The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-07-05
PARIS EXPOSITION LETTER.
Our Correspondent Thinks the Show the
Greatest the World Has Seen.

| nave DV tnlS time Deen aDle 10
make study and form a general
opinion of the Paris Universal Ex-
position of 1900 There are of course
many things l have not seen and
many that could not see if l should
continue inspection for six years,
,he salient features of the Exposition
have been noted. 1t is in great part
ephemeal architecture; it is in great
part fake, but after all spurious
characteristics are eliminated it will
remain the most stupendous effort
and accomplishment as an exposition
the world has ever seen. | shall
adhere to my determination to avoid
attempts to paint in words architec-
lures, artificial water-works illumi-
nations. l have never seen any fire.
works that were comparable to sun
set or a flash of lightning. The
architecture here with its toy-shop
effects, like that at Chicago, is good
enough to be torn down. This and
these are no part of the exposition
and in my opinion are as intrusive
and as much out of place as would be
the latest gown, hat and high heeled
shoes on the Venus of Milo The
| only matter worthy the visitors con-
sideration are the results of the COM
petitive efforts of the worlds artists,
artisans, thinkers and strivers, every
one seeking to attain something a
little more acceptable in his special
domain. And you can see these re-
suits here. If there was eyer a
microcosm it is now within the
Champs de Mars and the Esplanade
des Invalides. From Finland to Cape
Colony and from Alaska to Chill the
continents and islands appear to
have striven and wrought with better
output than ever before. 1 say you
can see it but it will require more
than glance. 1t will require study
and discernment, for the arrange
ment is not the best, and for compar-
ative study it is frequently mislead-
ing and often Intentionally so. Some
exhibitors under the United States
flag and in the United States sections
haye no right to be there. They are
not Americans and have no houses in
America. 1t may be the same with
other countries. AS seen in the Ex-
position there is not much to fiatter
our National pride, but we do not
need fiattery-we need the truth and
in heroic quantities. False teeth,
dental instruments, corn-cob pipes
and eyeglasses are not representa-
tive of the manufacturing skill and
energy of the United States, and Mr..
Mckinley or Mr.. Peck should not
have permitted dealers in these to
have so much space and such con-
spicuous place in the U. S. section of
the Invalides building. 1t is said the
Emperor of Germany personally in
spected every exhibit of that country
and that nothing was allowed to pass
to Paris without his approval. There
must be some exaggeration in this
story for the German exhibit is large
and varied as well as fine, and no one
person could have given it more than
very informal inspection. But it
has evidently been selected with
great judment and care, and there is
no doubt but that both the United
States and England are outclassed by
Germany in large variety of manu-
factured articles.
In some things we, of course, excel.
Our tobacco exhibit is by far the
finest at the fair. But to indicate
how we are outdone in diplomacy or
what may be called exhibition poll
tics let me instance the following, all
of which may be traced l think, to
the negligence of our Commissioner.
We have but one man in fifteen on
the tobacco jury and he is a Cuban
who has lived for many years in Paris
and boasts that he never sold or used
leaf of American tobacco. He is in
short the representative of the largest
Cuban tobacco manufacturer and
from habit and interest inimical to
American tobacco. Yet he has had
himself appointed as the only Ameri-
can jurist, and this when our exhibit
is finer than and probably as large as
that of all other countries put to-
gether. There are many many ms
tances of this kind showing a lack of
push and enterprise on the part of
our representatives and an indif-
ference to the interests of our people
and country that is inexplicable, in
any way complimentary to them.
In the class of harvesters and bin
ders and some other classes of agri-
cultural implements l am told by an
authority, and believe from what |
can see, we are much in advance of
all other countries. This authority
says we are about ten years in ad-
vance. Our machines are lighter but