New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-30
ST. LOUIS.

81. Louis is to-day in popular inter- Anu
attention, the capital of the United States ana
a centre of observation for the world 1t Is
the scene Of the most extensive and imposing
Of international exhibitions. There are dis
played the most ingenious inventions of the
human mind aud the most perfect fabrications
of human skill. There are gathered representa-
tive men of the best types from all lands ana
nations. There. in brief, is an eptome OF the
world in ifs latest and therefore its best estate
Upon such a spectacle mankind must look with
sympathy.
The United States, while sharing fully the
sentiments OF all the world upon this occasion,
has special reasons of its own, of an authorlta-
tive kind, for regarding ST. Louis with peculiar
interest 1t is now nearly fifty-one years since
the first worlds fair in this country was opened
That was in New-YOrk. and it was as great an
ENTERPRISE for that day the st. Louis falr
is Tor the present time 1t was organized ana
held simply as n fair, without regard To the
celebration Of any anniversary. But as sue
cessors. Of which the present is the third. nave
been distinctly commemorative That at fhlla-
dephia in 1876 marked the centenary OF the
Declaration of Independence That at Chicago
in 1893 marked-a year behind the calendar-
the fourth centenary of the Columbian discov-
cry of America 1t will be well TO consider
what event is commemorative year behind
the timely this latest and greatest OF them
all that is worthy thus 10 he ranked with the
august achievements Of 1892 and 1I16.
II would perhaps be an exaggeration 10 say
that the purchase Of Louisiana was momen-
tous an event in its bearing upon the affairs or
the whole world as the discovery OF America
or the declaration Of American independence
We NAV. however. unhesitatingly place it fore
most among supplementary, or even compile
mentary. achievements. 1t was the work of
o. 4a,o do EDo World
the Old; but X was the work Of Jefferson and
mis- colleagues. more than three centuries later.
that determined what racial and political dis
position should be made Of the dominant por-
ton Of that new world. In the Declaration or
Independence jefferson eloquently set forth the
aspirations and the resolutions of the American
States; but ii was in the purchase OF Louisiana,
more than a quarter of century later, that he
practically assured the permanent maintenance
OF their independence. Not until lSl5 was IL
made sure that The Anglo-Saxon rather than
the Latin race should dominate the North
American continent. Not until then was it
made certain that the United States would ex-
pand to continental limits. and moi be COM
PEELED 10 share this continent with some other
power that might rival or actually surpass II
in size and strength.
ST. Louis therefore celebrates, and at st.
Louis the American nation celebrates, the
event which extended our domain from tne
Atlantic 10 the Pacific and from the Lakes 10
the Gulf and which made the longest river
in the world exclusively our own from source
TO mouth; the event which freed us forever
from the danger of rival American power
that might menace our independence Those
features Of that event would Justify the state
lest commemoration it was within our power
TO give But they are not all. We celebrate
to-day an event which made this nation know
itself. and know itself 10 he indeed nation.
with all the privileges and powers of any other
nation-able 10 acquire new territories. 10 hold
them and TO govern them according 10 its viii
and Ito 10 all other acts and things which SOW
ereiSn states may OF right do"
These things Are the supreme significance or
this occasion. The triumphs OF art and indus
try are shared by all the world. The attend
ing multitudes will bring us greetings from all
the world. 1t is international exhibition.
But in the international we must not forget
the national. The celebration and the display
are international in the widest sense. but the
occasion itself is nationa, in the strictest and
most effective sense. We celebrate the rising
of the young Republic TO the full stature of
realized and triumphant nationality.