The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-17
ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THE EAST AND THE WEST.

THE EAST AND THE WEST.
The New York Commercial in an editorial express
sion commencing congress for cutting down the
appropriation asked for the Lewis and Clark expos
tion advances some opinions that are decidedly In
line with those usually expressed by easterners The
Commercial believes the exposition business is be-
ing overdone and says that, while the Lewis and
Clark expedition was no doubt an important en-
terprise 'it is hardly of sufficient significance to
warrant the commemoration of it in the manner pro-
posed by the people of Portland Portland, the
Commercial goes ON to say, is city of "only 10000
inhabitants situated in remote corner OF the re-
public and out of the usual line of travel 1t is
new city this New York pillar of knowledge as
sures us and around it cluster no historic asSocia-
tons that would justify the holding of the fair, or
enttle the proposal any consideration at the hands
of the national congress-
Presumably we ought to be thankful for the con-
eesson that the Lewis and Clark expedition was mo
doubt an important enterprise 1t can be readily
understood that the who, early ID the last cen
tury, fought their way through 5000 miles OF will
derness to add to the nation of its most important
sections of country have no historic interest for the
vastly superior resident of Hoboken and is equally
plain that your efete New Yorker wants nothing of
the great west except its money 1t little concerns
those of the Atlantic slope that the Lewis and Clark
expedition was distinctly a government enterprise,
instituted at time when st. Louis was village of
few hundred souls and there were no white habi-
tations beyond it. That Captains Lewis and Clark
risked their lives to insure American domination of
the best part of North America and the opening of all
that portion of our country west of the Missouri
river is circumstance which does not appeal to the
Dutchman whose explorations consisted of sea
voyage and whose interest in the actual advancement
Of the country ended with his money-making pro-
penstieS What does it matter that Lewis and Clark
made possible the great west! Why should the con.
gress appropriate the enormous sum of $475O00 in
aid of the Lewis and Clark fair when the money goes
to help the people of the Pacific coast Who are these
coast people, anyway? Three or four million in.
ferior beings who do not own foot of property in
New York-rank outsiders who are enjoying Ameri-
latitude because of the suferance of the people
or New 0rk
For the sake of history we ought to congratulate
ourselves that the New York antpathy for the west
does not dominate congress. Most real Americans
feel pardonable pride in the achievements of their
forefathers They wish to commemorate those events
IN our history which have built up the greatest
nation of the world in 100 years We are not ready
to confess that residence on the Pacific coast is
crime, or even disgrace; in fact have been proud
our western country. But we will confess and en-
phatlcally, tOO that we are ashamed of that scrub
class OF Alleged Americans that entertans so little
regard for historic career as to bette the enter
prise Of such insignificant" community as state
OF half a million people We westerners, who are
proud of New York City because it happens to be-
the American metropolis, are wasting our public
spirit as the protest against the apportionment Of
the stupendous sum Of $475,O0O would tend to con-
vince u.s. . ..s..s~. "a. .-..-..