The progressive farmer., 1901-07-02
JEFFERsoNs GREAT PURCHASE.
DR.. Alexander Tells Something of It and
Compares 1t With the Purchase Of the
PhiIinnines

Philippines.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
There is scarcely a year in the
nineteenth century but that is
crowned with events dazzling in their
briIliancy. In 1901 there came an
offer from Napoleon, the Emperor of
France, to sell the French posses
sions on the American Continent.
Thomas Jefferson was President, and
knowing the war spirit all over
Europe was burning with an intense
heat, and knowing that such an
offer comes but once in the life time
of a nation, could not afford to hesi-
tate. Enough territory to build an
empire upon was being offered for
the small sum of ten million dollars.
1t had just been won from Spain
by Napoleon, and more than probably
would be captured by England. 1t
was time when empires and thrones
changed masters as the play things
of armies. The Louisiana Territory
extended from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean, including the Missis-
sippi river and the great delta, ex-
tending northwest three thousand
miles, and reached under the shadow
of the Rocky Mountains, and afforded
a broad expanse of territory of sufti-
cient dimensions for an empire to be
an everlasting menace to a peaceful
republic.
Common sense, the dictates of
humanity, and immunity from the
ravages of a foreign foe, all spoke in
tones that Mr.. Jefferson dared not let
pass unheeded. The offer was ac-
cepted, and Congress was only too
glad to endorse what he had done.
If jefferson had done nothing else
for his country, this was enough to
perpetuate his name for all time.
When we consider the purchase of
the Philippine Islands, nearly one
hundred years later, with probably
100000 people, almost savages,
that will require an army for several
years to come to aid in civilizing :;
and then to think they are ten thou
sand miles from home, there is no
comparison between the values of
the two purchases. But values have
changed materially in the last one
hundred years money was exceed
ingly scarce then, but plentiful now.
One hundred years ago not a mil
ionaire could be found in the world,
outside of royal families, and not
often there but in the United States
in the last forty years we can count
them by the thousand.
In 1901 President Jefferson, who
was emphatically the peoples man,
was Chief Magistrate and the most
noted act of his administration was
his purchase of what was known as
Louisiana and its contiguous terri.
tory in 1903. The relations existing
between the United States and the
coast of Africa, in regard to the dep
radatiOns of pirates, and the critical
relation with regard to the ambi-
tioUs desires of Napoleon Bonnepart ;
all Europe in arms on the one side to
check the giant strides of the first
Consul Spain having lost Louisiana,
Napoleon having gained it, offered
to sell the territory to the United
States. He found a ready purchaser
in the President of this country.
Although he had no authority to &C
quire territory, yet the urgency
was so great that he did not hesitate
to make the purchase at once, and
get the endorsement of the govern
ment later. He called an extra ses-
sion of Congress as soon as possible
to endorse his course. Railroads
and telegraphs at this period were
unknown and every movement of
necessity had to be slow He had no
trouble in carrying out his purpose,
which in the first place was to make
safe our Southern border from at
tacks Of an enemy, and add largely
to our already expanding territory !;
and in the second place, it would
give US free and exclusive control of
the Mississippi river. MIR. Jefferson
deserves lasting honor and credit for
adding this wonderful empire of the
richest lands in the world to our
already magnificent country. Truly
"the course of empires westward
makes its way"
Pausing to glance at this strange
transaction hv which ono ro.,.-L1io