New-York tribune., 1890-01-28
SOME TRUTHS ABOUT TIE FAIR.

II is neither decent nor profitable. to de-
nouncc the motives or the action of those nom
bers of the Legislature who refused to obey the
Injunction of Mr. w. L. d. Stokes and pass the
Worlds Fair bill without looking at it. Some
of our contemporaries have now graSpcd the
pont which TIE TRIBUNE perceived and eX-
planned clearly last summer namely, that
the project for an International Exhibition Ill
1892 is a race against time, provcrblally
hard race to win. When the proposition was
first made there seemed to be a general i'm
preston that there were nearly three years IN
which to accomplish the undertaking, and that
this was sufficient period. THE TRIBUNE
frequently reminded the men in charge OF the
movement that they would find, when the pre-
liminares had been arranged, that little more
than two years at the most remained for the
practical work of construction and equipment
and we were not deferred from repeating this
warning so often as we felt inclined by the
foolish retort from some short sighted pro-
motors that we were hostile at heart to the
whole enterprise, 1t is a late perception OF the
real situation which is now causing some OF
our contemporaries to appear very unreason-
able, if not actually dementcd.
The fact that the bill authorizing this city
to cxpend S1O,O0O000 upon a Worlds Falr
was drawn by or has the Endorsement OF en-
incnt citizens, whose ability and character the
whole community respects. docs not abSolvo
Senators and AsScmhlymen from the obliga-
ton to study its provisions before sending II
10 the Governor for his signature Worlds
Fair in Ncw-YOrk and aftcrward the dclugc
would be a miserable motto for legislative
body. prccipitate reckless, blind action is not
permanent advantage to any enterprise an
any stage of its progress. We certainly have
no desire to impugn the motives of members
who were ready to pass the bill in total dark
ness. hut we have higher opinion OF the iidcl-
ity of their colleagues who called for light.
And the greater the moral courage and ply seal
endurance that were required 10 stem the tor
rent of Mr.. StolleS'S clOqucncc. the more do we
admire the determination that withStood II.
If the bill is passed this week ii Will not com
mand a smaller share of popular confidence and
approval because its passage was the result
of orderly and rational proceedings.
Flippant or frantic dcnunciation of every
man who refuses to lose his head at the pros
pect of Worlds Fair in Newly orll is cN-
tremely silly. 1t is particularly absurd to as
sumo that Republican journals and Republican
leaders are hostile to the enterprise from po-
litcal considerations. We have never detected
sign of opposition. from any motive whatso-
ever, on the part of the men who are most often
accused of secret manOeuvrcS against the Fair
but if they are either antagOnStic or indiiier-
ent IL is not because they imagine that an In
ternatiOna Exposition would promote the fort
uneS of the Democratic party. Those who de
rive satisfaction from the calculation OF remote
contingencies are quite as apt 20 conclude that
universal demonstration of pride and patriot
ism and general sense of cOntentmcnt and
well-being in the year - a Presidential cleo
ton would operate 10 the advantage Of the
party in power as that the expenditure OF
great sum of public money in Democratic
city in preceding years would reverse the ver-
dict of 1883.
The truth is, that there is no politics in the
enterprise, and that those who arc attempting
to convey contrary impression are in reality,
whether they know it or not, its worst enemies.
They would serve the project better by zeal
GUS endeavor to produce an even more uniycr-
sal conviction than now exists that no vOcifcr-
Gus advocate of the Fair owes his enthusiasm
to the hope of acquiring an undue share of the
appropriations