The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-16
DEBT TO A FOREIGN WAR.
What America Owes to the Great Ma
poleonic Struggle.
Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Star.
The approach of the Louisiana Purchase
centennial has directed attention to Jeffer-
sons part in securing that vast domain
from France at the cost of violating MS
strict construction principles. The part
that Napoleon took in the transaction has
been generally overlooked in America. DIR.
James X. Hosner emphasizes this aspect
of the affair in his latest volume. The
History of the Louisiana Purchase"
jefferson, it will be remembered, IN
structed Monroe to buy New Orleans and
the Floridas. If necessary the west pank
of the Mississippi was to be guaranteed to
France. New Orleans was desired as a
shipping port for the farmers on the east
side of the Mississippi. Furthermore, us
possession by another power involved the
menace of the possible closing OF the river
to American commerce. The Importance or
the great Northwest territory was not
realized at this time. Livingston, while
negotiating before Monroe's arrival, did
suggest that France deed to the United
States all the territory north of the Ar
kansas river on the ground that this would
be a neutral zone If England should at
tack Louisiana from Canada. No other
American of the time mentioned the ces-
sion of all the territory as desirable. Mad
ison thought emigration beyond the Mis-
sissippi would too much dilute" the popu-
lation and his view was the common one.
Napoleon had sought to secure Louisiana
in pursuance of his policy to make for
France a great colonial empire. Egypt,
India and America were all included in his
| plans. An imposing military expedition was
to be sent out to take possession of the
| empire in the new world. Bernadotte was
to command it and preparations went on in
| spite of the protests of the United States
and it's subsequent offer to purchase the
chief port of the colony. Livingston was
| thoroughly disheartened, when, without ap-
parent reason, came a sudden reversal of
! the French policy. The whole Territory
| of Louisiana was offered to the United
States.
The prospect of war with England was
the cause of this mysterious change In Ma
| poleon's plans. Barbe-Marbois, his minis
ter of the treasury, has given the inside
history of the affair and the account Is
quoted by DR.. Hosmer. On Easter Sunday,
1903, Napoleon summoned Baroe-Marpoi
and another Cabinet officer, DEGREES, to a
conference in which he announced abrupt
ly that he had determined to sell Louisiana
to the United States. His reasons, as Bar
De-N1dIoOlS~ ICSaiiCu z "CiC StoeOo III
these words:
1.-The English nave successfully taken
from France, Canada. the Isle Royal. New
foundland, Acadia ana the richest terri
tories of Asia. They shall not have the
Mississippi, which they covet. Louisiana
is nothing compared with their a~ggrandize-
ment in all parts of the globe; but the
| jealousy they feel because of it's return
under the dominion of France warns me
that they intend TO seize it. They have al
ready twenty vessels IN the Gulf Of Mexico.
They swagger over those seas as SOW
ereigns. The conquest of Louisiana will
be easy if they only take the trouble to
descend upon 1t. / have not a moment to
lose lin putting ii out of their power. l
| contemplate turning it over to the United
States. These republicans are asking but
! a single city of Louisiana, but l already
/ regard the whole colony as lost, and IT
seems to me that in the hands of this ris-
ing power il will be more useful TO the
politics, and even to the OF
France, than if / attempt TO keep it,"
! DEGREES opposed the sale, while Barbe-
Marbois favored il. The next; day dis
patches arrived announcing the extraor-
binary preparations for war in progress In
Great Britain. Napoleon at once sum-
moned Barbe-Marbois and directed him to
negotiate the cession. 'Irresolution and
elaboration are out of season" he said.
st know the value of what / abandon. But
to attempt obstinately to retain 1t would