Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-03
ONE VIEW OF THE EXPOSITION

The first international exposition held in the United States was located in Philadelphia, almost literally on the sea coast. For the second exposition of their pioneer ancestors and crossed the Alleghanies to reach Chicago. The third great fair is now to occur west of the Mississippi, in which fact there is deeper significance than has yet been realized. Certainly it has not been forcibly brought to public atten- ton.
 We do not mean to emphasize, of course, that the transfer to St Louis of the scenes of exposition activity in- dicates the westward trend of events. That goes without saying, being sit- uation apparent to the dullest mind. What is far more important IS that the Louisiana Purchase exposition will be an agency of tremendous force in knit ting together the American republic The nation will never divide into the north and the south. That attempted division was settled long since by fire and blood. The question whether the United States will ever separate into an eastern and western republic has, however, never been settled. It is not a wise or foolish subject for con sideration In the great west there is a rapidly increasing population which knows not the east, which has no ties %N ind {% &n %ho+ ory and tradition. Years ago the pi- oneers returned to the east to see the old homestead and to visit the graves of their parents. No such spirit ac- tuates the mind of the young westerner nowadays. Born in the west, he is of the west. He is proud to be known as native son of California, for i1l- stance, and to him all that lies east of the Mississippi river is as sealed book.
 Nor is this indifference conhued to western people. Very few east3rners have crossed the Mississippi, and 8 still smaller number have seen San Francisco. Thousands of Americans go to Europe where scores travel to California. It is curious fact, too, that the eastern newspapers print more matter from London or Paris, or even Berlin or Vienna, than theyagive space to affairs in our own country. IF these conditions should, in course of time, grow more acute it is not hard to believe that a separation of the east from the west might be suggested, and in that event the natural line of4cleav- age would be the Mississippi, Eiver, which naturally and geographically di- vides the great American domain.
 It is good thing, therefore, that this Louisiana Purchase exposition, with all it's beautiful architecture and magnificent display, is to be held on the western banks of the Mississippi. It will be magnet to attract hum dreds of thousands of people to see that mighty stream for the first time, and 1t will bring the citizens of the far West to n1ingle with the people of the East. The latter will discover from ac- tual experience how thoroughly American and progressive is the great Western domain, and the Westerners l will learn that the East is not alto gether given over to the accumulation of wealth. But the best part of the exposition will be the fact that the Mississippi River, as a possible bound ary line between two republics, will pass out of mind, but will, on the other hand, be the tie to more closely bind together the people of the most widely separated sections in the East and 1 West.