Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-12

representation before the law, free
speech. freedom and free men, for It
was an event which gave to the union
q new birth. unlocked the letters that
bound us and permitted the Father OF
Waters to flow unvexed to the sea. #
1t was an expansion In which every
loyal American takes pride for 1t has
given to millions Of the earth's OPP
pressed an asylum and home, 1t has
brought us security and peace within
our own borders and dignity abroad.
One hundred years ago the territory
of Louisiana was the property OF the
crown OF Spain. That immense range OF
country from the Mississippi to the
Rocky Mountains and from Texas to
the British provinces was then the
property of that great power, which In
the closing days OF the century has
been stripped of It's possessions and
navies by the invincible valor Of the
soldiers and sailors Of the new world.
Spain, envious then Of the growing
strength and prestiges OF the new born
government, has been our ancien. enc
my and by all means in her power
sought to prevent by our people. the
free and uninterrupted navigation Of
the great father of waters, a right
which was vital to our prosperity and
continued growth.
ut is interesting to reflect upon the
fact as to whether or not this opposition
of Spain to the natural growth and ex-
pansion Of the infant republic, an ops
position with apparently solittle rea-
son, as to he called malignant. did not
SOW the wind from which she has in
these later days reaped the whlrlwind.
| And is 1t not the very irony OF fate
that a century after her attempt to con-
fine the limits OF the western republic,
to put shackles on it's growing limbs, tc
turn back the pulsing life blood Of ems
igration, there should have sprang from
the ground, over which her flag had
moved, from the great river to the
mighty mountains, thousands and tens
of thousands of men, eager and willing
to shed their blood. to die If need be, te
avenge the injuries and atrocities this
clay rotted Spanish monarchy had In
ficteu upon PROSTATE people.
Not from the possession Of the
naughty throne Of Spain did the own
ership of this territory come-to France
our old time friend, as Spain IL our old
time enemy, do we owe debt that we
can never repay, the privilege to obtain
by peaceful means what was 80 neces-
sary to the future development and
prosperity Of these states. +
In January OF 1903 James Mon
roe was sent to Paris as commissioner
to act conjointly with our minister
Robert r. Livingston, at that capital, II
the project named. The day before his
arrival5at Paris, our minister was asked
by Napoleon to name price which the
United States would give for the whole
of the great territory which Spain had
transferred to France only three years
lsbefore.
knowing that nothing could be more
welcome to the people OF these mutua
Estates than the possession OF the lands
offered by Napoleon, If they could be
obtained at reasonable price, the ne
gotiations, without the aid OF an Allan
tic cable, and indeed without any com
munications with the home government
llwere consummated in two weeks. anc
ION April 80 the treaty was signed.
Under this treaty the land that VIZ
now Occupy was sold outright to the
United States for the sum Of SIS, 900 900
one-fourth Of which was to consist II
lths assumption by us Of certain claims
held by American citizens against the
government Of France.
Thus the great transaction, which
has been enshrined in history as the
Louisiana Purchase, was begun and
l,consummated, and thus 1t was that 8
million and a quarter square miles OF
TERRITORY, embracing the states Of Lou
|isiana, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Ne
braska, Montana. Wyoming. North and
South Dakota. Idaho, part of Minneso
TIA and the Indian territory came to US
without blood shed. and with as little
Iforeknowledge and expectation to the
people Of the union aa the news of this
sinking Of the Spanish feet and the fall
of Manila came on that memorable
morning in May, 1898.
Within the century past. how much
this great accession OF the most fertile
Hands on the face OF the globe, OF this
| greatest mineral producing rocks and
Hedges mined. has added to the comfort
and civilization Of the worlds inhabi.
tants is. beyond the greatest flight OF
imagination. and what is in the future
for this favored portion Of the surface
of the earth no finite mind can contec
I3ture.
Reflect for moment, IL you please
on the price paid for the territory, and
| IT is but as drop in the ocean as com
pared with the actual value of the land
today. outside Of personal property up
on 1t. The nominal price for the Lou
isiana purchase was $15.0O0,00O Today
the farm lands of this county of Mar.
shall outside Of the town and cit,
ilots ia worth as shown by the returns
Hast year to the state authorities, to be
within few thousand dollars Of tina,
sum. II you add town and city lots, II
will be over $20,O00,0O0. So real estate
of Marshall county alone is worth $5.-
DOC, 600 more than the whole amount
paid In this transaction, wherein pub
llic domain was obtained from which
over twelve states and territories hav,
been added to the extent Of the United
States, which has opened out the grea,
west to the settlement of those from
across the pea who have sought new
homes. and has given to millions who
have peopled it. in part the natives OF
our soil, homes and homesteads undel
the wise laws which have been enacted
where they have freedom to worship
God according to the dictates OF their
own conscience.
And now, members OF this Old Set
tiers Association. let US refer for few
moments to the history OF this county,
where you at an early day cast your
fortunes and have seen the earth yield