
delecated his power 10 special commissioners u
N. Berger to NJ Alphand. ami SO on ana every
thing is done by or through thrm' lou wiz
not believe me- but l assure you thaI We "''
ourselves only invited guests Tor the opening
osrsr,onies You must see NJ. Nphand or bis
secrtary, NJ Mallevone,' and he obIiGlhGN H'''
80 note 70 the latter l saw NJ. Mall"Nonc'
You come too late' he. too. said. vi p'''r>
were assigned long since There is no tribune
for them as lor other guests: they ar" Ioh9
since gone More than that, there remains not
A single white card the last has been gwen out
tho nIatc upon which they were printed has been
destrove1 II the President himself sent for Il
card I should not know how TO find one Tor
him. This seemed tolerably decisive. had g"'
70 the bottom, or TO the top, Of everything. IL
WA Saturday afternoon, and the Exhibition
opened on Monday; the Versailles festival Won"
consume the intervening Sunday, ana VI MAIN"
yones statement uIadc it plain that nothlhS was
20 be expected from the Administration. w"h'
hack to NJ Bcrard and told linn what hhd
heard His answer was most eloquent lou
shall have my card.
Thus, after weeks Of elaborate coIu"irv VIVA
that administrative system which Mr.. ''odRlh
thinks perfection | was indcbtel 10 IL" aAIi'hN
GOODWILL Of on acquaintance on whom hd n"
claim for the card to the opening OF III" fNh"-
ton to which, as a journalist inid every ch'n'
Everybody admitted tho claim, but nonody cou'n
ccncede IT, / spoke the other day OF Tie WIN
of elasticity in the system Cast iron IS piece
of VIA leborc compared 10 it. Ill" French "iH'i'
who SITS himself TO study II question. a> he r'Il>
IT, frames u set Of rules in accordance WIN t"'
time hcnorcd traditions and ordinances OF 'h'
Depart,ncnt They date VCrY likely from 'hati =
marue or 10 not quita so far back - thlt fhI
before railways telegraphs, or even nr""p'Ecr>'
in our sensa, had been heard OF. lie 80 pooo a.
to observe that am not complaining Lave u"
grievance. In one way or anOth r gov every
thing l wanted ; but got nothing from the >y>-
TEN, nothing from any official according TO 'h'
official code, and TO the official cole am i'll no
way indebted. though l am to thos' who WORK
f. for unfailing poh,enrSs and for many expires
- a. tIn,. puN1 ln
I will mako this concession to Mr. Godkln. Ills
darling system works better for France than
for the foreigner 1t puts the Frencllman 10 many
Inconvenience subjects him To int"lerable
delay or TO delay which should think IN
tolerable: consumes no small part Of his life
in TEDIOUS conformity to it's eXaciOns lie Is
however used to It. lie has been brought mp
as were his forbears before him. on the grand
national theory OF government. He would g
astray without il, and il it he true, as the mos
cynical of all political philosophers asserts thai
every people have the government for which they
arc hest suited, this, no doubt Is hest smtet
to the French.
They would tell you, moreover, II they were
frank that everything in France is done primarily
4, might almost be said exclusively. for French
mon. The word exclusively is not too stroni
IL applied to their administrative hierarchy France
for Frcnchmen is q very good motto or maxim
What I have to point out is that 1t appears u
admit of no exceptions. II thing is good 10
France 1t Is good intrinsically and for all praHica
and political purposes. Nothing is inst when
unjust or injurious to France; nothing Is unlnS
which Is for the advantage OF France. In ina
slightly epigrnmnstc form the whole i"reis'
,oIicy OF the country, since it has been country
may be summed up. In the adminis'ra''v
world, the foreigner does not exist; or, II ~ W
lists, it must be for the benefit OF inc h"'Ne
r will give one strong i'll I,tratiOn OF my mean
inc In cabling from Paris 10 New York on val
ions occasions / have found that the service rs new"
so accurate as between London and New-lork
4 wrote 10 the Pnris director Of the Commerce.