1034 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



These are great historical events of national, heiiiixpiierical, and world-wide im- 

 portance, which should be celebrated in a manner becoming the dignity, wealth, 

 and grandeur of the United states and of the three Americas. Pride, as well as 

 self-interest, in the success and advancement of repul)li(;an and American institu- 

 tions require that all Americans unite in paying tribute to these anniversaries. 



Your attention is therefore respectfully invited to some suggestions in regard to 

 the ceremonies which it seems to us would be appropriate and to a proposed per- 

 manent exposition which should remain as a lasting monument in honor of these 

 events. They are simply suggestions thrown out to attract other suggestions and to 

 stimulate discussion of a subject which is of transcendent political and practical 

 importance to the whole Western Hemisphere. 



To prevent any possible misunderstanding it may be well to state at the outset 

 that we who are advocating the proposed celebrations and exposition at the national 

 capital, desire that they be entirely under the auspices and control of the Gen- 

 eral Government. Both the magnitude and dignity of the project forbid its man- 

 agement by a private corporation. 



The subject of an exposition in 1892 has already been carefully considered in 

 several American cities besides Washington. 



More than a year ago a committee of representative and progressive citizens was 

 appointed in St. Louis to take stejjs toward its acquisition for that metroi)olis of 

 the Mississippi Valley. They secured the indorsement of a national convention of 

 fair and exposition managers, and have since then kept the subject prominently 

 before the press and public. 



During the past four or five months Chicago, with its usual enterprise, has held 

 several meetings to arrange for an exposition there in 1892, which movement is cor- 

 dially indorsed by the press and public of that city. 



During the past four months a promoting organization has been perfected in the 

 City of Mexico, composed chiefly of members of the press, to capture the same expo- 

 sition. They have already appealed to the general government of their Republic, 

 and an early and favorable response is expected. 



A year ago a meeting of some 200 or 300 Spaniards and Spanish-Americans was 

 held at Tammany Hall, New York City, to take preliminary steps toward a celebra- 

 tion in 1892 in honor of Columbus. 



Recently the subject of a world's fair in New York, in honor of the centennial of 

 the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, has been discussed in that 

 city. 



Recently, also, a bill was introduced in the United States Senate providing for a 

 constitutional centennial celebration at Washington in 1889 by the sixteen American 

 Republics in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the Constitution of the 

 parent Republic — the United States. 



In brief, two points are already settled by public opinion: First, that these great 

 historic events nuist be duly celel)rated in some American city; and, second, that 

 the exposition proposed in their honor should he the greatest the world ever 

 witnessed. 



Now, it is evident that great world's fairs can not l)e successfully held in four 

 American cities at the same time. In this connection the mind naturally turns 

 toward Washington, the capital of the United States — the capital of the leading 

 nation of the three Americas — the Paris of America in attractions and beauty, and a 

 city destined to be the Berlin of America in educational advantages. It is, therefore, 

 a city upon which all others can unite — the truly representative city of the western 

 hemisphere. 



Let us briefly consider a few of its many advantages: 



It is near the great centers of population, 'and easily accessible l)oth by rail and 

 water, as may be seen by a glance at the accompanying diagram. 



