Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-27

THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
Papers Read This Morning Before the
American Historical Association.
THE INFLUENCE OF GOV. cAss IN DEVELOPING
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE AcoUr-
sIT1oNs IN THAT DIRECTION ON THE GROWTH
AND PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY.
The savage countenances Of Catlins' painted
Indians, ranged around the lecture-room of
the national museum, gazed this morning with
aboriginal stoicism down on about one hundred
enthusiasts in history while Prof. A. c. Nc
Laughlin, Of the University of Michigan, told
how Gov. Cass, in the early years of the terri
torial government Of Michigan, had subdued
the warlike red man and punished the copper
colored law-breaker.
In the central, high-backed chair, with .
huge blackboard for background, sat Prof.
VIM. F. Poole, librarian of the Newberry
library, Chicago, the president Of the Ameri-
can historical association, and the audience
which he faced was composed about equally of
members of the association and of those who
would probably like to be members. At
table on the lower platform was seated Secre-
tary Herbert B. Adams, associate professor of
history at Johns Hopkins university.
The INFLUENCE OF GOV. cAss.
Prof. McLaughlin's paper was entitled ''The
Influence of Gov. Cass upon the DEVELOPMENT
OF the Northwest" and its reading was listened
to with marked attention. Especially interest
ing were those portions of the address where
reference was made to the mastery diplomacy
OF Gov: Cass in his dealings with the British
authorities then endeavoring to extend the in
huence OF England in the great northwest.
The intrepidlty OF the governor was discussed
at length and illustrated by few strong in
stances, the results of which were seen in the
greater safety OF life and property under the
latter portion of his administration. Prof.
Mclaughlin, in concluding his paper, said that
Michigan had at last recognized in Lewis Cass
one OF the men to whom she owed much, and
In little while statue Of her first governor
states
IN THE HALL OF sTATuARY IN THE CAPITOL.
President Adams, of Cornell university, said
that some of the history treated by Prof. Nc
Laughlin would not be weakened by little ex-
PLANTATION and reassertion. Very briefly he
stated the points he desired to make more
clear and then he gave way to Mr.. Frederick J.
Turner, OF Johns Hopkins university, who read
the paper OF Prof. W. T. Allen, Of the Univer-
sity OF Wisconsin, on
''THE PLACE OF THE NORTHWEST IN GENERAL
The paper called attention to the fact that
this year was the three hundredth anniversary
OF the settlement of this country, for in 1888
(the armada year, Spain had a strong hold on
North America, and twenty years later both
France and England had permanent colonies
here. The rapid and unexpected changes in
national supremacy in Europe we're shown to
have had their effect in this country, and Prof
Allen traced clearly the parallels Of power on
both sides Of the Atlantic.
THE SECRET OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
was alleged to be found in the fact that freed
from fear of the French power on their Dor
ders, the colonies were able to assert their
rights and to give fuller development to the
treasures of English liberties, English institu-
tions and English civilization bequeathed them
by the mother country. Four points Of espe-
cial Importance were emphasized by the profess
sor. The first one was that the title to the
northwest belonged to three great nations
Spain, France and England-which, in the 10TH
18th and 18th centuries, respectively, possessed
the acknowledged leadership among the
European states.
ENaLANDs LEADERSHIP IN THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY.
Secondly, the leadership acquired by En-
gland in the eighteenth century was integrally
associated with the building up of the British
empire, and the decisive fact in the formation
Of this empire was the acquisition from France
OF that enormous territory Of which the north
west Is the center-the keystone Of the arch
Third, the imperial destiny of the United
States hung upon the possession of the north
west; but for the military success of Clark and
the diplomatic skill of our commissioners in
negotiating the treaty of peace. in securing
just this territory, our domain would have been
contracted, our national aspirations would have
had no scope, and it Is not likely that there
would have been the courage to make the pur-
chase of Louisiana and the subsequent acqui-
sitions. Fourth, the development of our ma
tiOnal policy was closely connected with, and,
In fact, first took shape in the ordinance which
organized this territory. Our territorial sys-
tenn, our policy of creating new states, our ma
tional guarantee of personal freedom, uni
versal education and religious liberty found
their first expression in the great act which
provided for the government of the north
west"
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE WEST
''The history of higher education in the
Northwest" was the title of the next paper.
which was by Prof. Geo. W. knight, of the
Ohio state university. After the professor had
complimented Commissioner Of Education
Dawson and Secretary H. b. Adams on their
labors in behalf Of higher education, he went
on TO DISCUSS his subject in an exhaustive man
ner. The first congressional aid given to
higher education was bestowed upon the old
northwest territory, and that part Of the coun-
try shows IN its educational growth the benefit
Of the treatment accorded it. Stress was laid
upon the fact that Ohio has buried more
colleges than any other state has ever
founded and still holds the premier position.
The methods and theories upon which the col
leges and universities Of the northwest terri
tory were organized were treated Of at consid-
cradle length, and especial attention was given
to the evolution of the state university, and its
connection with the educational system of the
state. Statistics were introduced to show the
number of colleges and universities in the five
states of the territory, and Ohio's supremacy
was declared with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan
and Wisconsin following in the order to which
they were entitled. The professor argued that
it was not the original intention of Congress to
found state universities, for the first grant was
made in 1857 to q private institution which was
expected thereafter to work out its own exist
ence.
MAJOR POWELL.
The next lecturer was not in harmony,
physically, with the three who had just pre-
ceded him. All three were young men with an
appearance that emphasized their youthful
ness very considerably. Their reading was of
that neutrality-suspicious. character which
comes OF the modern school of elocution. The
one who succeeded them was of another kind.
His broad shoulders we're surmOunted by a
large head. A full beard and moustache of
brOwn-gray hue, and good deal of iron-gray
hair were prominent, and from under heavy