The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-02
FOR ST, LOUIS FAIR
Ex-GoW D. R. Francis of Mis-
souri, Advocates
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE
Celebration in City of Saint
Louis in 1903.
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

Hon. David R. Francis, ex-governor Of
Missouri and secretary of the interior IN
der Cleveland, was greeted with great ap-
pIause when he appeared on the stage 10
speak on the subject Of the Louisiana
Purchase Fair at ST. Louis in 19O3 in COM
memoration Of the cession to the United
States by Napoleon of the vast area
composing most Of the Transmississippi
states. Mr.. Francis gave some inside his
1oricaI facts regarding the dealings with
Napoleon and lauded the wisdom of
Thomas Jefferson IN so readily grasping
the bargain which was offered to the new
republic. He plainly proved that Mr.. JEFF
fersOn, as well as Monroe and other great
1ren Of that time, were expansionists in
every sense.
When Monroe was ambassador to
France" said Mr.. Francis, me stated to
Napoleon that in his opinion the boundary
lines Of the Louisiana purchase were
rather indefinite, whereupon Napoleon
replied that IL We're better to have the
boundaries vague, inasmuch as the Aneri-
cans could designate the boundaries them
selves and, true to AngIo-SaXOn instincts,
would reach out for all they could get
And they did. The boundary supposed to
have been laid 10y Napoleon was after
wards wiped away and the Americans
reached out for and secured an additional
empire reaching to the western seas. Ma
poleon's forecast has been justified by all
events from that day 10 the late conquest
of the Philippines"
The audience applaUded unanimously at
this climax in Mr.. Francis speech, as
they did at every aIIusion to the Spanish
war or to expansion. The speaker then
drifted to the important subject Of COM
1nemorating the Louisiana purchase. St.
Louis, he said, being the most important
commercial city and the metropolis Of this
great tract, had undertaken to give the
country such an exposition as il had never
known before. He said the country need
ed more Of these expositions; that they
were abettors to civilization and lifted the
people TO a higher plane of living. He be
lieved that the country should have one
mammoth exposition similar to the
Worlds Fair at least every ten years.
There is no telling what science viii bring
forth within the next ten years, or even
between now and the time Of the Louisiana
Purchase exposition, as al of the great
sciences Of art and power are being de-
veloped so rapidly. He said that st. Louis
was preparing to give to the country one
of the grandest expostions the world had
ever seen. Already the work is well under
way. lie said the city proposed 10 raise
SIS 100000 for the fair. Five millions will
Zoe raised by popular subscription by the
citizens Of st. Louis, five milliors by bonds
TO be issued by the city, and five millions
will be borrowed from the government,
through an act Of congress. It was the
latter proposition which Mr.. Francis want
ed 10 impress upon the minds of the dele
gates to the Transmississippi congress, in
order to get the influence and co-opera-
4ion OF the delegates from the various
states. and further, that there may be
united sentiment created in favor az this
loan. He said the celebration would be
worth so, 900 from direct financial ben
leit.
The chairman announced that the time
limited to the speaker had been used, but
the audience demanded that Mr.. Francis
be allowed to continue, which favor was
accorded him by unanimous consent.
He made a decided impression upon the
congress and there is no doubt but that
whatever opposition existed to the great
celebration OF the one hundredth anniver-
Eary of the LOUISIANA purchase was elm
snated by his splendid address.