Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-02
FORTY YEARS IN RETROSPECT.

FORTY YEARS IN RETROSPECT.
King Edward has selected his eldest
son to be chairman of a royal commits
sion on the representation of Great
Britain at the st. Louis exposition and
the inference is drawn from this fact
that the prince will visit the fair and
tour the United States next year. His
probable visit is remlndful of his
fathers visit to the country in 1860,
and of the transformation that has
taken place here within the forty-three
years that have elapsed since a prince
of Wales has visited America. When
Edward was here in 1860 the volcanic
changes which accompanied and fol-
lowed the civil war had not taken place.
Buchanan was writing his message on
slavery that kindled the north like a
fire-brand. South Carolina had not
passed the ordinance of secession and
the campaign which made Abraham
Lincoln president was in progress. II
was the year of the establishment of the
'pony express" which carried mail be-
tween st. 10, Mo-, and Sacramento,
Cal, at the rate of S. in gold for a
quarter ounce. A Japanese embassy,
the first ever sent by Japan to any
other power. visited the United States
to ratify the treaty made previously.
They reached San Francisco in March
and arrived at Washington in May, a
trip now accomplished in less than four
days. The Atlantic cable had not
been attempted when Edward crossed
to America.
Figures interesting in this connection
were recently given by a writer in an
eastern publication. Congressional
power was divided between the demo-
cratic party and the republicans. In
the senate there We're thirty-eight DEM
ocrats TO twenty-siX republicans, but
in the house the republicans We're 113
to 1O1 democrats. The Know-Nothing
aSitdiIpl, NHtSi NosS "NAS>
had been intense turnout the union,
was dying out. yet in this Thirty-sixth
congress there were two Native Amer
leans in the senate and as many as
twenty-three in the house. 1t is note
worthy that these Americans We're
all from the southern states. The two
.z,.,+or /, f,.nn, LvantttalsNr and
Maryland respectively. The twenty
three representatives We're: Seven
Tennessee, five from Kentucky,
Dom North Carolina, three from
Maryland, two from Georgia and one
each from Virginia and Louisiana.
ST. Louis at the time referred to had
about 100000 inhabitants. Now she has
more than 500, 900. Chicago's popula-
ton now counted by millions, was then
less than no. 900. New York then. as
now, the metropolis, had less than
500, 000r and hundreds of minor cities,
at that time undreamed of, have be-
come the trade centers of the then I'M
developed west.
We shall have more for the present
prince to see Than we Were able to
show his father. From a crude country
cursed with slavery, and a currency
that made commerce a game of chance,
the United States a blossomed into 4
physically. commercially and indus
trially, great and powerful nation
within the forty-three years that have
elapsed since Edward met his splendid
welcome here. We shall be glad to
show these changes to his son. Whether
or not the young prince shall conclude
to taste our hospitality next year. the
rumor of his intention has induced
national retrospection and ret~rospection
is a good thing for nations as well as
individuals.