The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-15

Doyou know that up to the year 1903
Spain and France governed over two
thirds of the territory now embraced with
in our national domain That they con-
trolled that great artery of trade, the
Mississippi, and dictated to the govern
ment its rights and privileges thereon,
and that through the energy, foresight and
craftsmanship of Thomas Jefferson, who
am proud to say we in part honor to-
night, we acquired by purchase that mag.
niflcent empire of the West, stretching
from the Father of Waters on the east, to
the cliff banks of Puget Sound on the
west, embracing as it does the mineral
wealth of an empire, and the grain fields
of a nation yet unbc rn.
Great Britain, at the close of the Revo-
luton, still claimed sovereignty over all
territory not embraced within the limits
of the thirteen original colonies. Aided
by barbarous savages and hired merce-
naries, her supremacy was unquestioned
by the then young and powerless Repub-
lie. Continental Europe at that time was
one vast arsenal, stretching from the
Baltic to the Mediterranean. England,
then as now, was mistress of the seas, and
sought by the right of might to prey upon
the peaceful commerce OF this world. She
impressed American seamen on the high
seas; she insulted the flag of the free I;
her guns thundered along our seaboard,
and her soldiers entered the gate of our
national capitol. Two political parties at
that time dominated in American politics.
The doctrines of Hamilton and OF Jeffer-
son were then being tested in the crucible
of patriotism. At Hartford the
Federalsts, the followers of Alexander
first time in the history of the country
sought to disrupt the Union.
Then II was that from ranks of the
Democracy sprang like phoenix the lion
heart that we honor to-night-not from
the hilltop, but from the pioneers cabin
IN the wilderness; not IL you please from
the exalted of the earth, but like the hum
ble Nazarene from the ranks of the com
mon people.
Andrew jackson as we have seen had
learned in the war of the Revolution the
lesson OF patriotism. Ten thousand sol
diers flushed with victory in the PENN
sular disasters of the First Napoleon
OF this continent. New Orleans was the
key to the situation, and the prize the fer
tile plains of the west. With an audac-
ity unparalleled in the annals of war, Jack
son then in the prime of a vigorous man
hood, with less than 5000 unframed pio-
neers rushed to the defense of his coun-
try.
History tells us that on the result of the
battle of Poitiers hung the fate of Christen-
dom that had the Christian knights at
that time been defeated by the Moors of
Africa the religion of Europe and of the
civilized world to-day would have drawn
its inspiration from the teachings of Ma
homet instead of that of Moses. Great
results have always been attained by great
sacrifices. Humanity has dearly paid for
every right and privilege they enjoy to-
day. Yet this fact appears fancy when
we note the far reaching results of the
battle of New Orleans, the contingency
was great, yet the sacrifice was small. In
that terrible onslaught on the 9Th day of
January 1915 over 1000 of the flower of
European chivalry lay dead or dying In
front of the ramparts of the heroic pio-
neers, while only7 dead and wounded
was the sum total of the American loss.
Imagine it, fiction and fancy became
realities Leonidias of Sparta was
oHtdone ia another age and In another
cline, from that day we have
taken our rightful place, among
the nations of the earth. The destruction
OF Washington was avenged and the
patriotism of American Democracy tri-
umphant.
Ask those tonight, upon whose heads
have fallen the frost OF years, those who
have felt the quickening impulse of the
time in which our hero lived-who
mourned at his death, and who now in the
sunset of life tell us of his virtues-have
we kept the faith?
And shall not those of us tonight who
gather here with youth and with strength (;