The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY %, 1899.
The st. Louis Exposition.

The proposition that the Government
should interest itself largely in the st.
Louis Exposition of 1908 was preached at
a noteworthy banquet in this city last
night The event that is its oc
casion transcends in importance the Co
iumbus discovery so successfully cele-
brated in Chicago, and appeals most di-
rectly and ardently to American sentiment.
Among the historic achievements OF the
Republic the acquisition of the Louisiana
territory must always rank high. In the
eastern border of that vast purchase.
which now includes thirteen States and ex-
tends from the northern boundary of the
United States to the Gulf, lies the COM
mercial community OF St. Louis. hun
dred years ago much Of the French pos
session was still unexplored, and the prop
ositlon to add it TO the already extensive
and thinly settled Republic was condemned
as folly. Prophetic voices were raised
against burdening the new-made nation
with traekless plains and painless forests
and with hordes of savages No white
men could ever endure the bitter climate
of the Northwest, and already there were
territories as far west as the Mississippi
Valley which could provide homes for the
population of future centuries.
Today St. Louis is but few miles from
the centre of population of the Republic
Within a radius of few hundred miles of
that centre are many millions of the most
productive people. The States formed from
the Louisiana territory, among the most
Tsr-Tf tH in ha
have added enormously to the sum of our
national wealth and supply no small part
of the surplus products which We send
abroad visiting Englishman who had
read Dickens American Notes" and had
no conception of the changes OF half a CEN
tury in this country, was overwhelmed by
his experiences in the Mississippi Valley
and in the Ear West That he should
travel so far TO St Louis TO find a sub
stantial, great city, and then on and on,
through prosperous towns and cultivated
farms, to the rich city of Denver-still
within the French possession that had
been unexplored a century ago-oppressed
MIN with sense of the inconceivable
greatness OF America He was bewildered
and appalled,, not so much by the bigness
OF the country. as by the marks of ciyiliza-
lion that ran from sea TO sea.
No man now questions the wisdom of
the expansion policy of Jefferson which
brought in the Louisiana territory and pro-
lected the acquisition of so much of Mex
leo as has passed into our hands The anti
expansionists Of his time were sincere. and
TO more than double the area of the Re-
public seemed to them a lust of empjre
that approached madness. II they had sue
ceeded in preventing the contamination OF
Jeffersons ambition for his country we
may fancy into what deeps of trouble we
should have been plunged before a wiser
France would have relinquished her claim
TO territory OF such incompatible richness
Surely no nation has been more fortunate
in having opportunity precede necessity
than our own.
The event warrants such a celebration OF
its centenary as few in our history are en-
titled to-a celebration dictated by an in
teiiigent understanding of its importance
and by sense of gratitude that the great
Democratic statesman should have fore
seen its necessity to the future welfare Of
the country. He was opposed by the Fed
eralists. who were ever half-hearted in
their republicanism. His craftsmanship
was always constructive, as witness no,
only the Declaration of Independence, but
also his first platform Of principles and his
advocacy OF territorial expansion. His
trust was in the people. This all lends to
the projected great exposition at St Louis
another and a more immediate interest
The same large considerations that inspired
Jefiersons zeal for an extension of our
boundaries-the future greatness of the Re-
public-are the basis of new enterprise In
the Pacific. Jefferson foresaw the western
movement OF the increasing population o;
America and he had such faith in republi-
can institutions that he would resery.
every foot of the continent for freedom
The statesmen of today know that the
future great events OF the world will trans.
pire on the shores OF the Pacific Ocean
The monarchies OF the Old World are en-.
gagged in a diplomatic struggle for a pre-.
ponderating influence in the East that NAV
become q physical conflict Save America
there is no power that seeks to reserve
any part OF that ocean border for repub-
licanism. Into our hands at a critical hour
once more like an intervention of Proyi-
dence. falls the particular stretch OF ISL
npds that can endow America with poIiti-