Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-01-12
Gil. $50, COO LESS than ten dol

A01S square mA0-OcC1uSol
Napoleon Bonaparte, then first
consul of France, happened to be
in need. Had it not been for ex-
pansion, North Dakota would
now be French territory. and it's
broad acres would not know the
civilization which now adorns
them. To be sure the Louisiana
purchase was opposed by the
anti-expansionists at the begin.
ming of this century, and no one
rejoices more than we that they
failed.
Did you ever realize thai by
far the greater part of the terri
tory of the United States was
obtained through the policy of
expansion? After the purchase
of Louisiana in 1903, came that
of Florida in 1921. u territory ex-
tending from the Atlantic ocean
to the Mississippi river-none of
the original thirteen colonies
having had an outlet to the Gulf
of Mexico. Then from 1846 to-
1648 Texas, New Mexico, Arizona
Nevada, Utah and California
were acquired. and in 1857
Alaska.
l have dwelt somewhat at
length on this question of ex
pansion, first to show that it has
been an active issue in the past,
and in that its triumph has ever
been fruitful of good results;
and, second, because it is going
to be a living question of the
future, and we must do our part
in solving the profile ms that con-
front the Federal government.
Judging from all our glorious
past, you will doubtless agree
with me that the policy of
expansion is the correct one for
our national government to fol-
low. The soil Of these various
islands of the sea has been bap-
tized with heroic blood in the
cause of liberty. and thereby
made sacred in our eyes, and we
can not lightly abandon it. Our
flag has been flung to the breeze.
and we cannot withhold the
promise of freedom that it gave.
Where our loved and honored
brave now sleep. thither our
thoughts shall ever fondly turn.
Besides. through destiny, as I
believe, the welfare of about 1O,-
600. 900 of people has been placed
in our keeping. Our duty to
them does not end with striking
off their chains and driving their
oppressors out. but we must see
that they become erect and free.
with all the qualities of mind and
sonl that men and women in this
age ought to possess. Fetters
of darkness must still be strick-
en- from the mind; ignorance and
superstition must. with oppres-
sion. their creator. be put to
flight. AS freedom and COM
merce will follow the flag, the
flag must be planted even farther
forward in the domain of dark
ness and oppression. and be
there maintained until the many
blessings which it symbolizes
are enjoyed.
There are in the world today
twenty -four republics. Nine
teen of them are in this western
hemisphere; three of them are in
Africa, and two of them in
Europe. Only one of them,
Switzerland. antedates the Unit
ed States. Doubtless the other
twenty-five drew their inspir-
alton from our Republic. The
torch of liberty for these many
lands was lighted at our altar
fire. and while other people that
heretofore have sat in darkness
crave the same boon, we can not
deny them.
To be sure, the party to carry
our country successfully through
all the perplexities that shall
arise must be the party that is
truest to you national ideals the
party of a free. enlightened and
I. -