Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-07-07

"When Louisiana was purchased it
was said that it was the beginning OF i'm
perialism' and colonization which had de-
stroyed the republics of ancient days;
| that it was in violation of the constitu-
ton. Even Mr.. Jefferson, being strict
constrnctionist, had some qualiiis of con-
science about the matter until his friend
Nicholas told him that he would have to
keep his doubts to himself if he wished
his purchase to go through. The New
Englanders declared it would result in
! establishing another nation beyond the
Mississippi, that the Father of Waters
must and would be natures limit to the
western boundary of the republic. Others
said it would be disgrace and a deep
humiliation to have senators chosen from
the land of the Indians and the hunters
and trappers of the Missouri and, when
we remember that South Dakota is a
part of that region, we are inclined to be
patient with the old anti-expansionist
Others complained of the outrageous
figure of $4,000, 900 and openly asserted
that there was secret alliance between
Jefferson and Napoleon because it was
known that Mr.. Jefferson had always
been unfriendly to England, and that
corruption was the moving power of the
whole imperial scheme--fifteen million,
an amount insufficient to buy the Idaho
Midland, one item of wealth connecting
us with portion of thar region.
Josiah Quincy, with the brilliant
pathos of Demosthenes weeping over
the fall of Greece and the triumph of the
imperial Phillip, in speaking Of the
Louisiana matter said: "The bonds Of
this union are virtually dissolved. 1t
was not for these men that our fathers
fought. Not for them that the constitu-
ton was adopted. There is no authority
to throw the rights and liberties of this
/ people into "hotch pot" with the wild
men of the Missouri, nor with the mixed
though more respectable race of anglo
hispano-g -gallo-Americans who bask on
the sands in the mouth Of the Mississippi !
"You may think this is quotation
from patriots of today, but assure you
those are the words Of Josiah Quincy Of
Massachusetts,, spoken many years ago
concerning land, now prosperous,
patriotic and wealthy portion of the
union, filled with a people who had to be
turned away from the enlisting camp, SO
universally did they respond when our
nation declared its intention to break the
tyranny Of Spain in Cuba.
webster once said: What do we
want with this vast worthless area, this
region Of savages and wild beasts, oi
deserts Of shifting sands and wildernesses
of dust, cactus and prairie dogsi Tc
what use could we ever hope to put these
great deserts or those endless mountain
ranges, inpenetrable and covered to thei,
| very base with eternal snow? What car
we ever hope to do with the western
coast, coast 5000 miles. rock bound
cherries, uninviting and not harbor OF
itl What use have we for this country
I This was spoken Of the very land up
on part Of which we are gathered toda,
to reassert our faith in the same grand
principle Of growth which, in spite fths
sneer Of giants, found lodgment in ths
great throbing heart Of humanity sait
of this land with its happy homes ant
prophetic futurethis land just now st
prolific Of politicians and statesmen
willing to sacrifice their own personal in
terests in order to serve the people
! Truly this is a goodly land which til,