Mr. RAYMOND. I should like toknow how the gentleman could understand an thing of that sort from anything I have said. Iwas simplrv replying to the Gentfrom Illinois, [ Mr. ssnnvaxsd who adduced the asserted fact that we had been insulted by France as a reason why we should not join in this exhibition of the industry of all nations. I simply replied to that, that we have not been insulted by hrance in any such sense as reiires us to present it by apaltry spite of this kincii. As I was saying, when interrupted, that controversy is still going on. The action of France in planting her troops in Mexico, and placingan Austrian rinceu on the throne of Mexico, has notpasse uhchal enged and I venture to say that when the correspondence upon that subject, both recent and remote, comes before the American people, no man in this House or elsewhere will have any reason or motive or disposition to complain of the position our Government has taken upon that subject and if the demands which are made, and which are reasonable and just, and are in sisted upon, are not complied with, this nation knows very well how to enforce compliance With all our just demands without resorting to so paltry a mode of showin refusing to be present at such as this. The Gentfrom Illinois says that as Americans we ought to keep out of such an Exhibition. I say, as an American, that we ought to go into it and into every one of a similar kind that may be open to us. When ever we are challenged to enter into competitions with other nations in any field, of war or peace, we should not for one instant hesitate or delay. Let them challenge us in war if they will, let them give us just cause of war, and we will bear ourselves under the challenge as becomes a powerful and self respecting nation and when the invite us to a contest of peace, shall we shrin r therefrom? The gentleman says we have a debt of $3,000,000.000, and that we should ay that before we incur this expenditure. Ipshould like to see the American in Europe who, when asked why the place allotted to us in that Exhibition is vacant, would venture to say that the expense of our war to at down reellion was so great that we could not possibly afford to send a few of our products to this Exhibition. such an American would hu miliate us more in the eyes of Europe and in the consciousness and self respect of our own people, than any “insult” or injury which all the nations of the earth may be supposed to have inflicted upon us during our recent war. There are 2 ideas whic, in the conflict of ideas that has been going on all over the world for centuries past, are the progressive ideas of this epoch. One is the idea of democratic liberty; the other is the perfection of labor. They go together here an everywhere. We claim that this country is the special home of both. We claim that while liberty dignifies and enfranchises labor, labor is the bulwark of liberty and secures it to this continent forever. The same ideas are workin themselves out in the same proportions and With the same results in every part of the continent of Europe and when the challenge is made by France, or by England, or by Prussia, or by Germany, or by any other nation of the earth, to come and show what labor has done for the people, it does not become the Republic of the U.S. to hesitate one instant or, I was oing to say, ask One solitary question as to the expense that may, be thereby incurred. eclaim that labor in this country has achieved its proudest triumphs, because those who labor are those who govern; because here labor is free, and every man is left without governmental interference to work out whatever of energy, or industry, or enterprise God has gifted him with. We point the nations of the world to that as the crowning victory of free institutions on this continent. The Emperor of France asks us to come there and compare the products of the indus t of freedom with the products of industry. of those who are undert e imperial and monarctheal Governments of the Old World. Have we any reason to shrink; have we any excuse for shrinking? I trust this resolution will pass. I wish it couldpass with the respect no to labor and to liberty alike, by the nuan iine us vote of this House and of the other branch of the national Legislature. I am sure it cannot fail, for this House, this Congress, is but the representative of labor, and it dare not prove wholly recreant to its trust.