1884. J The Proposed American Exhibition in London. 653 
IV. THE PROPOSED AMERICAN EXHIBITION 
IN LONDON.” 
By an Old Technologist. 
“ Competition, in the sphere of industry and commerce, has become a 
war to the knife .” — Kolnische Zeitung, 
f HAT a nation should get up a display of its own pro- 
ducts, whether natural or manufactured, is in these 
days an event common almost to staleness. But to 
hold such an exhibibiton, or “ exposition ” as it is termed, 
of writers of un-English in a foreign country, is indeed 
original. But, though by no means wedded to precedent — 
to old use and wont — I cannot look upon this innovation in 
the light in which it is viewed by no small portion of the 
British press. To prevent misconceptions, or rather mis- 
interpretations, let me say that, as far as science is con- 
cerned, I am a complete cosmopolitan. In that field the 
rivalry between different nations seems to me perfectly 
honourable, and even friendly. Thus, while regretting that 
Germany produces a greater quantity of research than does 
Britain, I wish not that she should do less, but that we 
should do more. I hailed the proposal, which has been 
successfully carried out, of holding this year’s meeting of 
the British Association across the Atlantic. If Captain 
Bedford Pirn’s suggestion that in 1887 the American 
Association should meet in London becomes a reality, no 
one will rejoice more sincerely than shall I. And if an 
International Association is formed I shall be still better 
satisfied. 
But between science and what is commonly, though not 
happily, termed applied science, there is a heaven-wide 
gulf, so that from the one we cannot argue to the other. 
Applied science, or rather industrialism, is now more and 
more plainly becoming merely a phrase of war. Indeed, no 
small part — and, I fear, an increasing part — of its energies 
is now turned towards “ improvements ” in the art of “ war,” 
taking that term in its old and narrower sense. But if we 
define “ war ” as any process by which one nation seeks to 
injure another for the sake of some real or supposed benefit 
to itself, we shall find that modern industrialism is war afl 
over. 
