The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-19

anu putchiy SOLO the Spanish retro
cession to the United States. r
Purchsss Of LouIsIana.
IL was In 1893 when we bought Lou
isiana- Spain was very much dis
grunued when Bonaparte sold II to
us. Although Mr.. Monroe and Mr.. Liv-
ingston. who were our ministers to
make the purchase. were Of the opin-
lon that both East and West Florida
were included, the s~paniards contin-
ued to hold both. Napoleon himself.
who. with that captivating charm OF
which he was often capable. was bent
on securing our help against England,
encouraged our ministers TO in
sist upon their claim to West Florida
T~alleyrand would not commit himself.
He said only. You get a good bar
gain. ina was manifest to our peo-
pie. No foreign power could now ex-
ercise its dominating influence on u
des1nies. BY the stroke of the pen We
acquired more and vastly richer ter
ritory than that OF all the original 10
states put together. We were now to
confirm Bishop Barkley's prophetic
stanza:
Westward the course OF empire takes
its way.
The FIRST four acts already passed.
The NTH shall close the drama with
Nht
Times noblest Offspring Is the last"
Even as II is to-day that empire
which sprang into being with the first
shot OF the simple, God-fearing hus-
bandmen on the green at Lexington,
extends more han half the way across
the Pacific ocean. and the miner o. the
fisherman standing on the ultimate
island OF Alaska and gazing to the
westward. across the Icy waters. may.
with the naked eye, behold the do
mfnions OF the car. Nor in this do We
include those distant islands where
one May morning. ever to be famous
in the annals OF our race. the spicy
breezes that blow Ger Manila bay were
rent by the guns of the noble Dewey
as they proclaimed that the genius OF
liberty had come to rid of cruelty n
avarice and crime that charming and
where every prospect pleases. and
only man is VILE"
In this connection may II not be
well for us and for some OF our dfstin-
guished representatives now in Paris
TO consider II II can ever be possible
for men with the American and the
Spanish ideas OF government to live in
proximity and in peace. Contrast the
character of the average American cit
izen with that of the Spaniard. How
incompatible in temperament!
A Constant Menace.
The conduct OF the Spaniards to-
wards us In the wal of 1912 demon
strates how dangerous IL is TO the flu
ture peace of our country to have
them as neighbors. Ostensibly neutral,
their presence in Florida was a con-
slant menace. and one OF the most
tragic incidents I'm our history. Four
years later. after the Seminole war, the
Spanish king determined that IT was
discreet to sell his Florida possessions
TO the young republic. who had given
him such convincing evidences of their
ability TO take them and. though un-
der strong p~rovocation in restoring
them. had also given to the world a
lofty example OF their respect for in
ternational aw. The Spaniards now
had no foothold on the mainland Of the
North American continent, save their
Mexican possessions. Nor were these
to- be long retained. The genius of lib
erty, nurtured and strengthened here,
soon winged its way TO the southwark.
In 1918 Buenos Ayres had declared its
independence. Paraguay and the op-
posite shore OF La Plata was In revolt.
The movement traversed the passes OF
the Andes and animated the people of
Peru and Chill. Venezuela and the
northern portion OF South America rail-
lied to the banner of freedom and fin
ally In 1922 the heroic Bolivar.
the South American Washington. in
pitched battle destroyed the Spanish
army and gave a death blow to Spanish
power. the American congress recognize
ed the independence of Buenos Ayres. |
Chill. Peru and Colombia. The first
to recognize the infant republics, our
government took its favorite and ac-
customed post in the vanguard OF lib
erty. For that recognition hat typi-
cal American, Henry Clay, i'm strains
of sion as sweet as the honey
OF Mount Hymettus, with burning in
veotives like those which fell from the
lips OF Demosthenes had alternately
pleaded and stormed at the door OF
the American heart. The opulence OF
Argentina, the military power and ma
tional pride of Chile, the minerals, the
marbles. h fruits, the grains. the
fiocks and regenerated strength
of Mexico, the marvellous Increment
to the OF the world. the
boundless possibilities for the support
OF millions of men in the redeemed COL
onies OF Spain, persuade us that the
saints of heaven have approved the
aspiration OF the noble American who
pleaded for their independence. May
the worn and wasted followers OF Co |
and Garcia come to appreciate the
blessings Of liberty under the law. No
StthSf lSh u III COfSDudIlCt Will l1t |
Of the American people. We would
not, II we could. be their masters. The
gigantic power OF the courts put forth
for their salvation and for their pac-
Connected with them by
bonds of genuine sympathy and indis-
soluble interest, we Will labor with
them TO secure for them established
tranquility. general welfare and the
blessings Of liberty to themselves and
their posterity.
For the common defense In the blue
ether above the beautiful island of
Cuba Is perched the eagle
whose golden plume
Floats moveless on the storm, and In
the blaze
OF sunrise CLEANS when earth Is wrapt
In gloom.
An Additional Duty.