Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-21

range myself on the side of those who would
say; have no exposition" Sir, i was
1t is said in these days of commercial
enterprise and wealth. worship tina. ..All roads
lead to New York" 1t will be said, presently,
| when the leading city Of Illinois shall have
reached the zenith of her power in the great
northwest, living upon the bosom of the lakes.
that 'all roads lead to Chicago" And it may
be that in the bright future that awaits the
queen city OF the west, upon the bosom OF the
Mlsslsslppl the time may come. when In her
grandeur and magnificance. all the people sur
rounding her may proclaim. 'all roads lead to
st. Louis. For one. sir, hope, in Gods name
and in the name of American republicanism
and American liberty, that the day may never
come when the most cherished thought IN the
lead to the capital Oh The nation, where our
| Liberties are maintained and protected" Jap
plause.l
WHERE TIRE CELEBRATION SHOULD BE.
Therefore il is that upon higher plane--in
the interest of that government to which We
are all attached and which we hope to see
maintained forever-that this idea may be dis
seminated and carried to the farthest ends of
the earth by those who may come from abroad
to visit our exposition. For this reason ii is
that desire above all things to see the expo
sition held right here, where they will see
what America has done, not only in the form
institutions which she has established, and in
the buildings themselves in which this govern
mcnt lives and does Its work. Sir, We have
everything here to invite the location of this
exposition here. Washington will have the
proper accommodations. We have everything
here that foreigner could desire to see, and
what he must see if he wants to obtain any
just conception of our institutions
and form Of government Sonic gen
tlemen. IN speaking of the expositions
ixvI,i oh h.u. 1,.ll boo oh af L.
French exposition as having been held in Paris,
the exposition in Austria at Vienna and the
exposition in England at London. Oh course;
why not? Are not Vienna, Paris and LONDON
the representative cities. respectively of the
population, the institutions and the forms of
government existing in those cOuntriesp So it
Is here with our capital. Let, then, the for
elgners who come to our shores see with their
own eyes and through their own mental ap-
prehension let them take in and grasp the
great contrast between what we rs free Ameri-
can citizens hold as the best form OF govern
ment in contrast with that under which they
have lived. II this can be done the grand idea
of our institutions will circulate and We shall
not have held our exposition in vain.
MIR. Stockbridge Closes the Days Debate.
MIR. Stockbridge closed the debate. He said:
Mr.. Speaker, do not propose in the brief
time allotted to me to address any remarks to
the general proposition whether d fair should
be held. That, by the statement already re-
corded in this House, is well understood.
Neither do propose to dwell upon what has
seemed to many an important consideration
the pecunary one. As has been quoted here
tofore in the debate there are influences flow
ing from institutions Of this character not
merely of temporary nature. but stretching
through series OF years from one end OF the
Land to the other, which will repay hum
dred fold and more whatever the ex-
he kaf no
osition is granted that the fair shall
be held, the whole and sole remain
ing question is to its Locations; where it
shall be situated to prove the greatest success
and to do the greatest material good by add
ing to the glory and to further advance the in
terests of this country. 1t is fair, interna-
tional IN scope, you hold under the auspices of
our nation, awakening to the depths our ational
pride. Not merely Is it question of sentiment,
which, as / believe, should direct its location to
the city OF Washington, for il sentiment and
that alone controlled, have no question that
a large majority OF the members of this House
would be found casting their votes in favor of
the city of Washington. But when We hold
this fair there are certain other considerations
which must outweigh all matters OF mere senti-
ment. They are those which look to its sue
cess. present and future, for the benefit of the
whole country.
WASHINGTON THE HEART OF THE NATION.
Here in Washington Mr.. Speaker, pulsates
the heart; here throbs the life blood of the ma
tion which is felt from one end of the land to
the other. The members each in their proper
sphere perform their wonted functions; but
here is the nations life-blood set in motion,
whose throbbings are felt alike from Alaska to
Florida. Not merely that, SIR it has been APP
propriately described as the Mecca Of America
because here it is that they arc in touch, not
merely with the political sentiment of the coun-
try, but here they are III touch with the active,
earnest sentiment of this land from all its parts
From here starts those movements, those ideas.
which. spreading. soon take possession of the
country. Located here, the fair il Invested of
all semblance of sectionalsm. Here those from
Alabama and from Maine, from California and
from the great interior of the country meet on
an equal plane. imbued with the same ambi-
ton of making; the fair one worthy of the proud
name OF America-One which shall rival, aye,
and surpass any thing that the world has hith-
erto seen.
1t has been said in this debate and urged as a
reason why this city should not be considered
that 1t was impossible to accommodate the
throng which would flow here during the fair.
apprehend, sir, that as in the case of Phila-
deiphia in 1876. wherever the city may be
chosen there will spring up, whether it be at
Washington, Chicago, New York or III st. Louis,
those monuments to American industry and
enterprise designed for the purpose OF increas-
ing the accommodations and meeting and af-
fording to all who come the same courteous,
hOspitable reception that has always been the
reputation of the city OF Washington.
WASHINGTON NEUTRAL GROUND.
Another consideration Mr.. Speaker, applies
with equal force. In the other cities whose
claims have been here 80 ably presented there
throbs the unceasing tide of manufacture, of
commercial strife. 1t reaches rivalres which
at times have become bitter. Washington en-
tiers into no such contest. She lies here upon
the banks of the Potomac. content with the po-
sltion which she occupies in the organism of
this country yieing not i'll the least. but content
that she furnishes to these other cities the
moving. prompting spirit, the life blood by
which these industries enabled to succee d.
Each city has presented its claims-pre-
sented them with all the strength which
able orators could command But not
one word has been said, because no
word can be said, in disparagement of the
nations capital, capital which in a few short
years has grown to be one of the most beau
tiful cities upon the face OF the globe.
Where else will you lind such broad avenues,
such pleasant parks, interpreted with beauti-
full homes, private residences. and with the mag
niticent and stately public buildings? 1t is In
these lie her great attraction to the visitor,
whether he be American or foreign. They form
already sufficient center of interest to attract
here hundreds aud thousands annually. Add to
them, as now proposed the worlds fair of 1892
and when that Is done you have added but
another attraction to this great city, Add to
them the worlds fair and then, when it shall
have ended you will have here remaining the
monuments OF the industry of America and