72
EXPOSITION AT VIENNA.
can only hold onr own by a careful encouragement of every means of keeping us up with the latest improvements, of introducing among us new departments of manufacture, especially in the direction of matters of taste and art, and finally of opening to us every possible avenue for the disposal of our manufactures, and teaching us how to adapt our wares to these new markets. We think the State has shown its disposition to do this in the encouragement of scientific schools, whence well-trained and liberally educated men will carry a new influence into our manufactories, and in the introduction of drawing into our schools in a manner which will develop in the next generation new and artistic forms of productions. But we believe that these means may be more powerfully supplemented would the Commonwealth lend its influence to the encouragement of properly conducted expositions among ourselves in other departments, as it does in agriculture. By a full comparison of our productions through the intercourse which would thus be produced among our manufacturers, by a well-dirécted effort to bring in the work of others in other parts of the United States and from abroad, and finally by getting together and setting open to the body of the people all these works of art, both pure and applied to industry, which are either not known or not appreciated by our citizens at large, we believe a stimulus could be given to industry more immediate and more powerful than in any other way. By making such an exposition a bonded warehouse, our importers and their foreign correspondents would willingly place in them many illustrations of European productions, which could be afterwards sold or returned.
Passing this point, attention is also called to the Centennial Exposition of 1876. The declaration was general, especially with the Germans, that they should attend it, and if properly conducted it cannot but be a success. Besides the Europeans who will visit it, it will collect large numbers of people from South America and the West Indies, and many from Japan and the East. The Japanese have already signified their intention of making a full and imposing display of their productions.
In view of these facts, the policy cannot be too strongly