The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26

another way-"The patriotism which faces
all duties; the strength which bears all
burdens
Governor Frnncis' speech.
He said: Gentlemen: On the 10th Of
January last there assembled in st.
Louis a convention of ninety-odd dele
gates, representing the States and
1 Territories in the Louisiana Purchase.
| They convened in compliance with
| the call of the Governor of Missouri
! for the purpose of considering the COM
memoration of the acquisition of the
Louisiana territory when its Tooth ami
versary shall roll around, four years hence.
Those delegates were appointed by their
respective governors and were representa-
tive men of the States and Territories
whence they came. They were earnest.
public spirited, patriotic, and cognizant OF
the sentiments of the communities and
Commonwealth for which they stood.
They realized as much as anyone can
what the purchase of the Louisiana terri
tory by Monroe and Livingston, under the
direction of Jefferson, meant for the
United States of 100 years ago. and what
an important, an indispensable part, that
addition to our domain played in the up
holding of our institutions and the estab
lishment of free government. They fully
endorsed, as you all will, the estimate in
which Jefferson held the Louisiana Pur-
chase, and that was as second in its i'm
portance and consequences only to the
Declaration of independence
They felt that the centennial of such
an event should be celebrated in man.
ner BETTING the dignity and magnitude
of the occurrence, and that this genera
ton would be derelict in its duty to its
forefathers and to the founder OF the Re-
public and untrue to itself, II it failed to
show its appreciation OF the blessings it
enjoys as the result of Jeffersons far
sighted work. In their wisdom your del
egates decided that nothing short of an
international exposition would comport
with the grand achievement they resolved
to celebrate. They agreed that the proper
| location for such an exposition is the
largest, wealthiest and most accessible city
in the purchase-St. Louisiana as Chair
man of the Executive Committee of the
Convention l was directed to say to the
people Of that city that il they would
raise for such an exposition an amount not
less than sl0,000.0 900 the people of the pur-
chase would pledge their moral and ma
terial support to the enterprise, and woul.i
lend their potential aid toward securing
for the exposition a loan of s. 000, 600 from
the Federal Government. The proposition
was made in due time to the people of st.
Louis and promptly accepted. Committees
have been organized and are now diligenc-
ly employed in that city formulating plans
for procuring the ten million dollars.
St. Louis Responsibility.
The substantial character of st. Louis
and her well-earned reputation for finan-
cial responsibility should leave no doubt
in the judgment of any fair-minded men as
to her ability to produce the sum required
The patriotic progressive people of that
city are in thorough and enthusiastic ac-
cord concerning this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and laboring man, merchant and manu-
facturer. employer and employe, learned
and uncultured, are all working in union
and in harmony for one end, and that is
the grandest exposition the world has
ever seen. Sentiment is aroused through
out the entire purchase. In every hamlet
| in Missouri the Worlds Fair in celebration
| of the Louisiana Purchase is considered
| foregone conclusion and all are beginning
| TO prepare for participation therein. In
| the neighboring States the legislatures now
| in session have passed resolutions of good
Will and pledging support. All are san
| guine OF success and they will achieve it
aye, they viii do more, they will deserve it,
We are here, therefore, tonight, my
| friends, representing convention of the
| States and Territories of the Louisiana
! Purchase and representing the city of St
| Louis, TO which that convention assigned
| a high duty, great responsibility, and
on behalf of the convention and the city
it honored, We bid you welcome We have
| invited you as national legislators repre-
senting the magnificent empire jefferson
bought to assemble here at the National
Capital for conference concerning the COM
| memoration of the most remarkable and
most valuable expansion that this or any
other country ever had. AS your constitu-
| ents We wish your aid and guidance We
have common obligation; let us cherish
a common interest. If We differ concern
| ing questions of policy. surely We are of
! one mind in regard to the incompatible
qualities of the land in which We dwell
and foster sincere and united desire for
its development and progress. We are
| alike proud of the record made by the
! States and Territories formed out of the
Louisiana Purchase and equally confident
OF their great future.
Including Washington and Oregon, but
not Texas, the Louisiana Purchase sends
TO Congress seventy-one Representatives,
! or one-lifth of the House. and thirty Sem
ators, or one-third of the Senate. The
united and enthusiastic efforts OF such rep
resentation, composed as 1t is of expert
enced, active, able men, can accomplish
any worthy object they undertake. We are
here to lay our plans before you. to ask
! your advice, and to enlist your co-opera-
tion. Do you question the merits of the
proposition? Consider for a moment what
| the Louisiana Purchase has contributed TO
| the wealth and glory OF the nation. In
! 1880 it contained over one-fifth of our en-
tire population, having increased 1853 per
cent from 1880 to 1890, while the increase
| of the whole country during the same
| period was but 24.S6 per cent. Between
| 1850 and 1890 your population grew six
| fold. while that of all the other States and
Territories only doubled. AT anything
near the same rate of increase the Louisi-
] ana Purchase will have over %. 600 900 peo-
| pie when this centennial celebration is
held, and then the territory will be but
| sparsely settled, its resources but partially
developed. Its population per square mile
is now only 9.79.
Great Wheat Crop.
I'm 1898 we raised the largest wheat crop
ever grown in this or any country-675,-
000. 900. The Louisiana Purchase contribu.
| ted over 81 per cent OF II, and that was
/ over one-seventh OF the wheat production
Of the world. 1t also yielded over 43 per
cent OF the corn crop of 1898. over 45 l-2
per cent Of the oats, over 46 per cent Of