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Show riDni.KsTiOKs i No sooner had President Harrison attached at-tached his autograph to the' proclamation proclama-tion Inviting the nations of the earth to participate iu the Columbian Fair than the nlarm is sounded that a number of the greatest countries will .decline the invitation without thanks. "I happen to know," says Mr. Christ-man, Christ-man, for many years our1 consul general gen-eral at Berlin, "that a movement is ou foot in Europe by which Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Italy are' to take concerted action in reply to the invitation of this government, and their responses will not bo favorable." And he adds: "I do not believe one of the iirst-class powers of Kurope, unless it be Russia, will give official encouragement encourage-ment to the enterprise. From what I heard before leaviug Berlin I should say this much is already settled." This is the veriest bosh, and the animus ani-mus of it is too plain to deceive anybody. any-body. It is, in short, a treasonable effort on the part of the free traders to discredit the McKinley bill before the world and charge to it the failure of any foreign government to exhibit at our fair. The great show is calculated to benefit bene-fit Europe as much as any other continent conti-nent or people. From a sentimental or historical point of view, there is no reason why any natioti should refuse to celebrate tho discovery of a new world, which added an outlet to the conges- ted population of the old, poured untold treasures into the coffers of foreign powers, and gave new direction to trade and thought and enterprise. Considered from a'purcly economical standpoint, we imagine Europe is more anxious to maintain her business relations, rela-tions, or improve on them, with tho United States than ever before. We are the best customers the old world has and to keep or increase our patronage patron-age it will pay her to make tho best display dis-play at our fair that she possibly can. Never mind our tariff. That will take care of itself and of us. First of all let us show our own willingness to make the Columbian exhibition a complete success and the European nations will then come in as a matter of self interest to themselves. This persistent effort to blame everything every-thing real and imaginary upon protection protec-tion is growing wearisome. It is all fiddlesticks. |