The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-28


WASHINGTON, Dec. 27-The American
Historical Association met again in session
this morning in the lecture-room OF the
National Museum. A. @. Mclaughlin,
assistant professor OF history in the Uni
versity Of Michigan read paper upon the
influence Of Gov. Cass upon the develop
ment Of the Northwest. Mr.. Mclaughlin
reviewed in detail the services OF Gen.
Cass while Governor Of the II rritory OF
Michigan and Superintendent Of Indian
Affairs; his cndcayors in the face OF per-
ss,en, opposition to secure q surrey ami
sale Of the granted lands in 1872 in order
that immigration might thereby be stimu-
lated; his strong and effective opposition
to the arrogance OF the Canadian authori-
ties in these trying times; his control OF
the Indians and his ellortsin weaningthcm
from the British influence, were cited TO
show that Cass had great influence for
good in the development Of the Northwest,
and especially Michigan. In recU. alton
OF these great services the State had re-
Gently sent to take its stand in the Ma
tional Capitol statue OF her early Gov
ernor, who had been chosen rs her favor
tic son.
Frederick J. Turner, CT Johns Hopkins
University, read paper prepared by Prof.
w. L. Allen, of the University OF Wiscon.
Sin, on the Position Of the Northwest in
General History" Prof Allen empha-
sized four points MS Of special interest.
1) That the title 10 the Northwest be-
longed TO three great nations, Spain,
France and England. which, in the six
tenth, seventeenth and eighteenth CEN
turtles respectively, possessed the acknowl-
edged leadership among the European
States. (2) That the leadership acquired
by England in the eighteenth century was
| integrallv associated with the building up
OF the British Empire, aud the decisive
fact in the formation Of this Empire was
| the ACQUISITION from France OF that enOr-
nous tract OF territory Of which the North
west is the center. CD That the imperial
destiny Of the United States hung upon
the possession OF the Northwest. But for
| the military success Of Gen. Rogers Clark,
and the diplomatic skill OF our Commits.
sioners in negotiating the treaty OF peace
in securing Just this territory, our domain
would have been contracted, and II is not
likely that there would have been the
| courage TO make the purchase Of Louisiana
| and the subsequent acquisition. 90 That
| the development Of our national policy
was closely connected with, and, in fact,
took shape in the ordinance which organ.
lied thus territory. Our Territorial sys-
tenn, our policy OF creating new States. our
National guaranty Of personal freedom,
|
he said. found their ilrst expression in the
great act which provided for the govern.
mcnt OF the Northwest
Prof Geo. knight, Of the Ohio State
University, read paper upon the history
OF higher education In tho Northwest, In
which he showed that Il IL especially valu.
able and instructive TO Americans for the
reasons, first, that the inst Congressional
aid to higher education was given TO the
old Northwest Territory. Second, the
Territory contains the strongest State Uni.
vcrsity In America Third, in one Of the
Northwestern States II has been tho policy
moro than elsewhere, 10 encourage III,
founding of many private and local col
lcgcs Fourth, the Territory, ~ whole
shows In its educational history the grad
ual but steady rise OF the state University
idea. Mr.. Knight reviewed the history o.
many colleges aud universities in th,
Northwest and dwelt ut length upon thu
conditions which shaped their careers
Mai. j. W. Powell, director Of the Unite,
States Geological Survey, exhibited Ian
guagc map Of North America and OK
planned its compilation. lie said tina
There were about scycnty-thrce distinc
b stock languages in North America, eacI
: one having one or more dialects. III
, work IT investigating the subject, he said
f, had occupied seventeen years. The traC
! ings of the map showed the boundaries {
4. the greater language divisions.