Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-25

siol Ny SAteAul4ls5 Ills country S DOun-
diaries, but he was especially criti-
clsed for throwing away the enormous
sum OF $15000,000 in the purchase of
land lying SO remote from civilization
and of SO little intrinsic value. But
providence raises up statesmen from
time to time who see beyond the mar
row horizon of their own time and in
republics men are called to power
VINO are willing to look further than
the next election. The most stupen-
dous real estate transaction in the
imareh OF time was the action of Pope
Alexander vi when he took the map
Of the world and with a pen and ruler
divided the new world between Portu-
gal and Spain. This was a very sim
pie and convenient adjustment of a
great controversy, but it was not DOS
sitie for it to remain settled and so
in due time other nations took part in
tho colonization OF our hemisphere.
And SO 1t happened that whilst our
Atlantic coast was occupied by Great
Britain the most Christian king of
| France held dominion over the great
praiTies. forests and mountains of the
west
The First Settlement.
I'm 1852 the flag of France was
raiaeli,, but it was not until 1899 that
the first settlement was made near
the guif. The great possibilities of
this country fascinated the French
people and George Law exploited its
future with his Mississippi scheme.
Ein-olving all France in bankruptcy
and financial ruin until they were
very willing indeed to cede the land
- Spain in 1862. But in the treaty OF
San Illcfonso, October ]. 1900. Spain
iagain transferred it back to France.
! Put tae terms of the treaty We're kept
90 secret that 1t was commonly be-
| l!aEed that Florida had been Included
IN the transfer, though the flag of
Spain still foated over the. various
posts. When Bonaparte became the
| first consul and dictator of France
war with England had become una
voidahle Our minister at Paris, Mi.
Livingston. opened negotiations to Sc
cure the navigation of the river and
the title to the land near the mouth
of the stream. He especially desired
to purchase New Orleans. Mr.. Jeffer-
ison, however. wanted Florida as we'll
as the mouth of the river Spain was
i still in possession and the time
seemed ripe for treaty.
How the Purchase Was Made.
| "The phenomenal and prophetic mind
of the young Napoleon alone seemed to
| comprehend the future possibilities of
| such q treaty. James Monroe was hur-
riedly called by Jefferson and sent as
| a special envoy to act with Mr.. Liv-
fngston, and they were authorized to
buy New Orleans, the mouth of the
river and Florida for $2,000,000. But
a new man had arisen in the affairs
of Europa man OF but few words
but OF prompt, vigorous and decisive
actions. Napoleon promptly took the
whole negotiation out of the hands OF
| the willy and corrupt Talleyrand and
placed it with Marbois his minister of
finance. Marbois had been in the Uni
ted States and had acquired the most
priceless of all treasures-an Ameri-
can wife. and the affair was in friend
lly hands. The First Consul fairly
/ staggered our commissioners when he
] proposed to sell the whole domain for
/ 100000. Here was a region I'M
peopled by civilized men, extending
/ from the Lake OF the Woods to the
Gulf, and Of uncertain boundaries east
and west, but unquestionably larger
than Great Britain Germany, France,
Spain, Portugal and Italy combined.
When the uncertainties of the boun-
daries We're referred to. Napoleon said
If there were no uncertainties in the
! some He realized the value of an
la1o cS{ir ,rln,, IL Il
own construction upon that Napoleon
knew how untenable this country was
for him as against Great Britain, the
mistress of the sea. He needed money
| he was land poor, and so with his la
comic brevity, he fixed his terms and
/ startled the American commissioners
| by the magnitude of the transaction.
| Fortunately there was no Atlantic
/ cable or steamship line and the re-
/ sponsibility had to be assumed with,
/ out further instructions, and the future
1 author of the Monroe Doctrine was
there ready, willing and brave enough
to take the responsibility.
The Turning Points.
Monroe landed April and on the
goth the contract was signed. We
usually LOOK upon great DSLLleS aiOnc
as the turning points of history: Ar
/ bella, Zana, Actiurn, Waterloo, Sedan
and such bloody scenes are usually the
1 pivotal points in the affairs of men
/ But, the Habeas Corpus, the Bill OF
/ Rights, the Declaration OF Indepen
/, dence, stand out with as much impor
lance in the progress Of mankind as
/ do any of the bloody contests Which
have SO changed the affairs Of the
world.
Raise Stars and Stripes.
Among these peaceful landmarks il
1.-THE worlds history is the treaty thai
4 was finally cons,lmmated on the 3otf
of April. 1908. 1t has been said thai
\ Diplomacy can trot all day in bush
ell measure but it was not so witt
the diplomacy Of Napoleon. When th,
treaty was finally signed, Bonapartt
said in substance: This strengthens
forever the power of the United States
have given England a rival who vii
some day take dominion of the sea.
When the Spanish flag came down a
New Orleans. that of France wa:
raised and fioated for the brief periot
! 6F rITopt,r dave, and thpp Sfat,c N,