Wichita eagle., 1889-09-01
49, 60:


For my part | cannot see that the presence
OF the federal power in itself adds anything
to the attractions of Washington If incl
dentally it be desired TO show visitors from
abroad something of our political system, our
popular self government, this is a poor place
to which to invite them. Politically Wash
ington is the most un-American city in the
United States. 1t is not American at all, for
it is not free city. It's citizens are merely
counted in thee census returns and enumerated
in the tax rolls They have no votes, are no
sovereigns. They are vas5als, and vassalage
is not what Europeans, Asiatics, Australia
SLAMS, Africans and South Americans viii
come to the United States to see. Probably
one-half the foreigners who should come here
to worlds fair would go home Struggling
their shoulders and calculating: "A govern
ment of the people. indeed Why, the cities
of America are ruled by congress, and con-
yress is elected by the agriculturists and
Jackwoodsmen. The Worlds fair would be
miserable failure as an educator if it were
to lead many visitors from abroad into the
error Of thinking Washington typical
American city in a political sense
Perhaps too much Importance is attached
to the duty we owe to the visitor from
and all that, but the visitor from abroad viii
drop about fifty cents into the box Office of
the Worlds fair while the visitor from home
is dropping two or three hundred dollars.
Still, as long as some visitors are TO come
from across the borders and the waters, we
should, if possible, contrive to show them the
things they really want to see. One of these
things l take it, perhaps the chiefest of them,
-
ruling the country The visitor will come
here yearning for an introduction to Mr..
Popular Self Government. ward election
viii interest him A national campaign,
with its fireworks, umbrellas, red lanterns
speeches, etc, will delight him. Without
glimpse at one of our campaigns and one of
our presidential elections, the guest from
abroad viii thinl, himself cheated.
Washington has better claims upon the fair
than her federal vassalage Chief Of her adj
vantages is an admirable site. New York
would have TO ask her visitors 10 travel
across Harlem river into WestchesJer county,
eight or ten miles from the center of the city
Chicago has a pretty lake front park, within
easy walking distance Of all hotels and rail-
way stations, but this probably is much too
small Where St Louis would put the fair,
SuOuil IL CuduCe 70 seO IL, HOpodS S1-hIo ~
know But here in Washington thanks TO
the genius which designed the city-is one Of
the prettiest sites imaginable for an interna-
tonal exhibition 1t is known as the Mall,
park which stretches from the shores of the
Potomac at the Washington monument to
the gates OF the Capitol.
The illustrations given herewith afford
some idea OF the nature of this ground,
which has been beautifed in the best style
of the landscape art. In area this park com
prises some 800 acres. II more room were
needed it could be had hard b.. The part of
Paramount park, Philadelphia. inclosed for
the purposes of the centennial exhibition
comprised 226 acres, and it viii thus be seen
that the mall has space enough, though per-
haps no more than enough.
The mall is already beautiful. 1t lies in
the heart of the city That great national
thoroughfare, Pennsylvania avenue, stretches
along one side of it Street cars intarsect,
skirt and surround IT, The Pennsylvania
railway has its tracks and station within the
grounds. The hotels. business establishments,
public buildings and the other railway sta
ton are within walking distance.