The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-24
liberty on the Western Hemisphere. and Its prop

liberty on the Western Hemisphere and Its prop
agation throughout the civilized world.
whose and aIs smes caused the
friends of freedom to doubt the sapatity y. OF
tial safeguard in tn. preservation of our inde-
rendencc. which could hardly have survived , he
sssppl and tn" lands west thereof. But even :e,,
II that crisis had been passed what ID do .o, you
civil struggle for union and the abolition no OF
slavery? You may say it would not have come; come;
country could not exist half free and half SLAVE
or France controlling this side Of the Father of
Waters division of Sar enu1 Woa have
sued and the cause Of human liberty have been
retarded century or more in its triumphant
Turning from the probabilities. see the real.
ties The world stands aghast at .ne h,'.anHy III ,
WaAT SSdslI1F'VSsi WORLDS
FAIR CELEBRATES.
ton had a Comprehensive view Of the Importance
OF the event i, was INTENDED to MN .rsis.
ent efforts Throughout the country M have ,,hio en-
SnS as 70 a1 Bss ats ss
established headquarters at washington IN the
Preat ESposon to
the four -hundredth anniversary Of the discovery
When in February. 1890. Congress- Wisely wisely de- Dc
eided in favor of Chicago @ as that lofaon nro ~,
sed dS her Jealous support to the great
ing and informally served notice on Congress % ana
the Queen City Of the Louisiana Purchase. Gel,
ehration of character and masnitude that would
ftly commemorate the immortal achievement of
Jefferson. As Columbus. in the stately and i'm
o "rdS Ss d Of M e
new 80 did Jefferson secure to US and to man
he df se f ousana by
FIRST STEPS IN
THE UNDERTAKING..
From time to time the celebration of this event
labor. ds 'ts social and olsanzations and
by the press Of this and other sections sect m p If you
q this city January 1896; an Intsrna,ona1
celebration i Of the Louisiana purchase: The move
@ os tse aes &C. in ons asss fhs
ETY. at the suggest9n Of Its then president Mr.
interest up to the present hour.
esa tee s been ad %e S1
guns at Manila reverberatins around the the sobea oEa
that the cause OF human rights. In North Amer
lea. at least. is the cause of the Republic
by THAT With
nation which for scores OF years was mistress }I 3I
was more tar.reachins in its effects and iniu;
calculate or imagine. Interference by other ma
tions was happily avolded-whether by fear or
was vas short-lived but decisive. and placed the
American Keruse in different fer err relation Sa9nr to he the
melting cause of the contest Vas In In x,s keeping
srastss cr ana in nf
the fruits Of our victory will be preserved 4, 70
by Sns fass wss 1s to @
depend the sentiment Of our a3G ,hsr Snd
snS aa e
Speaking for myself, have supreme confidence
the outcome and believe 1t can ,rs ne o% nre
by the celebration for which We are no" pre-
pairing.
DIFFICULTIES ARE
FOUND IN THE WAY.
The war with spain national and other cleo
our plans and retarded OUR progress so that fuii
three years have elapsed since this movement nov nen
charged with negligence or indifference but the t.
relerred to have rendered he tack peeua1,yy ,1ay
Our mark in the The beginning sa a ascsea Eas Ssa to
secure that sum before one step should be
taken toward preparations for the Exposition m,
the EXECUTIVE Committee Of the Louisiana Pur-
held in this city y.na On the he Pre- sbe
aoSsrnor eaSas sa' Of this STATE Honorable ISn sts
a for sne the ope 9
Louisiana Purchase. 1t was composed OF dele.
qd by wG
Governors and by Unanimous vote It 1esoTe
1s nnF in 0s Sy all
hibiting the progress and development OF the
proposed wosd to te The
c"mprehensive. the object in the highest degree
ss .eu and oi the
ley was selected as the proper de1arates plesaed
abe an sxpport Of their respective states. the
sponsbty for the proper ,nsdsu. sarsyas out nee Sa
ally devolved upon the city OF st. Louis.
WORK GROWS AS
1T ADVANCES.
1 chosen chairman OF the Executive Com
asa inc'antly sesspsne tse though. fully
appreciated the maxnitude Of its duties subse
the SIS 900 to be secured 900 900 was to come
D cd debt. G = 90 from the Federal aovernment
ssa fPurs to sssu2e
from each and every one Of these m g meant s
had far exceeded its constitutional limit Of debt.
and therefore no increase would be lawful unless
tuition Of the state which could only be amended
by the vote Of the people al regular election
regular sl1 session. No regular election could be
held nesry tive G as ,h regular Sss, es S
Legislature. however was prompt to submit the
amendment. and the people OF the city and State
were as prompt to adopt 1t when election day
The arst and most difficult task has been to
The day after the Executive Committee Of the
| Louisiana Purchase Convention adjourned. on
January II. 1899. assumed the right to suggest
for chairman of the Finance Committee man
who. in my judgment. was OF all men best fitted
to perform the onerous and delicate duties OF that
responsible position. My great fear was that the
magnitude and variety Of the interests whose
care he had accepted. and the state OF his health,
would prevent him from assuming the great and
unenviable task.
WORDS OF PRAISE FOR
WILLIAM II. THOMPSON.
But he was impelled by a sense OF patriotic
duty inspired with civic pride, and his prompt
reply to my appeal was that he had been think
ing the matter over since reading the proceed
the great Undertaking in any position to which
he might be assigned. He was at once made
chairman Of the Finance Committee and the
work OF procuring the 600 by private sub
scription was begun You do not need to be told
that the man to whom l allude is Mr.. William
H. Thompson He will tell you OF the Difficult
ties encountered. the rebuffs and discouraGements
met with. but he will not relate to you how his
answering confidence in the worthiness OF our
cause his immovable determination to succeed.
have cheered and sustained his associates and
followers. Nor will he admit that his tenacity Of
purpose. his unit, ::; persistence. his resource
have brought about the completion Of tho 5000
600 subscription. but make the statement that
such is the case. and know there are many
within the sound OF my voice who Will TESTIFY
to Its truth.
The remaining S. 900 from the General Gov
ernment was so recently secured that it Is fresh
in your minds We have with us this evening as
honored guests men who rendered valuable as
sistancs In that branch OF the work. and who