[Illustration. BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS, COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION, CHICAGO, 1892-93] “My Country, ’Tis of Thee!” OR, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. A PHILOSOPHIC VIEW OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND OF OUR PRESENT STATUS, TO BE SEEN IN THE COLUMBIAN EXHIBITION. BY WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON, A. M., AUTHOR OF “STANLEY’S ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,” “HISTORY OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD,” “A LIFE OF GENERAL SHERMAN,” ETC. GREAT ISSUES OF THE FUTURE, AS VIEWED BY OUR MOST PROMINENT EDITORS AND EMINENT MEN OF OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING PRESIDENT HARRISON, EX-PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, SENATOR SHERMAN, JUDGE THURMAN, CARDINAL GIBBONS, BISHOP FOSS, BISHOP POTTER, T. V. POWDERLY, GENERAL SCHOFIELD, ADMIRAL PORTER, AND MANY OTHERS. BY JOHN HABBERTON, AUTHOR OF “A LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON,” ETC., AND EDITOR OF “THE SELECT BRITISH ESSAYISTS.” ILLUSTRATED. INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING CO., 44 N. 4th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 134 E. Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill. 1892. Copyright, 1892, by B. W. URIAN. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS. WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. GENTLEMEN: With reference to your request for an introductory note, allow me to assure you that it affords me great pleasure to speak to the masses through the medium of your excellent book. Thanking you for the courtesy, I am, Yours most truly, [Illustration: Signature of Bertha M. H. Palmer Pres. B. L. M.] THE PURPOSES OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS OF THE WORLD’S COLUMBIAN COMMISSION. The Board of Lady Managers of the World’s Columbian Commission, having been created and authorized by the concurrent action of Congress and the Columbian Commission, to take entire charge of the interests of women at the coming Exposition, desires to develop to the fullest extent the grand possibilities which have been placed within its reach. The Board wishes to mark the first participation of women in an important national enterprise, by preparing an object lesson to show the progress made by women in every country of the world, during the century in which educational and other privileges have been granted her, and to show the increased usefulness that has resulted from the enlargement of her opportunities.