The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-10-03

| lsheu from Lhelr DorderS, possessing
thriving, courageous and patriotic body
OF American citizens, loyal to the soil
and the flag.
| Contemplate the changes of fifty
years. When You started from Fort
Leavenworth in June, 1916, the boun-
daries of the United States extended
only to the Arkansas river, three hum
dred miles west of where we stand. If
we omit the contested portion OF Texas,
now it is two thousand miles to the
Pacific, and north along its coast al
most continuously to the extreme of
Alaska, forty-fOur degrees of latitude.
The population of the Union has in
creased from thirty millions to seventy
two millions. The sIsterhood OF states
from twenty-eight to forty-five. The
area of the country was increased by
the Mexican war over 500, 900 square
miles, which, with Texas, added one
third to the territory of the union, and
its wealth more than quadrupled. This
| Is coupled with the advance in culture,
science, comfort and power, until we
are ranked as in the forefront of
nations, respected and honored by the
civilized world; political power safely
vested upon popular sovereignty, and
religion lifted from the groves of
bigoted creeds and settled on Gods
Holy Word.
The chains of human bondage have
been broken and humanity has been
exalted as one of the beatitudes of
national adornments. Education is
extended to the IowlIest, aud peace
spreads her white wings through our
wide extended realm. God, in His
mercy, has greatly blessed us, so VIC
may become the educator and arbitra-
tor of the nations OF the world, and
become worthy of the prosperity prom
ised and prophesied by the savants of
old.
You have been actors and factors in
these great achievements, and may feel
proud of the part you acted, be it ever
so humble. AS old men, soon to pass
over the river, you can close your eyes
upon land enriched by trophies you
won; d land united and progressive,
the hope of civilization and the home
of liberty and equal rights. The noun
tains that were cloud-capped beyond
your western border have been scaled,
mysteries solved and their riches de-
veloped. On the topmost pinnacle of
their fastness our scientists hold weird
converse with the mountain storms,
and planetary seances. The bands of
Orion are counted, and the phases of
astronomy calculated. The silver and
gold of their rock-ribbed fastness have
have been fashioned to the use of swift
winged commerce, and labor has been
elevated to its pr YER condition and
independence.
At the time of the 4 iuisitiOn, these
regions were considers as largely
1
alkali plains and desert solitudes, pro-
Life with rock, sage brush and cactus,
valuable only as pastoral ranges, with
burrs and peltries, as 1t was mostly
hunters paradise. The southern states
men sought 1t as an aid in securing
slave institutions, and as it proved one
of the most potent causes of its early
| abolition, the northern politicians
claimed the right of acquisition as an
indemnity for a war which the candid
historian must now admit that Mexico
had waged in self-defense, although
she had brought it on by her cruelty,
| bad faith and violation of national law.
The gold placers of California, the
treasures of Comstock, LeadvIlle and
Cripple Creek were not dreamed of
the camps of Aspen, Creede, Bedie and
hundreds of others were unnamed. A
few abandoned mines of fabulous wealth
were reported from Spanish traditions.
but no one imagined the whole of this
vast acquisition was a new Ophir,
which in fifty years would yield over
two billions of gold and silver to the
veritable treasures of mankind, which
by Anglo Saxon nerve and skill would
place us above all the nations of the
world in productive wealth. If ever
the debts of the world are paid, it will
be by the yield OF mineral wealth, of
which this region acquired in that war
will be large factor.
Again, it opened large field fer
agricultural advancement. These des-
olate valleys and deserts are being rap
idly reclaimed by irrigation and scien-
tific methods, and have been made to |
bloom and blossom rs the rose. They |
are fast becoming the homes Of millions
of brave, intelligent, patriotic and
Christian race, fully alive to the claims
of progress and enlightenment-fit sons
of such a heritage. The All Wise
arbitrator of the destinIes of men and
nations has kindly extended the span
of your days, that you may see the
rich rewards to humanity that has
blessed your toll and rewarded your
devotion and courage. You were but
the instruments IN His hands, that
planted better than you knew, and
future generations will laud your virtue
and sing your praise long after the last
one shall have passed over the dark
river.
The incidents of the Mexican war
were obscured and almost forgotten in
the tragic events and momentous strug-
giles of the later civil strife. 1t was
more recent, nearer and startling, as it
mixed the crimson tide of brothers
blood; as il shook the temple OF liberty
to its foundation. and ended with an
entire change in the organic institu-