The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-26
THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA,
CLARK TELLS INTERESTING STORY
OF 1T AT A BANQUET.

The Country Taken in is Now Worth
Fifteen Times what Was Paid for
It-Purchase Price Was "a Mere
sonr-NnpOIeon Glad He Had Civ
Yearly Products of the Territory
over $1,000, 100000.
Washington, Feb 25--One of the largest
dinners of the winter was given tonight
in the banquet hall of the Arlington Hotel.
> The hosts were thirty members Of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Louisiana Pur-
chase Convention recently held In st.
Louis, with Gov. Francis at their head,
and the guests numbered nearly 200, and
were the members of the cabinet and the
United States Supreme Court, senators,
representatives and delegates from all the
states and territories within the purchase.
The invitations were strictly limited to
the purchase states and territories.
Among the speakers of the evening were
Secretaries Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson,
representing the cabinet Justices White
and Brewer Of the Supreme Court and
Senator'S Vest, Allison, Teller and Thurs
ton, the United States Senate. OF the
members of the House of Representatives
there were a hundred or more besides a
large number of department officials OF
high rank. The large banquet hall was
superbly decorated with flowers and vines.
Francis warmly Cheered.
The menu occupied the attention of the
company until nearly 10 O'clock when
Gov. Francis arose and delivered an adj
dress, In the course Of which he was re-
peatedly interrupted by applause. His ref
erenee to the prompt acceptance of the
PROPOSITION by the city Of st. Louis to
raise 100000 for an exposition was APP
plauded, and was also his statement that
although jefferson paid SIS, 100000 for the
territory, 1t was now worth fifteen bill
lions.
Senator Vest was the next speaker and
he was followed by Senator Teller
Representative Dolllver delivered char
acteristically eloquent speech.
The next speakers were Secretary Hitch
cock. Sena TOR Thurston, Secretary wilson
and Representative Shafroth.
six Notable Features.
Representative Champ Clark Of Missouri
smoke at some length and his address was
received with great enthusiasm. He said:
In the first half century of our exist
ence as a people there are six perform
ances which stand out in bold relief as
epoch makers, and which are especially
worthy of celebration and commemora-
ton as landmarks in our triumphal pro-
gress.
Patrick Henry's great lyric speech be-
fore the Virginia House of Burgesses, the
skirmish at Concern and Lexington, the
declaration of independence, the surrender
of CORVALLIS, the adoption OF the consti-
tuition and the Louisiana purchase.
When Jefferson bought that imperial do
main from Napoleon he made the most
gigantic and profitable trade in real es-
tate proposed on this earth, since the
devil took the Savior Of mankind up to the
top of a high mountain and offered Him
the dominion Of the world to fall down and
worship him.
That transaction changed the history OF
this continent, perhaps Of the world.
That was the longest single jump we
ever made towards the head of the table
among the great Powers-the proud, inn
prepnable position which we occupy this
day. and which we viii continue 70 hold