In Which Mayor Mugwump Responds to Governor Mugwump

Our dear governor gave us a few interesting tidbits to consider, what with his examinations of the contrasts presented in the book. I feel compelled to answer his questions to the best of my ability, and hope to see more of his thoughts on the matter soon.

1) Where can an international/foreign influence be seen in the first part?

The first and most obvious influence that I can see from foreign entities is the one of Paris and its fair on the mindset of many Americans. They have this insatiable itch to show the French up, to "out-Eiffel Eiffel", as they often say. They want to show that they have superior engineering and ingenuity in America, perhaps due to the nationalism running throughout the country.

Another easily identifiable influence of foreign countries is the amount of excess labor in the country, seen mainly in how Holmes is so quickly and readily able to find new workers to replace old ones, and how expendable they are. This is because immigrants are coming to the country and need to find places to work, to earn money and start anew. Not that Holmes cares about that, really, but it is useful to him and his agenda.

2) Is the nationalism of the nation just a cover or is it true nationalism?

I feel as though it isn't exactly true nationalism, not yet, but it is a start. The conflict clear between the East and the West, as Governor Mugwump pointed out so eloquently, is clear evidence that the nation isn't entirely content with itself at this point. But it is trying very hard to pull together, and this over-eagerness to show off and appear strong to other nations seems a bit like a child who has gotten a new toy and isn't sure how to use it yet, but wants to brag about it regardless.

True nationalism, I think, would be seen if all Americans were just glad to see America put in a point of prestige in hosting the fair, rather than bickering about where it is to be put and who should be in charge of it. Then they could brag about it to France without the hindrance of irritation that it isn't in their home town. 

3) In what parts of the first 110 pages is presented information regarding the state of the government?

So far as I can tell, the most outright Larson gets in talking about the state of the government is the passage on pages 58-59 about Prendergrast and his expectation of of patronage. This does display how the government is corrupt, in that merely campaigning for a government official is expected to earn someone a job.

I suppose that I have a few questions, myself.

Is the fair a political, economic, or social idea? Or, to what extent is it each?

Why would it benefit Burnham to chose architects from the East and the West?

What are the differences between how Burnham is perceived by his country and then those close to him, as opposed to how Holmes is perceived by his country and those close to him?