The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-03
One view Of the EXPOSITION.

The Grst international exposition
held In the United States was located
in Philadelphia, almost literally on
she sea coast. For the second exposi-
zion, the Eastern people followed athe
trail Of their pioneer ancestors and
crossed the Alleghenies to recah Chi
cago. The third great fair is now, to
occur west of the Mississippi, in which
TACT there is deeper significance than
has yet been realized. Certainly it has
mot been foreibly brought TO public
aSsention.
We do not mean to emphasize, of
course, that tine transfer to st. Louis
Of the scenes of exposition activity IN
dicstes the westward trend OF events.
That goes without saying, being
siSaation apparent to the dullest mind.
What is far more important is that
She Louisiana Purchase Exposition
viii be an agency of tremendous force
ia Knitting together the American
rspublic, 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 Wes-
tern republic has, however, never
1nma settled. Tt is not a wild or
foolish subject for consideration. In
fhe great Vest there is rapidly IN
creasing population which knows not
ehe East, which has no ties TO olno
st 20 that section except memory and
tradition. Years ago the pioneers re-
turned to the East to see the old home
stead and to visit the graves Of their
uarenss. No such spirit actnates the
mind Of the young Westerner nova
days. Born in the West, he is of the
West. He is proud to be known as a
native son of California, for instance,
and to him all that lies east Of the
Mississippi River is as "a sealed book.
Nor is this Indifference confined to
Western people. Very few Fasteners
have crossed the mississippi, and
still smaller number have seen San
Francisco. Thousands Of Americans
90 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 orSVienna, than they give
space to affairs west Of the Rocky
Mountains in our own country. II
these conditions should, in course OF
tine, grow more acute it is not hard
tebelieye that separation Of the East
rom the West might be suggested, and
~M that event the natural line OF cleav-
aye would be the Mississippi River,
WGich naturally and geographically
divides the great American domain.
1t is good thing, therefore, that
this Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
with all its beautiful architecture and
znagnifcent display, is to be held on
the western banks of the Mississippi.
Is will be q magnet TO attract hun
dreds of thousands Of people to see that
mighty stream for the first time, and
it will bring the citizens Of the far
West to mingle with the people of the
East. The latter will discover from
actual experience how througbsy
American and progressive is the great
western domain, and the Westerners
will learn that the Eass is not al
together given over to the accumula::
F5en of wealth. But the best part OF
the exposition will be the fact that
the Mississippi River, as possible
boundary line between two repuollcs,
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
she East and West.-The Washington
Post.
What is probably the biggest lccomo-
frCj hoos, l.