The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-03
An object Lesson in Expansion.

pen and ink of prophecy.
An object Lesson in Expansion.
The argument OF the Hon. James A.
Tawney of Minnesota in favor of holding a
great international exposition at st. Louis
in 1903, to commemorate the centennial
anniversary o, the acquisition of the Louis
lana Territory, should appeal with pecu-
liar force to every member Of Congress.
Mr.. Tawney calls attention to the TACT
that, since the Worlds Fair at Chicago,
there have been annexed to the United
States fourteen million people, who, save
for few Of the more intelligent. are en-
tirely unacquainted with our institutions
and have but poorly formed notions of the
greatness Of the nation 20 which they now
owe allegiance. AS Mr. Tawney points
out. We owe to these peoples. and we owe
IL to ourselves. to see to it that II they
remain under our sovereignty they are to
be made as contented and prosperous as it
is practicable for us to make them. And
even if We should conclude to part with the
Philippines contingency which we do
not regard as at all likely to arise-then
we would not fulfill our duty to c!viliza-
ton unless We afforded the Filipinos ev-
cry opportunity within our power sue
cessfully to work cut their destiny with
our lofty ideals as their guide. 1t is OBJ
vious, therefore, that whether considered
from the expansion CT the anti-expansion
standpoint, the holding of a great inter-
national exposition in the metropolis Ct
that section Of the country known as the
Louisiana Purchase would be helpful TO
the contamination of our duty to our new
citizens and to civilization. Their repre-
sentative men would attend the exposition
and go back among their people as mis-
sionaries.
The centennial anniversary of the Louis
lana Purchase is an event in American his
tory of sufficient Importance 10 justify its
celebration on the broad and comprehen-
sive scale proposed. but when TO this rea-
son for its fitting observance are linked the
greater reasons for what it would accom-
plish for rs in our new mission as a world
power, the argument in favor of it is I'M
answerable. The proposition made TO the
Federal Government by the promoters of
the 6ApbSlAlOh ID lABti al buoAht5o mt
The city of St. Louis offers to contribute
ten million dollars, the State of Missouri
one million dollars, and all the other
States in the Purchase can be relied upon
to make liberal contributions for their
proper representation. The amount asked
from the Federal Government is five mil
lion dollars, which is less than half the
amount ST. Louis and Missouri stand ready
to subscribe. In view OF the vast national
benefits which would result from the ex-
position we are of the opinion that Con-
gross should make prompt and favorable
response to the request OF the Louisiana
Purchase States.
The proposition belongs to that category
of affairs brought before Congress which
are received with indifference rather taan
with opposition because they do not appeal
either 10 partisanship or to special inter-
ests. There can be no politics in this
worlds fair proposition. because the sec
ton directly concerned contains in iS.s
great sweep Democrats and Republicans in
about equal numbers, with a notably large
sprinkling OF PoDulists and nondescripts.
But it should arouse the active interest
of every member of Congress who appre-
cfates the tremendous personalities usb-
cred in with the acquisition by the nation
of distant territory and alien peoples No
finer object lesson in expansion could be
afforded the country and the world than an
exposition of the character proposed. In
deed, the central thought. the vital force of
the projected enterprise Is the principle of
the extension OF our domain and sover-
eighty. That tsought would be uppermost
in the mind of everybody who attended
the exposition.
The enterprise will perforce be aban-
doned by its promoters unless Congress at
this session affords the encouragement
contained in the bill now pending before
special committee appointed by Speaker
Henderson to consider the subject. The
chief danger to the bill seems to reside in
the indifference to which we have re-
ferred, and also in the not improbable like
lihood that in their eagerness to force ad-
journment before any more mistakes are
made the Republican managers may so
crowd the calendar of Congress with other
measures as to shut out the St Louis
Worlds Fair bill. II therefore behooves
the friends Of the proposition to look close
ly to its safety at this time.