New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
TO BE And TO BE HERE.


A Worlds Fair will be held in 1892 TO COM
memorate the discovery of America, and it will
be held in New orl. This is the result Of
the meeting convened yesterday by Mayor
Grant, and under the authority conferred upon
him the great project will soon take on the
aspect of energy and action. 1t was deter
mined to confne the proceedings to the simple
expression of the purpose of those present, but
so large volume Of favorable opinion has &c
cumulated and found utterance during the
week since the Mayors invitations were issued
that yesterdays decision in reality represents
a very general conviction, and practically leaves
no possibility Of strenuous opposition, either
here or elsewhere few sporadic growls Of
dissent have been heard from isolated and
provincial communities like Chicago, but they
are lost in the universal chorus of agreement
that the National metropolis is the place for
the International Exposition.
The resolutions adopted by the Chamber Of
Commerce just pnor to the Mayors meeting
well define the attitude of the country at large
and of the people Of this city toward the cele-
bration, and the committee appointed to repre-
sent this great body of active and influential
citizens is composed of men who are admirably
qualified by individual capacities and general
repute to give direction and force to prelim-
mary counSels as well as to cooperate in the
actual work of organization and achievement.
II was upon motion of the president of the
Chamber that an amendment giving a definite
initiative to the enterprise was made to the
original resolution of approval and that the
Mayor was empowered to appoint four COM
mittees, of Finance, Legislation, Site and
Buildings and Permanent Organization. Mayor
Grant supplied a welcome assurance that the
wide power vested in him would he wisely
used by binding himself to consult the judg-
ment of all the important commercial organi2a-
tons Of the city in the selection Of the COM
mittees, and there is every reason for conf
dence that the men whom he will name will
be universally recognized as fit representatives
of the whole community.
1t is well that the possible danger OF i'm
pelilling the spontaneity and enthusiasm Of the
meeting was forestalled by the avoidance Of
all questions Of detail. But there is now no
objection to saying that the one rock upon
which the enterprise may possibly split, unless
it is conducted from the outset in sagacious,
and, above all, in totally nselfsh spirit is
the choice of site. This Exposition is in its
inception a vast National undertaking, and in
its scope an international affair. 1t is doomed
in advance to ignominy if it is shaped in any
other mould. 1t is not originated to further
any private schemes whatsoever, but it is in
connection with the choice of site that indi-
vidual purposes may be expected to discover
themselves. The project Of a Worlds Fair
conceived a few years ago was wrecked prn-
cipally because private advantage in respect
to a location was found to be the controlling
impulse in the minds Of too many OF those
concerned and this IS the chief danger to be
apprehended now. There is no reason to doubt
that the Nation and the State will adopt suit
able means of promoting the enterprise that
the financial support will be generous and ade-
Quate, and that the permanent organization
will command ample resources of skill and
energy. But unless the selection Of a site is,
and is universally known to be, dictated by an
absolutely impartial and disintereSted judg-
ment that whoe-hearted cooperation which
is essential to complete success will certainly
he lacking. Any choice of location whatSo-
ever must inevitably benefit individuals, but
such personal advantages must be seen to be
purely incidental.
Mayor Grant has given the community very
gratifying evidence that outside of politics, he
is free from all social and commercial bias and
obligation, and we are sure that in the exercise
of his powers as the head of this great under
taking he will be the faithful servant Of the
whole country The impulse which the prof.
ect has now received will, we are confident
spread over the land, arousing genuine en-
thusiasm everywhere, and thus laying the es-
sential foundation for a splendid triumph Of
purpose and endeavor three years hence.