New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-05
THE EXPOSITION

The Universal Exposition will be opened TO-
morrow under most favorable European conoi-
tions Twice before has the Champ de Mars
been consecrated to the ends of pacific industry
in worlds fair, but never when the Continent
was at rest and undisturbed by apprehensons OF
war, The first Exposition in Paris followed a
European campaign in which two mighty armies
of the same race met in fratricidal conflict, and
the momentary lull in military operations did
not deceive the nations. France well knew
that peace was cuckoo song soon to be Slenced
by the cannon of contending hosts. Equally
disturbed was the state of Europe when the
second Exposition was opened in 1878. The
Balkan campaign had-ended with the conquer
ing Russians at the gates of Constantinope.
England, summoning the Sepoys to Malta and
dispatching her feet Of ironclads through the
Dardaneles, had given warning that the con-
vention dictated at San Stefano must be re-
vised by European Congress. France was
not disposed to join her Crimean ally in new
war for the defence Of the crumbhng Turkish
throne. The shops in the boulevards no longer
contained cartoons representing the French
zouave and the English infantryman as good
comrades drinking bumpers each to the others
don was apprehending war, and Berlin and
Vienna were despairing of the maintenance of
peace. In this year Of grace there is no cloud
so large as mans hand in the European sky.
Peace is real and not an illusion.
There Is another contrast which may be
drawn in favor of the third Worlds Fair in
Paris. When the first Exposition was opened
the Empire was at the crowning height Of it's
fortunes. The cause of Republcanism in Eu-
rope was at its lowest ebb. The boulevard wits
then defined Republican as poor devil with
out copper in his pocket. The masses were
apparently convinced that the nation must have
a strong and despotic government in order TO
prosper and grow rioh. The American Repub
lie had just emerged from civil war as costly
in treasure as in blood, and was staggering
under an enormous National debt which Euro
pean fnanciers predicted must eventually be
repudiated. Republican institutions had lost
much of their prestige in that year; and al
though there was marked change in the
worlds attitude toward democracy in 1873,
when the second exposition occurred, there
were serious misgivings in France that the eS-
listing order of republican institutions could not
last very long. The Constitution had been in
operation only three years; it's tentative char
acter was universally recognized, and the Re
public still had it's civic battles to fight and
great masses of the population to conciliato
To-day there are few Europeans who are I'M
willing to concede that republicaniSm is great
force in the civilized world. The American
Commonwealth entering upon it's second century
with a record of progress that is the chief
marvel of modern history, demonstrates ire
fltably that democratic institutions are perma
nent and that the highest welfare OF nations
and the noblest ends of peace are promoted by
them. The French Republic, too, is no longer
an experiment. 1t has endured already as long
as the Empire; and the most volatile nation in
Europe has been convinced Of the truth Of
Thierss philosophy 1.-The Republic is the only
possible government in France"
Perhaps the most striking proof Of the fnan-
cial resources Of republican government in
France is to be found in the magnificent pro-
portions of the present Exposition. In 1857
the Champ de Mars offered sufficient room for
the international exhibits in 1873 the TrOca-
| dero palace and gardens were added; but this
| year the Quai dOrsar And the Esplanade des
| Invalides are required, so as to furnish an ag-
gregate area of nearly 200 acres. The legis-
| lative appropriations for the Exposition have
| exceeded by several millions the outlay in
| previous years, $4,000 having been voted
| with lavish hand. The preparations have
been conducted on scale of unparalleled mag
nitude, and it is evident that the spendors Of
all previous worlds fairs are to be ecipsed.
-a