The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-24

IN'IN' STATUES "Nh ! "' I'II||II.'.
Carved From It,
Great preparations are being made
for the Louisiana Purchase ENu14I-
ton" To Doe held i'm ST. Louis u 1903
Something of the history of the event
thus to- bee celebrated Us thus given.
The Louisiana Territory embraced
the country lying west of the Missis-
sippi to- the summit of the Rocky
Mountains on the northwest. ana To- the
country later known as Texas ON the
southwest. and extended northvardly
from the Gulf of Mexico To- the Domino
ON of Canada. The area was, in fact.
greater than these bounds would indi-
cate as, by natural causes and gcogra-
phical contiguity the unsettled and
comparatively unknown territory add
jacont was soon absorbed and assimi-
lated by the United States. thereby eN-
tending the northwestern boundary to
the Pacific Ocean ana the southwestern
boundary To the frontiers Of Mexico.
The Territory of Louisiana belonged
to- France i'm 1902 when negotiations
between Thomas jefferson, President of
the United states and Napoleon. First
Consul of the French, We're entered up
on ana finally concluded by the treaty
of April 30, 1903.
President jefferson signed the treaty
November 10. 1903, and on December %
of the same year the Spanish Governor
of Louisiana surrendered the province
to Lausat, the commissioner for France,
who forthwith transferred it to the
Government of the United states.
The total price paid for the magni-
ficent domain was $l5000,00O
The country was named Louisiana
by the explorer, LaSalle i'm honor of his
sovereign, Louis XIV, King of France,
i'm 1859.
BY this acquisition the territorial eX-
tent of the United states was consider
ably more than doubled.
1t Is seven times as large as Great
Britain and Ireland, and four times as
large as Germany and France.
The wealth of the States and Terri
tories embraced in the Louisiana Pur-
chase is over 100000, 600, 600.
Appropriations thus far for the EX-
position to be held in 1903 exceed $l6,-
900. 600. not taking into account the par
ticipations of other governments.
The Territory of Louisiana has been
divided into twelve States and two
Territories: Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa,
Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisi-
ana, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana,
North Dakota. South Dakota, Indian
Territory. Oklahoma Territory.
We have lived long. but this is toe
noblest work of our lives. From this
day the United States take their place
among powers of the first rank"
This the American Minister said to
the Minister of France as they arose
from the table signing the treaty of the
Louisiana Purchase. The fulhllment of
that prophecy the American Nation
will celebrate with a Worlds Fair.
April 80, 1903, the treaty of mighty inn
port was signed.
April 80, 1903, will bring the Centen-
NAL anniversary of that momentous
event, and then will open at the chief
city of the Purchase an Exposition of
the Nations growth and greatness.
With the Declaration of independence,
the Nation was born. With the Pur-
chase of Louisiana Territory, the Ma
ton arrived at majority.
The man who wrote the Declaration
of independence in 1916 sat in the
White House q years later and direct
ed the acquisition of what became
known as "Jefferson's West" The price
was $15,O00,O00 The money had to be
borrowed. Stephen Girard, the Phila-
delphia philanthropist, negotiated the
loan. The Louisiana Purchase EXPOSE
ton enters upon the period of prepare
ton with $l5,000,0 900 already provided
toward the cost 1t is one of the coin
cidences that the amount secured in
advance for the celebration of this Cen
tennial, is exactly what was paid for
the Territory. The Territory thus ac-
quired, stands today for $4,000, 100000 of
taxable wealth. 1t is seven times as
large as Great Britain and Ireland;
four times as large as Germany or
France.
A dozen years ago James Ct. Blaine,
speaking of the Louisiana Purchase to
the Merchants Exchange of st. Louis,
said:
Your growth, gentlemen, is the
growth of the Republic. But" ne contin-
ued, Il feel | have one reprOach against
this Trans Mississippi department..
My reproach to every foot and to every
inhabitant of the territory of Louisiana
is that on its surface, which represents
a third part of the United States, there
is not a statue raised to the honor of
Thomas Jefferson"
1t was a reproach. The just ground
for it was acknowledged. Sentiment
for some form of celebration which
should emphasize the wisdom of the
Louisiana Purchase and glorify the
man who made it, has been growing.