Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18

place the proposed Exposition under the ex
elusive control of the Federal Government
and to provide the necessary appropriation
for that is matter with which you are per
fectly familiar. but respectfully invite your
attention TO a matter of fact in this connection
For twenty years or more it has been the vel
settled policy of Congress to appropriate lib.
orally for expositlonS in the capitals of Europe
During the last Congress S250.000 were appro
priated for the Exposition at Paris $50 900 for
Brussels $4,000 for Barcelona, and So, 900 for
Melbourne, Australia. While this action was in
itself commendable and useful in stimulating
the development of our foreign commerce. it is
equally Constitutional to appropriate for an
Exposition at our own National Capital Fail.
ure to do so is, in our opinion, discrimination
against America.
IMPORTANCE OF THE EXPOSITION.
On the subject Of the importance and value
of the proposed Exposition the American peo-
pie have already, through their Boards OF
Trade, governors, mayors, State oranges, ma
tional conventions, and public press, spoken in
no uncertain terms. Never before was public
sentiment SO unanimous in support of an his
torlcal and patriotic movement, and why?
Primarily because the American people are
justly proud of their 400 years Of history and
progress, and secondly because the outflow of
American gold to Europe for various purposes
Is assuming too large proportions. Over ten
years ago, according to an official estimate SUBJ
mitted to the Department of State by one of
our consuis in Europe, the annual average
spent by Americans in Europe for purposes of
travel, pleasure, art, and education was about
Sl05OO0,0O0 in gold. During the past year.
owing to the unusual exodus of Americans to
Europe, largely owing to the Paris Exposition,
1t is safe to assert that 5000 900 were spent
abroad for similar purposes. Now why not re-
verse this situation by making our own National
Capital the Paris of America In beauty and at
fractions, the Berlin Of America in educational
advantages, and the Rome of America in art
This, Mr.. Chairman, is the spirit and tendency
OF the movement we advocate, and We know
that it has the hearty approval and indorse-
ment OF the American people.
From the commercial standpoint the import
ance OF the movement Is equally great For
years and years Europe has monopolized the
foreign commerce of the eighteen sister Re-
pubics south Of us, which annual commerce
amounts to upwards of 81 900 ,OOO, 900 in value,
exports and imports combined. We supply
less than one-sixth of the trade demand of those
valuable markets, and Europe over five-sixths.
The recent Paris Exposition, in which the
Spanish-Ameri lean Republics PLAYED a leading
part, has had a tendency to stimulate the
European monopoly. Sound public policy re-
quires that the Exposition be counterbalanced
by one at our own National Capital, and that
the leading and conspicuous feature be the
development OF more intimate commercial and
social relations between the Three Americas
An Exposition based upon this idea will be
the most profitable investment the United
States has ever made.
On the 31st of July, 1886, member OF your
Honorable Committee, the Senator from Com
necticut, said, upon the floor of the Senate:
las to the value of international expositions,
conducted with proper prudence and wisdom,
have not the slightest doubt in the world that
they pay abundantly the nations that hold
them. Never has one been held that, in
many respects, has not absolutely revolution
lied the industries of the country which held
it."
These remarks may be applied with double
an Exposition with an idea and the idea il
greater than the exposition, in that it aims at