Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-06-01

dld ne raise mp La sale 10 accomplish
as grand and extraordinary work in
conducting his people through the
trackless wilderness Oh the New World
and down the mighty and mysterious
river Mississippi for two thousand miles
s'unto the great sea toward the going
down OF the SUM-
Like Moses, he was permitted 20
diff up his eyes westward and north
ward and southwark and eastward, f" and
behold the goOdIy land that stretched
itself so grandly and temptingly before
him; but he was never permitted to
possess il.
On the ninth Of April, 1852, just two
hundred years ago, La Sale stood &c
the mouth Of the Mississippi, his divine
mission accomplished. Amid the deaf
ening roar Of the great gulf as It met
the turbid waters. of the mighty river
rolling at his feet, the discharge Of fire.
arms, and the solemn chant Of the Te
Dsana he took possession Of all the
country hehad trayersed ''in the name
Of the most high. mighty, invincibIe
and victorious prince, Louis the Great,
by the grace of God, King Of France
and Navarro" fourteenth OF that name,
and in honor Of his majesty, called il
Louisiana.
TO his king he gave the greatest en-
pire of modern times; to Christendom
the grandest territory on the globe, and
to the still advancing multitudes from
the Old World, ''the most magnificent
dwelling place prepared by God for
mans abode"
Three Of the mig ghtiest kingdoms Of
the earth struggled for possession Of
this imperial domain, and for while it
seemed as if victory poised the laurel
wreath of triumph in doubtful hesita-
tion;" but the God Of battles'' prevail
ed over the wars and wisdom Of the Old
World, and crowned this people with
the diadem of liberty. For all time it
was to be nation Of free men and
women-not one spot to be left to the
dominion Of despots.
Itcould not have been for glory, gain
or the mere love Of adventure, that such
a n an as La Sale entered into the exc
cution of project that involved years
Of unyielding struggle against dangers,
difficulties and adversely that would
have daunted any but the spirit Of a
hereof untold sufferings, miraculous
escapes and at last the sacrifice of his
life. 1t does indeed seem as il be were
excited to it by Divine inspiration,
and that his fearlessness and fortitude
were not only the result Of conscious
integrity Of purpose, but of faith in
Divine guidance and protection.
So it would seem that by Divine
decree Louisiana was incorporated into
the Union, and her vast territory, reach
ing from the Northern lakes to the Cult
Of Mexico, has been carved into numer-
GUS States, each sovereignty occupying
proud position in the eyes Of the
whole world.
The accumulated wealth of untold
agee, during which lavish nature had
been depositing her treasurers into the
great Delta-was poured into the lap OF
the Union.
BY virtue of her glorious gifts, Louis
lana might with justice assume the most
favored place amongst the States of this
Union. As it is although but a frag-
ment Of her former self, the most vital
part, the heart Of the original Louisiana
remains-and sitting at the gate Of the
great Father of Waters, the guardian OF
its mysteries and mines OF wealth, and
sovereign of The sea that lays its treas
ures at her feet-who shall say that she
is not destined By the development oi
her limitless resources, her position, her
spirit Of progress, her liberty and her
laws to become the first State in inAu-
ence and power as she was In territory