Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-03-17
THE WEST AND THE UNION.


Mr.. Depew in his admirable Grafton al
Chicago said that The growth of the
west has revolutioniZcd the Republic.
He said that THE extension Of the ma
fional domain and the development OF
new states must be regarded not only as
the principal source Of our greatness but
also the best assurance Of our future safe
ty and welfare" Mr.. Depew may have
simply intended to compliment the west
because speaking in a western city, but
ne uttered a truth nevertheless.
In 1863 Louisiana was coded to Spain,
but by the treaty of st. Ildefonso, in 1900,
that power cedcd it back to France. The
cession was kept a secret to enable Ma
poleon | to prosecute his designs against
Santa Domingo. His failure in that en-
t~erprise made him Indifferent to his pos,
sessions in the new world. Early in the
year 1903 President Jefferson instructed
Robert Livingston, then minister &c
France to negotiate for the purchase OF
LOUISIANA. NIL 4lOIioN "dp dDD'lhAAb
to assist in the negotiations. The
British government looked 20
the southern possessions of France
with a covetous eye. Napoleon expressed
the purpose that rather than yield it to
ngland he would cede il to the United
States, realizing that he could not hold ii
against the fleet that power was able to
place in the Gulf of Mexico. All the
French ministers opposed the cession but
missioned to make the cession. Mr..
Monroe arrived in Paris on the 18th of
April 1903, and eighteen days thereafter
the treaty was signed, which gave the
United States control Of the river Missis-
sippi from its northern boundary TO the
gulf. Napoleon expressed the desire no.
only to dispose Of Louisiana, but Of the
entire colony.
An examination Of the map will show
how much is embraced in the Louisiana
purchase. Out of it was formed the states
and t%erritoriest reaching from the river
Mississippi to the Pacific ocean, rs fol
lows: Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Min
nesota, Missouri, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and the Indian
Territory. For this vast domain ST.,
$50, 600 was paid, besides the United
States assumed some debts due France
from Louisiana.
Upon the conclusion Of this treaty, Mr..
Livingston said: This is the noblest
work Of our lives. From this day the
United States will take rank with the
first powers of Europe and she has now
entirely escaped from the power of En-.
land"
The United States entered upon forma.
possession OF the new acquisition on the
goth Of December, 1903.
This territory has now become thc
great food producing region Of the coun
try. 1t has now a population larger
than tue country had when the treaty
was made.
BY the several Mexican c~cssions and
the Gadsden purchase, between 1916 and
1853, an area of territory almost equal in
size to The Louisiana purchase was ac.
quired. This section embraces Califor
MIA. Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Tex.
as and part of Colorado. The United
States has obtained control Of all the ter.
ritory lying between the river Mississippi
and the Racitic ocean, and between the
British domiAions on the north and Mex
leo on the sdlth.
Great as the country is in extent ant
made up as it is of apopulation represent
ing every nationality, it is successful,
governed. 1t is strong and firm. The pre-
dictions that a republic, when its limit
of authority are greatly enlarged become
feeble, has not been verified. If futur
additions to the Union shall be advisable
no risk weaking the fabric Of the Re
public will be incurred.
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A Woman's Sweet VIII.
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