Year: 1876

GnternatIOnaI Congresses Rt the Gem


tenniaI.


We print in other columns very able let
ter from Hon. John jay, late American Min
lister at Vienna, and ask for it the attentive
perusal of all who take an interest in the
Centennial Exposition and all who are in
any way connected with its management
especially the government. We apprehend
that the prevailing notions as to the proper
aims of the Exposition are crude and con-
fused. Perhaps no other gentleman in the
United States is so well qualified by intelli-
gence and opportunities for communicating
clear information and giving sound advice
on this subject as Mr.. jay. The last great
Universal Exposition-that of Vienna-was
all the stages of its preparation and
throughout the period while it was open.
He was on such terms of intercourse with its
leading directors as gave him every facility
for acquiring information and listening to
intelligent criticism, and the lively interest
he took in what was for two or three years
the leading topic in Vienna led him to i'm
prove his opportunities If anybody in this
country is entitled to be heard and needed
ON such subject it is our late Minister to
the Court of Austria. He knows the points
of excellence, the sources of danger and the
causes of failure. His timely letter is full of
instructive suggestions and needed cautions,
to which we invite the favorable notice of
Congress-


1t is impossible to give such summary of
Mr.. jays letter as would dispense with
full perusal. We will merely glance at one
or two of its prominent points The one
which best deserves consideration is that
which relates to series of International
Congresses to be held in connection with the
Exposition, comprising all the leading de-
partments of practical inquiry, such as
education, international patent right, inter
national copyright, agriculture, forestry,
vines and wines, fish culture, medicine and
surgery, engineering, architecture, mining,
photography, telegraphy, meteorology, pre-
historic remains s-everything, in short, to
which able bodies of specialists and SacaraS
are directing their researches in this inquir-
ing age. Nothing would so much tend to
raise the Exposition above mere show and
elevate it to the rank of great source of
intellectual illumination, making it, in the
adequate language quoted by Mr.. Jay from
Prince Albert, "a proof and living picture
of the height of civilization and the develop
ment of mankind" Mr.. Jay goes into this
great branch of the subject with a convincing
statement of reasons.


Another of Mr.. jays suggestions, of which
he reserves the full development for another
letter, is the fitness of inviting the crowned
heads of Europe, as was done at Vienna. 1t
strikes US, in the present aspect of this pro-
posal, that it is beset with an insurmountable
exist to our receiving such high personages
with hospitality suited to their rank. We
shall be glad to hear from Mr.. jay further
on this point, for if we could secure their
attendance it would add to the splendor of
the occasion, but rather, as we incline to
think, in the way of show than of instruc-
ton.


There is another of Mr.. jays suggestions
of whose value there can be no doubt what
ever. We refer to his strongly put advice as
to the kind of men that should be brought
to the front as representing the culture and
respectability of our people Our disgrace
full experience at Vienna ought to teach US
lesson on this head which it would be
perilous and shameful to neglect. We press
this part of the letter upon the earnest
attention of the government.